Culinary spots share samples with Laredo

On Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7 p.m., the Laredo Energy Arena (LEA) opened its doors to the public for the annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) Taste of Laredo. A dozen local restaurants and vendors flocked to the area to share their signature delicacies with the public in hopes of winning the coveted title of “Judge’s Best Taste.”

While this was an exciting night for the attendees, this event served as more of a competition for local restaurateurs as they attempted to win over the appetites of Laredoans, since they were responsible for electing the night’s winners.

A central part of the WBCA festivities, the Taste of Laredo invited both Laredo’s legendary and up-and-coming culinary spots to share samples from their menus. From homemade fajita tacos to a tantalizing cup of lobster bisque, this year’s event offered up an interesting array of culinary delights. With restaurants like the La Posada Zaragoza Grill and El Quinto Sol in attendance, the event was a perfect representation of Laredo’s signature culinary flare.

While delicious food was the cornerstone of the event, this year’s Taste of Laredo held a much greater significance for the restaurants who were given the opportunity to participate. Representatives from Krispy Kreme and Smoothie King both remarked that getting the opportunity to share their delicacies with the citizens of Laredo is by far what motivates them to participate each year.

Andrea Villarreal, marketing director of Smoothie King, also added, “Our favorite part about participating in this event is spreading the word about our mission. A lot of people don’t know that we serve healthy smoothies. This event helps us share all the amazing vegan, Paleo, and high-protein options with the health conscious people out there.” As the amount of Laredoans exploring the Paleo diet, which is based upon the lean meats, berries, and nuts our ancient ancestors most likely ate, and vegan lifestyles are increasing, Smoothie King has followed suit as well.

In addition to satisfying their palates, those who attended the event were able to enjoy the musical stylings of Kimberly Dunn, a rising country singer based in Austin, Texas. Sticking to the central theme of the night, the LEA invited Buffalo Wild Wings to host their annual Blazing Wing eating contest. A staggering amount of attendees and local media celebrities participated in the fierce competition. Ryan Bailey, KGNS sports reporter, proved to be the victor by eating the most wings in two minutes.

The event was brought to a close with the announcement of the restaurants which dazzled all those in attendance this year. Fonda Don Martin took home the ultimate prize of “Judge’s Best Taste,” and La Posada took home the honor of “Best Decorated Booth.” As for the people’s choice awards, Sushi Madre took home the award for “Best Asian Cuisine,” Dickey’s BBQ won “Best Americana Cuisine,” and Chocolateka earned the title of “Best Dessert.”

While this event may appear to be solely about food, this year’s Taste of Laredo was an experience in its own right, as it is the one night a year that Laredoans can truly interact with the masterminds behind their favorite dishes.