January has been rather dreary and drizzly, but we are firing things up at the North Market Fiery Foods Weekend on February 18th and 19th. From special vendors to fiery foods cooking and eating contests plus kids activities and live music there’s mild to wild fun to be had at the North Market Fiery Foods Weekend.

Want to get directly in on the fiery foods action? Customers can take a shot at fame and fortune (OK, infamy and North Market gift certificates) in a number of contests. Make great green stuff? Then the Homemade Guacamole Contest is right up your alley. If you’ve got chops with chopped avocados, it’s the one for you. Then there’s the tried and true Amateur Salsa Contest. If you’ve got a good mix of chunky or pureed fruit or vegetable salsa, put it to the test against other homemade salsa makers. Or maybe you like to play with fire? For you we have the Amateur Hot Sauce Contest. Or one can prove their chili preparing proficiency in our ever-popular Customer Chili Cook-off (entry closed). Finally, those with iron gullets can register on the day of the event for one of the myriad fiery food eating contests including Fiery Cornbread, Jalapenos, Hot Ice Cream Sundaes and Hot Wing eating contests. All contest winners will be rewarded with gift certificates or fiery foods prize packages.
In its seventh year the Chef Chili Challenge pits local professionals against one another as contenders for the title “North Market Chili Champ 2012,” a special trophy and $200 in North Market gift certificates. Participating in the battle are market merchants, fiery foods vendors and chefs from local restaurants.
New this year: BEER! The brilliant brewers at Columbus Brewing Company and Elevator Brewing Company are each concocting a special spicy elixir just for Fiery Foods Weekend at the North Market. You’ll be able to buy simply a sample, or if you are the brave sort, a whole pint for just $4.00. Also on tap will be a couple of non-throat-burning offerings to combat the capsaicin-laden offerings that will be abundant during the weekend.
View the schedule of activities here.
The North Market Fiery Foods Festival will take place on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19 and is a free event. A tasting fee of $5 on Saturday enables onlookers to sample the chilis of the professional chefs. A separate $5 tasting fee on Sunday applies to the chili by the amateur contestants. All tasting opportunities available only while supplies last. Market hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. To participate in the Guacamole, Salsa or Hot Sauce Contests, the Customer Chili Cook-off or the Chef Chili Challenge, and for more information, please call (614) 463-9664 or email mmartineau@northmarket.com. Sign up for the all fiery foods consumption contests will take place in the Dispatch Kitchen on the day of those events.














Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.