Twenty-One Steak: Winner in Spice Up Spring competition

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — On Friday, April 19, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and Visit Pueblo hosted their 2024 Spice Up Spring Original Recipe Competition.

In this competition, local restaurants and food trucks are challenged to showcase their culinary skills by creating innovative recipes inspired by the iconic Pueblo Green Chile pepper’s versatility. Entries are accepted in four categories: Cocktail, Appetizer, Entrée, and Dessert.

The contestants for the 2024 competition included:

• Peppe’s at Milberger Farms

• Romero’s Cafe

• Cinfully Delicious

• Feelin’ a Little Philly

• Park East

• Papa Mario’s

• Twenty-One Steak

Three guest judges presided over the competition: Chef Mo Montgomery of Fuel & Iron Food Hall, Matthew Kroschel of KKTV, and Richard Schneider of Raquelita’s Tortillas. Judging criteria included visual presentation, Pueblo Chile flavor, and overall satisfaction.

In a first for the competition since it started in 2018, one participant secured victory across all four categories. Twenty-One Steak was the first-place winner in the 2024 Spice Up Spring original recipe competition. Its winning dishes were:

• Appetizer: Crispy Pueblo Chile braised pork belly on top of a potato au gratin

• Entrée: Rajas Puebla, a modified version of the Cuban beans and rice dish Congri

• Dessert: Brownie petit gateau with Pueblo Chile jelly

• Cocktail: Pina Picante, featuring candied Pueblo Chile pineapple garnish

Twenty-One Steak will be awarded with a customized Pueblo Green Chile Proud Plaque, a $250 cash prize for each category, and will have their winning recipes published in the 30th Anniversary Pueblo Chie and Frijoles Festival Cookbook.

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