Bonnie Carroll
Row 1 L-R Judges Dale Tate, Guillermo Gonzalez, GM LAM, 103.7, Tony and Tamy Chu, publishers/editors of Edible Ojai Ventura County, Ed Espinosa, Wendy Leung, Ventura County Star. Row 2 l-r Victoria Woddard Harvey, freelance food writer 805 Living, Anne Kallas, freelance writer, Virginia Esponisa, Bonnie Carroll, publisher/editor Bonnie Carroll’s Life Bites News and Wendy Leung, Ventura County Star food reporter.
By Bonnie Carroll
After two hours of sampling salsas from eight restaurants and specialty groceries, 10 judges including two food writers from Santa Barbara, cast their votes for winners in the 2019 Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Salsa Recipe Contest/Professional Division. Tacos Don Chente came away with the Judges Choice award for best overall salsa. The contest took place July 17 at La Dolce Vita Ristorante in Oxnard’s Heritage Square.
The restaurants and markets submitted 15 salsas ranging from mild to hot. The winners are:
- Best Mild Salsa: BG’s Café picante salsa
- Best Medium Salsa: Orozco’s de Ventura
- Best Hot Salsa: Montezuma Restaurant
- Best Red Salsa: BG’s Café
- Best Green Salsa: BG’s Café
- Best Specialty Salsa: Tacos Don Chente
- Judges Choice Award (best of the best): Tacos Don Chente
Judging the salsas were me and freelance writer Victoria Woodard Harvey along with Wendy Leung, Ventura County Star reporter, Tami and Tony Chu, publishers/editors of Edible Ojai & Ventura County, Anne Kallas, freelance writer, Ed and Virginia Espinoza, Guillermo Gonzalez, general manager at La M, 103.7 and Dale Tate.
Festivalgoers can sample these and other salsas during the 26th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival, July 27 and 28 from 11 am to 7 pm at Plaza Park (Fifth and ‘B’ Streets in downtown Oxnard). Salsa tasting tent admission is $5 per person, which includes freshly made Mission Foods’ tortilla chips and 10 tasting tickets.
Other festival highlights include live Latin bands, a crafts marketplace, international foods, kids’ play zone, community stage and the popular, “Dancing With OurCommunity Stars” contest and charity fundraiser. Admission and parking are free. Main stage open lawn seating is available for $5 (kids under 10 are free).
The Oxnard Salsa Festival is presented each year by the Oxnard Downtowners. Sponsors are Bud Light, Latin Percussion (LP), Mission Foods, McDonald’s, Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, Geico and other community partners. Visit: www.OxnardSalsaFestival.com.
