by Jeanni Ritchie
We are all about food, fellowship, and fun at our house so when I realized May was National Salsa Month, I decided to host a salsa tasting competition using salsas from 12 different local restaurants. I invited friends and family over for what I’d dubbed a “Salsa State Fair” setting out a dozen different bowls in a blind taste test.
Each judge received a bottled water, a bowl of chips- the same brand for all to keep the results valid- and three ribbons (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). They were to taste all twelve and place their ribbons on the top 3, just as they would a prized 4-H pig at the county fair!
Participating restaurants included Mi Tio, Mi Tierra, Tequilas, Yucatán, Sombreros, Pedro’s, Los Portales, Cayefuego, Rio Rojo, Javi P’s, Caros, and El Reparo. Not only were each of these restaurants interested in being a part of this community event, many hosts give-back nights to help local schools or residents in need by donating a portion of that evening’s sales. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the owners and/or GM’s of each of these restaurants, especially the ones who agonized over which of their salsas to send!
We had so much fun the judges started asking when National Coffee, National Donut, and National Ice Cream days were, deeming this a great way to spend a Family Game Night. My youngest daughter created a list of future competitions, from biscuits to fries to pizza.
But this night was all about salsa! My son Cody was a regular Robert Irvine, taking his job so seriously he took notes as he looked, sniffed, and tasted each one like a salsa sommelier. He wasn’t the only one. Kaden googled best ways to judge a salsa competition with full criteria and passed her clipboard to Kendrick, who stoically munched on number 11 with a straight face even after we told him it burned holes in our tongues. We laughed as he surreptitiously “cleansed his palate” with a larger swig of water than usual!
After three hours, it was time to announce the winners! The posters were all filled with blue, red, and white ribbons so we devised a point system. 3 points for blue (1st place) ribbons, 2 points for red (2nd place), and 1 point for white (3rd place). We tallied the points.
1st place- Cayefuego, coming in hot with their recent opening
2nd place (tie)- Caro’s and Los Portales (Lo Po to its regulars)
3rd place- Yucatan
Sombreros, with a few blue ribbons of their own, had also generously donated a gift card door prize. Our very first judge, Kelsey, won the drawing though she was long in bed by the time her name was drawn. It had been a come and go event but some of us stayed well past midnight playing games and nibbling on chips and dip!
What a great time! Happy #NationalSalsaMonth! Visit one of these participating restaurants and show your support for the places who support the community!
Participating restaurants and addresses:
Caro’s- 1412 Metro Drive, Alexandria
Cayefuego- 3632 Monroe Hwy, Pineville
El Reparo- 550 MacArthur Drive, Alexandria
Javi P’s- 1800 MacArthur Drive, Alexandria
Los Portales- 2071 N. Mall Drive, Alexandria
Mi Tierra- 1460 N. MacArthur Drive, Alexandria
Mi Tio- 1302 Texas Avenue, Alexandria
Pedro’s- 3024 N. MacArthur Drive, Alexandria
Rio Rojo- 6340 Coliseum Blvd, Alexandria
Sombreros- 1730 Metro Drive, Alexandria
Tequilas- 2870 LA-28, Alexandria
Yucatán- 200 Sandifer, Pineville
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
