by ARIEL MEGEE
Winners show off the plaques in Kyle’s first annual Fajita Fiesta. According to town legend, the first fajita was sold in Kyle in 1969. (Photo by Ariel Megee)
Special to the Hays Free Press
If Kyle truly is the birthplace of the fajita, then this weekend’s festival marked a homecoming of sorts.
The Lions Club hosted the inaugural run of the Kyle Fajita Festival and Barbeque Cook-off last Friday and Saturday.
According to town legend, Austin butcher Sonny Falcon sold the world’s first fajitas at a Diez y Seis festival in Kyle, on the property of local resident Blas Mendez, in 1969.
Falcon presented the first place prize for beef fajitas to the team “Horns Up Cookers,” made up of first-time competitors Javier Rodriguez and Joe Castillo of San Marcos.
“This was a good time, a good experience and great atmosphere,” Castillo said.
Another group of first-timers, the “Fowl Pits” crew of Kyle, took home the first place plaque for showmanship. Dustin Cloutier, the head of the Fowl Pits, celebrated his birthday with his crew by learning the rules of cook-off competition.
“This has been great, we couldn’t have asked for more. There are some great people out here showing us the ropes,” Cloutier said.
The brisket, pork spare ribs, and chicken competitions were sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association. IBCA judge Mike Jonas said he was pleased with the way the first-time event went off.
“This has gone really well. Everything has just gone so smoothly,” Jonas said.
The quality of the competition fare was given high ratings by Justice of the Peace Beth Smith and Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson, who were judges for the event.
“The food has been excellent. There was only good, better and best,” Johnson said.
