An acclaimed crew of San Antonio and Austin restaurants will battle for the championship belt during the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s (SAFWA) first annual Taco Rumble on Thursday, July 15, from 7:30-10 pm, presented by H-E-B. Limited tickets for the sure-to-sell-out event are available online for $65. (San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)

The electric competition, the first in-person event for the recently formed nonprofit, will be held at The Espee, located east of Downtown San Antonio. Formerly known as Sunset Station, this historic spot offers a convenient rideshare location.

The menu for Taco Rumble promises to be a true taco lovers delight. Guests can indulge in a dizzying array of styles and flavors, ranging from traditional to new school. Competing to be the taco supreme will be:

• Asador, Austin (Chef Joe Becerra) — Grilled Mushroom Taco with Mole Amarillo
• ¡Bucho! Tejano Street Fare, San Antonio (Chefs Gino Vidal & Jerry Moreno) — Chino Latino Poke Taco with a Tejano Furikake-Dusted Crispy Wonton Shell, Avocado, House Tuna Tartare, Habanero-Mezcal Aioli, & Micro Cilantro
• Carnitas El Guero, Austin (Chef Gustavo Reyes) — Traditional Carnitas Taco
• Carnitas Lonja, San Antonio (Chef Alex Paredes) — Michoacán- Style Carnitas Taco with Fresh Corn Tortillas
• Eldorado Café, Austin (Chef Joel Fried) — Thunderosa Taco with Sirloin, Bacon, Roasted Jalapenos, Sautéed Green Chile and Onion Rajas, & Melted Jack Cheese.
• La Fonda de Jaime 2.0, San Antonio ­(Chefs Jaime Hernandez & Pedro Rebollo) — Birria 2.0 Taco
• La Generala, San Antonio (Chef Blanca Márquez ) — Costilla Taco with Pork Ribs Cooked in Signature Blend of Spices & Chiles
• Jason Dady Catering, San Antonio (Chef Esteban Valdez) — Smoked Beef Short Rib Taco with Sikil Pak (Mayan Pepita Dip), Avocado, Oaxaca Cheese, & Salsa Macha
• Lala’s Gorditas, San Antonio(Chef Steven Anthony Pizzini) — Puffy Tacos Norteño with Shredded Chicken, House Adobo Sauce Curtido, Crema, & Salsa Verde
• Milpa (Chef Jesse Kirk), San Antonio — Taco Arabe with Shawarma-Style Pork, Crema Mexicana, Cucumbers, Cilantro, & Chile Arbol Salsa; Flor de Jamaica Taco with Hibiscus Flower con Sazon, Avocado Spread, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, & Salsa Habanero
• Naco Mexican Eatery, San Antonio (Chefs Francisco Estrada & Liz Estrada) — “Mexican Grandmother” Dry Fideo Taco with Cream, Avocado, & Chicatanas (Mexican Flying Ants) Roasted Salsa on Heirloom Blue Corn Tortillas.
• Paprika, Austin (Chef Margarito Pérez) — Taco de Suadero with Brisket Confit, Cilantro, Onion, and Salsa de Arbol
• R19 Taqueria, Austin (Chef Christopher Haydostian) — Báhn Mì Tacos with Twice Cooked Pork Belly, Pickled Jicama Tortilla, Traditional Vegetables, Herbs, & Hanoi Vinaigrette
• Texsueño, Austin (Chef Brandon Martin) — Crispy Oxtail Taco
• Trill Foods, Austin (Chef Nick Belloni) — Charred Broccoli Taco with Lime, Queso Oaxaca, Smoked Scallop XO Sauce, & Lobster Tortilla
• Austin Taco Mafia (Chef  Luis “Beto” Robledo of Cuantos Tacos, Chef Anthony Pratto of Discada, Chef Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria, & Chef Gerardo Guerrero of La Tunita 512) — Campechana Taco with Arrachera (Skirt Steak) & Longaniza Confit, Salsa Verde, Habanero Pickled Onions, Cilantro, and Epazote Marbled Tortilla

Tempering the spice will be a delectable variety of sweet treats from San Antonio favorites, including:

• Bakery Lorraine (Chefs Anne Ng & Jeremy Mandrell) — Assortment of Mexican Chocolate, Churro, & Piña Colada Macarons
• Lick Honest Ice Creams (Chef Anthony Sobotik) — Horchata Ice Cream
• Paletería San Antonio (Chef José Rodriguez) — Assorted Artisan Paletas

In addition to showcasing the best in taco craftsmanship, Taco Rumble will feature an impressive selection of wines, craft beers, and premium spirits tastings including Chawar Andean Agave, Bribón Tequila, Dandy Rosé, Dahlia Tequila, Doña Vega Mezcal, Lone Star Rio Jade, Lone Star Seltzer, Mijenta Tequila, Milagro Tequila, Pearl, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and more.

The unique VIP experience includes early entry from 6:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m., a stainless-steel YETI wine tumbler, and access to an exclusive agave spirits lounge with a tour of Mexican street fare from celebrated San Antonio restaurant Cuishe Cocina Mexicana and tastings of fine spirits from Chacolo, Gusto Histórico, Patrón, Real Minero, Rey Campero, Sotoleros, and Uruapan. The Taco Rumble VIP experience is $150, and only 100 passes are available.

An esteemed crew of celebrity judges including Texas Monthly Food Editor Pat Sharpe, San Antonio Express-News Food Critic Mike Sutter, Latin Grammy Award-nominated musician Gina Chavez, San Antonio-based blogger and influencer Stephanie Guerra, and Texas Eats host David Elder of San Antonio’s KSAT. Event attendees also will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite taco as part of the final score.

Taco Rumble is a fundraiser for the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, the culinary nonprofit dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the South Texas food and beverage community. SAFWA is the culmination of 34 years of pride, innovation, and talent that reflects the unique culinary landscape of the great state of Texas. Beginning with the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival — one of the nation’s longest-running food fests with 26 years —the organization transitioned to the Austin Food & Wine Alliance in 2011 to be the sole beneficiary of the Austin Food + Wine Festival. In 2020, the nonprofit formed a statewide organization and expanded throughout Texas’ major cities including San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston.

Proceeds from the signature tasting event will help SAFWA give back to the local culinary community through a vibrant grant program for chefs, farmers, artisan producers, and nonprofits by funding projects focused on culinary innovation that support the community.

SAFWA hosts engaging culinary events throughout the year to raise funds for grants that will be awarded specifically to the San Antonio culinary community. The unique grant program that started with the Austin organization has now extended to Texas’ top cities and is the nation’s first based on culinary innovation and community giveback. Since 2012, the Austin Food & Wine Alliance has awarded $367,500 in grants to fund local culinary projects. 

The Alliance continues to win tremendous community support with H-E-B as presenting sponsor and other key supporters, including American Lamb Board, Bribón Tequila, Chawar, Canopy by Hilton, Doña Vega Mezcal, El Silencio Mezcal, The Espee, Fever-Tree, FreshPoint, Giant Noise, Heavy Métl Premium Imports, Mijenta Tequila, Milagro Tequila, Mountain Valley Spring Water, Pabst, Patrón Tequila, Sage & Honey, Siete Foods, Sysco, Tender Belly, Texas Beef Council, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Twang, Unifresh, and US Foods.

The San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the Central Texas culinary community through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary- and community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s commitment is to support, inspire, and showcase Texas and beyond through the power of our diverse culinary communities.