The Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance is hosting its annual Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge at the La Encantada Shopping Center from 7 – 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 2.
Participating restaurants and vendors bring their best variety of original salsa recipes, unique tequila mixed cocktails, and, also, food menus, beer, and tequila tastings.
Prepare yourself for the tequila-infused popsicles, snow cones, and more mixed drinks than you can imagine. Don’t forget to taste the variety of unique salsa offerings, including kimchi, blueberry-jalapeño, and “smokeless fire” salsas.
As a result of the event’s growing popularity, VIP tickets have been introduced to give guests early access to the event and other perks.
General Admission tickets are $60 for the 21-and-older event, and VIP Admission is $100 per person. Tickets are available at saaca.org.
To make yourself feel better about the amount of food and drinks you’ve had, the event raises funds for the Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance and Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
General Admission Ticket includes:
- 50 salsa tastings with chips
- More than 30 tequila cocktails
- Tequila and beer samplings
- Taco and food samplings
- Live entertainment
VIP Admission includes:
- One hour early access at 6 p.m.
- Valet parking
- Commemorative shot glass
- Tequila toast
- Plus everything included in general admission
Participating Restaurants
- Angie’s Gourmet To Go
- Fire Roasted Tomato Mango Habanero Salsa – sweet and spicy mango habanero salsa
- Angie’s Kick Ass Salsa
- 2017 SAACA’s Peoples Choice Best Salsa
- Applewood Creek Farms
- Lavender Salsa – flavored with infused lavender
- Lavender Lemonade
- Crossroads Restaurant
- Tomatillo Salsa – roasted Anaheim peppers blended with grilled tomatillos, cilantro, and onions
- La Dulce Habanera – peach fruit mixed with habaneros peppers, fresh onions, cilantro, and oregano
- Tamalero – red chile sauce mixed with our Angus shredded beef, topped with lettuce and red cabbage, and served with flour tortillas
- El Cisne Restaurant
- Salsa and specialty tacos
- El Coronado Family Restaurant
- Traditional Mexican Salsa
- Mary’s Special Hot Salsa
- Birria Tacos – Spicy shredded beef
- Fini’s Landing
- Salsa Noir – roasted poblano salsa with dark chocolate
- GRINGO Grill + Cantina
- Pepino-Limon Salsa – chili, cucumber, and lime
- Pineapple-Jalapeno Margarita – pineappple- jalapeño infused tequila with a hint of mint
- Quinoa Crusted Avocado – vegetarian taco with salsa
- Guadalajara Mexican Grill
- Salsa, tacos, and a tequila mixed drink
- Gypsy Caravan
- Spicy Turkish Ezmesi Salsa – fresh tomato salsa with pomegranate and spicy Turkish flavors
- Mediterranean Tacos with Honey and Spice Tahini – chicken in a fresh lime marinade with diced apricots, cranberries and fresh mint, drizzled in a sweet and tangy tahini
- Highwire Lounge
- Down the Rabbit Hole – margarita with no sugar added
- Mexico City Kitchen
- [POPPED] Artisan Popcorn
- Artisan Popcorns – Molé caramel, green chile, churro, and lemon poppyseed flavors
- Queen Ceviche
- Chiquita-Rita Organic Hibiscus Margarita
- Reforma Modern Mexican Mezcal + Tequila
- Roasted Fresh Salsa – roasted tomato, roasted jalapenos, roasted caribes, fresh onion, garlic, and cilantro
- Heirloom Habanero Salsa – Heirloom tomato, habanero, and garlic
- Mango Habanero Margarita – 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila, lime juice, triple sec, mango puree, and muddled habanero served on the rocks with a tajin rim
- Rigo’s Restaurant
- Salsa Fesca Serrana and Peaches -Roma tomatoes, purple onion, cilantro, serrano peppers, sweet peaches, lime, salt, and pepper
- Salsa Moctezuma– fire roasted tomatoes, tomatillos chile de arbol, chile guaguillo, onion, garlic, and jalapeños
- Bright Star – 1800 anejo tequila
- 7th Revolucion – triple sec, 1800 tequila, lime juice, beer, salt, and tajin rim with a lemon garnish
- Tacos de CANASTA -deep fried with carne seca
- Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain
- Dove Mountain Signature Salsa
- Sweet Mango Chile Salsa
- Royal Cafe and Catering
- Flava City – traditional red mild salsa made with charred ingredients
- Roasted Habanero Carrot Salsa – roasted carrot and habanero
- Saffron Indian Bistro
- Chicken Tikka Masala – simmered in tomato sauce with cream and Indian herbs and spices
- Seis Kitchen
- Salsa Verde – fire-roasted tomatillos, jalapeños, chopped red onion, and cilantro
- Sonoran Succotash – roasted sweet corn, tomatoes, and jalapeños
- Series 19
- AZ Surprise – cocktail made with Three Wells Tucson and Arizona produced spirits
- SpunLight Cotton Candy
- Organic Cotton Candy
- Tequila Factory
- Chorizo-Nopales Salsa – chorizo and nopales salsa verde
- Pico de Gallo Salsa – fruit pico de gallo with jalapeño-mint sorbet
- Slow Sunsets – tequila Reposado, Ancho Reyes, tumeric syrup, lime, basil, and Tecate
- Tecate Traveling Taco – Fritos, Tecate Birria, cheese sauce, scallions, radish, and jalapeños
- The Grill at Quail Creek
- Brasas Salsa – Ancho chili, chipotle, charred tomato salsa
- Jay’s Salsa – “alternative” salsa
- Blueberry Margarita – blueberry infused Maestro Dobel tequila, sweet and sour, and tequila-soaked blueberries
- Pork Belly Taco – sous vide pork belly with cilantro lime slaw and chicharron crumbs
- The Living Room Wine Cafe & Lounge
- Salsa Verde – hand roasted tomatillo, jalapeño, garlic, and onions
- Chilaquiles – layered tostadas, green chili chicken, cotija, fried egg, and crème fraiche
- The Lodge at Ventana Canyon
- Serrano Salsa Tatemada
- Tequila Mockingbird – Casamigos silver, alchemist passion fruit, purified cucumber, mint, and organic margarita mix
- Berry White – Herradura silver, fresh pineapple, piña colada, fresh raspberries, alchemist raspberry, and coconut shavings
- Pibil Taco – roasted sweet potatoes, crimini mushrooms nopal asado, chipotle pico de gallo, cabbage, and habanero salsa
- Tortillas de Harina Linda
- Handmade Flour and Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Tubac Salsa Co.
- Prickly Pear Salsa– fresh vegetables and peppers, including local prickly pear fruit from Tubac
- Tubac Scorpion and Ghost Pepper Salsa– fresh vegetables and peppers from India & Trinidad Island
- Tucson City of Gastronomy
Participating Vendors
- 3 Amigos Tequila
- Barrio Brewing Company
- Dulce Vida Tequilas
- Embajador Tequila
- Estrella Jalisco
- Finley Distributing
- Four Peaks Brewing Co.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- Three Wells Distilling
Sometimes a lot of food can wear you out, but the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa wants you to take it easy by offering a special room rate of $99.
La Encantada Shopping Center is located at 2905 E. Skyline Dr. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit saaca.org.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
