POULSBO — Budding Julia Childs, Emeril Lagasses and Bobby Flays will have a place to strut their culinary stuff this month in Little Norway.

A chili cook-off and a pie baking contest have been added to the line up at the 7th Annual Classic Yacht Rendezvous, which will be held Sept. 19-21 at the Poulsbo Waterfront. The event will feature tours of classic boats from the Northwest Classic Yacht Association, but organizers added the cooking contests as part of the new family-friendly theme.

The only thing left is for those with award-winning recipes to step forward. The free contests are open to anyone in the community and Interim Chamber Director Gary Hoskins said he feels they would be a good opportunity to get a little friendly rivalry started.

“I think it’ll be great,” Hoskins said. “Is your uncle’s pie better than grandma’s? Bring them down and we’ll find out. Can someone at Boxlight make a better pie or better chili than someone at Raytheon? I think the possibilities are endless.”

Hoskins said he sent out letters to local churches, fire departments, police departments and others to join in the fun. But with the Sept. 15 deadline nearing, he wants to get the word out that culinary creations are still needed.

“I haven’t seen one entry yet, so I’d love to get some coming in now,” Hoskins said.

And besides bragging rights for the next year (and maybe a lot of people inviting themselves over for dinner) chefs who whip up the best entries will get a treat of their own. One contest winner will receive a continental breakfast by Sluys Bakery aboard a cruise on one of the 25 pre-1940 classic yachts Sunday morning. The other winner will be treated to a massage at downtown Poulsbo’s Olympic Spas at a time of their choosing.

Those not taking top honors won’t be going home with empty pots and pans, though.

“We’re going to give those big, old-fashioned, country-fair-type ribbons to anyone who enters the contests,” Hoskins said.

For the chili contest, applicants need to bring one gallon of their best tongue-burner to the Kvelstad Pavilion by 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 for judging. Ingredients and style of chili is up to the contestants. There will be electrical outlets and burners available to reheat entries for tasting, if needed.

Pies must be apple or cherry. Each contestant must bring two finished pastry masterpieces to the pavilion by 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. One pie will be judged and the other will be cut and sold, which means even non-bakers win out.

Hoskins said he’d like to have the majority of applications turned in by Sept. 15 so organizers know how many contestants to plan on.

“But if someone walks up Saturday morning, we’re not going to turn them away,” he added.

Applications for both the chili cook-off and the pie baking contest are available at the Chamber Office, Kitchen Karousel in downtown Poulsbo and at the UPS Store at Poulsbo Village. For more information, call the Chamber at (360) 779-4848.