Top Tacos Toasted In Highwood

HIGHWOOD, IL — The second annual North Shore Taco fest took place last weekend, as the region’s most talked about taco-centric restaurants, caterers and food trucks came together to offer a huge selection of mouth-watering taco creations for the thousands of visitors in attendance for the event, which coincided with the historic 49th annual Highwood Days carnival.

“We were so thrilled with the turnout at this year’s Taco Fest,” said Eric Falberg, President of Celebrate Highwood. “The event was packed with people from all over Chicagoland enjoying an array of taco creations, and adding the tents this year kept the cool vibe going despite the hot sun and occasional rain.

Each taco vendor shared their unique take on the ever-popular taco and competed for the best taco in town, a distinguished trophy and bragging rights. Attendees voted for their favorites and selected the following winners in each category:

• Most Authentic Taco: Taco Al Pastor from La Plancha Loca
• Most Unique Twisted Taco: Mayan and Chiliango Tacos from Taco Madre
• Best Equinox Approved Healthy Taco: Plantain Taco with Duck Confit from Toasty Taco

For the first time, Celebrate Highwood hosted a North Shore Taco 5K Run & Walk on Saturday, which raised more than $4,500 for Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic.

Out of 170 runners, Nate Schmitt, 16, of Lake Forest and member of the Lake Forest High School cross-country team, finished first at a time of 17.52, followed by Kyle Levine and Richard Goldwasser. All run participants received a run t-shirt and complimentary taco and soft drink, beer or margarita at Taco Fest.

“The Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic is grateful for the support from the North Shore Taco Run,” said Executive Director Susan Shulman. “The Clinic provides vital legal services for those that live or work in Highland Park and Highwood and thanks to the generous support of the North Shore Taco Run, the Clinic will continue to help its clients stay in their homes, gain legal immigration status or escape abusive relationships.”

» via Celebrate Highwood

Top photo: Jorge Blancas from La Plancha Loca, winner of the Most Authentic Taco award at the 2nd Annual North Shore Taco Fest | Celebrate Highwood