Top Taco weathers the elements for fab food and fun

Downpour? What downpour?

The 20-minute deluge that drenched Denver’s Sculpture Garden Park Thursday didn’t dampen the spirits of hundreds of attendees to the second annual Top Taco – the sip and snarf competition from the owners of DiningOut magazine.

Revelers crowded under the cover of tent tops and waited out the storm that threatened to shut down the event. But noooooo. Twenty minutes later, salsa band La Candela struck up the tunes while Top Taco patrons carried on sampling tequila, margaritas, beer, wine and all sorts of tacos.

More than 40 metro-area restaurants were represented in fierce competition for the bragging rights to bear the title of Top Taco and Top Margarita.

Here are the judges’ picks.

Margarita – 1. Dos Santos; 2. Pinche Tacos; 3. Central Bistro.

Taco – Non-traditional – 1. Lena; 2. Pinche Tacos; 3. Comida.

Taco – Traditional – 1. Comida (two years running); 2. North County; 3. Work & Class.

From left, Comida owner Rayme Rossello and events coordinator Andrea O’Laughlin celebrate winning No. 1 traditional Taco. Below from left, Lena chef Jerry Mansfield and owner Jimmy Callahan show off their No. 1 non-traditional taco.