THE SPEC'd LIST : SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | CHILI COOK OFF

SPEC'd
4 days ago
2 min read

FALL | 2025

WE DID IT!

Thank you all for making the SPEC’d Chili Cook Off such a huge success! Because of your enthusiasm, generosity, and competitive spirit, we raised meaningful funds in support of Humble Design — helping transform empty spaces into dignified, comfortable homes for families emerging from homelessness. We could not have done this without you.

A big congratulations to our 2025 Chili Champs:

🌶️ Chef’s Choice Award: Chili Con Carnage (Corten)🌶️

People’s Choice Award: Play That Funky White Bean (Huntsman)🌶️

Best Chili Name: Bitchen Brisket (LJC)

Your creativity (and spice levels) did not disappoint.

Thank you as well to everyone who donated and participated in our incredible raffle. We were blown away by the prizes — from premium cuts of steak from Performance Foods, bottles of Rioja, and Chilewich placemats, to a signed football from Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, shopping sprees at local boutiques like Tribeca, gift cards to favorite neighborhood spots like Andros Taverna, and even glass-blowing lessons at Ignite Glass Studio. Your contributions added major excitement and helped push our fundraising efforts even further.

We’re grateful to all of you — designers, chefs, partners, friends, and supporters — for showing up with heart, humor, and big chili energy. This community is truly something special, and we can’t wait to do it again November 10, 2026.

With much gratitude and appreciation - - Kristin & Elana

CHILI GOOD TIME

Huge thanks to our brand partners for supporting in a variety of ways and showing up for our community. We received monetary donations, as well as, beautiful and thoughtful gifts for our charity raffle prizes! And a big shout out to our friends from Infinium, Darran and EzoBord for attending, tasting and voting on their favorite chili! Thank you to Chilewich, Concertext, Darran, Emblem, EzoBord, Infinium, Nevers, Pair, RAD.

RAFFLED OUT!

Our community showed up in so many ways - especially with the raffle prizes! We stuffed baskets with Premium Cuts of Steak from Performance Foods, bottles of Rijoa, placemats from Chilewich, signed football from Bears player KYLER GORDON, shopping spree at boutiques around town, dining out at local spots like Andros Taverna and glass blowing lessons at IGNITE GLASS STUDIO.

YES, CHEFS!

Special thank you to our guests judges, Professional Chefs Steven Zabel and Nick Galanis for thoughtfully taste testing each chili without toppings and then again with toppings to get down to the winner of the CHEFS CHOICE - Chili Con Carnage!

INDUSTRY FRIENDS

SHOUT OUT! We would like to thank CLARK STREET ALE HOUSE for literally decking the halls and providing us with the most festive place for our event. To all of the Chili Chefs that competed, THANK YOU! It's not a chili cook off without chili and we couldn't have done this without you!

Corten

Huntsman

Gensler

LJC

Ware Malcomb

Nelson

PBD

And to all our sponsors ....

ECI

CONSOLIDATED FLOORING

CHICAGO LIGHTWORKS

KELSO-BURNETT