NEW ORLEANS – On Thursday, March 23, more than 3,000 charity-minded taco and tequila lovers gathered at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza for the inaugural Top Taco Festival presented by Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. The inaugural culinary and cocktail competition, which featured 40 of New Orleans’ top chefs and mixologists, raised more than $20,000 to support One Heart NOLA’s work to raise awareness and funds for the city’s foster children.
Event judges and attendees voted on favorites in four categories:
JUDGES’ CHOICE
TRADITIONAL TACO
1st Place – Taqueria Chilangos
2nd Place – Canal Street Bistro
3rd Place – Felipe’s Taqueria
CREATIVE TACO
1st Place – Blue Oak BBQ
2nd Place – Kingfish
3rd Place – La Casita
TRADITIONAL MARGARITA
1st Place – Mizado
2nd Place – Johnny Sanchez
3rd Place – Carreta’s
CREATIVE TEQUILA COCKTAIL
1st Place – Mizado
2nd Place – Del Fuego
3rd Place – Butcher
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
TRADITIONAL TACO
1st Place – Taqueria Chilangos
2nd Place – Tequila House
3rd Place – Felipe’s Taqueria
CREATIVE TACO
1st Place – Johnny Sanchez
2nd Place – The Rum House
3rd Place – Velvet Cactus
TRADITIONAL MARGARITA
1st Place – Johnny Sanchez
2nd Place – Mizado
3rd Place – Nacho Mama’s
CREATIVE TEQUILA COCKTAIL
1st Place – Tequila House
2nd Place – Masquerade
3rd Place – Barcadia
ULTIMATE TOP TACO
Taqueria Chilangos
Guests also enjoyed a silent auction and live entertainment by Muevelo, Los Poboycitos and Otra. This year’s after party took place a stone’s throw away at Barcadia, where Chefs and participants enjoyed libations into the wee hours.
Top Taco Judges included Jose Ralat, Alon Shaya, Ian McNulty, Abigail Gullo, Liz Williams, Emily Coleman, Frank Brigtsen, Andrew Marin, Dominique Macquet, Bryan Dias, Charles Divins, Michael Durbin, Alessandra Madrid and Maggie Robert, Leroy Mitchell, Aaron Wilkinson, Councilman Jason Rogers Williams, Linda Green/Yakamein Lady, Hank Staples and Sal Agnello.
