The Harvard Square Business Association’s third annual Winter Carnival “Some Like it HOT Chili Cook-Off” was a spicy success!   

On February 5th, while the Packers and Steelers were gearing up to see who would dominate Super Bowl XLV, eight Harvard Square restaurants were gearing up to see who would dominate the chili scene. 

Ignoring freezing temperatures, wet snow and bone-chilling dampness, nearly one thousand chili-lovers turned out to taste the Square’s best chili.

This year’s samplings from Crema Café, Fire + Ice, Grendel’s Den, Harvest, Redline, Russell House Tavern, Tory Row, and UpStairs on the Square were dissected and devoured by discerning voters.  

The ballot process was fun, informal and the turned-in ballots were chili-stained, damp, and the clear winner was Redline! 

Tyler Titherington, the General Manager of Redline revealed a bit about their recipe. “Redline’s chili is a 3-meat, 3-bean concoction. It is spicy mixture of carnitas, ground beef, and Italian sausage, and black, white and kidney beans that can’t be beat!”

To round out the festivities, Trademark Tours was on hand to serve up chips and salsa, JP Licks presented their delicious Avocado ice cream, and the fabulous Bloco Afro Brazil kept the crowd dancing and clapping with their impossible to resist, toe-tapping, hip-swinging, head-bobbing drumming!  

For a full schedule of upcoming Harvard Square events, refer to:  www.harvardsquare.com