Guaymas, Mexico. The most fun (and interesting) part of this trip was definitely the 4th annual Squid Festival on the waterfront in Guaymas.

This 3-day, family-oriented event is designed to increase public awareness of the culinary properties of local squid – and there were about 20 different presentations available for sampling.

There were also commercial representatives from local companies that produced both traditional fare like canned squid and innovative new products like pan-ready breaded squid sticks and squid chorizo.

These products are not yet available in the US, but both here and in Santa Rosalia enterprising locals would love to break into that market -- sustainable squid snacks in high-end stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods is what I would like to see happen to benefit the local squid economies.

On Saturday night we witnessed the presentation of this year’s Calamar Queen and her court – teenagers in jeweled gowns – attended by a dancing jester (about 10 years old) in a fabulous red squid suit.

We returned on Sunday morning (and night), but the stage remained empty of official participants.