North Country Chili Cook-Off to
Return for 27th Year, Has Date Change

State Office Building Event Moves to March, Area Competition Dates Remain Same

(WATERTOWN, NY) – The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation has announced a change for its Annual North Country Chili Cook-Off. Due to a scheduling conflict, the date of the in-person event at the Dulles State Office Building will be Saturday, March 14.

Jeremiah S. Papineau, Director of Communications and Foundation Director for the Volunteer Transportation Center, said the event was previously scheduled for Saturday, Feb, 28. However, this week, he received word of the scheduling conflict, leading the VTC to weigh its options for either moving the location of the cook-off or changing the date of the event.

“After much deliberation, we opted to push forward the date of our in-person event, feeling it will be a change that will be optimal one for everyone,” said Mr. Papineau. “People have come to know the Dulles State Office Building as the home of our event. We wanted to make a move that would not only be the least disruptive for that tradition but also give us the opportunity for other perks, like the potential for better weather.”

The North Country Chili Cook-Off’s in-person event has been held the last Saturday in February since coming back from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. Each year, inclement weather has loomed but the cook-off has been held, with the weather vastly improving before the event.

“We luck out every year,” said Mr. Papineau. “Those of us who are from the North Country and those who have lived here for even a year or two know that the weather here can be unpredictable. The temporary schedule shift this year will likely have the silver lining of better weather but still the kind that makes you crave chili and getting out to shake off the winter blues.”

While the date of the in-person event will change, the dates of the restaurant-to-restaurant competition will remain the same. Restaurants across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties will offer up chili for voting Sunday, Feb. 1, through Wednesday, Feb. 25. Participating restaurants and businesses will make available samples of their chili entries during regular hours of operation during that time and the public will be able to vote for their favorite entries.

The following is the current list of restaurants that will be participating beginning Feb. 1, during their respective regular hours of operation:

The Dockside Pub, 11 Market Street, Alexandria Bay

The Brick Oven Inn, 9595 Main Street, Beaver Falls

Hillbilly Inn, 35419 South Lake Road, Carthage

Jreck Subs, 210 State Street, Carthage

The Church Street Diner, 107 Church Street, Carthage

Zero Dock Street Restaurant & Bar, 130 Canal Street, Carthage

The Cottage Inn, 9794 State Route 12, Copenhagen

Silver Leaf Diner, 3231 U.S. Route 11, DeKalb Junction

Meme’s Diner, 31606 State Route 3, Felts Mills

Jreck Subs, 7596 East State Street, Lowville

Lloyd’s of Lowville, 7405 Utica Boulevard, Lowville

Squishy’s BBQ & Catering, 6218 Number Four Road, Lowville

The Bateman Draft House, 7570 South State Street, Lowville

The Elm, 5422 Shady Avenue, Lowville

JJ’s on the River, 54 East River Street, Ogdensburg

Jake’s on the Water, 5726 State Route 56, Potsdam

The Whiskey Coop, 214 1/2 West Main Street, Sackets Harbor

Tavern230, 4173 West Road, Turin

Jean’s Beans, 259 Eastern Boulevard, Watertown

Jreck Subs, 1218 Arsenal Street, Watertown

Jreck Subs, 525 Mill Street, Watertown

Jreck Subs, 605 State Street, Watertown

Panera Bread, 21872 Towne Center Drive, Watertown

Pete’s Trattoria, 111 Breen Avenue, Watertown

The Grille at Hilton Garden Inn, 1290 Arsenal Street, Watertown

The Whiskey Coop, 133 North Massey Street, Watertown

The participating business with the most votes will receive a plaque denoting them winner of the People’s Choice Award for the tri-county competition. In addition, participating locations will again be able to compete for the Top Fundraiser Award by collecting donations for the Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation. The participating team with the highest amount raised will receive this special recognition. Winners of both awards will be recognized at the in-person event at the Dulles State Office Building on Saturday, March 14.

In addition to the restaurant-to-restaurant version of the cook-off, the VTC is hosting registration for amateur and professional teams interested in competing in its in-person event at the Dulles State Office Building. The in-person event can accept a maximum of 35 teams. Each entry at the in-person event will be scored by a panel of local judges, with winners taking home top bragging rights and cash prizes. Those in attendance will also be able to vote for their favorite, which will receive the People’s Choice Award.

Those wishing to enter the competition at the Dulles State Office Building must complete an entry packet and those wishing to be a participating location for the tri-county competition must register in advance. The registration process for each may be started online at www.volunteertransportationcenter.org, with the registration form under the North Country Chili Cook-Off section. Information may also be requested by calling Mr. Papineau at 315-303-2590 or sending an email to foundation@volunteertransportation.org. Additional paperwork will be provided once initial registration forms are received. With the change in date for the Dulles State Office Building event, the deadline for registration has been extended. The new deadline is Friday, Jan. 30.

The 27th Annual North Country Chili Cook-Off is supported by Underwriting Level Sponsors Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Watertown Savings Bank, Stewart’s Shops, Advanced Business Systems, United Food Service Operators, WWNY-TV 7News/Fox28/MeTV, Tunes 92.5/Intrepid Broadcasting, NNY360/Watertown Daily Times, Victory Promotions, and The American Legion Family.

Additional sponsors are being sought for the North Country Chili Cook-Off, with those interested encouraged to reach out to Mr. Papineau by phone or email. The deadline for sponsorships has also been extended. The new deadline is Friday, Jan. 30.

Proceeds of the North Country Chili Cook-Off will benefit the Volunteer Transportation Center, which provides essential rides to health care appointments, grocery shopping, and other destinations for residents with no transportation alternatives. Funds raised through the cook-off are earmarked to provide transportation to veterans and their family members, which make up roughly one-third of those transported by volunteer drivers through the VTC.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER

The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents.

In 2024, volunteer drivers provided 25,478 charitable trips over 876,509 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 318,320 helped those in Jefferson County, 112,852 in Lewis County, and 445,337 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $438,255 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important. The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation.

For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422, in St. Lawrence County at 315-714-2034, or Western New York at 585-250-5030. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.