Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge

Join Local Chefs, Restaurants, Foodies, and Cocktail Enthusiasts at the Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge on August 24 for the Ultimate Culinary Competition Event! The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance showcases one of Southern Arizona’s largest culinary competitions!

The 11th Annual Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge comes to El Conquistador Tucson on Saturday, August 24. Over 30 of the region’s most esteemed restaurants and mixologists will compete for your vote in this one-of-a-kind event. (Tucson, AZ) – Presented by SAACA & El Conquistador, A Hilton Resort, the 11th Annual Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge is bound to elevate cocktail craft and culinary creativity once again.

Attendees of this trademark culinary competition can anticipate a variety of unique food and cocktail samples ready for their enjoyment. Previous iterations of this event hosted such master-craft creations as salsa infused with chicharrónes, a dulce de leche dessert taco, and even a watermelon Sour Patch Kids margarita!

Over 700 enthusiastic attendees celebrate the community at this vibrant event, voting for the best salsa, tequila, and tacos crafted by acclaimed mixologists and chefs. This event masterfully combines culinary artistry, live music, captivating entertainment like live lucha libre wrestling, live artist painting, and rich local culture, making it one of Southern Arizona’s most colorful summer food festivals!

For the second year in a row, the Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge returns to El Conquistador, A Hilton Resort in Oro Valley. Over 30 participants from some of Tucson and the southwest region’s most notable restaurants are confirmed to compete for the title of best salsa, tequila, taco, and grand reserve tasting as attendees and local celebrity judges cast their votes for their favorites.

Participants will include: Cancion Tequila, Chef Jorge Deleon, Corazon Azul, Dante’s Fire, Desert Forager, Dirty T Tamarindo, El Burrito Real, El Conquistador, A Hilton Resort, Hibachi Heat, Isabey Mediterranean Salsa, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, La Botana, POPPED Artisan Popcorn, Redbird, Saffron Indian Bistro, Scratching the Plate, St. Joseph’s Hospital, The Royal Room, Tohono Chul Mobile Bistro, VMC Beverages, and Westward Look.

Once again, the event will also feature extensive live entertainment programming, including several lucha libre matches held center-stage that are sure to elevate the evening. Live artist painting will also contribute to the event’s ambiance, further setting a spotlight on the local arts that SAACA emphasizes and enriches as a part of its mission.

Raffle baskets include thousands of dollars in prizes donated by community and event partners. Tickets for the 11th Annual Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge (a 21+ event) are on sale now for $100 (General Admission) to $125 (V.I.P.) and include salsa, tequila, and taco samplings from participating restaurants and purveyors. V.I.P. ticketholders will be able to attend the event starting at 5 PM and General Admission ticketholders are granted access at 6 PM. V.I.P. ticketholders will also be given the opportunity participate in an exclusive V.I.P Lounge and will receive a welcome Tequila Toast.
Proceeds from the event help support the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance’s (SAACA) creative arts programs throughout Arizona.

SAACA is currently recruiting restaurants for the 2024 Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge! Participating restaurants and chefs will receive extensive PR and marketing for the event, enhancing visibility in print, radio, television, and social media with SAACA and partners including Tucson Foodie, #ThisIsTucson, the Arizona Daily Star, Bustos Media radio stations, and local influencers like the Tucson Localista and Real Time Mom AZ! They will receive an honorarium for up to three entries: $100 for one entry, $200 for two entries, or $300 for three or more entries.

On-site restaurant participant benefits include paper goods for serving samples at the event, 6-foot tables with linen, and a 10×10 exhibit space; 6 staff badges onsite for cooking and serving staff, in-house print media for restaurants (posters, check inserts. SAACA will provide each restaurant with the necessary handwashing station and special event Health Department permit.

Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge     When: Saturday, August 24, 2024 – 5:00 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. 
Where: El Conquistador Tucson, 10000 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704
Tickets: $100 – $125 (Must be 21+ and have valid ID for entry)  
Online: https://www.saaca.org/salsatequilataco.html     
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When you think of the Southwest, windswept mountains, wildflowers, fiery-red sunsets and a deep-rooted desert culture spring to mind and nowhere is this soul-stirring tableau captured more spectacularly than at the El Conquistador Tucson. Let us surprise you with the pristine beauty of the Sonoran Desert, introduce you to indigenous cultures, and inspire you with authentic flavors, experiences and unforgettable moments. Named “Best Experiential Hotel” by Hotel Interactive ® Lodging Industry Elite Awards and recognized as a Top 52 Hilton Hotel by Forbes, El Conquistador Tucson invites you to escape and experience the colors, textures, and singular details of our uniquely Southwest resort.

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Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance    The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote engagement in arts and culture, helping our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for all ages.