I’ve had the great pleasure of attending two of the Austin Food Challenge events recently.

The Austin Food Challenge pretty much sums up why I’m loving Austin!  Food + drink + new friends + supporting the arts = awesome!

What is it?

Austin Food Challenge is a double blind taste test.  Currently, we’ve been having the Munch Madness Taco Tourney.  The restaurants don’t know they are being selected.  And we don’t know which taco is from where.  Each event, we compare Taco A & B.  The winner advances to a future round.  We compare Taco C & D.  The winner advances to a future round as well.  We find out the “loser” at the event.  But the winner remains a mystery through future rounds.

Stoney’s Beer courtesy of Travis Heights Beverage World

Make sense?!  To learn more, the founder of Austin Food Challenge, Jay, was recently on We Are Austin.

There is no set charge for the event.  But there is a $30 recommended donation for the featured artist.

In April, Austin Food Challenge was supporting Jennifer Sherburn.  Jennifer was one of the 1st people I met at the event.  And coming to an event alone, new to the city…is a bit scary.  Jennifer is such a sweetheart and put me at ease.  She’s a choreographer and her show 90 Knots is part of the Fusebox Festival going on currently in Austin.

So, let’s talk food a bit!

For Round 1, Bracket 1:  I was in the minority for the winner of A vs B taco.  I was in the CLEAR majority for the winner of C vs D taco.

The bonus is that since I preferred the “loser” of A vs B, I now know that I like tacos from El Mercado.  But I’ll have to stay tuned to eventually find out that tasty C vs D taco winner!

For the Round 1/Bracket 1 dessert challenge:  CUPCAKES!

One of the girls that I was sitting with immediately knew that the cupcake on the left was from Hey Cupcake! and the cupcake on the right was from Sugar Mama’s.  She was sort of a cupcake aficionado.  She’s my kind of people.

The winner was the Sugar Mama’s cupcake!!  I need to check out their store very soon!!

For Round 1/Bracket 2:  Once again, I was in the minority for the winner of A vs B taco.  I was in the uber majority for the winner of C vs D taco.

I feel strongly that the Juan in a Million taco was waaaay better than the one that won, but you know…majority rules!!

I can not wait to eventually find out where Taco C was from.  It was SO good!!

For the Round 1/Bracket 2 dessert challenge:  Tres Leches Cake

I’d never had Tres Leches cake before!  Can I have some more, please!?  The cake on the left won from La Mexicana.  YUM!!

The cake on the right was a vegan Tres Leches cake from Mr. Natural.

source

I am planning on attending Jennifer’s performance on Saturday, along with a friend I made at AFC!  If you’re in Austin, I urge you to check out the 90 Knots performance too.  I urge you to sign up for AFC too!  But if you get picked to attend a challenge event and I don’t, I get to be your plus one!  :)