HCDE brought back a beloved Department-wide tradition last year with its Chili Cook-off. After more than 10 years, HCDE employees were excited to participate and successfully kick off the Houston Rodeo season. With the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo set to begin Feb. 27, the competition returns to showcase culinary skills and creativity among HCDE divisions.  

As HCDE’s cooks and competition teams plan for next week’s cook-off, last year’s winners provide insight and tips to producing a first-place dish!  

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools (CSSS) won the chili competition, finishing ahead of runner-up Head Start and Administration. Administrative Assistant Gil Gaona made the winning dish for CSSS and said preparing the chili early is key.   

“Make sure you prepare it a few days in advance so that all ingredients will meld,” Gaona said. “You wouldn’t believe how the flavor changes from immediate taste to days later.”  

In the cornbread competition, Human Resources took home first-place honors. The division finished ahead of second-place Choice Partners and Center for Educator Success. 

Human Resources Coordinator Kris Duke took the lead on the winning dish, with a family recipe that stands the test of time. 

“The crawfish cornbread recipe comes from my 94-year-old grandmother,” Duke said. “It’s a nod to our Louisiana Creole roots.” 

The cook-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on March 1 in the Irvington conference center. Food competition categories will be chili and cornbread, and there will be an additional competition for booth decoration.