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Gastronomic Lent National Contest

ViaNica.com | Mar 11, 2010

Róger Solórzano Canales

Dishes, soups, desserts and sweets, which are part of the Nicaraguan traditional food during the Lent and Holy Week, will be part of the Gastronomic Lent National Contest. The competition is already in its preliminary phase and on Sunday, March 21, the final phase will be held in Managua.

The contest is promoted by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR), the Nicaraguan Institute for Support of the Small and Medium Enterprises (INPYME) and the international chef Nelson Porta. The competition is open to all audiences and the free inscription can be made at INTUR.

During the press conference that took place in Managua, Mayra Salinas, Vice president of INTUR, said that the objetive of the contest is to promote, preserve and rescue the cuisine of those specifically periods (Lent and Holly Week). Also, she took the opportunity to explain that dishes made of flora and fauna in closure state will not be allowed.

Porta (chef), who is the director of the jury, said they are expecting seafood dishes, soups, in addition to desserts and sweets made of fruits of the season. The evaluation will be divided like this: 30% preparation and 70% flavor. During the contest in the departments the participants will take prepared dishes and will evaluated. However, for the final phase the participants will make them in real time; they will have three hours and a full equipped kitchen for each chef.

The competition has already started in the department. The first two were held in Matagalpa and Madriz. Today, March 11, the contest was held in Carazo. This are the future dates:

Friday 12 in Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan and Granada.
Saturday 13 in Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli and Leon.
Sunday 14 in Managua and Puerto Cabezas.
Thursday 18 in Masaya.
Friday 19 in Rivas and Jinotega.
Sunday 21: national final.

In the city of Managua, the competition will begin at 3:00 pm (Sunday, March 14), at Salvador Allende Port, located in front of Xolotlan Lake. The activity will be joined by a cultural show, which will start an hour before.

The national final will be held at Crown Plaza Hotel, situated in the old center of Managua. The winners of the previous competitions will participate on it. The first place will earn US$1000, the second one US$500 and the third one US$300.