The Vancouver Foodster 3rd Taco Challenge was a huge success featuring 10 taco creations from restaurants around Vancouver, New Westminster, and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their taco creation from May 12 – June 5, 2016. 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: Louisa Chan, Jennifer Thomson and Aaron Alexander.
The Winners are:
1st Place: Little Mexico Cantina
Taco Canauhtl
Price: $10
Description: Duck Confit (Carnitas) mashed comate, toasted seasoned pecans, on a handmade guajillo chile tortilla “a la Potosina” from the region of San Luis Potosi presented with a Pitaya brunoise dusted with jamaica (Habisus) flower petals, served with a black bean mousse and avocado mousse topped with a piloncillo chipotle sauce and a sprig of organic thyme.
Created by: Chef Roberto Lopez Lara
Offered: Available for Dinner only.
Little Mexico Cantina
3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond
Tel: (604) 272-5123
Web: http://www.littlemexicocantina.com/
Twitter: @LMCSteveston
Instagram: lmcsteveston
Chef Roberto Lopez Lara and Owner Carol
2nd Place: (tie):
Las Tortas
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco
Price: $13
Description: As the Sharwarma: is the Taco al pastor’s culinary ancestor, I decided to make a fusion mix of traditional Lebanese and Mexican flavours. Red Snapper marinated in a mix of zattar, sumac spices & pomegranate molasses, panfried & served on top of fresh spinach, red & green cabbage, chipotle infused tajine, and crowned with fattoush pico de gallo & fresh avocado.
Created by: Chef Moises Toyber
Offered: All the time (11 30am- 7 30pm Monday- Saturday)
Las Tortas
3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-569-1402
Web: http://www.lastortas.ca/
Twitter: @LASTORTAS
Instagram: lastortascambie
Chef Moises Toyber
2nd Place: (tie):
Los Cuervos Taqueria
Tamarind Glazed Pork Belly
Price: $4.25
Description: Tamarind glazed pork belly with lightly pickled cabbage and chicharrón.
Created by: Chef Gilles_L´Heureux
Offered: All the time.
Los Cuervos Taqueria
603 Kingsway, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 558-1518
Web: http://www.loscuervos.ca/
Twitter @LosCuervosTacos
Instagram: loscuervostaqueria
Chef Gilles_L´Heureux
3rd Place: (tie):
Molli Café
Price: $3 (for 1 taco)
Description: It is a simple taco but complex in flavors, since we used traditional Mexican techniques to elaborate the sauce. The tender and lean beef tongue blends really nice with the nutty and lightly spice of the sauce. We found that it was a good way to mix tradition with an odd part ingredient.
Created by: Chefs Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores
Offered: Monday to Saturday from noon to 7pm
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 and their team
3rd Place: (tie):
The Pressure Box
Pacific North West Tacos
Price: $12
Description: aka salmon and bannock tacos with salt curred/cold smoked Ocean wise Keta Salmon, whipped citrus cream cheese, pea shoots, pickled onions.
Created by: Chef Scott Lesko
Offered: Tuesday to Thursday lunch; Friday/Saturday nights.
The Pressure Box Food Truck
Location: For the exact location daily click here
Tuesday to Friday lunch at Georgia and Burrard and Saturday nights at 33 acres brewery. 5th and Quebec Wednesday lunch , 33 acres Wednesday lunch.
Web: http://thepressurebox.ca/
Twitter: @ThePressurebox
Instagram: thepressurebox
Chef Scott Lesko
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:
Little Mexico Cantina
Taco Canauhtl
Price: $10
Description: Duck Confit (Carnitas) mashed comate, toasted seasoned pecans, on a handmade guajillo chile tortilla “a la Potosina” from the region of San Luis Potosi presented with a Pitaya brunoise dusted with jamaica (Habisus) flower petals, served with a black bean mousse and avocado mousse topped with a piloncillo chipotle sauce and a sprig of organic thyme.
Created by: Chef Roberto Lopez Lara
Offered: Available for Dinner only.
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:
Las Tortas
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco
Price: $13
Description: As the Sharwarma: is the Taco al pastor’s culinary ancestor, I decided to make a fusion mix of traditional Lebanese and Mexican flavours. Red Snapper marinated in a mix of zattar, sumac spices & pomegranate molasses, panfried & served on top of fresh spinach, red & green cabbage, chipotle infused tajine, and crowned with fattoush pico de gallo & fresh avocado.
Created by: Chef Moises Toyber
Offered: All the time (11 30am- 7 30pm Monday- Saturday)
Las Tortas
3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-569-1402
Web: http://www.lastortas.ca/
Twitter: @LASTORTAS
Instagram: lastortascambie
3rd Place People’s Choice:
El Santo
Taco de Borrego en Mole Ahumado
Price: $6 (for one taco)
Description: Mole rubbed, smoked lamb neck with Jalapeno and mint salsa and Chile spiced candied pecans
Created by: Chef Shane King
Offered: Lunch and Dinner
El Santo
680 Columbia Street, New Westminster
Tel:(604) 727-8176
Web: http://elsanto.ca/
Twitter @el_santonewwest
Instagram: elsantonewwest
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 10 Taco entries here.
By: Richard Wolak