My first NASCAR event…almost

I’ve been a member of the Mars family since I joined Bright Ideas.com. I share my entertaining ideas and exclusive recipes using the brand’s products. Needless to say, I was very excited when I was approached to cook for the M&M Mars racing team at a big NASCAR weekend in Richmond, VA. Mars asked me to create a menu to serve the team before their races. Then, mingle with the press and, of course, experience the pits and all the behind the scene excitement. It was an offer I could not refuse – first, one of NASCAR’s best, Kyle Bush, is at the helm of car #18 and second, I am a speed freak!

Preparations for the event were more intricate than I expected. Getting clearance from NASCAR was a meticulous process; we even had to get background checks! They only allowed me to bring one person, so we had to come up with a plan of execution to flawlessly accomplish a 40-people outdoor grilling lunch with minimum help. But there was one thing that was a no-brainer…my menu. It was a perfect blend of real Delicioso comfort food.

The Menu:
• Latin Chorizo Burgers, with caramelized onions and jalapenos and a red pimento mayo.
• Sweet Potato Fries with Avocado Dipping Sauce
• Guava Glazed Grilled Chicken Breast
• Mango and Red Cabbage Slaw

Luckily, we were able to enlist the help of a great local catering company, Buz and Ned’s. That’s how I came to meet Buz, a larger than life character and star pit master. And yes, I ate amazing BBQ at his place! Buz won a Bobby Flay Throw Down and has T-shirts that read “Flay Slaying”. I took a pic with my mobile phone and sent it to Bobby saying: “Guess where I am?? Ha, ha.” By the way, Bobby is a great friend of mine, so it’s all in good fun!

Sadly, tropical storm Hanna forced NASCAR to shut down Saturday’s event. I was so bummed! We were ready to go, food and all! But that’s Mother Nature for you – she is definitely one thing we have no control over. Thankfully we were able to send all the food to a food bank, which made me feel better.

So, instead of driving down the fast lane, I ended up sitting in my hotel in Richmond for 2 days, wondering how to get back home with Tropical Storm Hanna in Richmond and Hurricane Ike making its way to Miami. In the end, I made it home, the NASCAR races rescheduled for Sunday and, thankfully, Ike missed us in Miami. My heart does go out to all affected by the storm in Texas, Cuba and Haiti.

As for me, I don’t give up my hopes of making it to NASCAR one day and feeding team M&M.

For some great recipes I create exclusively for M&M Mars please visit www.brightideas.com

Until the next one and besitos to all.