A Tucson Indian restaurant snagged first place in the Judges’ Choice for Best Tequila Cocktail at last weekend’s 11th annual Salsa, Tequila & Taco Challenge presented by Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance.
But many of the 700 people attending the event at El Conquistador Resort on Saturday, Aug. 24, picked a barbecue joint’s cocktail.
Saffron Indian Bistro landed the Judge’s Choice for its “No money? No honey” cocktail while the People’s Choice Award, which many consider the ultimate prize, went to Fork & Fire Smokehouse + Taproom for its Blue Agave Bonfire.
Both restaurants are located in Oro Valley.
The annual event pits local restaurants and mixologists to come up with the best salsas, tacos and tequila cocktails. Proceeds benefit SAACA, which supports arts and culture in Southern Arizona.
And without further adieu, here are the 2024 winners.
Best Agave Spirit: Gran Coramino Reposado takes both judge’s and people’s choice nods.
Best Ready-To Drink Cocktail: Judges’ Choice, Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea; People’s Choice, El Jimador
Best Salsa: Judges’ Choice — First, Dante’s Fire’s Carrot Habanero Salsa; second, Barnyard Crafthouse and Eatery’s Salsa Chiltepin; and tied for third, Casa Asada Taquería y Cervecería’s Salsa Negra and El Conquistador’s Habanero Peach Salsa. People’s Choice — Isa Bey LLC’s Isa Bey Mediterranean Salsa, first; The Garden Bistro at Tohono Chul’s Fermented Fresno Chile-Fresh and Charred Tomato Salsa, second; Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen’s Amelia’s Molcajete, third
Best Tequila Cocktail: Judges’ Choice — Saffron Indian Bistro’s “No money? No honey!,” first; Tap and Bottle North’s Tres Loco Coco, second; Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar’s Redbird Margarita, third. People’s Choice — Fork & Fire Smokehouse + Taproom’s Blue Agave Bonfire, first; tied for second, Barnyard Crafthouse and Eatery’s South of the Barn Mai Tai and Dante’s Fire’s Peach & Nopales Margarita; Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen’s Yecora Night, third.
Best Taco: Judges’ Choice — Dante’s Fire’s Nashville Hot Chicken Taco, first; Barnyard Crafthouse and Eatery’s Baja Fish Taco, second; Scratching the Plate’s Duck Season-Rabbit Season and Casa Asada Taquería y Cervecería’s Caramelo, tied for third. People’s Choice — Barnyard Crafthouse and Eatery’s Baja Fish Taco, first; Ranch House Grill and Brewery’s Casa Rancho Brisket Taco, second; Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar’s Quesabirria, third.
This Sonoran gut buster is the calling card from Percheron Mexican Grill on the south side, but their Sonoran hot dogs topped with avocado are also big draws.
