The 5th Annual Menudo Cook-Off to Bring Warmth for Good Cause

SAN ANGELO, TX - Menudo lovers, get your taste buds and bellies ready. God's Country Menudo Cook-off starts in less than 24 hours.  

GCMC manager Roger Hernandez said, "We do this event annually around the first weekend in November. Our first event was in 2012, so this will be our 5th. The Gilbert and Irene Velez family are the ones who very generously allow us use of their land to hold this event every year. Their sons Gilbert, Lance, Guy and Max, along with myself, Ricky Cruz, Mike Gonzales and Raymond Luna, we're the ones who started it 5 years ago. With friends and family, we probably have an additional staff of 10 more."

The event will be held at 3600 Lake Drive, and despite what the banners seen around town say, gates open between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. 

Hernandez added, "The cooks will start around 7:00 am.; turn in time will take place between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and judging will take about an hour. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. 

Judging is based on aroma, texture, appearance, taste and after-taste, noted Hernandez. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in the amounts of $500, $200 and $100 respectively. Last year's winners were Alex Rivero's 'The Barn' team, and they will be back this year to defend their title.

There will also be a washer tournament going on at the same time which will start at 1 p.m. Registration for this event will go until 12:30 p.m. and is coordinated by Roger and Yolanda Torres.  

"They generally get in the neighborhood of 50 teams every year, but this year we're going to surpass anything we've ever done as our event has grown tremendously," Hernandez added.  "We have a lot of washer pitchers coming from the Midland-Odessa area."

In regards to the cooking teams, people as far as Austin and San Marcos have contacted the event organizers.

"We also had a team from Del Rio last year," Hernandez said. "In years past, we've had an average of 13 teams participate, but this year, so far, we have 20 confirmed and anywhere from 5 to 10 more may be coming."

Hernandez noted that this will be the last year admission is free and organizers are asking the general public to bring a canned or boxed food item as a donation.

"Every year, depending on how much we raise, we help out various families in need of mostly medically related expenses," Hernandez explained. "The first year we gave a monetary donation to a little San Angelo girl's family who was receiving care in the Lubbock area, and the next year we were able to help four families. It's grown every year; last year, we raised $8,000 and were able to help eight families." 

Hernandez also said the event's organizers ask the general public to submit names of families who may be in need due to medical costs or whatever. One year, one of the recipients was a little boy named Ethan who was around 4 or 5 years old diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.  

"The family had written us a letter saying he was in need of a specialized tryke to help him get around, a bike you peddle with your hands, so we sent him a check," Hernandez said. "Another was a child from the San Antonio area who needed a special tablet with an Autism program on it to help him communicate with his family. This year, we have someone in mind the funds are going to benefit greatly as well. Theirs is a fairly costly need, but another organization has collaborated with us to fulfill the cost of this gift to bless this person."

As far as the canned/boxed goods, Hernandez said those are part of a mini food drive.

He said, "We will be giving several families turkey dinners, and then a portion of food items will be donated to the local food bank."  

​The entire event will be outside and coordinators ask the public to bring their folding lawn chairs and to please not block any driveways, as it is in a in a residential area. 

"That's the only problem we've ever had," said Hernandez. "There is plenty of parking near the KC Hall. If you need to drop off chairs and canopies at the front, that's fine, but please park down the road. If you or someone you know has a disability or needs assistance, please find one of the GCMC staff and we will try to get them some help to the grounds."

 
Hernandez added that last year, there were around 400 people, and this year, organizers anticipate 1,000-2,000 people will come out.  

"It's going to get congested as the space is about an acre and a half, but it's going to be a great event for a good cause," he said. "We will also have a raffle, bake sale, and a silent auction so bring some pocket cash. Also, there will be a very nominal snack bar with Frito Pies, Nachos, and the like for sale."

A few noteworthy items presented for the silent auction include a deer hunt and television, and, for the raffle, a custom made Dallas Cowboy fire pit by AD Duran at McMillan Welding, so bring your check books and a truck because this prize is definitely a two-person lift.

Temperatures are predicted to start off in the 40s or 50s, so it's a perfect time for good food, friends and families to join together and have a good time and remember the reason for the season.

For more information, call Roger at (210) 286-1630.