Now that winter is officially upon us, it's time to fatten up—forget whatever New Year's resolution you made, because Chilifest is coming! Yes, that's right, the annual celebration of all that is beefy and beany (or not, if you're from Texas) is taking place at Chelsea Market on Sunday, January 29, and the chef lineup at this one looks to be a doozy. more ›

The great chili caper has finally come to an end: a Yonkers woman was arrested at a White Plains Victoria Secret yesterday for dumping a vat of chili on a panties display in a fit of fiery anger. more ›

A few years back the Naga jolokia, which is nicknamed the Ghost Chili, was deemed the spiciest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. How spicy is the Ghost? "You can hallucinate from this chili," declares Upper West Sider Jeff Blaine, who is growing it in his apartment. Blaine tells the Daily News that he has enough to make 500 jars of hot sauce, which he plans to sell to anyone fearless enough to ride the snake to the fire lake. "We want to call it 'Killer Sauce' but we're afraid—if you're not used to this, it can be dangerous," boasts Blaine. more ›

An article in the Times today confirms that the most exciting thing to happen to food—like, ever—are the numerous cook-offs and takedowns oozing these days from the creative wellspring of Brooklyn. These events usually focus on a single ingredient or theme such as bacon, casserole, guacamole, quiche, risotto, curry, hot dogs, pork, chili, apple pie, tofu, cupcakes, ramen, or no-knead bread, for example, and hearken back to State Fair Blue Ribbon contests, where winning the peach pie contest meant you were allowed to keep the family farm. Now, as it was then, the events are a recession/depression thing, often minus some of the food-craft. Welcome to the liberal arts dustbowl. more ›

If you're a chili fanatic, this is definitely a weekend to stay in town. There are at least two chili cookoffs planned that we know about, both in Brooklyn and both going down in bars, where the beer will flow freely (well, not literally freely) to extinguish any raging fires in your scorched mouth-hole. Up first on Saturday, there's the 2nd Annual Debate Society Chili Cookoff at Moonshine in Red Hook, where $10 gets you unlimited chili from all contestants. Or bring your own chili to compete and eat for free. Email stinky cheese-eating champion Oliver Butler (oliver AT thedebatesociety DOT org) for details, or just show up Saturday at 2 p.m. with $10 and an appetite. more ›

Okay, it's freezing. Not just freezing -- bone chillingly bitter. We've been at our desk for hours now and still can't manage to fight off the chill from our morning commute. This kind of weather makes us crave warm, cozy comfort food -- hopefully at least one of these options is close enough to you for a quick dash out, or even better, to deliver to you. more ›