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If you want to win cash prizes for your restaurant, your manager or your mixologist, now’s your chance thanks to three contests sponsored by el Restaurante in partnership with Jarritos. The deadline to enter each contest is August 15 — so enter soon!

The Independent Mexican/Latin Restaurant of the Year is a new contest that honors restaurant owners who support their employees and their community while creating culturally authentic cuisine. The first place winner will receive $5,000, second will receive $2,500, and third will receive $1,000; all winners will also receive a Jarritos cooler and a supply of Jarritos. Enter at elrestaurante.com/2021-Independent-Contest.

The Jarritos/el Restaurante Cocktail Contest is another new contest. This one celebrates cocktails that include Jarritos as an ingredient. The top five finalists will receive $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, $500 and $250 respectively; trophies; recognition in el Restaurante magazine and Jarritos social media; and a supply of Jarritos soda. Enter at elrestaurante.com/Cocktail-Recipe-Contest.

The Manager of the Year Contest, now in its sixth year, is a great way for restaurant owners to recognize their best managers — those who innovatively help their restaurants succeed while being great partners with the staff. The first place winner will receive $1,000 and second and third place winners will receive $500 each. All nominees will receive a framed certificate of recognition. Nominations are accepted at elrestaurante.com/2021-manager-contest.

The timeliness and reliability of thirdparty delivery services is more important to most Mexican restaurant owners than the cost of the service, according to a survey of el Restaurante readers. Nearly two thirds of respondents to the survey said timeliness and reliability were “essential” characteristics.

“We’ve been happy in most cases with our service, depending on courtesy and friendliness of drivers,” wrote one survey respondent.

Cost to the restaurant and convenience for entering orders tied for the secondmost important characteristic in the survey. Other highly ranked characteristics were user experience (for the customer), customer service from the app vendor, and the ability for the app to integrate with the restaurant’s POS system.

The most popular third-party delivery app among Mexican restaurant owners is UberEats, according to the survey. Forty-three percent of respondents use that app. GrubHub and DoorDash tied for second place with 38 percent each (restaurants could select more than one app).

Many Mexican restaurants rely heavily on delivery, the survey showed. It represents 51 percent to 75 percent of their business for about 24 percent of respondents, and 26 percent to 50 percent of their business for about 43 percent.

“We’ve been very content with the delivery apps we use,” one respondent to the survey wrote. “They helped us a lot, before and during COVID. We were closed for three months during the pandemic and thanks to these platforms, we survived.”

¡VIVA! — the newest Mexican restaurant concept from acclaimed Chef Ray Garcia, owner of Broken Spanish and B.S. Taqueria — brings a modern approach to familiar dishes that highlight the bright and bold flavors synonymous with Mexican food, especially in the Alta California region. ¡VIVA! — a partnership between Garcia and partner Oliver Wharton and vice president of development Peter Carrillo — is located in the new Resorts World Las Vegas.

“Dining at ¡VIVA! is like going to a friend’s house for a good time — music, great food, and drinks. It’s about having fun,” says Garcia. “The menu reflects that and showcases what Mexican food is and what it can be through ingredients, techniques, and culture. At its core, ¡VIVA! combines my Mexican American heritage, Los Angeles roots, and our incredible Las Vegas.” EatDrinkViva.com

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, the Texas-based Baja-style restaurant, recently announced its expansion into a new market – Wyoming, the 18th state for the brand. The fast-casual taco brand has partnered with Casper, Wyoming-based Johnson Restaurant Group to bring Fuzzy’s to the market in mid-summer, with plans to continue expansion into Montana as part of a five-store agreement.

Famous for its laid-back atmosphere, signature Baja-style tacos, chips and queso and icy-cold beverages, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was founded in 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas, with the goal of serving quality Baja-style Mexican favorites at an approachable price. The brand now has nearly 150 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 17 states (18, when Wyoming opens), with additional plans for more locations in Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Colorado.

Every third Friday from May through October, the RISE Westwood Campus in Denver will come alive with vegan food, art, Aztec dancing, live music, lowriders, youth activities and more. It’s all part of Veggie Viernes, an event designed to highlight Latinx/BIPOC/woman owned food-based businesses, artists, and artisans predominantly based in the Westwood neighborhood. Participating food vendors include CholoAss Vegan, Cultura Chocolate, Just Indulgence, Kahlo’s, Mujeres Emprendedores, Xatrucho Concepts, Cabrona Coffee, Teocintli, X’Tabai Yucateco, Vegan Van, Dixy Donuts, The Easy Vegan, The Bomb Enchiladas, Besitos Chamoy and The Hungry Tree Hugger. risewestwoodcollective.com/veggieviernes