Houston’s Best Taco Restaurants Face Off, and a Surprise Winner Pulls Off a Clean Sweep

What: The University of St. Thomas‘ annual Two Saints and a Taco Tasting Competition

Where: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

PC Moment: What better way to raise scholarship funds than with tacos and beer? The University of St. Thomas hosted its sixth annual Two Saints and a Taco Tasting Competition at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, raising awareness and dinero for UST Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

Competing for the top prize were nine taco heavyweights: Tacodeli, El Tiempo Cantina, Escalante’s, Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen, Little J’s, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Ula’s Mexican Restaurant, Velvet Taco, and Yucatan Taco Stand.

Guests sampled petite taco renditions while sipping on flowing beer courtesy Saint Arnold. UST Alumnus Tino Ramirez provided a bevy of desserts from his beloved outpost The Chocolate Bar, while DJ Alex Supgul — another St. Thomas alumn — provided upbeat tunes throughout the evening.

In the end, Velvet Taco walked away with a clean sweep, snagging both the People’s Choice award as well as the title of top taco — an honor awarded by the event’s three celebrity judges: KHOU 11 anchor Mia Gradney and alumni John and Jessica Carrabba of Italian staple Piatto’s. The event raised nearly $90,000, which will provide 11 scholarships to UST students this fall.

Who: Two Saints and a Taco Chair Burney Hebinck, UST President and First Lady Robert and Marianne Ivany, alumni board President Dan Garcia and Vice President Aaron Stryk, alumni Kelli Kickerillo, Todd Forester, K. Cody, Kusum Patel, Cynthia Gdula,  Marcia Galatas, Burney Hebinck.