The University of St. Thomas held its eighth annual Two Saints and a Taco Tasting competition at Saint Arnold Brewing Company on Thursday, April 25. More than $91,000 was raised in support of the UST Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, which will award deserving students in the fall.

Participating Restaurants

For the second year in a row, Pacific Coast Tacos took home the top prize as the winner of the competition as chosen by celebrity judges, John Granato, ESPN 97.5 sports radio co-host, and David Corduá, Houston restauranteur and chef.

The ‘People’s Choice’ honor, awarded to the favorite taco among the 450 event attendees, was presented to Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen.

Attendees sampled savory tacos from participating Houston restaurants, including:

• Ambriza
• Chilosos
• Escalante’s
• La Calle
• Moon Rooster
• Pacific Coast Tacos
• Saint Arnold
• Velvet Taco

Raising Money with Festivity

Saint Arnold beer flowed on tap throughout the evening as guests mingled, sampled the food and enjoyed a festive atmosphere with DJ Alex Supgul ’00 turning out hits and special requests. In addition, guests enjoyed the beautiful Spanish melodies of guitarist Guillermo Serpas in the brewery’s Investors Pub, and the antics of life-size puppet, Carmen Miranda. Guests also enjoyed posing for pics at a photo booth complete with festive hats and costumes perfect for taco tasting.

The evening also included a silent auction featuring an array of exciting prizes, including:

• Sports packages for the Houston Texans, Dynamos and Astros
• Wine tasting parties
• A Hill Country getaway

Drew Wilson ’02, Denise Wilson Schooley ‘07 and Jason Schooley generously served as chairs of the event, working with a host committee of 15 UST alumni. Lead sponsors, dubbed “Celt” sponsors were Leslie Buratti, MBA ’04, Ellucian, ExxonMobil/Aaron Stryk ‘01, Shelley Grahmann ’02, Paul ’95 and Janna Vallhonrat.

Special guests included UST President and First Lady, Richard and Melynda Ludwick, and UST Alumni Board President, Aaron Stryk ’01.