Taco Truck Throwdown 2018 Competition May 27 th, 2018 12 noon 8pm VFW Post 76 (plus 10th Street & Avenue B) CONTESTANT GUIDELINES AND RULES 1. There is a $170 registration fee to enter the Taco Truck Throwdown contest (discounted to $140 for those who sign up by March 5 th, 2018). This fee includes your temporary Health and Fire Department permits, which are required even if your truck has annual permits (the only exception is trucks currently registered with the Downtown Food Truck Program). We will secure your permits from the Health and Fire Departments and deliver them to your truck on the day of the event. There will be an envelope in your contestant packet marked VFW CASH DEPOSIT. This is for a $50 CASH DEPOSIT to be made at the beginning of the event to the VFW Post 76. Envelopes will be collected by the VFW before the event starts. Before you leave the venue, your area will be inspected. Once it is confirmed that the area is clear of all trash and cooking grease, you may collect your $50 deposit from the VFW representative. 2. Cooking grease and grease produced by cooking must be retained by contestants and disposed of in proper locations off-site. 3. You will be assigned your taco truck location when checking in on the day of the event at the VFW Post 76, 10th Street @ Avenue B. 4. Check in time is 8:30am 10:45am. Event begins at 12 noon. 5. Your taco truck must be ready for health and fire inspection by 11am. This is necessary even if your truck has an annual permit. 6. (CHOOSE 1 CATEGORY): Each truck must choose ONE category in which to compete: Tacos al pastor or Freestyle. The winner of the tacos al pastor category will be crowned the Grand Champion and the winner of the Freestyle category will be the Freestyle Winner. There are a limited number of spots available in each category, first-come, first-serve. 7. TACOS AL PASTOR/GRAND CHAMPION CATEGORY: If you are competing in this category your small taco al pastor will be judged. They are to be prepared on a small standard-size tortilla (mini tortilla approximately 4.5 inches in diameter, not a full size tortilla and not the smallest mini tortilla). Any deviation from these instructions may result in disqualification. Any truck presenting a different taco as their al pastor will be disqualified. 8. FREESTYLE CATEGORY: Trucks competing in this category must still sell tacos al pastor for $1, 12 noon 4pm. Entry must be a taco to be eligible to compete. Entry must be the same menu item that is sold 12 noon 4pm along with the $1 tacos al pastor.
9. PEOPLE S CHOICE CATEGORY: Text voting will take place to determine the winner. Truck workers may not incentivize event attendees to vote for their truck in this category through the offering of free items or discounts. Trucks who do not adhere to this policy may be disqualified. 10. 2018 JUDGING PROCESS: Judges will conduct all scoring in the upstairs private room at the VFW. Tacos al pastor judging will take place between 1pm and 3:00pm and Freestyle judging will take place 4pm - 6pm. The week of the event, each truck will be given a designated 10 minute window to have their entries taken to the judging room. Number of tacos needed will also be provided at this time. Trucks who fail to have their entries delivered within the 10 minute window may be disqualified. You will not have any judges visit your truck for tacos. 11. Taco judging will be based on a 1-100 point scale on the taste of the tacos. Contestant with the highest number of points in the Tacos Al Pastor/Grand Champion and Freestyle categories will be declared the winners. In the event of a tie, an additional judge or judges will be selected to sample and score each of the top contestants to break the tie (please make sure to have tacos al pastor and your freestyle entry available for judges until 6pm should this be necessary and we need to request additional tacos). 12. ALL TRUCKS are required to sell small tacos al pastor to the public during the sampling period of 12 noon and 4pm for $1 per taco regardless of which category they are competing. After 4pm, if you wish, you may change the price of the tacos al pastor for sale to the public. 13. In addition to Tacos al Pastor, you may sell ONLY ONE OTHER FOOD PRODUCT, a signature item (you determine the price on your signature item), out of your taco truck until 4pm. This second item is only required to be a taco if you are competing in the freestyle category. After 7pm, you may open up your menu to other options, but we suggest selling no more than 3 items between 4pm-8pm so you can turn around orders quickly. You may designate the price of all items after 7pm. You may also sell limited beverages: NO BEVERAGES AT ALL MAY BE SOLD OUT OF ANY TRUCKS (beverage sales are the VFW Fund Raiser). NO LEMONADE OR AQUAS FRESCAS. Deviating from these instructions may result in disqualification from the contest and your truck sales may be shut down for the day. 14. There is very limited space for trucks that will have access to electricity. This space will be available only to the first several trucks who submit their entry with trucks that are 12 feet and shorter will be supplied electricity (20 amps ONLY). Electricity is limited, only available inside the VFW Post 76 property, and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis (to trucks 12 feet and shorter only). All trucks longer than 12 feet will be required to operate on 10 th Street or Avenue B via generator, which must be supplied by the truck. The VFW Post 76 and The Seedless Agency are not responsible for supplying a
generator or electricity for trucks required to operate on 10 th Street or Avenue B. 15. If using electrical, each contestant needs to bring TWO 50 foot, 14 gauge electrical cords. Cords must be no longer than 50 feet. 16. All contestants must bring 2 large trashcans plus all necessary trash bags (bring at least twenty large trash bags). If you do not have these necessary materials at the time of check in you will not be allowed to participate. 17. Taco Truck Throwdown Grand Champion as declared by the judges will receive: A cash prize (amount TBD) and A trophy proclaiming that they are the Grand Champion. 18. Taco Truck Throwdown Freestyle Winner as declared by the judges will receive a trophy and a cash prize (amount TBD). 19. A Peoples Choice Trophy will be awarded to the Taco Truck that receives the most text votes for the peoples choice award. People s Choice winner will also receive a cash prize (amount TBD). 20. Contestants may bring an ice chest with non-alcoholic beverages for personal consumption only. 21. There will be NO RAIN DATES for this event. 22. Entry fees are non-refundable for any reason. No exceptions. 23. All contestants must sign a hold harmless agreement the day of the event. The event organizers reserve the right to adjust the rules at any point prior to the start of the contest.
Benefiting the VFW Post 76 Veteran Relief Fund SUNDAY, MAY 27 th, 2018 12 noon 8PM (Move-in 8:30am 10:45am) VFW POST 76 (Plus 10th Street & Ave B) CONTESTANT APPLICATION FORM Truck Name Contact Person Address City State Zip Daytime Phone Evening Phone Mobile Email Address Do you need 110w Electricity*? (NO 220w AVAILABLE) (check one) Yes No *VERY Limited 110w electricity available only for trucks 12 feet and s horter on a first-come, first-serve basis ALL trucks longer than 12 feet will be required to provide and use their own generator on 10 th Street between the VFW and Broadway as well as on Avenue B on either side of 10th St. What is the TOTAL length of your Truck (including tongue)? Feet Which side of your truck is your service window? (Circle) Driver Side/Passenger Side/Both Signature Item You Will Sell 12 noon - 4pm (along with tacos al pastor): Choose ONE Category In Which To Compete:! Tacos Al Pastor! Freestyle (must be a taco to enter) ** The VFW is open until 12 midnight. If you would like to sell past 8pm you must stay until 12midnight and check yes. (This will determine your location during the event). YES (leave at 12midnight) NO (leave at 8pm)
Mission Foods is our Official Tortilla of the contest. Please indicate if you would like to receive complimentary product for use at the event (we will follow up for orders, orders must be finalized by May 10 th, 2018): Flour Tortillas (# of tortillas, NOT packages): Corn Tortillas (street taco size, # of tortillas, NOT packages): Twisted Taco Truck Contestant Fee: $170 Registration fee covers your temporary Health & Fire permits, which are REQUIRED even if your truck has an annual permit. Trucks who are currently registered as a part of the City of SA Downtown Food Truck Program will be the only trucks qualifying for a discounted fee (amounts noted above less the cost of permits) NO EXCEPTIONS. Call Kim regarding exact discount for your truck. TOTAL ENCLOSED: $ Make MONEY ORDERS payable to: The Seedless Agency LLC Return completed application and contestant fees no later than May 10, 2018. Attn: Kim Arellano 2702 Castanet St. San Antonio, TX 78230 Questions: (210) 725-5477 Sign here to acknowledge that you have received a copy and understand the rules and regulations of the contest and participation: ** Your participation is NOT CONFIRMED until you provide payment AND CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE naming The Seedless Agency and VFW Post 76 as additional insured. Below is the info your insurance company needs to process the request: The Seedless Agency Contact: Kim Arellano 2702 Castanet St. San Antonio, TX 78230 VFW Post 76 Contact: Ted Johnson 10 Tenth St. San Antonio TX 78215