Oh yeah baby! You can bet I’ll be there, on the judges side of the table this time around!

ZESTFEST DEBUTS FIRST EVER BURGER BASH
Chefs will compete for best burger prize in Stockyards

FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 21, 2007) –
ZestFest will kick off in Cowtown style this year with a Sept. 6 pre-party in the Stockyards.
The first annual Chile Pepper Burger Bash will be held in front of the Cowtown Coliseum from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature music, beer, and a burger cook-off between chefs Grady Spears of Dutch’s, nationwide barbecue expert Rick Browne, and Central Market’s Jeff Bekavac. Burger samples from the chefs will be available to the crowd and judged by a panel that includes Mike Wilie, president and CEO of Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations, Stockyards businessman Steve Murrin, Stockyards Hotel manager Curt Stovall, and Nick Lindauer of The Hot Sauce Blog. Attendance to the bash is free.
Other chefs who will be cooking on the stage at ZestFest will be there to offer their commentary on the burger-cooking fun and give the audience a preview of their live performances.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to come and meet the chefs who will be serving up spicy food at ZestFest,” said Gretchen VanEsselstyn, editor of Chile Pepper magazine, which hosts both ZestFest and the Burger Bash. “It’s a community event that’s all about celebrating great food in the Stockyards.”
The Burger Bash will also signify the end of the Fiery Food Challenge, a prestigious contest of spicy food and other products from Sept. 4-6.

Burger Bash attendees will receive coupons for $2 off of the price of admission to ZestFest, which is Sept. 8-9.

About ZestFest
ZestFest is held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Saturday and Sunday the show will be open to the public, who will find definitive offerings in bold, spicy and zesty food and apparel from more than 100 vendors. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday’s show will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be reserved for trade buyers. Attendance is $10. Sponsors include Coors, Hunter Brothers’ H3 Ranch, Cowboy Poet’s Salsa and Town and Country Gourmet Foods.

About Chile Pepper Magazine
Chile Pepper has been the spicy food lover’s publication of choice for more than 20 years. Followers of the zesty lifestyle look to the magazine for fiery recipes, hot travel ideas and coverage of cool new products. Each issue features bold-flavored recipes and restaurant coverage that ranges from chili cook-offs and barbecue to international fine dining.
For more information, visit www.zestfest2007.com or www.chilepepper.com.