Meet the Winners of the Salsa Contest at the Carmichael Park Farmers Markets

On Sunday, September 18, 2011 over 1,000 tastings were offered to patrons who visit the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market at the Carmichael Park.  They all had the pleasure, yet difficult task of voting for their "Market Favorite Salsa".  Participants included both commercial/business entities and amateur/individual entrants.  Awards were given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in both categories.  Lines formed to taste fourteen different salsas!  Salsas entered included sweet salsas made with mangos, onions, and cilantro.  Others were more traditional with a combination of red tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro and spices.  There were mild and hot salsas that included some of the season's best jalapenos too!  There was something for everyone.  But, there was no doubt who had the best salsa and voted the Market Favorite(s).

The Gomes Family - Live Food
Academy accept their First Place Win!

In the commercial category, Live Food Academy was voted the First Place Market Favorite salsa.  They entered a delicious salsa that was mostly green in color, crunchy in texture and included ingredients of cilantro, jicama and a secret unique blend of spices and other ingredients that had people coming back for more!  This is their specialty as they package and sell their unique salsa blend each week at the Carmichael Farmers Market every Sunday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.   Chef and Raw Food Enthusiast Margaret Gomes and her husband created this blend and have successfully been marketing it as one of the many products they have been asked by their  many followers to make available for purchase.  Margaret Gomes is a raw food educator, caterer, chef and personal diet coach specializing in both personal and business wellness programs.  Live Food Academy is a "mobile teaching school"  offering classes in cooking, nutrition, and health and wellness.  They will  be featuring an introductory demonstration seminar at the Farmers Market in the coming season.

KAS Foods - 2nd Place

The second place award went to KAS Foods who make and sell a green salsa made with cilantro, onions, jalapenos and spices.  They offer this salsa as a condiment to their specialty food items they prepare and sell at the market each week known as "arepas",  a favorite dish from Venezuela, South America.  These round english muffin shaped corn cakes are fluffy, delicious and filled with their specially prepared shredded pork, shredded chicken with avocado and their vegetarian blend of black beans and cheese.  They are quite delectable.

The Crazy Gringo Taco Wagon - 3rd Place

The third place award went to The Crazy Gringo Salsa Taco Wagon.  They entered their original salsa blend, a more traditional tomato based salsa that had a "kick" to it.  You could not miss the sensational taste of fresh garlic mixed among the tomatoes, cilantro, onions and other spices.  People come back each week to buy the salsa that compliments their delicious tamales.  They sell out every week!

Esteban Nava - Amateur 1st Place Winner

In the individual/amateur category, the First Place award went to Esteban Nava, a community member of Carmichael, and one of the candidates running for honorary mayor of Carmichael who is hot on the trail to raise funds to support the Carmichael Chamber.  He won with his delicious blend of mango, onions, garlic, cilantro, peppers and spices.  It was chunky and very delicious.  He and his family could not miss the opportunity to participate in the event to show off their talent!

The second place winner of this category was Autumn Hall, who made a salsa recipe that included the ingredients of the product she sells every week for Chacewater Olive Oil.  Her recipe included heirloom tomatoes, spices, chacewater tuscany blend of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  When asked if she could reproduce it again, she said "maybe".  She described the making of it as an inspiration as oppose to a recipe!

The third place award went to Linda Bigler who soon wants to start her own food/catering business she has already named "Spank Your Palate". Linda had the "hot salsa" that included chunks of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic spices and a delicious blend of roasted red and green jalapenos.  It definitely woke up the palate of each who tasted it, putting the "spank" in "Spank Your Palate."  We look forward to witnessing future food endeavors by Linda and her new business.

The Salsa Contest was the first of many more to come at the BeMoneySmartUSA Farmers Market(s) as this will become an annual event.  We once again congratulate the winners and look forward to doing this again next year in 2012!