HispanicTrending

May 28, 2014
By Ashley Fischer

Had one too many? Jay Tamsi, president and CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, has just the cure: a great big bowl of menudo.

"It's very well known within the Hispanic community that after a long evening on the town that menudo — with its seasonings and the hominy and the tripe — is the best medicine for a hangover. That's why it's traditionally served on Sundays," Tamsi said.

Doubtful? There's no better time to try out this beloved food's restorative powers than this Sunday's 16th annual Menudo Cook-Off. The Hispanic Chamber's largest fundraiser of the year, this event pits 70 hopeful chefs against one another to compete for the title (and more importantly, the bragging rights) of Kern County's 2014 Menudo Cook-Off Champion.

Aside from being the ultimate remedy to help you get through the day after a night of "one too many," menudo is a traditional Mexican soup consisting of beef tripe, hominy and other seasonings that varies from region to region, and kitchen to kitchen.

"Traditionally, menudo is a food that is prepared by the entire family," Tamsi said. "That's where its cultural aspect comes from — it's served at virtually every social event; it's very popular in Mexican culture."

A panel of 15 judges comprising restaurant owners, attorneys, journalists, and other community members taste each recipe to determine which batch of menudo receives top billing, and the top prize of a dish that's best served cold: $500 cash. Although, according to Tamsi, at the menudo cook-off the prize money is little more than an afterthought.

"Normally, the competitors could care less about the money — they just want the bragging rights. First place wins $500, second $300, and third wins $200. They also all get trophies — and if you go out, you'll see most of the past winners bring their trophies out and display them."

Best of all, the judges aren't the only ones who get to do the tasting. Starting at 3 p.m., after all the official samples have been collected, attendees will get to sample and select their own personal menudo cook-off favorite. And for those who just can't wait to dig into a bowl of one of the competing recipes, additional menudo will be available for purchase throughout the day.

In addition to the menudo, this fundraiser also boasts a hardy serving of popular musical acts, such as Bakersfield favorites Mento Buru and Velorio, and headliner, Los Angeles-based Ozomatli.

"We've added a lot of entertainment this year," Tamsi said. "For example, we have the traditional mariachi music with Mariachi San Marcos, but we have a lot of other groups that play anything from cumbia to R&B. Even though this event is a celebration of Hispanic culture, it isn't just for the Hispanic community; it's for everyone. There's something for all ages and all generations."

And even if the true star of the show, menudo, is the last thing you want to eat on a Sunday morning, there will be no shortage of food (and drink) to fill up with (or give yourself another hangover in need of curing): tacos, tortas, pizza, nachos, snow cones, kettle corn and more.

"You don't have to eat the menudo, but I think everybody should try it at least once," Tamsi said. "Regardless of what ethnicity you are, I would like to invite the community of Kern County to come out and support us and have a really great time; it's a day for fun, unity and coming together as one."

Source: The Bakersfield Californian