Every year, we learn something new and find ways to make the next Mountain Chile Cha Cha even better. That’s why I mean it every time I say, “This was our best year yet” every year. This year I’ll say it again: Best year yet.
One of the things I’m most grateful for this year is our partnership with the Midnight in the Mountains After-Prom Committee. These moms have it together, folks. They ran our front gate, and a couple jumped in to help at the margarita tent, too.
Their mission is close to my heart: giving local students a fun, supervised, alcohol-free place to celebrate after prom. The committee is also one of the community groups that will receive a portion of this year’s Cha Cha proceeds. Thank you for showing up for our event and for our kids.
I also want to give a huge shout-out to the restaurants and bars that brought their margarita-making talent to the Cha Cha. Their participation helps generate the proceeds that keep this event going and allow us to give back to our community. I think I can speak for a whole lot of Pagosa when I say thank you, thank you, thank you.
The winners of the Mountain Chile Cha Cha’s margarita contest, Patty Aragon Green Chile Classic and salsa contest are as follows.
Margarita contest
• Judges’ Choice — Traditional:
First: Motel SOCO — red cup.
Second: Riff Raff — green cup.
Third: Kips Grill and Cantina — purple cup.
• Judges’ Choice — Flavored:
First: Riff Raff — OPP (Oh Peach Please), green dot cup.
Second: Beny’s Family Restaurant — Tamarindo margarita in the yellow stripe cup.
Third: Hidden Track — blueberry, Earl Grey and thyme margarita, pink squiggle cup.
• People’s Choice — Traditional:
First: Motel SOCO — red cup.
Second: Kips — purple cup.
Third: Hidden Track — pink cup.
• People’s Choice — Flavored:
First: Kips Grill and Cantina — Kipsicle coconut orange creamsicle margarita, purple stripe cup.
Second: The Springs Cantina — The Smokin peach with a green chili salt smoked paprika rim in the blue wave cup.
Third: Hidden Track — blueberry, Earl Grey and thyme margarita, pink squiggle cup.
• Best in Show — Best Margarita of the Day: Kips Grill & Cantina’s Kipsicle. The coconut orange creamsicle margarita in the purple stripe cup took home the top honor.
Patty Aragon Green Chile Classic
• Meat Chile:
First: Isabelle Herrera — M18.
Second: Morgan Griego — M41.
Third: Crystal Young — M19.
• Veggie Chile:
First: Jen Pitcher — V7.
Second: Jackie Kleckner — V4.
Third: Diana Aragon — V5.
• People’s Choice:
First: Jade Schutte — M8.
Second: Young — M19.
Third: Herrera — M18.
• Restaurant:
First: Boss Hoggs — M2.
Second: Ritual Pagosa — M1.
Third: Los Dos Charros — M4.
Restaurant Salsa Contest
• Sweet:
First: La Morena.
Second: Ritual Pagosa.
Third: Los Dos Charros.
• Traditional:
First: The Rose.
Second: Los Dos Charros.
Third: La Morena.
To every participant, volunteer, sponsor and person who came out to celebrate with us: You helped make this day possible, and you helped us give back. I’m so grateful to be part of this community. See you next year at the Cha Cha.
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