Bring The Heat!

If you know me you know that I love watching all food shows. From Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel and Bravo. Well, OK I skipped FOX, since I don't care too much for that Ramsey character. Anyway, I always wonder how those hosts get those incredible gigs traveling and tasting foods. And I'm like "hey I can do that". And well that is what I did recently. Last week I was a judge for The Central Market Hatch Chile Recipe Contest. I was selected out of a slew of applicants who entered in the hopes of tasting some mighty fine hot eats. Not sure if it was my compelling story about my love of spicy foods growing up in a Mexican home, the fact that I am a Texas newbie or perhaps that I am a master taster that swayed the vote in my favor. In any event I was picked!

It was fun having my name on a little place card. I was seated in the center with four other judges. Two of the judges are local radio personalities and podcast hosts. Susan Gayle, aka The Queen of Spoons, and host of Food Love Austin on KOOP radio was on of the guest judges. As was Cecilia Nasti host of Field and Feast.  Jill and Kevin Lewis of Austin Slow Burn completed the panel of judges. They even dressed the part. Both wearing festive pepper prints on thier shirts. I wore green, the same shade of chile as the hatch being celebrated.

We tasted savory and sweet concoctions that ran the gamut from good old fashioned chicken & dumplings spruced up with the fiery heat of roasted chiles, to a delicate squash soup with just a hint of heat to even a vegan chocolate cupcake with chiles in the butter cream. Some were hits, and others were misses. The dumplings took home the ribbon. I took home some slight indigestion. As a gift for all those who participated Central Market graciously gifted us with a basket loaded with hatch chile snacks like chips, popcorn, jam and chile queso. Along with the goodie bag I received a $50 gift card. Thanks so much for the chance to be involved in the tasting and all the great swag! I wold love to do it again next year.