Top cooks win Cattlemen's Tavern Menudo Cookoff

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Talented cooks competed for top honors in the first annual Menudo and Chili Cook-Off at Cattlemen's Square Sunday, Nov. 2.

DJ Joey D. provided the musical entertainment during the afternoon with the huge speakers blasting cumbia, Tejano, norteno and more.

The skies were clear mostly clear as clouds rolled by and weather was pleasant and beautiful. The setting was scenic.

Meanwhile, the smells of chili cooking and menudo was wafting through the air.

The First place winners were: Chili: Marvin Cannon.

Menudo: Fidel Garcia's "911 Menudo."

Additional winners were Terry (T-Bone) Quintero for Second and Robert Garcia/Lulu Fuentes for third place.

Also Second Place for Chili went to Frank Mendoza.

All place winners received a cash prize.

Additional participants included Joseph Puente (Tiny), Juan Fernandez, Eric Ochoa, Pete Ochoa, Ray Perez, Margie A. Balderas.

Organizer Frank Fernandez and Raymond P. Ramirez III said Cattlemen's Tavern owner Romeo Garcia was happy about the turnout and the participation of all the cooks.

A panel of top judges, including a former judge, county officials, a writer and a prison expert based their decision on aroma, appearance, taste, heat and aftertaste.  

Big screen TVs also provided plenty of closeup action of NFL games throughout the day.

(Photos of winners and judges courtesy of Raymond P. Ramirez III)

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