|
Zest Fest 2008: The Good, the Bad, and the Bless Your Heart |
|
We here at Fort Worth Foodie were honored to serve as judges for this year’s ZestFest Fiery Food Challenge. The Golden Chile is one of the most prestigious awards that a zesty product on the market can win. These products encompass over 80 categories of salsas, marinades, rubs, barbecue sauces, snacks, candies, and more. Now that’s a LOT of fiery food - and I have the holes in my stomach to prove it.
Being a Fiery Food first-timer, I was amazed and impressed at the number of entrants and the seriousness with which this challenge is taken. Judges were well prepared with fruit, cheese, tall glasses of milk and cans of whipped cream to help calm the effects of what was to come. My fears were falsely allayed by some mild salsas and sweet barbecue sauces in the morning session of the first day. But it was not long before I was demanding my own tall glass of milk when the habanero sauces came in the afternoon. Here’s a note for future reference – don’t let that stuff touch your lips. If you have to taste some – a tiny drop on the center of your tongue will do the trick…otherwise you will be the victim of a slow burn for the rest of the day. I’m sure my tablemate, Deborah Ferguson, will echo this advice as I am almost positive that I saw a tiny trail of smoke coming out of her ears as she took a mad dash for cheese and water. And apparently this wasn’t the REALLY hot stuff. Some tables were served extracts on the end of a toothpick…need I say more? As expected – there were many wonderful products that I will certainly be looking for in the supermarket to stock on my own shelves. But as with any contest where entrants are self-submitted – there were some “unique” offerings. As one judge at our table put it - “you taste this and you just want to say ‘bless your heart’ – are you really selling this product on the market?” But overall, I have to say if the products and people that I came in contact with over the past three judging days are any indication of what is to come at ZestFest this weekend – then I am in for a great time! And I cannot conclude without a huge THANK YOU to Chef Jon Bonnell for hosting the judges this week and providing a delicious spread of snacks and lunch items in true Bonnell’s fashion. So be sure to make plans to attend ZestFest this weekend! You will not want to miss the chance to judge for yourself some of the best products on the market all under one roof!
ZestFest 2008 – hosted by Chile Pepper Magazine September 5-7; Will Rogers Memorial Center www.zestfest2008.com
 |
