Spin Taco will take prime honor as New Lenox debuts Food Fight: Taco Fest

Jason Marzano and Alyssa Robles ended up previous execs at this.

They identified a tree for some shade to safeguard them from the warm sunlight.

They established up blankets on the ground for seven-year-aged Mason Robles and 5-year-old Riley Robles.

They set up chairs.

And, in a move frequently witnessed in the huge lawn at Ravinia in Highland Park, they set up a minimal table carried in on a wagon.

“This is Jason’s table,” Alyssa Robles explained. “It’s excellent.”

It is nearly like they have been coming to the village of New Lenox’s Meals Struggle: Taco Fest party for years.

But, like 1000’s of others who arrived to the New Lenox Commons Saturday, it was their 1st time as the village debuted the event.

What introduced this group to Taco Fest?

“Tacos,” Alyssa Robles stated. “I adore tacos. I experienced a taco from Taco Maui with pineapple on it. I enjoy pineapple on tacos and I like the reliable tacos.”

Nine suppliers participated in a contest for Best Taco, with New Lenox restaurant Spin Taco voted the winner by fest goers. Tacos were being readily available for $5.

Even though some dining places and vehicles had substantial vibrant displays and advertising and marketing, Spin Taco was understated. The restaurant, located at 1005 W. Laraway Road, brought out a uncomplicated white tent to get ready and serve their entry. If it wasn’t for a smaller sign in the front of the tent, it would be easy to pass up the name.

The restaurant won the fest with a Spin Distinctive. It was a taco with steak topped with household sauce, guacamole and fresco cheese.

Other taking part dining places have been Bourbon’s Smokehouse, Drew’s Pet dogs, Fast Eddie’s Tacos and Additional, La Flo De Morelos, Pico De Gallo, Ranch Frostie, Smokin’ Z BBQ and Tacos Before Vatos.

Apart from tacos, tacos and far more tacos, the working day and night function featured musical performances from Inside four Days and Sundance, a Selena tribute functionality, a Chihuahua natural beauty pageant and a scorching pepper ingesting contest.

A pup named Peanut won the Chihuahua pageant and officers resolved to be generous and respectful to all those feeding on hot peppers on a warm and humid day, naming each participants a winner.

For the young ones, there were bounce houses, facial area portray and crafts.

A doggy named Mocha, owned by New Lenox’s Jen Jackman, was not qualified for the Chihuahua event. Jackman is not absolutely sure what kind of blended breed Mocha is, but she’s not a Chihuahua.

The doggy did, on the other hand, make an effect. Not lengthy right before Jackman and Mokena’s Jim Bowlds entered the fest, people desired to pet Mocha, who was dressed as a taco.

“We noticed a sign a handful of weeks ago and just believed we would cease by,” Jackman stated. “We love tacos.”

July is a wildly busy thirty day period in the Commons with 12 situations starting with Independence Day and ending with a Chalk Walk on July 29.

With eleven other events heading on in a tiny window, why increase a new function like the Taco Fest?

“It’s kind of my position to come up with one more point,” joked Exclusive Gatherings Coordinator Beth Alderson.

Social media assisted hatch this fest.

“It’s heading to audio so silly, but last yr there was a put up on a single of our neighborhood Facebook web pages and any person mentioned it would be great if we could to a taco pageant,” Alderson claimed. “I imagined ‘we can do that. We can make that transpire.’’’

Alderson claimed the village is considering transforming issues up in with the Foodstuff Battle concept.

“The considered is that just about every 12 months, we will function a diverse delicacies,” she claimed. “Next 12 months may well be pizza. We could adjust it up just about every 12 months and continue to keep it new.”

Alyssa Robles, on the other hand, would not brain viewing the taco topic return.

I think they ought to stick to tacos,” she mentioned. “Everybody loves a fantastic taco.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Day by day Southtown.

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