We have a winner!
Six teams competed Friday in the Austin ISD Ultimate Taco Challenge Finals and Bedichek Middle School took home the top prize.
"It surprised me, I wasn't expecting it, we thought oh if we didn't get third, we lost,” said winning students Cierra Salazar and Janett Macias-Lopez.
The six final teams beat out 88 other taco recipes.
Each team had an hour to prepare their taco recipe in a commercial kitchen at Austin Community College.
Then 6 judges, including superintendent Paul Cruz, tasted each creation.
"We see the cafeteria in AISD as an extension of the classroom so we would like to teach the kids about nutrition and about food,” said AISD Dietitian Ryan Cengel.
The winner was called the Loaded Taco -- made with chorizo, ground beef, carrots, potatoes, queso fresco, avocado, lime, cilantro, onions, and sour cream.
“I’m happy, I’m really happy, we made the taco and everybody’s going to be able to eat it,” said Macias-Lopez and Salazar.
Their taco will be on the lunch menu for the entire district next year.
“I feel proud of myself, it’s not sinking in, it’s just, I don’t know, I’m shocked,” said Salazar and Macias-Lopez.
“We talk in AISD about the students being college and career ready when they leave AISD but it’s also important to be life ready,” said Cengel.
The second place winners were from Dobie Middle School, and third place was awarded to Kealing Middle School.