Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Olguin opts out of State Fair affair

T.S. Last EDC General Manager, tslast@dchieftain.com

Bobby Olguin says he's got nothing else to prove.

That's why he doesn't plan on participating in a planned green chile cheeseburger cookoff to be introduced at this year's New Mexico State Fair.

In the same press release announcing that Governor Bill Richardson had proclaimed July 24, 2009, "Buckhorn Tavern Day" in New Mexico, the Governor announced plans for a contest "to determine the best commercial green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico."

"There are so many great green chile cheeseburgers in New Mexico and since everyone has a favorite, the debate over the best is always a passionate one," Richardson said in the release. "This friendly competition will put those favorites to the test as they face off head to head."

After dining at the Buckhorn last Friday, Richardson explained that the contest was conceived as a way to spotlight the flavor of rural New Mexico.

"We want to take advantage of the publicity the Buckhorn has received and spread it statewide," he said. "And it's possible we might open it up to include other states, like Texas and Arizona."

The Buckhorn Tavern has brought New Mexico a feast of positive publicity recently. The Buckhorn's green chile cheeseburger was named the seventh best burger in America by Gentlemen's Quarterly in 2005, it was rated the "Baddest Burger in the Land" on the Marlboro.com Web site earlier this year, and Olguin beat a celebrity chef in an episode of "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" that aired on the Food Network last week.

Asked if his idea for a competition at the State Fair was an indication that he thought there might be a better green chile cheeseburger in the New Mexico than the one served at the Buckhorn, Richardson gave a politically correct response.

"No, I think Bobby Olguin will win the contest," he emphasized, "but there are many other great burgers in the state. There's also another great green chile cheeseburger right here in San Antonio just up the street at the Owl Café."

But Olguin isn't enthusiastic about entering another competition against anybody.

"No, the contests are over," he said. "I think that the Buckhorn has already proven itself. We don't need to be in anymore contests."

Maybe Olguin's competitive juices will start salivating as the State Fair approaches and he'll change his mind. But right now Olguin said he's only interested in participating in the contest as a judge.

"I don't have anything else to prove," he said, "but I'll help them find the second best burger in New Mexico."

E-mail this story Printer-friendly version