The Martínez family, originally from the Fourth Block of Boxtha, Actopan, dominated the Third Barbecue and Ximbo Festival held this Sunday, October 13 in Santa Rosa, California, United States, by winning first place in the contests organized by Nelly Damián Quintero and the community of Hidalgo residents in that country.
This was reported by the Actopan councilor, Omar Ramírez, who along with his counterpart Manolo Núñez, were invited to be part of the jury, an event attended by approximately three thousand people, most of them from the Mexican community, half from the city of the former monastery.
The winners are originally from the La Floresta neighborhood, in the municipal capital, representatives who have been living in California for more than 10 years and selling the characteristic foods of Actopan gastronomy, highlighted the councilor of the 2024-2027 city council. They won a thousand dollars as a prize for the barbecue contest and 500 for the ximbo.
The second and third places in the lamb dish went to barbacoa El Venado, from the Actopan Efraín Venado, a native of Dajiedhi, and José Olguín (18 years living in Santa Rosa) from the La Floresta colony, respectively, explained Omar Ramírez.
In the case of ximbo, barbacoa El Hidalguense from the countrymen of Boxaxni won second place, while the Ángeles family, from Cañada Chica Antigua, third place.
Because they organize it with their own economic resources and although they ask for the support of authorities, it should be noted that this support was not granted to them, explained Nelly Damián in a previous interview.
Barbecue and Ximbo Festival celebrates Mexican roots
Omar Ramírez, who has attended all three festivals, highlighted that it is an activity that unites the Mexican community with Actopan gastronomy and identity, “which is proud of its roots and culture, and also of its children even if they were born in the United States.”
According to Actopan resident Nelly’s comment to the councilor, each year they have had to look for larger facilities; what started in a parking lot (2022), was followed by a park and now the Montecitos park, larger than the one in 2023. Later, the Santa Rosa fair venue will follow, comparable to the Actopan fairgrounds, she summarized.
It is worth mentioning that as part of a broadcast of the contest, it was observed that there were other participants from El Arenal, Huichapan and Atotonilco El Grande. In addition, an American girl, of Mexican parents, designed and presented “the barbecue lottery.”
There was also an Aztec ceremony to wish success to the contestants, who sold out their barbacoa and ximbo sales, which allowed them to recover part of the $450 that they paid to register. According to comments on the social media broadcast, during the event the exhibitors sold chalupas, hamburgers and Hidalgo-style hot dogs.
The Third Barbecue and Ximbo Festival took place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. California time, one hour behind Mexico City.
Source: elsoldehidalgo
