A Taco-Tequila Throw Down For The Ages

Two of West Ashley’s heavyweight contenders in the gourmet taco realm faced off last week in an epic showdown that pitted Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge against defending champion Mex 1 Coastal Cantina in the second annual Taco-Tequila Kombat semifinals.
Presented by Lunazul Tequila, the competition was held Monday, May 18 on neutral ground at Cha Cha’s Mexican Grill on James Island. It featured two parts that were voted on by local guest judges and the public, who had to pick only one restaurant who they felt had the best Lunazul tequila cocktail and best taco of the night.
Each restaurants’ mixologists and chefs were working furiously at their respective posts churning out mouth-watering tacos and tangy and delicious tequila concoctions.
While Mex 1 stuck with its tried-and-true spicy and sweet Bangin’ Shrimp Taco, which carried them to the 2014 championship, Voodoo’s went off the menu and slightly outside its comfort zone with a smoked pork and peach taco. What it lacked in presentation, it more than made up for in flavor, making the judges’ jobs truly difficult.
On the cocktail side of things it was not any easier as two of West Ashley’s best mixologists from two of West Ashley’s most tequila-friendly bars faced off with a couple very different but very delicious drinks featuring Lunazul tequila.
Voodoo’s Megan Taylor created a peach and rosemary-infused tequila with a splash of white grape juice and homemade ginger beer, garnished with a rosemary spear, stabbed through a grape and a sour peach gummy disk. Mex 1’s manager Tracey Maynard created a Cactus Cooler with strawberries, cucumbers, fresh citrus juices, agave nectar, and a prickly pear puree.
Like the taco competition, the cocktail portion could have gone either way. In the end, however, there can only be one winner.  And while the 2014 Taco-Tequila Kombat belt is still displayed proudly at Mex 1, they will not be repeating this year as champions.
Voodoo advances to the finals, which will be held at Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill on the Market downtown. They will face the winner of the showdown between Aya Cookhouse and Macintosh/The Cocktail Club, who face off Monday, June 1 at Mex 1, located at 817 St Andrews Blvd.
A date has not yet been set for the Taco-Tequila Kombat 2 final. Best of luck to Megan Taylor and Toker as they represent West Ashley in the final round.