St. Catharines Downtown Association

The two cities have an enduring rivalry.

One is a tourism hot spot that considers itself world class.

The other is a regional administrative hub the Honeymoon Capital loves to hate.

Now, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines are stirring up a chili showdown to prove who really has the beef.

On Feb. 19, the winners of the Niagara Falls mayor and council chili cook-off will meet contestants in St. Catharines' downtown chili cook-off at Market Square.

The match-up is a challenge from St. Catharines city council, and Mayor Brian McMullan has no doubt who will prevail.

St. Catharines "has the ability to heat things up when it needs to," McMullan said.

We also have home-field advantage, McMullan pointed out. And as a judge, the mayor said he's tasted some extraordinary, lip-smacking selections.

Have no fear Niagara Falls, assured the mayor, this contest is good natured: "We won't be throwing anything, that's for sure.

"Niagara Falls is a worthy opponent."

Just to be fair, Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci will also sit on the cook-off's judging panel, which includes local personalities (including The Standard's Debi Wiebe, Doug Herod and Judy Bullis).

Please see full story by D. Fraser in The St. Catharines Standard: