Taco Takeover in Brooklyn

On Saturday, May 12th, Cannonball Productions brought Taco Takeover back to New York City for its second annual celebration of tacos, tequila, empanadas, and beer. The event took place at the Brooklyn Expo Center, where it gathered several local chefs who brought their best Mexican-inspired dishes to the table. With tacos from Queens Bully, Dos Caminos, Mid|Nights, and Zen Taco to empanadas from Empanada Mama, there was something for everyone to indulge in.

Organized a week after Cinco de Mayo, the Taco Takeover included options for traditional taco fans, as well as for those willing to experiment. There was a “Hot Chicken Taco” from the Queens Bully, which was a twist on the concept of a traditional taco since white bread was used instead of the taco shell. The spicy “taco” was accompanied by a cool coconut “margarita,” which was a mixture of Don Julio tequila, coconut milk, cane sugar, and coconut flakes. There were also fun vegetarian options, such as the “Shroom Taco” from Dos Caminos, and “Masala Jackfruit” taco from Baar Baar, which included spices and ingredients from the South-Asian cuisine.

Besides the finger-licking food and fun alterations  on classic drinks, the Taco Takeover also transported its visitors to a summer getaway. The event included beer pong and inflatable pool floats as props for photobooth photos provided by Deadpool and Lyft while songs from Celia Cruz to J Balvin were playing. It was difficult not to think of the approaching summer days.

Missed out on the Taco Takeover in NYC? No worries, since Taco Takeover will also be coming to Dallas, TX and San Diego, CA. The organizers of the event are also invested in working with local non-profit organizations and food recovery programs in order to donate leftover food to those in need. If you’re interested in finding out more information about the festival, visit  https://thetacotakeover.com

Taco Takeover 2017

Summer’s over, so that means...tacos? On the surprisingly hot weekend of September 23rd,  2017, Cannonball Productions and Thrillist presented the NYC Taco Takeover, a food festival/party that celebrated the most cultured of comfort food: the taco.

Hosted at The Well in Brooklyn, the Taco Takeover featured Latin inspired dishes from restaurants such as La Esquina, Oaxaca Taqueria, and Zengo. Some of my personal twists on the taco were the Spicy Pork Taco from Kimchi Grill, the Empanada Al Pastor from Empanada Papa, and the Chicken Taco from Bodega Negra.

As the afternoon went on, focus shifted from the food to the fun: margaritas, beer, and tequila flowed freely, the DJ pumped up the music, and everyone took turns whacking the pinata and testing their stomachs in a nacho eating contest. Other games included a giant Connect Four set and a beanbag toss, which guests enjoyed while munching down on churros that they decorated themselves.

Overall, the Taco Takeover is a fun foodie feast that all of taco obsessed will love. Get there early, and you’ll be sure to have a great time.

For a full list of participants and sponsors, check out thetacotakeover.com.

Photos courtesy of Taco Takeover