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Meet the judges for the 10th Annual VisArts Chili Throwdown
Nothing goes better with a handmade ceramic bowl than chili, and we’ll take any excuse to link up with the foodies of Richmond.
Every year, we invite local restaurants to go head-to-head in a blind chili taste test here at VisArt. The chili is tested not only by our event attendees, but by a panel of judges as well. These judges know Richmond’s restaurant scene like no one else, and we are so excited to have them at the 10th Annual VisArts Chili Throwdown presented by TowneBank.
Before attending this year’s event on Friday, October 4, get acquainted with our three judges:
Justin Lo
Justin has served as the restaurant critic for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, since 2019. Both his critical and feature writing for the publication have been recognized by the Virginia Press Association. His byline has also appeared in En Forme magazine, Style Weekly, and the Southern Foodway Alliance’s Gravy magazine. In addition to food writing, Justin is involved on the boards of Virginia Humanities, the Richmond SPCA, Firehouse Theatre, and Equality Virginia Advocates and previously was an appointed member and vice chair of the statewide Virginia Asian Advisory Board. A government lawyer by day, Justin lives in the Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia with his husband and their two fittingly food-obsessed corgis, Kensington and Buckingham.
Eileen Mellon
Eileen is the food editor for Richmond Magazine and has been covering everything from new restaurants to local purveyors and people behind the scenes since 2018. A VCU grad, Mellon moved to RVA for college, got hooked on Sally Bell’s boxed lunches, and never left—that was nearly 15 years ago. When she’s not snagging a seat at the bar, drinking iced americanos and tracking down the city’s best work from home headquarters, you’ll find her hitting the trails and catching live music. Her current mission: Visit every national park and discover the best roadside, regional gems the country has to offer.
Elaine Digges
Elaine began her career in accounting from the Big Four to a more localized company but began to pivot her interest and created her local’s guide page, MISS ELAINE NEOUS. Her Instagram (@miss_elaine_neous) helps folks find out what’s going on, support local businesses and ‘live local.’ Elaine loves to be the first in line when a business opens their doors, and these past three years have been a chance to share her experiences in the city with locals and tourists alike.
The VisArts Chili Throwdown is the perfect kick-off for the fall season. This year, the event will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024. Participating restaurants from all over Richmond contribute their best chili, which is taste-tested by both a blind jury and the event’s attendees. Adult admission includes a handmade ceramic bowl made by a VisArts clay artist, a full pour of chili, beer and wine tickets, and live music. Snag your tickets today!
