Annual Austin festival is super hot

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Photographer Frank Martinez visited the annual Hot Sauce Festival at Fiesta Gardens on Sunday.

The festival, sponsored by the Austin Chronicle, showcases local restaurants and raises money for the Capital Area Food Bank.

More than a hundred gallons of salsa brought thousands of people together for the 22nd Annual Hot Sauce Festival. This Austin Chronicle sponsored event raises funds for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Joanna Linden, with Austin Area Food Bank, told KXAN that the organizers of the event, years ago, had the idea teaming up with a charity that involves food, “From the get go they had reached out to us and said, lets do something together. And it’s grown over the years into what it is today.”

Three cans of food or a donation to the food bank was a ticket to the festival. But once inside, it was all about feeding you. With rows of salsa samples and tents of local restaurants showcasing their food in every direction, no one left the festival hungry.

This year was the first time the festival was held at the Fiesta Gardens, and between the occasional breeze and large space, it was the perfect environment for people to gather for a great time and a good cause.

The 22nd Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festiva l winners:

 

Restaurant Category

 

Red Sauce

1 ^st Place – Sazon

2 ^nd Place – Las Lomas

3 ^rd Place – El Nuevo Mexico

 

Green Sauce

1 ^st Place – Torchy's Tacos

2 ^nd Place – Curra's Grill

3 ^rd Place – Chucho's Mexican Restaurant

 

Special Variety

1 ^st Place – Taco Deli

2 ^nd Place – Sazon

3 ^rd Place – Buenos Aires Cafe

 

Individual Category

 

Red Sauce

1 ^st Place – Michael Valencia

2 ^nd Place – Scott Nettles

3 ^rd Place – Brian Alexander

 

Green Sauce

1 ^st Place – Daniel Cook

2 ^nd Place – Evan LeRoy

3 ^rd Place – Marvin Perez

 

 

Special Variety

1 ^st Place - Vanessa Brightman

2 ^nd Place – Vanessa Brightman

3 ^rd Place – David Bernard

 

Commercial Bottler’s Category – People’s Choice Award

 

Red Sauce

1 ^st Place – Don't Panic Hispanic Salsa

2 ^nd Place – Jaime's Foods Jaime's Spanish Village Salsa

3 ^rd Place – Kala's Kuisine Curry Chipotle

Honorable Mention:

La Familia Salsa Co.

Austin's Slow Burn

Mom's Family Kitchen

 

Green Sauce

1 ^st Place – Don't Panic Hispanic Greengo Salsa

2 ^nd Place – Jaime's Foods Jaime's Spanish Village Hot Green Salsa

3 ^rd Place – Austin's Slow Burn Salsa Verde
HM

Kala's Kuisine

La Familia Salsa Co.

 

Special Variety

1 ^st Place – Austin Slow Burn Creamy Jalapeño

2 ^nd Place – Thai Gourmet Thai Salsa

3 ^rd Place – Kala's Kuisine Mango Chutney

Honorable Mention:

Big Daddy's Hot Sauces Glaming Lips Three Drops of Death

Granddaddy's Sweet Southern Heat

Jaime's Spanish Village Chili Con Queso

My Chihuahua Bites Blanco Party Dip

 

 

Pepper Sauce

1 ^st Place – Aztexan Pepper Co. Habanero Supreme

2 ^nd Place – Kala's Kuisine Gingery Habanero

3 ^rd Place – Austin's Slow Burn Jerk Marinade

 

Honorable Mention:

Big Daddy's Hot Sauces Big Daddy's Ass Burn Hot Sauce

Sgt. Pepper's Hot Sauce Tropical Tears Mango Ginger Salsa

 

Commercial Bottler’s Category

 

Red Sauce

1 ^st Place – Texan Brew Products

2 ^nd Place – My Chihuahua Bites Salsa

3 ^rd Place – Becerras Mild

 

Green Sauce

1 ^st Place – Jaime's Foods

2 ^nd Place – Hot Line Pepper Products

3 ^rd Place – Kala's Kuisine

 

Special Variety

1 ^st Place – Kala's Kuisine

2 ^nd Place – Kala's Kuisine

3 ^rd Place – My Chihuahua Bites Salsa

 

Pepper Sauce

1 ^st Place – Sgt Pepper's Hot Sauce

2 ^nd Place – Sgt Pepper's Hot Sauce

3 ^rd Place – Sgt Pepper's Hot Sauce