Salsa Festival

My dream of being crowned the Salsa Queen of Maricopa dissolved the moment I read the entrance rules. First of all, there was no crown; worse, the required quantity I would have to prepare for the event was a whopping eight gallons. Having only cup experience in the cooking department, I decided I should get a few more potlucks under my belt. Still, there was a party to attend.

The afternoon was cool and breezy and the salsa was hot and tasty. Festival goers were handed generous bags of fresh tortilla chips and invited to taste each of the fabulous competing salsas. The grand prize of $1,000 cash easily outdid a silly tiara. My favorite was Mamma D's "unusual" entry, a grape salsa that was 100% fresh with just the right kick.

The spice of the evening was not confined to the culinary arts. Live performances by various musicians, baile folklorico and the budding talents from local dance studios filled the hours. To round it all off, cleverly designed bounce houses satiated the active needs of the many kids. There was even a rock wall to challenge the more adventurous spirits.

At the end of the night, we made our way home with a feeling of total satisfaction. It was nice to be part of a small, community scene. A local charm is something we have gotten accustomed to over the years and it was refreshing to get a "taste" of this small Arizona town. You can read more about the Salsa Festival and other fun events here in Maricopa.