You can’t help but feel a little giddy when a plate of birria tacos gets placed in front of you.
The sight of three corn tortillas covered in heaps of shredded beef swimming in a hypnotizing dark red broth is enough to bring tears to your eyes.
You take a bite, and you're instantly hit with the warm flavors of chile de arbol, cinnamon and cloves as the tender beef melts in your mouth. The juiceseeps onto your hand as you devour the rest of the taco, but you don’t care about the mess it made, you’re already about to order three more!
Birria is an art form here in Tucson, and nobody understands that better than
Yami Martinez and her family have been crafting delectable, juicy birria at their carniceria for years now. It comes sandwiched between gooey cheese and a toasted tortilla, placed on top of pizza, rolled up inside tamales, and transformed into bombs you can toss in your crockpot, adding that iconic taste to whatever dish it’s in.
They love birria as much as anyone in this town, so why not celebrate everything amazing about birria?Â
On Nov. 15, Wild West Carniceria is throwing its first ever , where those attending will get to try all kinds of birria-centered dishes and vote for their favorite.
Wild West Carniceria is known for their tasty birria, which comes in all kinds of forms including their birria bomb.Â
Yami and her life-long friend Vanesa Gonzalez, the carniceria’s community outreach person, had been going back and forth trying to think of ideas for events they could host at their ad location.
Yami suggested they throw some kind of birria party. That idea continued to grow.
When another one of their friends reached out about doing a fundraiser for the , a nonprofit that supports families facing childhood cancer, the Birria Madness Festival was born.
This isn’t your average birria competition, though; each of the vendors who entered have to do something creative with the birria they're serving.
Wild West Carniceria is making its beloved quesabirria tacos, which is a birria taco that’s dipped into the broth and put back on the pan to cook, giving it a nice outer crisp, with a juicy, cheesy inside.
is bringing its birria costra taco to the festival. A costra taco has a golden-brown cheese crust that’s sandwiched between the tortilla and the beef, kind of like a cheese crisp and taco fusion.
Other competitors include , making birria empanadas; , bringing birria tacos ahogados; and , bringing birria lumpia.
There will be a few judges who will give their expertise, but those attending also get a say in who wins. You’ll be able to help crown the best birria in Tucson.
The Birria Madness Festival will also feature local vendors, live music, a mechanical bull, raffles, games and so much more. Plus, you’re encouraged to dress up in your best space cowboy costume!
There’s no better way to bring the community together than with mouthwatering birria, and at the Birria Madness Festival, you’re sure to leave with a smile on your face and a very full stomach.
The Birria Madness Festival is on Nov. 15 from 5-11 p.m. at Wild West's east-side location, 2023 S. Craycroft Road. The festival will be fundraising for the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation and tickets are $12.51. Visit their for more information.