Cinco de Mayo Cook-off
May 1, 2010
Fiesta Gardens
Head Judge: Aurelio Martinez
e-mail: aurelio@cincodemayoaustin.com
http://cincodemayoaustin.com/

GENERAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

No vehicles will be allowed on grounds with the exception of unloading and loading materials.  Anyone violating this rule will be disqualified from competing and will not be asked to return in following years. Please help enforce this important safety rule.  All entry forms and fees must be received no later than Friday, April 16, 2010.  Teams are responsible for providing their own shade canopies as well as floor coverings.  Canopies and flooring must be in cooking, serving, food preparation, and utensil washing areas.  Approved floor coverings include clean cardboard, plywood, and/or overturned carpeting. Rules and procedures are subject to change at the Head Judge’s discretion.

1. COOKED ON SITE

All meats that are entered into judging will be cooked from scratch within the constraints of the event. Pre-cooking, pre-marinating, etc. will not be allowed either on or off the cook site prior to start of the cook-off.  A meat inspection will occur immediately after the Head Cook’s meeting.  You may NOT begin until your meat has been inspected by a FIESTAS PATRIAS representative.

2. SANITATION

All cooks are to prepare and cook in as sanitary manner as possible. Cooking conditions are subject to inspection by the judging committee at any given time. Cooks must follow the City Health Inspector’s Guidelines for Food Service at Special Events.

3. MULTIPLE ENTRIES PER PIT

FIESTA PATRIAS recognizes that there may be times that more than one cook will cook on a given pit. It will be the head judge’s responsibility to monitor and handle this is a professional manner. Head cooks must notify the Head Judge on multiple entries. Multiple entries in the same category by the same cook will not be allowed.

4. COOK'S MEETING

The HEAD JUDGE will be responsible to address the cooks on rules and judging procedures.

Pit- Any commercial or homemade trailered or untrailered pit or smoker. May include gas or electricity to start natural fiber substance but under no condition can gas or electricity be used for cooking.

5. OPEN FIRES

FIESTA PATRIAS further recognizes that no ground pits will be used and that all burn down barrels will have some sort of safety barrier placed across the top or around the barrel. Non-compliance could be grounds for disqualification.

6. CATEGORIES

Recognized categories are as follows:

BRISKET – Beef Only

FAJITAS - Beef Only

CHICKEN - Any type - no Cornish Game Hen

BEANS - Dry Pinto only cooked on site.

Salsa - Prepared on site

7. CRITERIA FOR TURN IN SAMPLES

A number of samples that will be determined by the head judge will be announced at the cooks meeting on the day of the cook-off.

8. JUDGING TRAYS

FIESTA PATRIAS will provide Styrofoam containers at the Head Cook’s meeting.

FIESTA PATRIAS also states that silver foil must be used in the judging trays supplied by FIESTA PATRIAS.

All judging containers shall be clean and free of obvious marks. Marked containers may be disqualified at the Head Judges discretion. Cooks are responsible for insuring that the containers they receive are clean and undamaged.

If a judging tray becomes damaged it may be replaced when, along with the ticket attached to the lid, is returned to the Head Judge.

9. GARNISHES

Unless specified by FIESTA PATRIAS, any and all garnishes and condiments are prohibited. Meats may be cooked with sauces, but once cooking is completed, sauces cannot be used. No sauce may be visible in the judging containers; this will be grounds for disqualification.

10. TURN-IN TIMES

Beans and Salsa – 12:00 pm

CHICKEN – 1:00 pm

FAJITAS – 2:00 pm

BRISKET– 3:00 pm

11. JUDGES

FIESTA PATRIAS prohibits the use of participating Cooks and/or assistants as tasting judges in all phases. They may however, be used as table monitors.

12. JUDGING

Amount of Judges for tasting will be decided according to the number of entries.  Entries will be judged on Taste, Aroma, Consistency (Texture), Appearance, and Aftertaste

13. AWARDS

Top ten winners for MEAT entries will be announced by FIESTAS PATRIAS.  Top 5 winners for BEAN and SALSA categories will be announced by FIESTA PATRIAS.

14. BEAN CATEGORY

Only dry pinto beans will be used for cooking. Nothing larger than the bean and no meat product will be allowed in cup.

15. SHOWMANSHIP

FIESTA PATRIAS will announce the winners for showmanship prior to MEAT, BEAN, & SALSA winners.

16. BEST PIT/PIT AREA

No time limit. These two categories will be judged at any time during the day. Judges are to remember that while judging these pits and areas, if done so during turn-in times, that they will take this into consideration.

17. ALL DECISIONS BY FIESTA PATRIAS JUDGES ARE FINAL

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 Cinco de Mayo Cook-off
May 1, 2010
Fiesta Gardens
Head Judge: Aurelio Martinez
e-mail: aurelio@cincodemayoaustin.com
http://cincodemayoaustin.com

 OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

 

Team Name: _____________________________________________________

 

Head Cook: ______________________________________________________

 

Contact Person for each Team:______________________________________

 

Mailing Address:__________________________________________________

 

City: _____________________________  ST: _____      Zip: _______________

 

Phone: (____)________________  Fax: _______________________________

 

E-mail: __________________________________________________________

 

 

 

*******  All Fees are non-refundable *******

CASHIERS CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS ONLY: FIESTAS PATRIAS OF AUSTIN and send this entry form to:

FIESTAS PATRIAS OF AUSTIN

1908 Holly St. , Austin, Texas 78702

 

Please read the following disclosure:  Contestant, for itself and all persons assisting the Contestant, agree that FIESTAS PATRIAS OF AUSTIN, including its officers, and sponsors, are in no way responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to the Contestant and its assistants, regardless of how such loss or injury is occasioned and by whom during Cinco De Mayo.  Your signature indicates you have read the following rules and regulations and other attachments.

 

 

Signature________________________________________________________Date________

 

 

All entry forms and fees must be received no later than Friday, April 16, 2010.