On October 16, 2025, visitors came from near and far to get a taste of the 19th Annual Landmark Chili Cook-off at Lewis Hall in Cashiers, North Carolina. This yearly tradition is a beloved way to celebrate the changing of the season and gather for a night of community-focused fun. It’s hosted by Landmark Realty Group & Vacation Rentals, in partnership with the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, and serves as the finale for the chamber’s Business After Hours series. This event has grown over the years to include not just friends of Landmark and local business people, but anyone and everyone from across the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau.
This year’s cook-off was nothing short of a huge success. We saw record turnout and some very heated competition. In total, there were 13 participants: 9 community cooks who brought their best homemade recipes to the table, and 4 professional teams that used their expertise to craft some of the finest chili around. Each entry showcased unique ingredients, techniques, and flavors that set them apart from the rest.
For the first time ever, the cook-off featured a panel of four judges, all with culinary backgrounds, in addition to the regular community voting system, to ensure a fair and balanced outcome. The 2025 judges included Luke Callaghan, who is the general manager at the High Hampton Inn, Scott Alderson, owner of Native Prime Provisions, Jim Barrett, who is a chef at Wine Down in Brevard, and finally John Bevington from Cashiers, who filled in for a judge who wasn’t able to make it. These judges tasted each chili and thoughtfully scored them based on five parameters: appearance, taste, heat, and texture.
Guests received five tickets to vote for their favorite community chilis and one token to award the cook of the top professional entry. As the room filled with people entering after patiently waiting in line, things began to heat up (figuratively and literally). Within an hour, Lewis Hall was packed wall to wall with old friends, fellow community members, and new faces. In past years, there had been as many as 350 people show up, and this year blew that record out of the water, as we counted at least 450 people in total. The smell of chili and the sounds of conversation and debate filled the air, while Landmark’s own Ron Hensley skillfully kept the crowd entertained as MC. Demand was so high that several cooks ran out of chili before the night was over, despite each bringing at least three gallons to serve.
After the tickets and tokens were tallied up, it was time for Lauren Dahl, the General Manager at Landmark, to announce the winners. Jamie Miller from The Park on Main was given the award for judges' choice for community cook, and Joanne Bryson, a broker at Landmark Realty Group, was awarded the prize of community choice for community cook. From the professional side, Elizabeth Dotson, with her team from the Village Pantry made an impressive sweep, winning Judges’ Choice, Community Choice, and the coveted Best in Show grand prize. Though not everyone was crowned a winner, every chili brought something different and delicious to the table.
This event was a group effort that was made possible with the help of the volunteers from Blue Ridge School, who kept the cooks stocked and the trash cans from overflowing, the trusty beer and wine tenders, the joint planning committee from Landmark and the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce, and everyone who helped tear down and clean up after the dust settled. By all accounts, the 19th Annual Landmark Chili Cook-off was the best one yet, and we can’t wait to make next year’s even better.
Credit to Alan Curtin for the photos.
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