Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — Judges spent two hours sampling salsas before casting their votes for winners in the 2018 Oxnard Salsa Festival’s Salsa Recipe Contest/Professional Division. The contest took place July 12 at La Dolce Vita in Oxnard’s Heritage Square.
The 11 judges sampled 17 different salsas from nine restaurants and one market. The winners are:
- Best Mild Salsa – La Dolce Vita
- Best Medium Salsa and Best Red Salsa – Sharky’s Fire Roasted Salsa
- Best Hot Salsa and Best Specialty Salsa – El Taco Loco’s Special Hot Salsa
- Best Green Salsa – BG’s Café House Green Salsa
- Judges’ Choice Award (best of the best) – El Taco Loco’s Special Hot Salsa
Festivalgoers can sample these and other salsas during the 25th Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival, July 28 and 29 from 11 am to 7 pm at Plaza Park (Fifth and ‘B’ Streets in downtown Oxnard). Salsa tasting tent admission is $5 per person, which includes freshly made Mission Foods’ tortilla chips and 10 tasting tickets. An amateur salsa recipe contest will be held Sunday, July 29 in the tasting tent. Pre-registration is required for all contestants. Registration deadline is Friday, July 20. Applications for the amateur challenge can be accessed online at www.OxnardSalsaFestival.com.
Other festival highlights include live Latin bands, a crafts marketplace, international foods, kids’ play zone, community stage and the popular, “Dancing With Our Community Stars” contest and charity fundraiser. Admission and parking are free. Main stage open lawn seating is available for $5 (kids under 10 are free).
The Oxnard Salsa Festival is presented each year by the Oxnard Downtowners. Sponsors are Nissan (presenting sponsor), Bud Light, Gold Coast Broadcasting, Mission Foods, Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mission, McDonald’s and other community partners.
For festival information, call 805?535?4060 or visit www.OxnardSalsaFestival.com