Bragging Rights and Trophies go to Texas Onion Fest Recipe Contest Winners

The annual Onion and Salsa Recipe Contests at the AEP Texas Onion Fest Culinary Center on Saturday March 27 was a tasty event for judges and spectators alike.
For the first time the contest was held on Saturday during the Texas Onion Fest at Weslaco City Park in a state of the art kitchen built on-site by Weslaco’s Lowe’s Home Improvement for the AEP Onion Culinary Center.  Both the Onion Recipe and Salsa Recipe contests were held in front of a live audience at the event giving people of all ages the chance to show off their culinary skills and promote the use of onions. Participants were required to use a ½ cup of onions in their recipes.

Elvia Berry, owner of A Berry Catered Affair of San Benito, dominated Saturday’s onion recipe contest taking home five trophies in various categories of the competition’s professional division — including the grand champion prize.  Jose G. Herrera, first-place winner in the Adult Salsa category won the grand champion trophy for overall best salsa.
After the judging was complete and the winners announced, the spectators in the AEP Onion Culinary Center were treated to samples of the dishes that included appetizers, main dishes and desserts as well as 15 different types of salsas.
The winners for the 2010 Texas Onion Fest Recipe Contests are as follows:
Onion Recipe:
Appetizers:
    Professional Category:    
        1st Place – Elvia Berry – Chiles Ancho Stuffed with Chicken
        2nd Place – Dalia de la O Carr – Onion Cream Cheese Spread
    Adult Category:
        1st Place – Elma Arrendondo – Sweet Onion Garlic Marmalade
        2nd Place – Jan Munson – Dilled Onions
Main Dish:
    Professional Category:
        1st Place – Elvia Berry – Chicken & Mushroom Crepes
        2nd Place – Dalia de la O Carr – Salmon Patty Soup
    Adult Category:
        1st Place – Eva Mora – Mili’s Chili
        2nd Place – Jan Munson – Onion & Steak Stuffed Sourdough Bread
    Youth (7 yrs – 12 yrs)
        1st Place – Samuel Beltran – Blue Shrimp Melts
Dessert:
    Professional Category:
        1st Place – Shaela Posz – Caramelized Onion Meringue Pie
        2nd Place – Dalia de la O Carr – Pineapple Upside Down Cake with a Twist
        3rd Place – Elvia Berry – Sweet Onion Orange Straws
    Adult Category:
        1st Place – Crystal Guerrero – SanzOrlio’s Onion Cheesecake
Grand Champion – Elvia Berry- Chiles Ancho Stuffed with Chicken

Salsa Recipe:
    Professional Category:    
        1st Place – Elvia Berry
        2nd Place – Los Cabos Seafood
    Adult Category:
        1st Place – Jose G. Herrera
        2nd Place – Rubie Juarez
        3rd Place – Elpidio Alejandro III
    Student Category (13 – 18 yrs)
        1st Place – Selina Diaz
    Youth Category:
        1st Place – Matthew Jara-Alvarado
        2nd Place – Daniel Albert Diaz

The Texas Onion Fest is a community event planned by the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers in collaboration with the City of Weslaco.  The winner’s recipes will be posted on the Chamber’s Onion Fest website at www.weslaco.com/OnionFest.