Las
Cazuelas Wins Grand Award at Seafood Fair
text
by connie ellig
photos
by david hopps, connie ellig, tillie foster & dick van bree
 Marlin
tacos. Marinated tuna. Shrimp chimichangas and shrimp in puff pastry. Seafood
kebobs, seafood ceviche, seafood paella, seafood pasta. A hungry horde
of over 1,800 feasted on these delicacies from the deep – accompanied with
Tecate Beer, Baja wines and non-stop live entertainment – at the 26th
Ensenada International Seafood Fair on September 12, 2004. With
its peaceful waterfront panorama and monumental Mexican flag waving gently
in the breeze, Ventana al Mar Plaza proved to be the perfect setting for
this prestigious culinary event that promotes the art of seafood preparation
and presentation.
 Nearly
a dozen restaurants from Baja and Southern California contended for trophies
in seven seafood categories and the ultimate honor, the 2004 Overall Grand
Award. Prominent chefs from the Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego,
CA, judged their culinary creations. Although the competition was fierce,
Ensenada’s Restaurant Las Cazuelas with Chef Juan Aldaco garnered the Grand
Award amidst enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience. Seafood
category winners were:
Artistic Creation – 1st place: Las Cazuelas (Ensenada), 2nd:
La Mezza (Ensenada), 3rd: El Cid (Ensenada)
Cold Fish – 1st place: Antares at Hotel Coral y Marina (Ensenada),
2nd: Barra Azul Mariscos (Ensenada), 3rd: Las Cazuelas (Ensenada)
Cold Shellfish/Combination – 1st place: El Palmar (Ensenada),
2nd: Casa Guadalajara (San Diego), 3rd: La Mezza (Ensenada)
Hot Fish – 1st place: Barra Azul Mariscos (Ensenada), 2nd: Las
Cazuelas (Ensenada), 3rd: Antares at Hotel Coral y Marina (Ensenada)
Hot Shellfish/Combination – 1st place: La Mezza (Ensenada), 2nd:
Antares at Hotel Coral y Marina (Ensenada), 3rd: La Embotelladora Vieja
(Ensenada)
Soup – 1st place: Las Cazuelas (Ensenada), 2nd: El Cid
(Ensenada), 3rd: El Patio at Hotel Festival Plaza (Rosarito)
Baja California Wine-based Creation – 1st place: Casa Guadalajara
(San Diego), 2nd: El Cid (Ensenada), 3rd: Las Cazuelas (Ensenada)
Several other contests were held in conjunction with the Seafood Fair.
A distinguished panel of Mexican, American and German judges rewarded Restaurant
El Cid for its promotional and decorative efforts by presenting it with
the EnsenadaGazette.com trophy for “Best Image” for the second consecutive
year.
Amateurs were invited to prepare their best ceviche and “open category”
seafood dishes to compete in the special “El Tigre
Mandilón y Su Domadora” contest organized by Guillermo
“Tigre” Morquecho. Winners were Elio Cetto with his “Ceviche Típico”
(Typical Ceviche) and María del Socorro Romero with her “Piña
de Marisco” (Seafood Pineapple).
 After
sunset, candidates from various restaurants vied for the title of “Señorita
CANIRAC.” Exuding poise and personality, Dulce Villanueva, representing
Restaurant La Tortuga, garnered the award.
There was plenty of live entertainment during the entire event including
pop and Latin dance music by Free Sound and Tía y Asociados, traditional
Mexican songs by the Rondalla Todos Santos, and rock and oldies by Zona
Retro and the Nowhere Band. Music, dancing and festivities lasted until
nearly 9pm.
Congratulations are extended to the organizer, Ensenada CANIRAC Chamber
of Restaurants, for making this year’s International Seafood Fair a truly
exceptional and most memorable event! For more information about CANIRAC
events, contact CANIRAC Chamber of Restaurants, tel. (646)174-0448; e-mail
Note: Special thanks are extended to the San Nicolás Resort
Hotel for hosting the Icebreaking Party for Seafood Fair participants and
judges on Saturday evening.
26th
Ensenada International Seafood Fair Festival Photo Gallery
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