Mariano’s 2nd annual Guacamole Challenge: Let’s Guac and Roll, Chicago

Holy guacamole, Chicago! It’s about to get smashing at Mariano’s Bucktown! On Wednesday, August 20, from 4:30 to 7 PM, the city’s brightest media personalities and tastemaker chefs will gather in the legendary Produce Arena for the most delicious showdown of the summer: the 2nd Annual Guacamole Challenge.

Armed with bowls, smashers and piles of creamy Avocados from Peru, competitors will slice, dice and mash their way toward glory. Each team gets a secret ingredient to take their guac from good to guac-tacular — because when you’ve got MLB All-Star Curtis Granderson, BBQ boss Dominique Leach, and reigning champ Natalie Bomke in the mix, you know things are about to get ripe with competition.

And this isn’t just about bragging rights (though those are as sweet as a perfectly ripe avocado). Our avocado heroes will be judged on creativity, taste, presentation and even how clean they keep their stations, proving that in this game, a spotless cutting board can be just as important as a zesty lime squeeze.

The judging panel is just as star-studded, featuring James Beard winners Belinda Chang and Sarah Stegner, and the ever-energetic Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Together, they’ll crown this year’s ultimate guac guru.

But the best part? This tasty battle comes with a side of generosity. Thanks to Avocados from Peru, 60,000 avocados will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Northern Illinois Food Bank. That’s a whole lotta guac doing a whole lotta good.

Competing Teams:

🏆 Natalie Bomke (FOX News) & Ken Polk (Batter & Berries)

⭐ Candace Jordan (Chicago Star Media) & Dominique Leach (Lexington Betty BBQ)

⭐ Curtis Granderson (MLB All-Star) & Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno)

⭐ Lili Mendoza (LA LEY) & Chef TBD

⭐ Dina Bair (WGN News) & Bill Kim (Urban Belly, Table at Crate, Dimmi Dimmi)

⭐ Monica Eng (AXIOS) & Lamar Moore (etc.)

⭐ Liz Grossman (Freelance) & Chef TBD

Meet the Judges:

✨ Belinda Chang — The James Beard Award-winning sommelier whose palate is so refined, she can probably taste the difference between “mild” and “extra mild” salsa.

✨ Sarah Stegner — The Prairie Grass Café powerhouse whose cooking chops are so legendary, even avocados feel honored to be diced by her.

✨ Maria Pappas — Cook County Treasurer by day, guacamole queenmaker by night, ready to balance the flavor books and make sure no chip goes un-dipped.

Event is free and open to the public! 

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