Downtown Naperville Alliance is hosting a new event in September that will not only celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month but raise money for Naperville’s annual Hispanic Heritage Fest.
The Taco Crawl will bring people to 10 different downtown restaurants to sample a variety of meat- and seafood-filled tortillas topped with cheese, veggies, sour cream and other items in an event similar to the wine, chocolate and cookie walks already held downtown annually for charity.
Scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, tickets cost $30 and are to go sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Profits will go to Naperville’s Sister Cities Foundation, host of the Hispanic Heritage Fest Sept. 16 in Central Park.
Danielle Tufano, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance, said they had no problem signing up 10 restaurants to participate. The chefs are having fun putting their own “spin” on the traditional Mexican street food, she said.
“There are some restaurants that aren’t known for being a taco place, which I think it’s great because it gives people an opportunity to explore those restaurants,” Tufano said.
The businesses participating are Allegory, Empire Burgers + Brew, Fat Rosie’s, Hizemans, Potter’s Place, Q-BBQ, SixtyFour Wine Bar & Kitchen, Smokeshow BBQ, Tapville Social and The Lantern.
“For instance, Allegory is the only chef-owned farm-to-table restaurant in Naperville, and the chef is taking it very seriously and making carnitas,” Tufano said. “Fat Rosie’s specializes in and is well known for its tacos, so I think at every corner there will be great surprises.”
Because there are so many restaurants involved, there will be two routes with five restaurants on each, she said. Everyone starts at Pinot’s Palette, 175 Jackson Ave., to pick up a map with their route before heading out.
Originally, they planned to only sell 200 tickets but after receiving a lot of interest on social media, they’ve increase it to 300, Tufano said.
“We definitely anticipate selling out quickly,” she said.
After the taco crawl, participants can return to Pinot’s Palette, where there will be a photo booth, prize drawings and Hispanic desserts.
For more information or to buy tickets, go to downtownnaperville.com/events/taco-crawl
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