Cutler Bay’s 16th Annual Chili Cook Off Draws Record-Breaking Crowd of More Than 6,200 Attendees

CUtler Bay Chili Cook-Off

Cutler Bay, FL – January 29, 2026 - The Town of Cutler Bay hosted its 16th Annual Chili Cook Off on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Cutler Ridge Park, welcoming more than 6,200 attendees and once again breaking attendance records for one of the Town’s most popular community traditions.

The annual event brought together residents, families, local businesses, and visitors for an afternoon filled with food, music, and friendly competition. Guests enjoyed free chili, salsa, and cornbread samples while exploring a wide variety of food trucks, vendor booths, and activities throughout the park. Live music by hometown band Cutler Stew kept the energy high, while families took advantage of the Kids Zone, which featured inflatables, arts and crafts stations, face painting, and balloon artists.

This year’s Chili Cook Off was also attended by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, who joined Town leadership and residents in celebrating the continued success of this long-standing community event.

The Chili Cook Off continues to grow each year, building on more than a decade of tradition and community support. Local restaurants, organizations, and teams competed across multiple categories, showcasing their culinary creativity while connecting with thousands of attendees.

“This event has become one of the signature gatherings in Cutler Bay,” said Mayor Tim Meerbott. “Year after year, we see more people come out to enjoy great food, support local businesses, and spend time together as a community. Breaking attendance records again shows how much this tradition means to our residents.”

2026 Chili Cook Off Winners

Restaurant Division
Best Chili: Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill

Best Salsa: Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill

Cornbread Winners
3rd Place: The Jerks

2nd Place: Rodbenders Raw Bar & Grill

1st Place: Flava Unit

Salsa Winners
3rd Place: Mee Mah’s Chili

2nd Place: Ridge Rats Cutler Bay Firehouse 34

1st Place: Hanns On

Chili Winners
3rd Place: Pigwrecked

2nd Place: Cristo-Balls Hurrichili

1st Place: Traveling Tailgater

Firehouse Chili Winner: The Chili Beautiful

Best Decorated Booth: Flava Unit

People’s Choice Awards
2nd Place People’s Choice Salsa: Hanns On

1st Place People’s Choice Salsa: Ridge Rats Cutler Bay Firehouse 34

2nd Place People’s Choice Chili: Pigwrecked

1st Place People’s Choice Chili: Hialeah Fire Department

The Town of Cutler Bay thanks all participants, volunteers, and staff who helped make this year’s Chili Cook Off another record-breaking success. Special appreciation goes to this year’s sponsors, whose support made the event possible:

2026 Event Sponsors

Check out the event highlights in our photo album here.

For more information on future town events and initiatives, sign up for our ENewsletter.

For media inquiries, please email media@cutlerbay-fl.gov

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