The seventh annual Arizona Taco Festival is still a month away, but the organizers will try to whet your appetite with a new teaser event – Rock the Guac – from 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale.
Rock the Guac will feature the Valley’s top chefs competing to find out who makes the best guacamole. (Besides being Mexican Independence Day, Friday also is National Guacamole Day.)
Competing chefs include:
- Anthony Serrano (El Palacio)
- Doug Robson (Otro Café, Gallo Blanco)
- Matt Carter (The Mission)
- Cullen Campbell (Okra)
- Bernie Kantak (The Gladly, Citizen Public House)
- Mark Tarbell (Tarbell’s, The Tavern and Wine Store)
- Mel Mecinas (Talavera at The Four Seasons Scottsdale)
- Aaron May (The Lodge, Overeasy, Goodwood)
- Alex Stratta (OAT Restaurant Group)
- Stephen Jones (The Larder + The Delta)
- Aaron Pool (Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup)
- Richard Hinojosa (The Wigwam)
- Justin Pfeilsticker (Hotel Valley Ho)
- Forest Hamrick (La Hacienda)
- Jennifer Russo (The Market by Jennifer’s)
- Gabe Madrid (Taste of New Mexico)
- Kim & Tim Cobb (United Lunchadores, The Taco, Dilla Parlor)
- Sergio Ganoa (Creations by Sergio)
- Jacob Cutino (Homeboy’s Habanero)
Tickets are $40 online-only here and include unlimited guacamole samples and two drink tickets (good for Patron margaritas, Corona cervezas, and more).
