The real scoop regarding the ongoing ZestFest and Fiery Food Challenge rumors
Hopefully, this will lay to rest any of the rumors that ZestFest or the associated Fiery Food Challenge will be cancelled or otherwise eliminated. What remains to be seen is if Chile Pepper Magazine has ANY association at all with this event…or whether they retain any relevance to the industry at all.
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Commented at May 31, 2010- 6:40 pm
I was debating on whether or not to post this on my own site this morning. I wonder if ZestFest will be still happening around its traditional time this year (around the second weekend of September).
Commented at May 31, 2010- 6:55 pm
The folks who now own the show are the people who have been charged with setting up and running the show since it was purchased from Lifestyle Media. I’m certain that things will go forward without as much as a hiccup. Same time, same place, same ole, same ole. They have done a fantastic job since stepping in. The email I received was from Judy Magouirk, who was in charge of the contest last year. All seems to be as usual except for the rumors and conspiracy theories that seem to abound in chilehead blogdom. I for one am looking forward to the show this year. It is the premier show for mixing consumers and makers in a party atmosphere! Congratulations to Pam & Greg and Spicy Food Productions, L L C
Commented at June 1, 2010- 4:06 am
I am glad the show will continue, but is the food catering issue resolved now or still a problem?
Commented at June 1, 2010- 10:08 am
Buddah, there is no catering issue: there’s plenty of dirty love burgers from the love shack!
Commented at June 1, 2010- 1:47 pm
Lee, I am lost by your cryptic message and since I do not know you I will continue to believe there might be an issue with the ZF food service for the Will Rogers venue. At least until informed otherwise. Do you care to waive some credentials for us uninformed?
Commented at June 1, 2010- 2:06 pm
Credentials? We don’t need no stinking credentials! LOL!
Commented at June 1, 2010- 4:08 pm
Al, that is Lee of Handsome Mike fame! One of the band of Cash Trash!
Seriously, I’m sure the folks at the good old Ft Worth Health Department had that mess cleaned up before we left town on Monday after the event. The aftermath of legal affairs probably isn’t settled yet. There are a whole list of events going on at the Will Rogers so I’m sure the food is edible with no side effects.
Commented at June 2, 2010- 10:38 am
So you volunteering to be a judge then? :p
Commented at June 8, 2010- 2:04 am
John, I think you should get Buddah set up as a judge!
Commented at June 9, 2010- 8:56 am
this is my frist time to a show not sure whats going on ? just need to know if it is still on and when in september? thank you
larry
Commented at June 9, 2010- 10:08 am
Larry, Zestfest has been sold and will continue as if nothing has changed. It is Sept 11 & 12. The Houston Hot Sauce show is a week later. The New Orleans show is the last weekend of this month.
Commented at June 9, 2010- 6:41 pm
Buddah, I just got off the phone with Judy, forget the date, it’s changed, forget the location, it’s changed. Forget everything that was, the next Zest Fest will be one for the record books. Trust me.
Commented at June 9, 2010- 10:34 pm
Well, I hope so. I just heard about it from Scott.
Commented at June 9, 2010- 10:59 pm
Glad the date has changed since we have conflicts that weekend here in NC with the NC Hot Sauce Festival. Has been hard to give up something that brings in the known guaranteed for the unknown and higher costs. Sounds like this may be the year we finally attend
Commented at June 10, 2010- 10:46 am
but what are the new dates? A few weeks ago I heard rumors of January. I hate traveling in the winter with the possibilities of delays, so I hope it doesn’t change much. I think battling NFL opening week is a challenge, so I think the change might be a good thing.
Commented at June 10, 2010- 10:49 am
I’d like to know more info as well. We’ve received a few emails requesting info about this revised event, and we don’t even have contact information for which to refer to the new owners. Since the old date for ZF is only 3 months away, I would be willing to bet that the new dates are later than that to give more time to pull it all together. – Joe
Commented at June 10, 2010- 10:56 am
The new dates are later. It will be worth the wait.
Commented at June 11, 2010- 12:15 pm
It will be the last week of January in a yet to finished facility in Irving, TX. I will forward you the email I got later today.
Commented at June 12, 2010- 3:19 pm
This event is too close to the Albuquerque Fiery Foods Show and the Columbus Fiery Foods show. Obviously the timing was meant to take away from Albuquerque, which I think is a REAL mistake in judgment. Late January is not a good time for people to travel or spend (bills from Christmas still being paid, weather issues, people just back from traveling during the holidays). I think it was a poor choice in dates and I will continue to support Albuquerque and of course Columbus. As to Chile Pepper Magazine-they are slowly dissolving their relationship with the industry—and that has been a continuing shame for many many years! I can add that being a chilehead (or loving one) is a requirement for involvement in this industry-you gotta love it or the passion just isn’t there!
Commented at June 16, 2010- 2:15 pm
I can not believe that the dates have changed and there will be NO ZEST FEST 2010!! That is a shame. Irving is a mistake. I find it very strange that your changing the venue from Fort Worth to a city that has no history…….
Commented at June 24, 2010- 5:18 pm
I am not a vendor, I take my son every year for his birthday, just the two of us. He loves spicy foods and this is his favorite thing in the world. I will be so disappointed if it is moved to Irving. The dates I can handle, but if you are not from here you do not understand that yes it is only a 30-45 minute drive but it’s not worth the drive with the traffic and headache of the commute.
Commented at June 29, 2010- 10:29 am
well I hope they start getting official info up soon. We’ve been planning on launching our product line at this event.
The last two years during the planning of the business, Zest Fest has been a very impressive trade show and seemingly the premier event in this region for the industry. I didn’t catch what created all the hoopla but I certainly hope it gets sorted out really soon and nothing gets tarnished during the transition.
Commented at July 8, 2010- 9:45 am
really? zest fest is moving and changing? I finally win a golden chili, decide to blow off abq and do fortworth and now this heinous rumor? grrrrrrrrrrr. defcon? baby? say it aint so!
Commented at July 8, 2010- 10:50 am
[...] site has been all but dismantled. The ZestFest show, once sponsored by Chile Pepper, lives on, but the franchise has been sold to the folks who have been operating the event. The magazine masthead no longer reflects a [...]
Commented at August 4, 2010- 12:49 pm
If the show is to be in Irving at a yet to be finished site most likely the new Irving Convention Center under construction in Las Colinas. Too bad, Fort Worth is where this show belongs but the show is worth while regardless of location. It is the heat we seek not the facility.
Commented at September 9, 2010- 1:13 pm
Any more news on the Zest Fest??
Commented at September 10, 2010- 8:53 am
Is there no Zest Fest this weekend???
PEOPLE – What were you thinking???
You can’t just pull the plug on thousands of addicts that must get their “fix” and expect us to say, “that’s ok honey, we’ll just be patient and wait they finish the Convention Center in Irving and go there”. We who must get their “fix” will turn our loyalty elsewhere! I’m sure that all of us addicts have enough hot stuff at home that we could all meet in the park and taste each others “fixin’s”. And, best of all it won’t cost us a dime! Addicts of North Texas must unite so we can “feel the burn”!
Ok, I am off my soap box….but I’m still not happy about this.
The “It’s not HOT enough” girl
Commented at September 10, 2010- 2:22 pm
Well said “INHE” Girl!
Commented at September 11, 2010- 10:34 am
Too bad….Just read about the Irving location but see no dates or 2010 event information anywhere. if you want people to attend you should advertise the new date and location, though don’t think that I will travel all the way to Irving for this.Very disappointed! Agree that Fort Worth is where this event belongs!
Commented at September 11, 2010- 1:11 pm
Folks, the new dates have been public knowledge for months now, and they’ve been posted on the official ZestFest website at http://www.zestfest2011.com. The info is readily available on a lot of other places, including this very blog and mine.
Commented at September 11, 2010- 2:19 pm
Well, I just put 2 and 2 together and realized the next local Zest Fest is indeed the one in Irving…in 2011. I guess since I’ve been searching for “Zest Fest Fort Worth 2010″, it took me a while to find the change of date and venue. While I’m not looking forward to making the trek to Las Colinas (It does belong in Cowtown, dang it!!) or having to wait a tortuous extra 4 months, ultimately I’m just happy someone took up the reigns and is making it possible for us Chiliheads to gather together somewhere in the DFW and get our spicy on!
~See you there folks!! <3
Commented at September 11, 2010- 7:23 pm
Hey It’s not hot enough girl! Come to the 10th Annual Houston Hot Sauce Festival next weekend Sept 18th-19th Many of your favorites from ZF will be there, and we will be glad to burn you up!
Commented at September 12, 2010- 7:50 am
If the good people of Zestfest had a permanent website instead of a yearly rotating one, people could find it easier and get all the info available instead of going through search engines.
I will be attending the Houston Hot Sauce show for the first time, and very excited to see what that show offers.
Commented at October 15, 2010- 5:37 pm
Was disappointed to hear that ZestFest has moved, BUT not entirely surprised…..since the rebuilding of the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History (located across the parking lot from Will Rogers Convention Center) and the build of the new parking garage there by the City of Fort Worth. The city decided to charge for parking in ALL the lots in that area to cover their expense for the new garage and LOTS of people are not happy about having to pay for parking in an area that used to be free. Add to that having to pay for entrance to ZestFest and for a lot of people nowadays on a budget, having to pay all that $$ before even walking in the doors is a drawback. We’ll definately plan to attend in Irving cause we love it so much….just hope it’s not going to cost a pretty penny before walking in the doors there as well, not to mention the extra gas to get there this time.