Taco Challenge 2019 Winners

The  Vancouver Foodster 6th Annual Taco Challenge was a huge success featuring taco creations from restaurants around Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their taco creation from May 16 – June 9, 2019. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.

The Winners are:

1st Place:

{109 points}

Little Mexico Cantina

Tacos Gobernador Estilo Sinaloa

Price: $8.50

Created by owner Carol Janeczko & Marie Sanchez

Description: Shrimp, sautéed diced tomatoes, poblano peppers, onions, in house-made chorizo, grilled Oaxaca cheese, topped with avocado sauce & and house made Habanero hot sauce served on a warm in house made tortilla.

Offered: Available for Dinner only after May 19.

Little Mexico Cantina

3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond

Tel: (604) 272-5123

Web: http://www.littlemexicocantina.com/

Twitter: @LMCSteveston

Instagram @lmcsteveston

Carol Janeczko

2nd Place (tie):

{105 points}

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill

Tacos De Camarón Cinco De Mayo

Price: $14

Created by:  Chef Juan Caminante

Description: Spice rubbed wild prawns sautéed with garlic and elote picado salsa, dressed with fresh organic cabbage, Hass avocado, house made chipotle mayo, onions, cilantro and a lime wedge.

Offered: Dinner, From 5pm – Close

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill

200 Esplanade W., North Vancouver

Tel: (604) 770-1010

Web: http://www.cinco5demayo.com/

Twitter: @CincoTweets

Instagram @cinconorthshore

Chef Juan Caminante and Zaira Flores

Las Tortas

Chicken Mole Confit

Price: $9.50

Created by: Chef Moises Toyber

Description: This taco was created using the Traditional Mexican Flavours & applying techniques of the French cuisine. Premium organic corn tortilla, black bean pure, truffled rice, chicken confit and a red Mole sauce will make you experience the fusion between 2 great cuisines.

Offered: All the time

Las Tortas

3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-1402

Web:  http://www.lastortas.ca/

Twitter: @LasTortas

Instagram: @lastortascambie

 

3rd Place:

{92 points}

Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen

Mexican Summer

Price: $12

Created by: Dan Garcia

Description: We hope that our taco reminds every Mexican of their summer and having barbecues. House-made hand made tortilla, longaniza (Toluca-stile chorizo), -cecina (steak yecapixtla-style), -nopal asado (grilled cactus), queso asado (grilled cheese), cebolla asada (grilled onions), cilantro and avocado salsa.

Offered: All the time

Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen

19151 Fraser Highway, Surrey

Tel: 778-547-8835

Web:www.hugosmexicanfood.com

Twitter: @hugosmexkitchen

Instagram @hugosmexicankitchen

and

Hugo’s Tacos & Churros

7899 Templeton Station Rd, Richmond

Web: http://hugoschurros.com/

Twitter: @Hugoschurros

Instagram: @hugoschurros

Offered: All the time

And

Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen

7101 Vedder Rd, Chilliwack

Instagram @hugosmexicankitchen

Offered: All the time

 

In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Taco Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.

The Winners are:

1st Place People’s Choice:

Little Mexico Cantina

Tacos Gobernador Estilo Sinaloa

Price: $8.50

Created by owner Carol Janeczko & Marie Sanchez

Description: Shrimp, sautéed diced tomatoes, poblano peppers, onions, in house-made chorizo, grilled Oaxaca cheese, topped with avocado sauce & and house made Habanero hot sauce served on a warm in house made tortilla.

Offered: Available for Dinner only after May 19.

Little Mexico Cantina

3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond

Tel: (604) 272-5123

Web: http://www.littlemexicocantina.com/

Twitter: @LMCSteveston

Instagram @lmcsteveston

 

2nd Place People’s Choice:

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill

Tacos De Camarón Cinco De Mayo

Price: $14

Created by:  Chef Juan Caminante

Description: Spice rubbed wild prawns sautéed with garlic and elote picado salsa, dressed with fresh organic cabbage, Hass avocado, house made chipotle mayo, onions, cilantro and a lime wedge.

Offered: Dinner, From 5pm – Close

Cinco De Mayo Mexican Grill

200 Esplanade W., North Vancouver

Tel: (604) 770-1010

Web: http://www.cinco5demayo.com/

Twitter: @CincoTweets

Instagram @cinconorthshore

 

3rd Place People’s Choice:

Las Tortas

Chicken Mole Confit

Price: $9.50

Created by: Chef Moises Toyber

Description: This taco was created using the Traditional Mexican Flavours & applying techniques of the French cuisine. Premium organic corn tortilla, black bean pure, truffled rice, chicken confit and a red Mole sauce will make you experience the fusion between 2 great cuisines.

Offered: All the time

Las Tortas

3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-1402

Web:  http://www.lastortas.ca/

Twitter: @LasTortas

Instagram: @lastortascambie

Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.

Each media judge scored each creation with a maximum of 40 points as follows: Overall Taste 20 points, Originality and Uniqueness 10 points, Presentation and Appearance 10 points. The highest number of points a challenge creation could have been awarded is 120 points.

Our Media judges for this challenge were: Louisa Chan, Jay Minter and Jess Chan.

Thank you to all the restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured the Taco Challenge creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.

I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Taco creations! See all the Taco Challenge Entries Here.

By: Richard Wolak

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