TEAM/VENDOR PACKET

Thin Blue Line Foundation's mission is "building bridges between communities and Law Enforcement through volunteering, activism, and civic support."

The Thin Blue Line Foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit. The Foundation provides financial and moral support to all the families and communities of America’s First Responders and Military Warriors.  We take special pride in supporting those heroes who have sustained serious injuries in the line of duty or have given the ultimate sacrifice in the protection of their communities.  We proudly stand for them as they are laid to rest and receive their End Of Watch call.

On behalf of the Thin Blue Line Foundation, THANK YOU for your continued support!  

 

ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT TO THE VENUE AND/OR THE COOKOFF

(ALL ALCOHOL PURCHASED ON SITE)

PAYOUT:CASH PRIZES & TROPHIES 

 General Rules and Guidelines

  1.      All set up starts at 8am and ends at 9:00am on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The contest begins at 10am.

2.      Cooking Contest is limited to the first 25 entries. Entry deadline is 5pm, November 9, 2023.

3.      Non cooking vendors, limited to the first 5 spaces. Deadline is 5pm, November 9, 2023.

4.      Cooks meeting on Sat. November 11, at 9am American Legion Post inside the main hall. At this time, the rules will be discussed and explained. Any questions that you may have will also be addressed at this meeting.  

5.      No vehicles are allowed in the primary cooking area after 9am. Plenty of parking will be available in designated cookoff contestant parking.

6.      Contest starts at 10am on Sat. November 11th.

Judging/turn-in times will start at the following times:

·        10:30 Blood Mary Contest- $20 entry 50/50 split (stand-alone contest)

·        11:00 Showmanship

·        11:30 Blue Salsa – $20 entry 50/50 split (Stand-alone contest)

·        12:30 Desserts

·         2:00 Traditional Beef Fajitas

·         2:30 People’s Choice ticket MUST be turned in for count

·         3:30 Frijoles a La Chara

·         4:00 Hot Jalapeno Eating Contest $10 entry 50/50 split (Stand-alone contest)

7.      Frijoles a la Charra must be cooked/prepared on location.  You may cut or chop your ingredients in advance.  Propane allowed.

8.      Deserts must be cooked/prepared on location.  You may cut or chop your ingredients in advance.

9.      NO MEAT OTHER THAN BEEF SKIRTS MAY BE USED for fajita competition. (No sirloin). You may cook chicken as well to give to the public.

10.   Mechanical tenderizing is NOT allowed.  Prior marinating is allowed but no commercial marinating, only homemade recipes.  Actual cooking must be done on location.

11. Cookoff contestants must provide meat, pit, utensils, supplies, etc.

a.  Cookoff Committee will provide the public with necessary utensils for tasting.

12. Judging categories and criteria:

a. Traditional Fajita’s – taste, aroma, appearance, color, and tenderness

b. Frijoles a la Charra – aroma, color, and taste.

c. Dessert – aroma, taste, appearance, and originality of recipe.

d. Bloody Mary- taste, appearance, and presentation, **STAND ALONE CONTEST $20**

e. Salsa-aroma, taste **STAND ALONE CONTEST $20

f.  Showmanship

g. People’s Choice (public) (Fajita’s only)

13. NO open fires or ground pits are allowed. All teams must provide a fire extinguisher.

14. NO Alcoholic beverages or Coolers containing alcoholic beverages will be allowed. All coolers are subject to inspection by Fajita Committee representatives.         

COOK TEAMS RULES AND REGULATIONS 

1.      SHOWMANSHIP RULES: Judging @11:00am

a.      Showmanship will be judged based on: theme, costumes, booth set-up, action and audience appeal.

b.      Sound amplification must be on limited on volume so as not to interfere with other contestants.

 2.      SWEET TOOTH – DESSERT RULES: Turn in @ 12:30pm

a.      Dessert entries are to be judged based on: appearance, aroma, taste and originality.

b.      All desserts must be cooked/prepared on location. You may cut or chop your ingredients in advance.

c.      All entries must fit inside container provided by the Fajita Committee representative(s).

d.      No distinguishable markings are permitted. Any entry turned in with any type of distinguishable markings will be disqualified.

e.      Please ensure the outside of the container is clean.

 3.     TRADITIONAL BEEF FAJITA RULES: Turn In @ 2:00pm

a.      Traditional BEEF Fajitas entries will be judged based on appearance, aroma, taste and tenderness.

b.     No garnishes of any nature. Any entry turned in with anything other than the meat will be disqualified.

c.      NO MEAT OTHER THAN BEEK SKIRTS MAY BE USED/TURNED IN for fajita competition.

d.      Mechanical tenderizing is NOT allowed. Prior marinating is allowed but no commercial marinating, only homemade recipes. Actual cooking must be done on location.

e.      All entries must fit inside container provided by the Fajita Committee representative(s).

f.       No distinguishable markings are permitted. Any entry turned in with any type of distinguishable markings will be disqualified.

g.      Please ensure the outside of the container is clean.

 4.     PEOPLE’S CHOICE RULES: Turn In by 2:30pm

a.      To be judged solely by the public based on Traditional Beef Fajita’s ONLY!!!

b.      Tickets will be provided with each purchased Fajita Entry. Additional tickets may be purchased @ $1.00 each. Each Cook Team will be provided with ONE ticket per paid vendor entry.

 5.     FRIJOLES A LA CHARRA RULES: Turn In @ 3:30pm

a.      Frijoles a la Charra will be judged based on appearance, aroma, taste and color.

b.      Frijoles a la Charra must be cooked/prepared on location. You may cut or chop your ingredients in advance.

c.      All entries must fit inside container provided by the Fajita Committee representative.

d.      No distinguishable markings are permitted. Any entry turned in with any type of distinguishable markings will be disqualified.

e.      Please ensure the outside of the container is clean.

  All measures will be taken to ensure that judges will not know whose entry is being judged.

Judging fairness is our utmost concern.

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THE BLUE SALSA CONTEST RULES - ENTRY FEE $20.00

 Ø  All contestants are responsible to bring all ingredients and utensils, cutting boards, sample cups, and chips, everything needed to make their own salsa recipe.

Ø  Entries will be judged on Appearance, Aroma, and Taste.

Ø  Entry may be placed in the provided container. NO distinguishable marked containers will be permitted with the name of the team or team logo.

Ø  All Salsa must be prepared fresh on site. Canned ingredients such as: tomatoes, tomato sauce, lime juice, green chilies, etc., are acceptable.

Ø  NO premade salsas will be allowed. This contest will NOT judge taco sauce, hot sauce, enchilada sauce, chili sauce, guacamole, or mole.

Ø  All entries must be in place by 11:30 am SHARP. Judging will begin at 11:30 am. Once judging has begun, NO entries will be accepted. Entries may be picked up after judging is complete.

Ø  Cash prizes will be awarded to a single best overall winner based on the above criteria.

Ø  Cash prizes will be based on the number of entries, which will determine the amount, awarded – 50% to Winner & 50% to the TBL Foundation.

Ø  Salsa contest is open to anyone and considered a Stand-Alone Contest. Salsa contest participants DO NOT have to participate in any other contest.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

All decisions of the judges are final.  Misconduct will be considered automatic disqualification.  The Thin Blue Line LEMC or Thin Blue Line Foundation or any of its members or sponsors will not be responsible for accidents, theft, or damage to any equipment or persons. 

 ALL RESULTS TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CONTESTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF ALL JUDGING EVENTS.

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 THE BLUE BLOODY MARY CONTEST RULES - ENTRY FEE $20.00

   Entries will be judged on taste and showmanship (container presentation).

Ø  Entry may be placed in any container; however, no distinguishable marked containers will be permitted with the name of the team or team logo.

Ø  VODKA will be the only permitted alcohol ingredient.

Ø  May use pre-mixed juices.

Ø  All entries must be in place by 10:30 am SHARP. Judging will begin at 10:30 am. Once judging has begun, NO entries will be accepted. Entries may be picked up after judging is complete.

Ø  Cash prizes will be awarded to a single overall winner based on the above criteria.

Ø  Cash prizes will be based on the number of entries, which will determine the amount, awarded – 50% to Winner & 50% to the TBL Foundation.

Ø  Bloody Mary contest is open to anyone and considered a Stand-Alone Contest. Bloody Mary contest participants DO NOT have to participate in any other contest.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

All decisions of the judges are final.  Misconduct will be considered automatic disqualification.  The Thin Blue Line LEMC or Thin Blue Line Foundation or any of its members or sponsors will not be responsible for accidents, theft, or damage to any equipment or persons. 

 ALL RESULTS TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CONTESTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF ALL JUDGING EVENTS. 

 2 oz of Vodka will be provided by the Cook Off staff for each participant in the Bloody Mary Contest.

Those that wish to have a Bloody Mary Bar must purchase their vodka through the venue staff.  Contact "Nails" Deanie Boy, for details and to order alcohol.

****RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE****

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 CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION ON SITE FROM 1PM-2PM - TOURNAMENT BEGINS AT 2:30.  $20 PER PERSON/$40 PER TEAM - 50/50 SPLIT. SINGLE OR DOUBLE ELIMINATION (will depend on number of teams).

Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement

 1.        In consideration for receiving permission to participate in the Fajita Cookoff 2023- Thin Blue Line Foundation (hereinafter referred to as “Cookoff”, on November 11th, I hereby release, waive, discharge and covenant not to sue the Fajita Cookoff, Thin Blue Line Foundation and/or Thin Blue Line LEMC, its officers, servants, and agents (hereinafter referred to as “releasees”) from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or relating to any loss, damage or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or to any property belonging to me, whether caused by the negligence of the releasees, or otherwise, while participating in the Cookoff, or while in, on or upon the premises where the Cookoff is being conducted at American Legion Post 654, 3105 Campbell Rd. Houston Tx, while in transit to or from the premises, or in any place or places connected with the Cookoff. 

 2.       I am fully aware of risks and hazards connected with being on the premises and participating in the Cookoff, and I am fully aware that there may be risks and hazards unknown to me connected with being on the premises and participating in the Cookoff, and I hereby elect to voluntarily participate in the Cookoff, to enter upon the above named premises and engage in activities knowing that conditions may be hazardous, or may become hazardous or dangerous to me and my property.  I voluntarily assume full responsibility for any risks of loss, property damage or personal injury, including death, that may be sustained by me, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of my being a participant in the Cookoff, whether caused by the negligence of releasees or otherwise.

 3.       I further hereby agree to indemnify and save and hold harmless the releasees and each of them, from any loss, liability, damage or costs they may incur due to my participation in the Cookoff, whether caused by the negligence of any or all the releasees, or otherwise.

 4.       It is my express intent that this Release shall bind the members of my family and spouse, if I am alive, and my heirs, assigns and personal representative, if I am deceased, and shall be deemed as a Release, Waiver, Discharge and Covenant Not to Sue the above named releasees.  In signing this release, I acknowledge and represent that:

 A.       I have read the foregoing release, understand it, and sign it voluntarily as my own free act and deed.

 B.      No oral representation, statements, or inducements, apart from the foregoing written agreement, have been made.

 C.      I am at least eighteen (18) years of age and fully competent; and

 D.      I execute this Release for full, adequate, and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE THIN BLUE LINE FOUNDATION!!!

 

FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE BOARD