Hold on to your tortillas for dear life because a taco ‘death match’ is coming to Long Beach – Press Telegram

A war is coming to Long Beach and tortillas will be baked, meats will be fried and stomachs will be filled with the first ever Taco Death Match.

Yes like that taco to death and what a path to take.

“We’re going to have some familiar tacos and we’re going to have some very non-traditional things that I think will bring some very exciting new flavors that people aren’t used to,” said Sal Flores, a co-organizer of the new event on Saturday. On Nov. 2, it will pit 10 local taco makers against each other in a day-long competition on the streets of downtown Long Beach.

The event not only features the ubiquitous taco, but also Day of the Deadbecause each contestant is tasked with creating one-of-a-kind tacos dedicated to their deceased loved ones.

“The chefs will each prepare a taco for someone as an ofrenda. For example, if their grandmother loves mole, they will have that,” Flores said. “So these are the tacos that will be special for this event,” he added

Competitors for the outdoor event include some of the area’s most respected chefs and taco makers, including food trucks like Asadero Chikali, which specializes in carne asada tacos on a mesquite grill.

The Death Match cast also includes Long Beach Bar Becky, opened by “Hell’s Kitchen” runner-up Chef Johnathan Benvenuti, as well as Chef Jason Witzl From Ellie’s, a Long Beach native who has worked at some of the most respected restaurants in the area, including the famous Campanile Michelin-starred Water Grill in downtown Los Angeles

The tacos will be paired with beers from local breweries and judged by professional eaters and festival attendees who will vote for the crowd’s favorite.

Some of these will also be available at participating breweries the best in the country It won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. These include Ambitious Ales, which won gold in the Juicy/Muddy IPA category, Trademark Brewing, which won gold with West Coast IPA, and ISM Brewing, which won bronze with Classic Saison. In addition to tacos and beer, there will also be live music with cumbia and mariachi bands.

Taco Death Match

When: Saturday, November 2, 14:00-22:00

Where: Mosaic, 290 E 4th Street, Long Beach

Tickets: $15-$150

Information: kahlo.ticketspice.com/taco-death-match