New Participants To Compete In 6th Annual Glen Ellyn Charity Chili Cookoff At Reserve 22

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Eight local restaurants will bring unique chili recipes to vie for glory —and benefit a good cause— at the sixth annual Glen Ellyn Charity Chili Cookoff. The event will be held Feb. 22 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Reserve 22..

Last year, around $5,000 was raised to benefit charities chosen by each of the participating restaurant, Reserve 22 Marketing Strategist Julie Rusin told Patch. This year, Glen House Food Pantry, Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center and Bridge Communities are among the local organizations who will receive aprt of the Glen Ellyn Charity Chili Cookoff's proceeds.

Of the eight restaurant's slated to participate this year, Fire + Wine, Maize + Mash, Nobel House, Reserve 22 and Main Street Pub have been regulars in the cookoff. Rusin said Made In Italy is returning this year and Maplewood Brewing and MK Steak + Bar will be joining for the first time.

Rusin told Patch she expects this year's special recipes may integrate beloved items from each restaurant's menus, including MK Steak incorporating "their delicious steak."

"But we'll see," she teased, "Nobel House usually finds a way to incorporate brisket."

"Personally, I think the garnishes are the secret to winning," Rusin dished.

Nobel House won the cookoff in 2025. The previous year's winner was Fire+Wine, which Rusin said "has the most wins under their belt!"

"The Glen Ellyn Chili Cookoff for Charity is everything we love about our community," Rusin told Patch, "local restaurants coming together for a great cause, incredible support for one another, and chili that’s as fun as it is delicious. We can't wait to crown a winner."

Tickets include chili samples and samples from local brewery's for attendees who are 21 and older. Advance tickets are $20 and include early admission at 12 p.m. Click to reserve a spot for the 6th Annual Charity Chili Cookoff.