Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market
By: By Anne Stokes, special to the Press Tribune
Judges Aimal Formoli of Formoli's Bistro, left, and Ken Denio taste test the semifinals of Denio's Farmers Market's Salsa Showdown competition, narrowing down the field from four to two.
Tara Edwards, left, and Andrew Waldie, both culinary students at Le Cordon Bleu, chop ingredients for their second salsa dish of Denio's Farmers Market's Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday using surprise elements: strawberries and kiwis.
Binh Worley, left, and Kent Souza, culinary students at Le Cordon Bleu, spend 10 minutes shopping for fresh produce for their salsa dish at Denio's Farmers Market's Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday.
Judge Scott Ostrander, sous-chef at the Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, judges the Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market's inaugural "Taste of Summer" competition on Saturday.
Jeff Lyons, of Citrus Heights, tastes his salsa before presenting it to judges at Denio's Farmers Market's Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday.
Scott Ostrander, sous-chef at the Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, left, and Aimal Formoli of Formoli's Bistro judge the Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market's "Taste of Summer" inaugural event on Saturday.
The self-proclaimed "Salsa Chick" Patty Darrach, of Orangevale, left, with partner Vickie Hutchenson, peels roasted bell peppers for their salsa dish in the first round of the Salsa Showdown, as part of Denio's Farmers Market's inaugural "Taste of Summer" event on Saturday. "I had an amazing time," said Darrach. "I wish we could have advanced, obviously, but it's something I can add to my resume and something I can say I did. It wasn't a 'could've, should've, would've,' I did it!
Le Cordon Bleu student Kent Souza, of Sacramento, chops peppers for salsa in Denio's Farmers Market's inaugural "Taste of Summer" Salsa Showdown competition. "I'm having a blast. It's amazing," he said. "Our strategy is to take home the $350, and get our name recognized in the industry. Hopefully somebody will see us and likes what we can do, (and) maybe give us an opportunity to advance in the industry."
Le Cordon Bleu students Lisa Marie Simpson, left, and Karen Kauffman, of Sacramento, get their fresh produce in order to start making salsa in the first round of the Denio's Farmers Market Salsa Showdown on Saturday.
Roseville resident Rodrigo Martinez produce from a vendor at Denio's Farmers Market to use in his salsa during the Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday.
Kempton Stafford, of Lincoln, a culinary student at Le Cordon Bleu, uses an innovative approach to roasting corn for his third and final salsa dish for Denio's Farmers Market's Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday.
Finalists Andrew Waldie, left, and Tara Edwards, both culinary students at Le Cordon Bleu, shop for ingredients at Denio's Farmers Market for their final salsa dish at the Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday.
Andrew Waldie, a culinary student at Le Cordon Bleu, adds some heat for his final salsa entry in the Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market on Saturday.
Mother and son team Kempton and Sylvia Stafford, of Lincoln, celebrate winning the Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market on Saturday.
Mother and son team Kempton and Sylvia Stafford, of Lincoln, celebrate winning the Salsa Showdown at Denio's Farmers Market on Saturday.
Denio's Farmers Market kicked off its "Taste of Summer" events with the inaugural Salsa Showdown competition on Saturday. Eleven amateur and student chefs went head to head for bragging rights and a $350 prize purse.
Using all fresh produce from nearby vendors, teams competed in three elimination rounds, with a mystery ingredient unveiled before cooks were unleashed into the market to shop. Judges included professional chefs Scott Ostrander, sous-chef at the Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Aimal Formoli of Formoli's Bistro, Sacramento Bee Food and Wine Editor Chris Macias and market owner Ken Denio.
"As a judge, I am looking for a unique tasting salsa, something that is different than the other run-of-the-mill salsas," Denio said. "All the contestants out here are really great, it was very close. They were all very, very good, and I enjoyed all of them. In fact, it's really hard to judge salsa."
Mother and son team Sylvia and Kempton Stafford, of Lincoln, won with their salsa dish featuring the unique surprise ingredient: a purple tomatillo.
"It was a great honor to compete next to my Mom," Kempton Stafford said. "This is like the things we make at home, using fresh ingredients and everything, so it's like second nature to us."
Sylvia Stafford attributed their win to old-fashioned good taste.
"I make it like I would want to eat it, and if I do then everybody else will like it," she said. "I just try put good components together that would work and I think that's what happened here."
~ Anne Stokes