505 Southwestern® Reveals Recipe Contest Winners; Rob Holland, Merry Graham, and Marc Gelinas Comment

Building on its 25-year milestone celebration, 505 Southwestern® (505SW™) held a nationwide recipe contest as part of its larger 25 Years of Flavor campaign. Entrants had to use 505 Southwestern’s Hatch Valley green chile, salsa, and sauce products—and the winners are in.


“We were blown away by the creativity and surprising flavor combinations in the recipes that we received this year,” said Rob Holland, Executive Chairman of 505SW. “As we celebrate more than two decades of flavor, it is inspiring to see the way our customers are elevating the everyday with 505 Southwestern products.”

According to the release, the contest drew in more than 230 submissions of high-quality recipes for everything from traditional enchiladas and green chile stews to cocktails and comfort foods like burgers, macaroni and cheese, and desserts. Notable entries include a 505 Southwestern Beef Wellington, Green Chile Fried Ice Cream, 505 Green Chile Peach Cobbler, Green Chile Strawberry Margarita, and three different lasagnas.

505SW’s panel of judges gave bonus points to those who used multiple 505SW products in a given recipe and for sharing on social media using #25YearsOfFlavor and tagging @505southwestern.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Merry Graham of Southern California for her recipe Air Fryer Southwestern Salsa Verde Corn and Bacon Rangoons. This quick and easy appetizer features 505SW Chunky Green Chile Salsa and 505SW Flame Roasted Green Chile. Graham will receive $2,500 and a trip to New Mexico this fall for the 505SW VIP Anniversary Party featuring celebrity chef Aaron May.

“I’m a chile lover and I love the flavor boost that 505SW salsa and chile gives to my dishes,” said Graham. “When I read the prize was a trip to New Mexico for the 505 Southwestern VIP Party, I just had to enter. I am tickled to have won and to be invited to celebrate 25 Years of Flavor!”

The People’s Choice award was given to entrant Marc Gelinas on behalf of Madeline Island Market in La Pointe, Wisconsin. His winning dish, 505 Eggcellent Breakfast Sandwich, uses 505SW Flame Roasted Green Chile. This award is based solely on the number of votes each submission received from the public. Gelinas and his team will win $1,000 and a year’s supply of 505SW products.

“We decided a few years ago that we needed a breakfast sandwich to go along with our morning coffee service, and knew that we wanted to incorporate the 505SW New Mexico chile that we love,” said Gelinas. “This sandwich is now one of our top-selling items, and we've introduced green chile to a LOT of people who have never tried it before.”

As part of the celebration, 505 is donating a portion of sales for 25 weeks to the 505 Southwestern New Mexico True Scholar program, a program that supports future generations of farmers.

Congratulations to the winners and 505SW all around!

Source - Deli Market News