Get A Grip Cycles & Revolution Spin Welcome Celeb Judge to Chili Cook-Off: Sandwich King

The fourth-annual Get A Grip Cycles & Revolution Spin Chili Cook-Off is coming up Oct. 26th and the race is on to defeat Kevin Costello’s (owner, Get A Grip Cycles) “Texas Showdown Chili,” which is, admittedly, ridiculously good.

We’ve all got our work cut out for us. You, too, if you’d like to come by and/or enter your super-secret-special batch of chili, that’d be great. It’s open to absolutely everyone, will include an ASSOS and Gore bike wear trunk show, plus general revelry and good times.

Things kick off at 6 p.m. and the trunk show featuring ASSOS & Gore Bike Wear will begin at 7 p.m. Come on by! And RSVP for the Chili Cook-Off on Facebook! To enter your chili in the contest, email saj@getagripcycles.com.

But the REAL NEWS is that we have a celebrity judge this year, fresh off winning the title on Food Network Star (season seven): newly-christened “Sandwich King” Jeff Mauro, a native of Chicago with a penchant for cooking and the camera.

The Spoils of Victory & How To Win

Mauro just completed a victory of lap of press and marketing events around the country to promote Food Network Star and his new show, Sandwich King, so we’re lucky to have him stop by for the Chili Cook-Off and much appreciate it. Of course, his specialty is sandwiches but he also knows his way around a chili pot. First, his sandwich philosophy and, then, the judge is going to give some tips on what he likes, doesn’t like per the Chili Cook-Off. (Contestants take note!)

Mauro’s 3 Rules of The Sandwich

1. Procure the best ingredients: focus on good meat, fresh bread, tasty cheese, good condiments, etc.
2. Focus on the textures in the bitedown: you want variation, not all crunchy or soft.
3. Make it pretty so people want to eat it.

And now, Mauro’s thoughts on chili (this is important, pay attention!): “I love a good, medium-hot chili. I want to be able to control the spice, so hopefully there won’t be any jalapeno-laden chili,” he says. “Let me control that. I love Tabasco in chili, love flavor where you can taste that everything was done at the right moments.

“There’s an art form to chili and that lies in the process. For me, when I make chili, it’s very simple and classic. I’m a big fan of that,” finishes Mauro.

More About Mauro

Persistence. Mauro’s got it. “This was my third attempt to get on the show and to not only get on it, but to win it, was great–and tough,” says Mauro. “I spent 2.5 months sequestered from everything, friends and family. Then I came right back and went to work, but still couldn’t talk about the show. I had to keep a lot of secrets for nearly a year and I’m glad that’s over.”

The six episode season of Food Network Star ended a few weeks ago, but Mauro is already thinking about season two: “I’m getting prepared mentally and physically, and also working on the Sandwich King,” he says. “To that end, I’m getting in shape, and Jason Bressler at Revolution Spin (on Facebook, Twitter)  is helping me with that.

“I used to be the private chef at Guaranteed Rate, which has a nice bike culture, and I’d bike to work every day, but I live in Elmwood Park right now and it’s not feasible,” says Mauro. “I’m going to make Revolution Spin my thing now–really looking forward to it.”

You’ll also be able to find Mauro judging a burger contest at the Hard Rock Cafe, Oct. 15. Plus, find Jeff Mauro on Twitter, Facebook and your TV.