Salsa competition heats up

Wild Fire, Bubba’s Salsa and the Maricopa Democrats are three of more than 20 salsa chefs competing for one thing: Best Overall Salsa.

Cilantro, peppers, green onions and garlic flavored today’s salsa festival, which is centered around the Salsa Challenge and features more than 55 different types of salsa, categorized as mild, hot or unusual.

Tami Delgado, the creator of Bubba’s Salsa said that second helpings and good reactions from attendees have made her feel confident about her chances to win. “It’s mild, but very tasty,” Delgado said of her first-time salsa entry.

As well as Best Overall, salsa entries can win in the Best Mild, Hot and Unusual categories.

Attendees are greeted with a bag of chips and a ballot as they enter Pacana Park, and then can make their way to salsa row which is comprised of 20 tents of freshly made salsa.

School Board member Shannon Johns entered his homemade salsa in the unusual category. He said he makes it with pineapples and a “secret ingredient.”

Maricopa residents Tracy Clarke and Janice Ellefson said they are trying all of the salsas and that everything is great so far.

“We’re having a great time, and we haven’t even been to the beer garden yet,” they said.

The Maricopa Democrats, a new group in Maricopa, have created a salsa in each category, presumably attempting to appeal to each audience. They said reactions to the salsa have been “between good and excellent.”

Anyone can try it, they said, but “it tastes better if you’re a Democrat.”

Official ballot counters said that they had counted at least 600 ballots by 3 p.m., and are counting continuously as the day progresses in hopes of announcing the winner by 5:45 p.m.

By 3 p.m. 3,500 people were at the festival, trying the salsa and enjoying the festivities.

Photos by Jeremy Knop