Celebrity Chef Bob Waggoner Joins Chili Cook-Off
Charleston Animal Society Virtual Fundraiser Takes Place November 21st
Charleston Animal Society’s Annual Chili Cook-off has been re-imagined as an online event so people anywhere can participate this 20th anniversary year! Celebrity chef Bob Waggoner joins with three-time Emmy® Award winning celebrity dog trainer CBS Lucky Dog host Brandon McMillan to lead the pack. Anyone can visit www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/ChiliCookOff to celebrate with thousands of animal lovers raising money for Toby’s Fund that provides medical care for homeless animals at Charleston Animal Society.
Born in Los Angeles and classically trained in France, Chef Bob Waggoner, who currently hails from his private cooking school, In The Kitchen with Bob Waggoner, was tapped to create two different recipes for the competing Holy Jalapenos and 3 Amigos teams to celebrate the 20th Annual (Virtual) Chili Cook-off benefitting Charleston Animal Society. According to Chef Waggoner, “My goal was to add an elegant French flair to cooking chili, a distinctly Southern dish.” That goes for the Chef’s chili recipe, too. “In our chilis we included sautéed shrimp, heirloom tomatoes, shallots and fresh garlic. With the chili cook-off being a virtual event, the two teams in my kitchen filmed their preparations to be shown to the audience that tunes in to Facebook Live on November 21st.” You can see Chef Waggoner and his cat Eileen having fun in the kitchen in this shout-out video for Charleston Animal Society: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k95NbqiQk0Q.
The two-hour virtual chili cook-off will be streamed live November 21st from 5 pm to 7 pm on the Facebook pages for both Charleston Animal Society and Live 5 WCSC, the chili cook-off official media partner. The event includes celebrities, chefs, famous chili recipes, fundraising teams, and heartwarming stories about the lives saved every day at Charleston Animal Society. Viewers who tune in will also see the entire cooking segment featuring Chef Bob Waggoner’s creations for the Holy Jalapenos and the Three Amigos teams.
“What’s brilliant about the virtual chili cook-off is that anyone can sign up to participate by hosting a small group in their home to make chili and just ask friends, family, or coworkers to donate online,” says Charleston Animal Society President and CEO, Joe Elmore. “When one of the South’s beloved chefs Bob Waggoner joins forces with South Carolina’s top-rated charity, Charleston Animal Society, we are creating a lifesaving powerhouse. As COVID-19 forced the cancellation of our signature in-person fundraising events this year, our revenue is down by almost $1 million. Even with the lost revenue our daily operations to rescue, shelter, and heal injured and homeless animals has never stopped.” Anything goes when you can participate simply by having chili with friends at home or setting up a fundraising page. From a themed chili-making party to posting videos of families making their favorite dish, anyone can be involved and help raise needed funds for the important work of the Animal Society.
In addition to the Holy Jalapenos and the 3 Amigos fundraising teams, Live 5 WCSC, Palmetto Brewing Company, Michelob Ultra, J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Crews Subaru and Husk Restaurant have joined the pack as sponsors for the 20th Annual Chili Cook-off. Sponsorship levels range from the $1,000 Poblano Pepper and the $2,500 Jalapeno Pepper to the $10,000 Habanero Pepper and the $25,000 Caroline Reaper levels. For more information about sponsorships, visit www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/ChiliCookOff or email Sean Hawkins [email protected].
