McAllen, Texas — “Smokin Since 1976” is the theme of the original Fajita Cook-off. That’s because the very first Fajita Cook-off was held on Sunday July 4^th, 1976. Do you know the location? Most say at Chimney Park on the banks of the Rio Grande in Madero, just south of Mission.

           “No, that was years 2 through 5,” says Christopher Julian Founder and producer of the Cook-off. The very first Fajita Cook-off was held on the County Courthouse parking lot on the square in Edinburg.

          The Cook-off ran for 15 years after that and became the largest and most popular outdoor festival the Valley had ever seen with crazy cooking teams competing with their favorite fajita recipes and family games and activities like sack race, egg toss, 3-legged race and watermelon seed spit.

          After 25 years, the Cook-off joined PalmFest as one of their major attractions and expanded to include BBQ competition sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association (IBCA).

           “This changed the entire dynamics of the contest,” said Richard Womeldorf, manager of the Cook-off. $10,000 in prize money was on the line and out of town Cooking Teams were very serious about winning their share of the money and IBCA points to be invited to the big national competition in Memphis.

          Cooking Teams were surveyed and here is what they said.

“Hey, this is too much work now, what happened to the good old days when we had fun cooking?”

          So, in celebrating the 34th year of the event, its back to basics and fun at PalmFest International Folklife Celebration held at the McAllen Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, October 2-3.

No IBCA BBQ competition this year.

           Just the good ole fashion Fajita Cook-off, with Traditional and Gourmet fajita categories on Sunday October 3^rd, 2010.

          On Saturday October 2^nd 2010, there will be 3 fun filled competitions. Pan de Campo, Frijoles a La Charra, and Salsa Competition.

          The two day entry fee for all 5 categories is only $165. There will also be a showmanship Award for the Cooking Team that puts on the best show. Also as part of this event all the family games and activities as well as a huge Kiddie Carnival on both days.

          To enter the Cook-off call the Cook-off hot line at 956.682.5566 or go on line to RGVCookoff.com

Here is Phyllis Wlyks for the F.A.R.T. Team bring in their entry.

Richard Womeldorf here, and I want to announce that the time has come again to start getting your team together. This year, 2010, will bring some great changes and bring back some of our time tested, back to our roots, events setup.

The official post will be coming in a few days.

I just want to alert you to reserve your date. Oct 2 & 3,2010  (Sat and Sun)

The 34th Annual, The Original , The Granddaddy of them ALL, Fajita Cookoff is a coming.

More to follow in a few days.

Richard Womeldorf, Gen Mgr and Fajita Marshall

McAllen, Tx 2009

It’s not the fact that The Cook off at PalmFest is a State championship cook off which means the grand champion will be invited to the American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Mo. And it’s not the $10,000 in guaranteed prize money. It is winning one of the custom made miniature BBQ pit trophies that drives crazy cooking teams from as far away as San Antonio and beyond to come to this year’s Fajita Cook off and BBQ Cook off at PalmFest.

Scheduled for October 3-4 at the beautiful McAllen Convention Center, The Cook off is one of the major attractions of PalmFest International Folk life Celebration.

Cooking Teams will compete in 5 categories brisket, spare ribs, chicken, traditional fajita and gourmet fajita for top honors sanctioned by The International Cookers Association, IBCA.

To enter your team, go to rgvcookoff.com or call the cook off hotline @ 956.682.5566.

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Pictured from Left is Bobby Casso, general manager of L&F Distributors, the trophy sponsor, James Cameron, owner of Camco Wheel and Axle, craftsmen of the trophies and Richard Womeldorf, general manager of the Cook off: