First-Annual KC Taco Fest, African Dream Cuisine & Other Weekend Possibilities

KC Taco Fest is headed for Crossroads KC at Grinders (417 E 18th St.) this Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. Not to be confused with the other KC Taco Festival later this month at Power & Light, KC Taco Fest will feature $2 tacos from the city’s top taco spots, beer, margaritas, tequila, and live music. Don’t miss out on some friendly culinary competition to determine the city’s best tacos and salsas or test your tongue’s tolerance in the jalapeno eating contest. Pre-sale tickets are $10 and you can purchase a ticket on Saturday for $15. VIP Tequila Expo tickets are going for $80 pre-sale or $100 the day of the festival. Follow @kctacofest on Instagram and Facebook for competition registration and more.

Turn back the clock to the days of Prohibition in KC with a Tom’s Town Distilling Company Distillery Tour (1701 Main St.). The behind-the-scenes daily tour, which runs through August 3, provides a look at how Tom’s Town’s award-winning spirits are made, a bit about the distillery’s history, and of course gin, vodka, and bourbon samples. Tickets are $10 and tours last approximately 45 minutes.

The Wyandotte County Fair is well underway at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds (13700 Polfer Rd.) and wraps up this Friday (5 to 11 p.m.) and Saturday (noon to 11 p.m.) with a full slate of food trucks & vendors, live music, carnival rides and more. Tickets for the 156th WYCO fair can be purchased for $5 per person, per day — children aged 12 and under get in for free — and carnival ride wristbands are available for $25. 

Kick off the weekend with the KC Latin Jazz All-Stars at Chaz on the Plaza Friday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. Located in the historic Raphael Hotel (325 Ward Parkway), Chaz offers a menu loaded with contemporary American cuisine,  as well as an extensive wine list. 

Storm the Country Club Plaza for The Better Cheddar’s Bastille Day Cheese & Wine event, happening Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. (604 West 48th St). Tickets are $50 per person and include tastings of a variety of cheeses, wines, and other accompaniments.

Hit up a range of health-conscious and affordable menu items in the Northland at Fresh Healthy Fast — a brand-new now open at 414 Armour Road. Executive chef Elizabeth Clay has transformed old family recipes to updated plant-based meals like eggplant masala, an assortment of healthy bowls, veggie lasagna, and enchiladas. Clay’s creations are available both in-store and grab-and-go, fully cooked with heating instructions. 

African Dream Cuisine,  a brand-new pop-up restaurant at the Lenexa Public Market Kitchen (8750 Penrose Lane),  brings the flavors of West Africa to the heart of the Midwest by way of Stella Musongong and Neba Ngwa’s family recipes. The Cameroonian-American couple will cook up samples Friday through Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.