Edomex taquerías win contest, go to Paris

Three taquerías from the State of Mexico won a government-backed taco contest and are set to travel to Paris this month to represent Mexico at La Fête de la Cité, according to contest results published by Chilango on May 15. The winners were two businesses from Nezahualcóyotl and one from Tlalnepantla. The contest was organized by the State of Mexico government through its Secretariat of Culture and Tourism, in coordination with the Nezahualcóyotl municipal government and with support from Casa México en Francia. The three selected taquerías were Tacos de Cochinita La Texcoco, run by Oswaldo Gutiérrez in Nezahualcóyotl; Parrilla de Oro “El Jabalí Negro,” run by Edgar Oropeza, also in Nezahualcóyotl; and Tacos “La Güera,” run by Diego Romero in Tlalnepantla, Chilango reported. The outlet said the businesses would take part in La Fête de la Cité in Paris from May 19 to May 25 as “embajadoras del sabor mexicano.” (chilango.com) ### Which taquerías won, and where are they from? Chilango’s May 15 report named three winners from the State of Mexico, with Nezahualcóyotl accounting for two of the three places. Tacos de Cochinita La Texcoco and Parrilla de Oro “El Jabalí Negro” are both from Nezahualcóyotl, while Tacos “La Güera” is from Tlalnepantla. (chilango.com) Quadratín Estado de México and other local outlets published the same list of winners on May 15, matching the names and owners cited by Chilango. Those reports also said the taquerías would represent Mexico in France after a specialized gastronomic evaluation. ### How did the contest start as a pastor competition and end up broader? (chilango.com) Chilango reported on April 20 that the original call for entries was issued as “El Mejor Taco al Pastor Mexiquense.” The contest was aimed at taquerías in the State of Mexico with at least three years of operation, valid permits and a pastor taco on the menu. (edomex.quadratin.com.mx) The May 15 follow-up said the format was later broadened beyond pastor “ante la gran variedad y versatilidad de tacos, así como por la amplia respuesta de participantes.” That change helps explain why one of the winning entries was a cochinita taquería rather than only pastor specialists. (chilango.com) ### Who judged the tacos, and what were they scored on? Chilango said the judging panel included chef Ileana Gómez, director of Le Cordon Bleu México, and chef Axel García, identified as a representative of Casa México en Francia. Contestants prepared their signature tacos in front of the judges and were evaluated on technique, flavor, hygiene and command of the preparation process. (chilango.com) The published criteria included sabor, equilibrio, autenticidad, respeto a la tradición, creatividad, presentación, limpieza and historia cultural, according to Chilango’s account of the competition. Local follow-up reports repeated those criteria and said the winners also received official recognition and institutional promotion. (chilango.com) ### Why Paris, and what event are they going to? The State of Mexico contest was tied to events marking 200 years of bilateral relations between Mexico and France, Chilango reported in both its April 20 and May 15 stories. Axel García, described in the earlier report as a promoter of Mexican gastronomy abroad, said the goal was for the taco to act as an ambassador of Mexican culture. (chilango.com) The destination event is La Fête de la Cité in Paris, where the three taquerías are scheduled to appear from May 19 through May 25. Multiple local reports said the trip would carry the flavors of cochinita pibil and tacos al pastor more than 9,000 kilometers to France. (chilango.com) ### What happens next for the winners? May 19 is the next date in the timeline. Chilango and local reports said the three taquerías are due in Paris that day for the start of La Fête de la Cité, which runs through May 25. The winning businesses were also promised official recognition, institutional and cultural media exposure, and opportunities to participate in future food festivals, according to the published contest results. (chilango.com) For now, the next named participants are Oswaldo Gutiérrez, Edgar Oropeza and Diego Romero, the three taqueros set to represent the State of Mexico in Paris.