Dublin Business Owner Wins Salsa Competition

Spicy, smokey, chunky, savory and traditional salsas were on display last night at the Dublin Farmers' Market salsa competition. The first annual salsa competition brought out six salsa competitors vying for bragging rights, a blue ribbon and a gift certificate for dinner at their favorite restaurant. 

Michael Elola, who owns the Lucky Garden Dublin Garden Supply & Hydroponics, won first place with his garden salsa recipe. Elola bravely competed against his wife, Natalie Elola. 

Elola says almost every single one of the ingredients were grown in his garden. 

"There were homegrown tomatoes, strawberries, jalapenos, cayenne, cilantro in the salsa," Elola said.

According to Elola, his salsa is often requests at parties and he competes annually on Father's Day against his brothers, with the wives choosing a winner.

Elola has been in the news before. He and his son visiting Haiti at the beginning of 2013 to help build an orphanage for children in need.

[Related article: Dublin Eighth-Grader Spends Holiday in Haiti Building Orphanage]

Kim Roberts won second place at the contest and Susie Martin took third place. Dublin locals Clark Jackman, Natalie Elola and Kelli Beckman also competed in the contest. The salsa contest was judged by Mayor Tim Sbranti, Councilmember Abe Gupta and Patch Editor Autumn Johnson.