Sassiest Salsa Contest Winner
Chef Alfonso Ramirez (center), receives the $500 first prize in the el Restaurante Sassiest Salsa contest from Publisher Ed Avis and Jennifer Meeuwse, associate brand manager, Mama Linda, which sponsored the contest.
Chef Alfonso Ramirez’s Salsa a la Vizcaina took top honors in the 2015 “Sassiest Salsa” contest sponsored by el Restaurante magazine and Mama Linda Tomato Products. Read the winning recipe by clicking here: http://elrestaurante.com/recipes/salsa/salsa-a-la-vizcaina/
el Restaurante Publisher Ed Avis and Jennifer Meeuwse, Associate Brand Manager, Mama Linda Tomato Products, presented Ramirez the $500 award at the Western Foodservice Expo in Los Angeles on Monday, August 24.
"I am very happy that my recipe won the contest," said Chef Ramirez (chefalsonsoramirez.com), a Montebellow, Calif.-based chef-restaurateur known for reviving the tradition of fine Mexican dining and and blending it with fresh California ingredients. He has many restaurants to his credit, including the former Hacienda San Isidro Grill.
Chris Koetke
The “Sassiest Salsa” Contest, which was open to all foodservice professionals, asked participants to submit an original salsa recipe using canned tomatoes. The recipes were evaluated by Christopher Koetke, vice president of the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts in Chicago, which is is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Koetke is also vice president of Baltimore-based Laureate International Universities Center of Excellence in Culinary Arts.
“These were interesting entries, and I think that when it comes to what defines salsa, this is a broad category that is limited in its interpretation. I was looking for different and original salsas and the recipes that I made are very dependent on the type of canned products,” Koetke said. “My first pick is delicious, and while not scoopable with a chip, is a great accompaniment to other ingredients. If things were cut differently, it could be a scoopable salsa. That said, it is delicious.”
The Beet, Orange, and Quinoa Salsa from Jack Gilbert, owner of Gringo Jack’s in Manchester Center, Vermont (click here to read that recipe) and the Casita Miguel Salsa from Chef Michael Watz of Sikia Restaurant in Chicago (click here to read that recipe) took home second and third-place honors, respectively.
About el Restaurante: el Restaurante is a quarterly, bilingual magazine targeted specifically to the Mexican/Latin foodservice industry in the U.S. The publication also has a companion website (www.elrestaurante.com), monthly email newsletter (eMex), and Recipe of the Week email.
About Mama Linda: Mama Linda® tomato products are perfect for creating signature salsas. Available in Ground Tomatoes in Light Purée and Chopped Tomatoes in Juice, Mama Linda® tomatoes provide year-round fresh flavor, consistency, labor savings, and a high product yield. Made by Heinz, an undisputed leader in quality tomato products worldwide.