Handcrafted bites, fine tequilas, culinary personalities and so much more
RIDGEFIELD, WA. (June 28, 2023) – ilani celebrates and toasts to a weekend of tacos, tequila, taps and so much more this July 20-22. Featuring some of the nation’s and region’s top taqueros and chefs, the Tacos, Tequila & Taps Festival invites attendees to indulge in decadent handcrafted tacos and street fare, relish in a variety of fine tequilas and mescals, and wash it all down with favorite local and national beers, wines and seltzers. ilani’s Tacos, Tequila & Taps Festival offers three days of delicious events, including a Thursday night Omakase Taco Dinner, a Friday night celebrity chef dine-around, and of course, Saturday’s main tasting events on ilani’s garage rooftop.
The weekend is highlighted by several talented culinary personalities including James Beard Award-winner Bill Esparza, Executive Chef Jonathan Zaragoza of Birrieria Zaragoza and El Oso, and culinary master of Tijuana, Chef Guillermo “Oso” Campos. Joining Esparza, Zaragoza and Campos are some of Los Angeles’ most notable taco vendors including Teddy Vazquez of Teddy’s Red Tacos, Raul Ortega of Mariscos Jalisco and José Morales of Tacos La Carreta.
In addition to the featured culinary personalities, a growing list of local restaurants and caterers are featured, including República, Chelo, Mis Tacones, Nom Nom, The Smokin’ Oak, Tierra del Sol, Little Conejo and Zarzo Cocina Mexicana.
Tickets for all Tacos, Tequila & Taps Festival events are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com and ilaniresort.com.
The Events
On Thursday, July 20, the Omakase Taco Dinner begins at 7 p.m. at The Stadium Sports Bar & Grill. Omakase in Japanese can be translated to “leaving another to choose what’s best.” The ilani Tacos, Tequila & Taps Festival Omakase Taco Dinner is a multi-course taco tasting “leaving it up to the chef” to host and pay homage to Mexican street food, a staple of Mexican cuisine. The chefs will share thoughtful recommendations to perfectly pair their cuisine with drinks such as tequila, artisan beers, Mexican wines and mezcal. Every omakase meal is personalized to make it a special and unforgettable experience. Tickets to this event are $74 per person and are available for purchase via ilaniresort.com or Ticketmaster.com.
Guests can enjoy a sneak preview of the weekend during the Taco & Tequila Celebrity Chef Dine-Around Preview Night on Friday, July 2, 7-9 p.m., on the parking garage rooftop. Elevated tacos and street food from favorite taqueros, chefs and local restaurants will be served alongside premier tequilas from preeminent distillers. Plus, attendees can dance the night away at the Hot Summer Fun Rooftop Tribute Party featuring Los Chicos del 512: The Selena Experience. Tickets are $59 per person and are available for purchase via ilaniresort.com or Ticketmaster.com.
The main event takes place on Saturday, July 22, with two sessions on the garage rooftop. The first Tacos, Tequilas & Taps Festival tasting takes place from noon to 4 p.m. and the second session runs 5-9 p.m. Guests are invited to bring their appetites and prepare for a delicious day featuring cooking demonstrations from some of the nation’s and region’s top taqueros and chefs. Hand-crafted tacos and street fare will be accompanied by a wide variety of fine tequilas and mezcals as well as favorite local and national beers, wines and seltzers. Tickets are $39 per person, including a $10 food credit and are available for purchase via ilaniresort.com or Ticketmaster.com.
ABOUT ILANI:
Located on the Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield, Washington, ilani, developed by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Salishan-Mohegan, a partnership that includes Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s foremost gaming and entertainment developers and operators, is the Pacific Northwest’s premier hotel, gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting destination. With nearly 400,000 total square feet, ilani includes a luxury hotel with deluxe amenities, more than 100,000 square feet of gaming space with nearly 3,000 slots and 75 gaming tables; 18 different restaurants, bars and retail outlets; and a 2,500-seat meeting and entertainment venue hosting nationally recognized performances. For more information, visit ilaniresort.com and follow ilani on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.