BIG SUNDAY TENT

On Sunday, October 18, the big tent in the back of the festival becomes the place to learn, laugh, and love tacos. The highlight of this tent is the Sub-Zero/Wolf Demonstration Kitchen provided by Monark Premium Appliances. Interested in upgrading your kitchen? Ask for representatives around the stage! Demonstrations range from making tacos to margaritas, and the day caps off with a flair bartending challenge and afterparty. Schedule below:

11:45pm
Justin Madsen, Taco Guild
It’s like Sunday morning mass, but with tacos. Let Chef Justin Madsen show you why making the perfect taco is a holy endeavor indeed. As Executive Chef of Taco Guild, a 100-year-old church turned taco shop, Madsen knows how to cook, eat, pray, love tacos. Join him!

12:45pm
Joanie Simon, Joanie Simon Media
She’s hosted just about every chef in town on her podcast. She’s written countless blog posts. She’s raised kids, achieved sobriety, and opened her life up on social media. She’s become a juggernaut of culinary force in town with cooking classes and events, but now, she’s here to talk tacos. Join Joanie’s cooking demonstration to see this mom and food journalist cook up something you’ll want to make at home later that week.

1:45pm
Rich Chavez, Z’Tejas
They get you going with that cornbread, and then it’s off to the culinary races at Valley institution, Z’Tejas. Let Chef Rich Chavez show you how they do it, and how they can pack so many mouthwatering items on one menu.

2:45pm
Jerrod Harris, Sonoran Spice Co.
Want to cook with spicy ingredients? Want to learn the real difference between mild, medium, spicy, and inferno? Let Sonoran Spice Co. Founder Jerrod Harris explain how to best integrate a little (or a lot) of spice into your life.

3:45pm
Dave Stewart, Brown-Forman
If you’d like to learn about tequila, then don’t miss this demo with Dave Stewart. He works for Brown-Forman, the company that oversees great tequila brands like Casa Herradura and El Jimador. During this educational and entertaining seminar, Stewart will explain why all tequila comes from Mexico, what separates the good from the bad, and how to make a perfectly classic margarita. Salud!

4:15pm
Herradura Barrel Art Winner
Local artists were given Herradura Tequila Barrel heads to paint in an expression all their own. Up until the Taco Fest, you can vote for your favorite here (www.facebook.com/HerraduraTequila). Inside this tent, you can vote for your favorite all day, in person, but at 4:15pm, a winner will be announced! Join us for the winning $1,000 check presentation and Thank You to all participating artists, their restaurant partners, and especially Tequila Herradura, for producing this wonderful contest.

4:30pm
Bartender Flair Competition
See top bartenders toss, twist, and toggle bottles as they make an EL Jimador cocktail for the judges. Although they’ll be looking for a well-balanced cocktail, the noise brought by the flair bartenders carries weight, too!

5:00pm
Herradura Barrel Art After Party
Join the Barrel Art Contest artists, Tequila Herradura representatives, and your Taco brethren during an after party. At 6:45pm, grab your final margarita of the weekend walk over to the Main Stage for the Taco Team Awards Ceremony and see who’s taking down the Grand Champion award at the Festival.