21st Annual Shanghai Chili Cook Off — Bigger, Bolder, Spicier Than Ever!第21届上海辣椒烹饪大赛———更大、更敢、更火辣！

Watch the Full Chili Cook-Off Video Recap!

The 21st Annual Shanghai Chili Cook Off returned to ShanKangLi, bringing together the city’s most talented chefs, food lovers, and chili enthusiasts for an unforgettable autumn block party! 

第21届上海辣椒烹饪大赛重磅回归陕康里，将这座城市最具才华的厨师、美食爱好者与辣椒狂热粉齐聚一堂，打造了一场难忘的秋季街区派对！

BEFORE WE CROWN THE WINNERS… 
Click the link below to meet the 16 Teams That Brought the Heat! 在加冕冠军之前……点击下方链接，认识点燃全场的 16 支队伍      

SHANGHAI CHILI COOK-OFF XXI - TO BEAN OR NOT TO BEAN | MEET THE 2026 COMPETITORS | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2026

Winners of the 21st Chili Cook Off 

21届赛事获奖团队介绍

The Grand Championship Face-Off
This year featured two equally deserving division champions: Homestyle (Beans) and Traditional Red (No Beans). 
Judges Ned Kelly, Sophie Steiner, and Chef Eduardo Vargas presided over a fun final Face-Off between the two winners to decide whose name goes first on the trophy. 
Riding a wave of crowd enthusiasm, the Beans division emerged as the fan favorite to claim that top spot—though a massive shout-out goes to Traditional Red champion Motor Smokers, who earned the highest overall judges’ score of the entire competition!

终极总决赛机制本届大分成，有豆组（Homestyle）与无豆组（Traditional Red）两个分量同等的冠军组别。评审团 Ned Kelly、Sophie Steiner 与主厨 Eduardo Vargas 共同主持了两组冠军的终极对决（Face-Off），以决定谁的名字率先刻上奖杯。凭借现场粉丝的超高热情，有豆组在人气对决中脱颖而出拔得头筹；与此同时，必须特别致敬无豆组冠军 Motor Smokers——他们斩获了全场最高专业评审总分！

In honor of the crowd-favorite Beans division, we’re announcing the Beans winners first!??????

?? Homestyle Division (With Beans) 有豆组

?? 3rd Place — Bamboo Riverhouse

• Captains : T2  & Leon
• Awards : 3rd Place Best Chili (With Beans) Score: 248

Competing under a fresh name, Bamboo Riverhouse came backed by heavyweights from Big Bamboo, the former True Legends Group, and the Pistolera circle. Led by T2—our youngest team captain—don’t let his age fool you: with Leon and the crew behind him, this young chef brought serious kitchen skills and delivered a big surprise to the judges, taking home 3rd Place!

虽然顶着新队名出战，Bamboo Riverhouse 背后却集结了 Big Bamboo、前 True Legends Group 以及 Pistolera 圈子的餐饮老炮。别被最年轻队长 T2 的年纪骗了——在 Leon 和一众队友的力挺下，这位年轻大厨用硬核厨艺给评审团制造了大大的惊喜，一举拿下季军！

?? 2nd Place  —Chili Con Carney

Captain :  Chase Williams
Awards : 2nd Place Best Chili (With Beans) Score: 277
Bringing together a reunion of legendary former Rooster competitors and the Shanghai Lacrosse community, Chili Con Carney brought huge energy, a massive tent, and serious cooking skills. Captain Chase Williams, alongside chefs Christian and Paul, cooked up a rich bean-loaded chili that secured them 2nd Place!

聚集了老牌 Rooster 战队核心成员与上海拉力棒球（Shanghai Lacrosse）社群成员的 Chili Con Carney 战队，不仅现场气氛火爆、人气十足，更展现了超强的烹饪功底！在队长 Chase Williams 以及大厨 Christian、Paul 的带领下，一举夺得有豆组亚军！

?? 1st Place — The People’s Pickles

Captain: John Bonko
Awards : 1st Place Best Chili (With Beans) 
Score: 281

Famous for supplying the event with delicious crunchy pickles for years, The People’s Pickles finally entered the chili competition for the very first time—and made history! 

多年来以招牌酸菜为比赛带来爽脆美味的 The People’s Pickles，今年首次报名参加辣椒烹饪大赛便一战成名！

?? Traditional Red Division (No Beans) ??无豆组

?? 3rd Place — Scovilla’s Revenge

• Captain : Samson
• Awards : 3rd Place Best Chili (No Beans) 
• Score: 260

As back-to-back champions in 2023 and 2024, Scovilla’s Revenge has been one of the most formidable teams in Cook-Off history. Samson and his crew came out swinging once again, adding another impressive trophy to their legendary awards collection.

作为2023年和2024年的连续两届冠军，Scovilla’s Revenge 一直是大赛历史中最具威慑力的劲旅之一。队长 Samson 带领团队再次展现顶尖实力，为他们丰富的荣誉陈列柜再添一座重量级奖杯！

?? 2nd Place — Blackout Boys

• Captain: John "Dark Star"
• Awards: 2nd Place Best Chili (No Beans) 
• Score: 263

John "Dark Star" came back for redemption with two strict promises: NO BEANS, and NO DISQUALIFICATION! After last year's heartbreaking off-site cooking DQ, Dark Star cooked his chili live on-site under the Blackout Boys banner, delivering an outstanding recipe that earned him a well-deserved 2nd Place podium finish.

去年因为场外烹饪被取消资格（明明辣酱能进前三）。今年卷土重来，迟到且只有4小时烹饪时间，居然拿了第二名！完美的逆袭故事。

?? 1st Place — Motorsmoker

• Captain :  Denzil
• Awards : 1st Place Best Chili (No Beans) 
• Score: 294

The first team to arrive on-site and start cooking, they claimed their first major victory and achieved the highest overall score of the entire competition! Even though their name appears second on the trophy following the Face-Off, their chili was second to none.

全场最早到达并开始烹饪的队伍，这是他们的第一个大奖，且拿下了全场最高分！虽然奖杯名字因对决排在第二，但他们的辣酱实力无可匹敌。

BEYOND THE BOWL: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! 

超越碗中美味：让狂欢继续！

The block party stretched across ShanKangLi with dual live stages at Parlay and Riink! From afternoon to night, an incredible lineup—including The Spaghetti Cowboys, DJ Fixer, DJ Lucy Wang, DJ Abzolute, DJ BACKSPVCE, and Papasuda—kept the crowd grooving.

本次街头狂欢横跨陕康里，在 Parlay 与 Riink 设立双舞台！从午后到夜晚，包括 The Spaghetti Cowboys、DJ Fixer、DJ Lucy Wang、DJ Abzolute、DJ BACKSPVCE 以及 Popasuda 在内的豪华阵容轮番献艺，带动全场尽情律动

BACK FOR SECONDS: JIASHAN LANE MARKET! 
嘉善集市又回归了！

We were thrilled to partner with Jiashan Lane Market (嘉善集市) AGAIN to bring even more community warmth and creativity to the block party!

我们非常荣幸能与嘉善集市（Jiashan Lane Market）再次强强联手，为本次街区派对注入了更浓郁的社区温暖与创意活力！

A Special Shout-Out to Our Culinary Judges!

特别致谢：舌尖上的重量级评审团！

1. Ned Kelly

  - National Editorial Director of That’s Shanghai (JY International Cultural Communication) – Covering the latest happenings and news across Shanghai and China. 
- 18-Year Media Veteran – Overseeing That’s brand expansion across      Beijing, Suzhou, and Hainan, and leading its digital transformation into    a market leader. 
-  High-Profile Cultural Journalist – Having interviewed legendary international figures like Mick Jagger, Elton John, Lionel Richie, and Matt Groening,with extensive writing on Shanghai's history and Chinese football. 

• -《That’s Shanghai》（骏亚国际传播）全国编辑总监 – 聚焦上海及全中国最新的潮流动态与同城新闻。
• - 18年资深媒体舵手 – 统筹《That’s》品牌在北京、苏州和海南的版图扩展，并成功推动其转型为数字化市场领导者。
• - 名流访谈与文化撰稿人– 曾深度专访 Mick Jagger、Elton John、Lionel      Richie 及 Matt Groening 等国际巨星，并在上海历史与中国足球等领域深耕写作。

2. Sophie Steiner

- Shanghai-based food and travel journalist and content creator for the last 11 years, originally from the USA.
- Former Managing Editor of That’s Shanghai for 5 years.
- International Food & Beverage and Travel Journalist
– Freelance journalist for World’s 50 Best, Michelin,Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, South China Morning Post, Business Insider, Esquire, Imbibe   Magazine, LUXE City Guides and more.
-Founder of Sophie Serves Up– A food, drink, and travel platform exploring culinary cultures across China, Asia, and beyond.
- Global Culinary Explorer– Bringing an internationally seasoned palate, a love of bold flavors, and an appreciation for all things spicy to this year’s chili competition!

• - 在上海生活11年的美国美食与旅游撰稿人、内容创作者。
• - 曾任《That’s      Shanghai》主编长达5年。
• - 国际餐饮与旅游撰稿人——《世界50最佳餐厅》、《米其林指南》、《Travel      + Leisure》、《Condé Nast Traveler》、《南华早报》、《Business      Insider》、《Esquire》、《Imbibe      Magazine》、《LUXE City Guides》等知名媒体特约撰稿人。
• - 《Sophie Serves Up》创始人——探索中国、亚洲及全球美食文化的专栏平台。
• - 环球美食探险家——带着国际化的味蕾、对大胆风味的热爱以及对辛辣美食的钟爱助阵本届大赛！

3. Chef Eduardo Vargas

- Shanghai Culinary Pioneer with over 20 years of shaping and redefin   ing the city’s dynamic dining scene.
- Chef & Founder behind Azul Group (Azul, Azul Italiano, Colca)   and Morena in ShanKangLi.
- Global Flavor Trailblazer – Bringing decades of professional kitchen  expertise, vibrant Peruvian culinary passion, and deep Shanghai roots to the judging panel.

• - 上海餐饮界先锋传奇，深耕魔都精致餐饮二十余载。
• - Azul 餐饮集团（Azul、Azul Italiano、Colca）及陕康里Morena餐厅创始人与主厨。
• -环球风味缔造者 ——带着数十年顶尖厨艺、热烈的秘鲁风味激情与深厚的上海美食底犹做客评审团。

??Want to see more event highlights?

Scan the QR code below to access the full photo gallery and relive the best moments!

??想查看更多现场精彩瞬间？

扫描下方二维码，开启完整活动相册，重温火辣现场！

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners

特别鸣谢赞助商与合作伙伴

An event of this scale wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our partners and sponsors:

Asian Tigers Group (泛骏华国际物流): 

• A massive shout-out for their continuous, long-time support of Shanghai’s F&B and local  community! 

• Crush-It Hard Iced Tea
•  Our core sponsor from Canada bringing refreshing, vodka-spiked lemon ice tea—the ultimate cooler to beat the heat of the chili competition!

• Jarritos 
• Huge thanks for providing iconic, fruity Mexican sodas that brought authentic festive flavor and refreshing vibes to the party!

• PAO   Drinks: Special thanks for supplying delicious, refreshing beverages to keep all attendees hydrated and energized throughout the day!

• Riink — Special thanks to our partners at Riink for bringing retro roller-skating energy, neon vibes, and pop-up cocktails to the block party!

Thank you to all the teams, judges, volunteers, and attendees for making the 21st Shanghai Chili Cook Off an absolute legendary success. See you all next year!

感谢所有参赛队伍、评审团、志愿者以及到场观众，是你们共同铸就了第21届上海辣椒烹饪大赛的传奇与成功。我们明年再见！