Salsa cook off is a madera idea if I ever heard one!! I LOVE IT!!
Unfortunately I no longer live in CA where people try different types of foods. Instead I live in GA where Taco bell is the same as mexican
If I were doing it, I would begin by sending out flyers to students & local restraunts asking them to pre-RSVP also, ask what they feel is a reasonable fee for free publicity. This will give an idea of how many chefs and what type of fee to charge.
Publicize everywhere! Call local radio stations including AM just to see if they can help. You might even get 1 to come to the event!
I would see if I could get board members, executive staff, teachers to judge. If you can maybe 5 of the above & 2 student judges.
Wal-mart will match up to $1000 of your earnings if you invite them out to volunteer(if i understood our rep correctly). In fact you had the cook off in the wal-mart parking lot & had many signs, they will definately match funds as stated above & you could probaly have use of a large tent. You need to find out the community coordinators name & get something to her/him in writting 30days before the event.
I hope this has helped.
Good Luck! :cool: