It’s going down at El Conquistador Tucson on Saturday, August 26! Some of Tucson’s top-tier culinary brass are going head-to-head at SAACA’s Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge at the Hilton resort’s Presidio Ballroom. Tickets to this premier food event are officially sold out, so we hope you had a chance to grab yours in time.
Alongside the likes of Tucson trademarks like El Taco Rustico, Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen, and Dante’s Fire, the team at El Conquistador themselves are ready for the heat of this challenge. Executive Chef Jonathan Kupper and Lead Baker, Alma Amaro, are leading the charge with the hometown advantage and have exciting ideas for what they will be serving event attendees.
“I’m thinking of doing a smoked brisket taco on a corn tortilla with some earthy crema and some sort of pickled vegetable to brighten it up,” said Kupper. “For the salsa, I’m going back and forth on whether or not to do an avocado salsa or something earthier and spicier like a chili de arbol or roasted tomato.”
Amaro is looking at bringing one of the only dessert tacos to the Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge. She began working as a line cook at El Conquistador and quickly worked her way up in the ranks as Kupper’s Lead Baker. Now, she cranks out baked innovations at a constant — like the Mexican chocolate horchata tortilla that she plans on building for the challenge.
“We have two options for the dessert taco,” she said. “One is with the chocolate horchata tortilla, an espresso ganache whip, and some fresh salsa. The other one is a fried tortilla with a cheesecake leche. I’ve seen dessert tacos being made while traveling in California and thought, ‘This is our opportunity to showcase a nice one of our own and show what we could really do in our bakery as a team!’”
Kupper might’ve thought he was going solo for this event, at first, but Amaro was eager to jump on board and show off her baking magic.
“Alma is one of the types of culinarians that really gets excited by opportunities like this, to show what she is made of,” he said. “She is showing what her creative mind can do in the bakeshop and it was awesome to hear her just jump out and say, ‘I wanna do this!'”
Kupper adds, “It’s going to be a really fun event, especially ‘cause we haven’t done it in a while. It’ll be nice to see the community come out and enjoy a nice evening like this and get to enjoy great food and drinks from all over Tucson. I’m not a competitive person, but I do enjoy cooking, and we are gonna put our best feet forward when it comes to this challenge and be excellent.”
Attendees will get a taste of why El Conquistador has a celebrated restaurant scene, with five separate highly acclaimed dining experiences tucked within the resort.
During the weekend of the Salsa, Tequila, & Taco Challenge and always, visitors can look forward to savoring some of the best cooking in Tucson with Epazote Kitchen & Cocktails, the Sundance Café, Desert Springs Bar & Grill, Colibri Lobby Lounge, and Grab & Go.
El Conquistador Tucson is hosting a special Stay & Play Package at only $150 plus tax per night. If you’re interested in getting a room and experiencing the resort, contact Elicia Robles at (520) 544-1155 or email her at Elicia.Robles@Hilton.com to make a reservation.
El Conquistador Tucson is located at 10000 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit saaca.org.
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