Nine local restaurants battled Sunday for the title of best menudo -- a traditional Mexican stew and also the remedy for hangovers -- at the second annual Menudo Festival at the Santa Maria Veterans Memorial Cultural Center.

An high turnout of 800 people filled their bellies with the dish that is made of tripe and slowly cooked in a stew infused with a variety of chili peppers and spices. Sometimes the soup contains hominy, depending on the cook's recipe.

The high volume of people left several of the competitors' pots empty and ladles dry as they ran out of menudo halfway through the event. Organizers hadn't expected quite so many people at Sunday's event, which was organized by the Latino Peace Officers Association.

Saira Diaz, whose father owns Carniceria El Matador, said the restaurant's booth ran out of menudo in two hours.

“A lot of people just kept coming and coming, which was good,” she said. “They said they liked the menudo and wanted a card for the store.”

Diaz said it took her and several others four hours to make the stew. They made about 90 pounds for the cook-off, she said.

Live music from a couple of local bands, a DJ and vibrant dancing from Righetti High School's marimba and ballet folkorico group kept the audience entertained before the announcement of the event's winners.

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For the second year in a row, Maya Restaurant was crowned winner of the cook-off. The restaurant's menudo also grabbed first place for the judge's choice.

Teresa Cadena, one of the owners of the restaurant, was overcome with emotion for the establishment's second win.

“It's unexplainable how happy I am,” she said. “I feel so proud.”

Finishing second in both the contest and the judge's award category was Taqueria La Coqueta. Carniceria La Chiquita took third place in the event. Cielito Lindo Restaurant finished third in the judge's choice.

Ricardo Ramirez, a deputy probation officer with the association, helped organized the event. He said he was amazed by the number of people who came out.

“We expected more than last year,” Ramirez said. “But this was overwhelming.”

Ramirez said there are several reasons his association coordinates the event.

“We wanted to bring together the people, Mexican restaurants and law enforcement to show that we're all one in the community.”

Ramirez said money raised from Sunday will go toward the Robert Ramos scholarship fund. In May, the association plans to hold a scholarship dinner, during which one local high school senior who plans to go into law enforcement will win a scholarship. The association also plans to give one to a cadet from the Hancock College's police academy, Ramirez said.

Jorge Cruz, a chef at the Maya Restaurant, said there's a secret ingredient that makes the winning restaurant's menudo the best. “We put a lot of love into it,” he said.

Kimberlina Rocha can be reached at 739-2216 or krocha@santamariatimes.com.

Jan. 29, 2007