SAACA event is a fiesta come to life

Guests can indulge in a fusion of flavors at the 10th annual Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge, hosted by the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA), at El Conquistador Tucson.

The Saturday, Aug. 26, event blends cocktail craftsmanship and culinary creativity, showcasing the region’s offerings and celebrating the city through salsa, tequila and tacos.

The event will feature 30 vendors from the Tucson area, competing for 20 awards. Apart from the food and drinks, this year the event will introduce six lucha libre wrestling matches. Music and dance performances will also be a highlight of the night, featuring an assortment of mariachi, folklorico, Mexican pop, and more.

This year holds special significance as it marks the event’s 10th anniversary and the first one since 2019. According to Jonathan Frahm, SAACA marketing and events coordinator, the event began as a block party but evolved into what it is today.

“We wanted to do something different to make it more memorable, with it being our 10th anniversary,” he said.

Adding a special touch to the event is HighWire Tucson, a premier bar and the home of molecular mixology. It’s known for its boba-like “spoon shots,” filled with alcohol.

HighWire is one of only 10 bars in the United States specializing in this kind of mixology. The bar, which experiences long lines on weekends, will showcase its signature Sonoran sunset cocktail, which mixes creative elements like Chiltepin-infused Hornitos Reposado and tequila caviar.

“It’s not exactly like boba, but the texture is similar. You pop it, and there’s a shot of alcohol inside,” said Maddy Robbins, event coordinator.

With over 30 local professional and emerging restaurants and chefs participating at El Conquistador Tucson, attendees will have many things to experience. With many restaurants showcasing the culinary creativity Oro Valley and Tucson restaurants and vendors offer, some restaurants are participating in this challenge for the first time; take Fork and Fire as an example.

Opened in March 2022, Fork and Fire transitioned from a food truck to two brick-and-mortar locations in Oro Valley and Catalina. Blending Mexican and barbecue flavors with a Texas-style influence, it smokes its brisket for 12 hours.

With chef James Byrne’s six-plus years of professional barbecuing, the menu collaboration and prior social media marketing have grown the restaurant, solidifying its reputation for introducing barbecue to Oro Valley as what he calls “a match made in heaven.”

The Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge goes beyond offering great food and drinks; it’s also for a good cause. SAACA promotes engagement in arts and culture, while the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona addresses hunger’s root causes. Money raised goes to arts programs by SAACA and local community projects by the Community Food Bank.