Congratulations are in order for the winner of our Third Annual No Holds Barred Hatch Chile Pepper Recipe Contest. After announcing the finalists last week, our team of tastebud tempters met on Sunday for a showdown in the Cooking School. Local celebrity chefs were on hand to perform the grueling task of tasting all the spicy specialties – what a rough job!  Our many thanks go out to these three for their judicious judging.

• Lanny Lancarte of Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana

• Terry Chandler of Fred's Texas Cafe

• Keith Hicks of Buttons Restaurant

And now for the important part – the winner!

Fort Worth's own Dot Bartell won the day with her creation of "Flamin' Hot Hatch Chile Ice Cream," which is a sweet, creamy and spicy blend of real cream, vanilla, Hatch chile peppers and pineapple. We can't think of a better way to say "summer in the Southwest!"  Visit our Recipes page for instructions on recreating Dot's winning recipe at home, or for a host of other hot Hatch recipes.

Dot will take home a $100 Central Market Gift Card and a pile of roasted Hatch chile peppers – and a lifetime of bragging rights!