This is a major event for an author of a Green Chile Bucket List book. I love Edible Magazine and pick up a copy whenever a new one comes out. I have to fully disclose, I wrote an article for Edible Magazine many years ago and they furnished a number of great pictures for my book from previous Smackdowns.

This was not my first rodeo judging food. I did the Scovie Awards for a few years and judged the Matanza in Belen with mud up to my knees. You have to suffer for your art! My fellow judges were: Cheryl Alters Jamison – food icon & author in Santa Fe; Angela Moore from The Food Network (I watch daily!); Arthur Bovino editor & photographer for Mouth.com; and Tracey Ryder co-founder of Edible Communities. All were serious about GCC. We were waited on by Stephanie Cameron - Publisher of Edible Santa Fe.

To be very honest, almost every eatery in New Mexico has a good or great Green Chile Cheeseburger. If it were bad, they would be lynched. But the Smackdown brings a few really great GCCs to the front to be judged and sampled. I have to be frank; the simple Green Chile Cheeseburgers are the best. Some of the ones I tasted had an egg on top, too many toppings, and one burger was almost raw! Presentation is important because we eat with our eyes.

The winners, I think, were Milton Villarrubia, Second Street Brewery – The People’s Choice Award and Anthony Smith, Living Room at Inn and Spa Loretto – The Judges Award. I say, I think, because it was very loud when the results were read – screaming and clapping. I apologize if I have misspoken. Go to Edible Smackdown for the results on Monday. I tried to get it right!

The Smackdown was a good experience and a lot of fun. I am so glad I came! A great event for a foodie.

- Barbe Awalt