Some people work years perfecting their chili recipes, but the winner of the Exceptional Foundation’s 2026 Chili Cook-Off on Saturday had never cooked chili before in his life.
John Starkey, the head chef of the Birmingham Men’s Law Firm team that captured the grand prize in this year’s cookoff, doesn’t even like chili.
His father, Gregory Starkey (the founder of the Birmingham Men’s Law Firm), told him this week he was participating in the chili cookoff and asked him if he wanted to cook. He agreed…