2023 SAN DIEGO BAY WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL TERMINATED WINNER OF
ANNUAL GRAND TASTING, PEOPLE’S CHOICE “COOK OF THE FESTIVAL”
AND GRAND FIESTA “TACO TKO” CONTESTS
Chef Jason Witzl of Coronado’s Jolie receives top honors from judges and contestants
The organizers of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival are pleased to announce the winners of their annual culinary competitions: Grand Tasting People’s Choice “Chef of the Fest” and Grand Fiesta “Taco TKO.” The annual competition pits top chefs from Southern California and Baja against each other in action-packed culinary showdowns judged by festival-goers and an esteemed panel of industry leaders.
Grand Tasting presented by BMW, November 11th
People’s Choice Chef of the Festival
Sixty-six chefs from the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting presented by BMW competed in the Chef of the Fest competition hoping to win top culinary honors. Attendees were subject to criticism from Grand Tasting attendees, who had the opportunity to vote for their favorite dish from the festival’s chef. This year’s title of “Chef des Fest” went to Chef/Owner Jason Witzl of Jolie in Coronado for his shrimp and melon salad dish (poached shrimp, heirloom melon, serrano chili, cucumber, fresh mint, crème fraîche vinaigrette, crispy quinoa). Chef Witzl was crowned the official chef of the 2023 festival and received top bragging rights and $5,000 in cash.
“I am beyond proud to be named Chef of the Fest at the prestigious San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival this year,” said Chef/Owner Jason Witzl of Jolie. “It meant a lot to me that festival goers voted for us, especially given the talented chefs also vying for the award. The positive feedback from the audience on our shrimp and melon salad was incredible to hear. The dish offers a variety of texture, flavor and spice that has become a customer favorite at Jolie Coronado. The shrimp and melon harmonize beautifully with the crunch of the crunchy quinoa, the slight spiciness of the serrano chile and the balanced creme fraiche, making it all a refreshing bite.”
- 2nd place went to another Coronado location and double winner in both competitions. Chef Adrian Covarrubias of Loews Coronado Bay Resort For his two featured dishes: short rib arancini, smoked Gouda, truffle aioli and shaved Italian truffle and his Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, sweet shrimp and cognac cream dish.
- 3rd place went to Chef Todd Nash of The Blind Burro for him Quesabirria Machete: Birria, salsa verde, avocado, onion, coriander, Oaxaca, Manchego and birria consomé on the side. Chef Todd previously won 2nd place at Taco TKO in 2019.
The chefs who placed first, second and third in the Chef of the Fest competition were rewarded in cash: $5,000 for first place, $TBD for second place, $TBD for third place.
Big festival, November 12th
TACO TKO People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice Winner
This year’s Taco TKO Contest was presented by the Consulate of Mexico and iHeart Media will take place on November 13th as part of the festival’s Grand Fiesta at Ingram Plaza in Liberty Station. The The popular annual competition brings together the best taco makers from San Diego and Baja to compete Head-to-head race for the title of “Most Awesome Taco” and bragging rights as one of the best most famous taco maker on both sides of the border.
Over 2,000 people attended this year’s Grand Fiesta, where they enjoyed samples from around the world 30 different notable chefs from San Diego and Baja as well as a selection of unique beers, wines and Tequila/Mezcal stations and enjoy live music from Bulevar Descarga.
The top honors in the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice categories went to Cook Marcus Twilegar of Palmy’s Pacific Beach. Chef Marcus received good marks from the jury Fiesta-goer for his Ancho Braised Beef Taco with pickled tomatillo, avocado, crispy Sunchoke and coriander.
Judges for this year’s competition included industry leaders from both sides of the border. Dishes from 22 chefs were carefully narrowed down to first, second and third place winners using a tiered point system. Participants were ranked based on cumulative scores the presentation, the taste, the innovation, the quality of the product and the preparation of the dish within the given framework Time. The judges included:
- Claudia Sandoval: MasterChef US, Claudia’s Cocina
- Chef Gavin Mills: Not not taco
- Chef Flor Franco: Casa de Flor
- Chef Suzette Gresham: Executive Chef, Acquerello, Two Star Michelin, San Francisco ● Chef Antonio de Livier: Animo, Mexico City, “La Ruta de Taco”
- Scott Koenig: Founder of AGringoinMexico.com
- Fernando Gaxiola: Founder of Baja Wine + Food
- Raul Mora: Seafood from El Faro
The 2023 Taco TKO competition results are as follows:
- First Place Winner of the People’s Choice Grand Prize
Chef Marcus Twilegar – Palmy’s Pacific Beach
Ancho-braised beef taco with pickled tomatillo, avocado, crispy sunchoke and cilantro
- Second place winner in People’s Choice
Chef Adrian Covarrubias – Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Short rib taco, tequila demi, black garlic salsa verde, pickled red onions, chicharrons, Avocado cream, hand-pressed tortilla
- Third place winner in People’s Choice
Chef Juan Saad – Barracruda
“Mole Montado Taco” – Charred mole negro, pickled onions, avocado salsa, habanero Ash cream, cotija cheese, garnished with chicharrones and micro greens
- Winner of the main prize as chosen by the jury for first place
Chef Marcus Twilegar – Palmy’s Pacific Beach
Ancho-braised beef taco with pickled tomatillo, avocado, crispy sunchoke and cilantro
- Second place winner chosen by the jury
Chef Oliver Seki – Seki Restaurants (Baja)
Octopus Seki Taco – Blue corn tortilla, grilled marinated octopus with chimichurri demi Shitake mushroom and oxtail glaze
- Third place winner chosen by the jury
Chef Rael Coronado – Savage, Tijuana
Crispy potato taco / shrimp pate / black aguachile / Spanish octopus / chickpea Chicharron
“We had a lot of fun cooking at Grand Fiesta. I have participated in this competition over the years and wanted to bring something special to represent Palmys,” said Chef Marcus Twilegar of Palmys. “This year our taco was inspired by fall. We added a pomegranate salsa macha, pickled tomatillo, and crispy sunchokes that beautifully complemented the anchovy-braised Brandt beef. Then we put all of this deliciousness on a hand-pressed tortilla. Being from San Diego, it is an honor to represent our city with a 1st place taco in both the blind Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice competitions. We’re keeping the good energy going and will be offering the taco as a special at Palmys through the end of the fall season.”
The Taco TKO People’s Choice winners were rewarded in cash: $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, $1,000 for third place, and the highest honors in the Judges’ Choice received $1,000 -Dollar.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO BAY WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL®
Travel to San Diego and arrive at Awesome®. The 19th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival® is an international showcase of the world’s leading wine and spirits producers and chefs and culinary personalities and gourmet foods. The award-winning event will take place November 6-12, 2023 Festival raises funds for scholarships and grants for gastronomy, enology and hospitality and has has awarded over $600,000 to individuals and nonprofit organizations through previous events. For more For more information, see www.sandiegowineclassic.com. This festival is produced by World of Wine events and Fast forward events.
The San Diego bay Wine & Eat festival Is financed In Part with City from San Diego tourism marketing district Evaluation Medium.