The Vancouver Foodster 2nd Taco Challenge was a huge success featuring 13 taco creations from restaurants around Vancouver and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their taco creation from May 21 – June 14, 2015. 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.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Sean Neild, Mary Sheridan, Corey Basso and Sonia Beeksma
The Winners are:
1st Place: Little Mexico Cantina
Tacos Cantineros
Description:
Taco Don Pedro – Edam cheese chicharron, chorizo sofrito, prawns and braised short ribs glazed with Pedro Ximenez reduction topped with julienned pear
Ensenada Stye Fish Taco – Snapper dusted with Little Mexico seasoning, topped with house dressing, guacamole sauce, white and purple cabbage slaw and pineapple pico de gallo
Lobster Cazadores Taco – Sautéed lobster, shallots, garlic, thai chile, lime juice, Little Mexico seasoning and Tequila Cazadores Reposado served over a bed of refried black beans topped with papaya, pickled red onions and cilantro served on double 4” corn tortillas – gluten free
Created by: Chef Roberto Lopez Lara
Little Mexico Cantina
3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond
Tel: (604) 272-5123
Web: http://www.littlemexicocantina.com/
Twitter: @MexicoCarol
Instagram: littlemexicocantina
Executive Chef Roberto Lopez Lara and Owner Carol Janeczko
2nd Place:
Molli Café
Fraser Valley duck Mixiote with cactus salad
Description: Duck leg marinated in guajillo sauce and spices. Then the meat it is wrapped in package with parchment paper (traditionally with a paper made out of maguey leaves skin) and slowly cooked in the oven. It is served with a fresh cactus leaves salad (salt cured and seasoned with vinegar, limes, onions and oregano). It is a really traditional dish from central Mexico made out of rabbit or lamb, usually cactus will be cooked in with the meat, but we decides to go for a salad to give that nice freshness and acidity.
Created by Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores
Molli Café
1225 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-336-6554
Web: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Molli-Cafe/1433190433617382
Twitter: @MolliCafe
Instagram: molli_cafe
Chefs Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores
3rd Place:
Ban Chok Dee
Thai Taco Platter
Description: Salmon citrus filling in homemade herbal soft tortillas along with northern style sweet & salty pork salsa with crispy mini bite shells.
Created by: Executive Chef Parinya Lopston
Ban Chok Dee
20563 Douglas Crescent, Langley
Tel: 778-278-3088
Web: http://www.banchokdee.com
Twitter: @BanChokDeeThai
Instagram: banchokdeethai
Executive Chef Parinya Lopston
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Taco dishes were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
Ban Chok Dee
Thai Taco Platter
Description: Salmon citrus filling in homemade herbal soft tortillas along with northern style sweet & salty pork salsa with crispy mini bite shells.
Created by: Executive Chef Parinya Lopston
Ban Chok Dee
20563 Douglas Crescent, Langley
Tel: 778-278-3088
Web: http://www.banchokdee.com
Twitter: @BanChokDeeThai
Instagram: banchokdeethai
2nd Place People’s Choice:
American Grille
Wanna Taco ‘Bout It
Price: $16 (for 3 tacos)
Description: Braised pork Belly, BBQ Hoisin Sauce, Sriracha Aioli, Kimchi, Cucumber w/ a Pickled Daikon and Carrot Granish on a Steamed Bun
Created by: Chef Jaspere Regalado
Offered: all the time
American Grille
7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond
Tel: 604-232-2804
Web: http://www.american-grille.com
Twitter: @GrilleYVR
Instagram: grilleyvr
3rd Place People’s Choice:
U&I Thai
U&I Thai Fish Taco
Price: $8.95
Description: Fish taco
Created by: Chef Ui Ratsomjit
Offered: All the time
U & I Thai
3364 Cambie St, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 875-6999
Twitter: @uratomjit
Instagram: n/a
Thank you to all the chefs, restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured their tacos 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 13 Taco entries here.
By: Richard Wolak