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Chile Jammin’ Stuff Wins 2003 Scovie Awards Competition
by Dave DeWitt and Margaret Henderson
For the second year in a row, a former amateur turned pro has won the Grand Prize in the Tasting Division of the Scovie Awards Competition. Congratulations to Albuquerque’s Ann Cates of Chile Jammin’ Stuff, who won for her Habanero Hula Jam. This marks the first time someone from New Mexico has won the contest. Grand Prize in the Advertising and Marketing Division went to Dave Hirschkopf’s Dave’s Gourmet for his Chilehead Survival Kit. Additional congratulations to our overall amateur winner, Karen Berry, who also won first place in the hot sauce category.
Once again, a record number of entries came in from 39 states plus D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus four other countries: Ecuador, Canada, Sweden, and Australia. The competition featured a large number new manufacturers who entered the contest for the first time.
The most number of wins and the highest winning percentage went to Garden Fresh Salsa, with ten entries and ten wins, including five firsts, three seconds, and two thirds. Buffalo Wild Wings had eight wins (three in tasting, five in advertising/marketing) and Hombres Foods also had eight wins (four firsts, three seconds, and one third). Original Juan Specialty Foods picked up five awards, including Best Superhot Packaging for The Source. Austin Spice Company garnered five awards as well, as did Disaster Bay Chilli Company from Disaster Bay, Australia, with three firsts (their Chilli Wine, a product made with only fermented chiles, won Best Drink/Drink Mix) and two seconds.
In addition to Ann Cates, other former amateurs fared well. Mel’s Hellish Products LLC entered the Amateur Contest two years ago with Mel’s Hellish Relish and won a third place in Condiments–Relish this year. And their Sweet Inferno Pickles won first place in Condiments–Pickled Products. Habby Habanero, another amateur turned pro and the Grand Prize winner in 2002, won first place in Sweet Heat–Candy for their Habadatil Fiery Brittle in addition to second and third place for their hot sauces.
Our heartfelt congratulations to all winners and thanks to all who competed but did not win.
The 2003 Scovie judges were 54 food professionals (some judged both the morning and afternoon sessions. They included Liz Otero, Albuquerque Journal; Larry Greenly, La Cocinita; Karen Espeth, Albuquerque Alibi; Steve Renfro, County Line Barbecue; Meg Grandag, Cost Plus; Sam Etheridge, Ambrozia Restaurant; Tandy Lucero, Los Chileros; Mike Santullo, 770-KOB; Martin Samudio Albuquerque TVI Culinary Department; Gene Baca, Bueno Foods; David Scovill (no relation to Wilbur), Luna Mansion Restaurant; FoFo Voltaire, Caribbean Temptations Restaurant; Arthur Walker, Rio Grande Cantina; Rajul and Ajay Gupta, India Kitchen; Sherrie and Pat Tenorio, Chili Pepper Emporium; Victoria Davidson, Albuquerque Country Club, and Jeanette DeAnda, American Institute of Food and Wine. Our thanks to all the judges, and of course, none of them had entered product into the competition. As always, it was a blind tasting from coded cups.
All 2003 Scovie Awards Competition Professional Winners
