Taylor Delanoy won the award for best spice at the Chili Cook-Off this year. (Candice Stilwell, Madras Pioneer)Swipe or click to see moreCooks Bear Ross and Bill Joscelyn won the most creativity award for their brisket chili (Candice Stilwell, Madras Pioneer)Swipe or click to see moreThe Madras Downtown Association’s annual Chili Cook Off contest turned up the heat Jan. 24, following a four year hiatus after the COVID-19 pandemic put the burgeoning event on hold. Started in 2019, the annual event pits aspiring cooks against one another in a head-to-head competition to see who can make the best chili. Shannon Padgett, treasurer of the Madras Downtown Association, coordinated the Chili Cook Off and entered a chili as well. The two friends teamed up to participate, using their Texas brisket chili recipe featuring brisket and chilis, but no beans.