Annual Central Market Hatch Chile Festival Kicks Off Today
Over 125 tons of Hatch chiles imported from New Mexico each year
By Virginia B. Wood, 2:50PM, Wed. Aug. 7, 2013
To the delight of Hatchheads all over town, Central Market's annual celebration of all things Hatch chile starts today, Aug. 7, and runs through Aug. 20. The aroma of roasting chiles will fill the air and plenty of food items will be enhanced with the kick of capsicum.
Central Markets all over Texas put on such a serious production with Hatch chiles every year that the New Mexico Tourism Department has recognized the Central Market Hatch Chile Festival as the most authentic in the state of Texas.
For the next two weeks, both local Central Market stores will go Hatch crazy. They'll be roasting fresh chiles every day, sampling out Hatch chile-flavored food items around the stores (especially on the weekends), featuring Hatch-inspired dishes in the prepared food cases and the Cafes, and the Cooking School will offer Hatch-themed cooking classes On Friday, Aug. 9 and Tuesday, Aug. 20.
In addition, they're also holding the Hatch Recipe Contest - River City Rivalry 2013 where shoppers submit their best Hatch chile recipes for appetizers, entrees, breads, or desserts to compete for a prize of 75 pounds of chiles and a $100 Central Market gift card, plus the title of Austin's Hottest Chile Flame.
Stop by the Information Desk at either store to pick up an official entry form, complete it, and turn it in to the entry box by August 12. Finalists will be selected and must be on hand to present their prepared recipe to Central Market's official contest judges. The contest will be held in Cooking School at the 4000 North Lamar location on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. A winner from each store will be selected, but only one can be crowned "King of the Hatch River City!"
Best of luck!
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food festival, Central Market, Hatch chile, New Mexico Tourism Board, recipe contest
