I need some chili suggestions.

I entered the golden ladle contest at work for the first time for best chili.
I know there must be aficionados, and chili masters within Fluther to give a helping hand.
There are a million recipes and opinions out there, so I need something other.
This is the pallet, or the framework I want to cook in. I am after sweet tomato, beefy flavor, chocolate notes, smoky but with a complex pepper flavor, but not overpowering on the Scoville index-I am dealing with engineers. I also have a smoker.
Most importantly in you experience:
Best beef for chili-chuck, top round or brisket-pork?
Best peppers-I an thinking Anchos, and some of the others, and about smoked paprika.
Bittersweet chocolate and maybe a few dark roast coffee beans, then smooth it out with some molasses-just ideas I have been seeing and contemplating.