Taco Challenge 2016 Winners

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 Canauhtli

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

Chef Roberto Lopez Lara and Owner Carol

2nd Place: (tie):

Las Tortas

The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco

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

Chef Moises Toyber

2nd Place: (tie):

Los Cuervos Taqueria

Tamarind Glazed Pork Belly

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

Chef Gilles_L´Heureux

3rd Place: (tie):

Molli Café

Beef tongue with almond sauce

Beef Tongue with almond sauce

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

Chefs Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores and their team

3rd Place: (tie):

The Pressure Box

Pacific North West Tacos

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

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:

vf_award_badge_taco-01

Little Mexico Cantina

Taco Canauhtli

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:

vf_award_badge_taco-02

Las Tortas

The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco

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:

vf_award_badge_taco-03

El Santo

Taco de Borrego en Mole Ahumado

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

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