'Master Chef's Aarón Sánchez's Bodega Bites Pop-Up Expertly Pairs Tacos & Tequila

Master Chef U.S. judge Chef Aarón Sánchez is taking Taco Tuesday to a whole new level. The TV personality has teamed up with Vallarta Supermarkets to design a menu of delicious tacos to pair with Tequila Cazadores for the Bodega Bites pop-up series in Los Angeles, Austin, and New York City. 

Sánchez and Tequila Cazadores hosted their first of the three events at Tortilla Republic in Los Angeles. Sánchez said that one of the main goals of the event was to show that tequila can be paired with food as a drink.

"I wanted to pay homage to my upbringing and my family heritage by spreading the word of this unbelievable tequila, which is Cazadores," he said in an interview at the event.

The exclusive pop-up menu featured four types of tacos — two by Sánchez and two from Vallarta, the home of the original carne asada. Sánchez's offerings were the fried plantain taco and sofrito shrimp taco. Vallarta Supermarket served their al pastor taco and marinated carne asada taco at the event. 

"We wanted to do something that I think best reflected and echoed all of my journeys as a chef and as a cook," Sánchez said. "It's really about highlighting and celebrating Latin culture as it is right now."

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In addition to the tacos, Tortilla Republic also offered specialty cocktails crafted by Tequila Cazadores' brand ambassador Manny Hinojosa, featuring Cazadores Blanco and Cazadores Reposado. Among the drinks were the Cazadores sangrita, the jalapeno margarita, and the Mexican chardonnay, which is Cazadores Blanco served in a wine glass.

Hinojosa emphasized that quality Mexican agaves can greatly influence a tequila. "We make tequila Cazadores in a small, beautiful town in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico," he said. "The tequilas from the valley, they're more herbal, drier, more Earthy. And from the highlands, it's different notes: sweeter, citrusy, floral ... Tequila represents Mexico."

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Bodega Bites planned to deliver Sánchez's exclusive tacos to the late-night crowds using custom-designed Priority Bicycles featuring full-functioning grills. The pop-up will make its way to Austin on Sept. 19 at Javelina and then to NYC on Oct. 10 at Ghost Donkey.

Sánchez's generosity extends beyond the event, too. The chef has launched the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund which aims to empower Latino aspiring chefs, setting them up for success with leading roles in the restaurant industry. He said he is glad to give back to the future generation of chefs.

"I feel it is extremely important to make sure that we're investing in our future," Sánchez said. "Working in kitchens afford you discipline, structure and mentoring. What I wanted to do with my scholarship, is provide the same things that I was so fortunate in receiving and giving back." 

Sánchez also reflected on Master Chef Season 8, on which he served as a judge. He recalled the elimination of the popular contestant Reba Billingsley as being a notable moment during his time on the reality TV show. 

"She was the mom of the whole group," Sánchez said. "I felt that that was something that was really instrumental and important. When she sadly was asked to leave, it really hit everybody hard. And the fact that she was able to make it so far through the competition with little or no experience was really remarkable and a true testament to her resilience and her strength."

Next, Bodega Bites will head to Austin and NYC, so catch Sánchez's exclusive tacos while you still can!