Mercadito at Red Rock Resort Joins Tacos for Strength

Just in time for National Taco Day on Oct. 4, Mercadito at Red Rock Resort (11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas) is set to join Mercadito Hospitality’s national Tacos for Strength campaign beginning Oct. 1.

Each year Chef/Partner Patricio Sandoval invites a variety of chefs – from “Top Chef” and James Beard winners to several Food & Wine Best New Chefs – to join him to “think outside the tortilla” and create unique tacos to support Share Our Strength and its mission to end childhood hunger.

Mercadito at Red Rock Resort will feature the culinary creations for the three remaining chefs on the 2014 Tacos for Strength schedule including Chicago’s Jason Vincent formerly of Nightwood in October, Philadelphia’s Kevin Sbraga of Sbraga in November and Paul Virant of Perennial Virant in Chicago and Vie in Western Springs, Illinois in December. Tacos for Strength selections are available for dinner (four per order) for $15.50 or for lunch (three per order) for $13.50. Five percent of proceeds benefit Share Our Strength.

“Over the past three and a half years, I’ve had the honor of working with some of the best chefs in the business, who have created innovative tacos from drawing on personal memories and favorite cuisines to benefit Share Our Strength,” Mercadito Chef/Partner Patricio Sandoval says. “We wanted to integrate Mercadito at Red Rock Resort as quickly as possible and I’m happy that they are joining Tacos for Strength by featuring the creations from the three remaining chefs on the 2014 schedule. Next year, we will integrate some of Vegas’ top chefs into the campaign and we can’t wait to see what they create.”

Jason Vincent, 2014 James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef, Great Lakes and Food & Wine’s Best New Chef in 2013, constructed the taco featured for October. Drawing from his love of the Mediterranean, Vincent takes an offbeat approach for his guest creation combining the flavors of the Greek Isles with Mexico. His lamb shoulder carnitas taco features a savory dressing of sunflower seeds, yogurt and Thai chili, with roasted tomatoes, chilis and peppers topped with grapes and cucumbers on a flour tortilla.

In 2013, Mercadito sold a grand total of 2,595 Tacos for Strength, raising nearly $2,000 to benefit Share Our Strength.

Mercadito’s dinner and late-night dining hours are 4 p.m. until midnight Sunday – Thursday, 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lunch hours are Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Brunch service is 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended and can be made through Open Table or by calling 702.979.3609.

About Mercadito Red Rock

Drawing from culinary experiences of Mexican markets, Mercadito features a wide variety of creative tacos made with handmade corn masa tortillas, guacamoles, refreshing ceviche and classic dishes like enchiladas and chile rellenos. Mercadito Red Rock will spotlight new items crafted specifically for the Las Vegas location including nachos, ensaldada verde and the Mercadito mac & cheese. The Tippling Bros., Mercadito’s exclusive beverage partner, creates a perfectly designed drink menu featuring “on draft” cocktails including margaritas, sangria and a variety of signature drinks, as well as frozen libations, an impressive tequila list and non-alcoholic aqua frescas. For additional information, please visit www.MercaditoRestaurants.com or www.RedRock.SCLV.com, like on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

About Mercadito Hospitality

Mercadito Hospitality has grown from its first New York City restaurant location in 2004 to become a renowned restaurant group. The popularity of the group’s restaurants can be attributed to Partners Alfredo and Felipe Sandoval, innovative culinary interpretations created by Chef/Partners Patricio Sandoval and Guillermo Tellez, and its joint venture with renowned beverage consultants Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci – the Tippling Bros – who bring inimitable flavor profiles to the group’s beverage programs.

Based in Chicago, the group owns and operates restaurants and bars across the U.S. including the flagship concept Mercadito in Chicago, New York City, and at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas; Double A, an exclusive cocktail lounge located beneath Mercadito Chicago; Mercadito Fish at Chicago’s Talbott Hotel; Mercadito Counter in Chicago’s River North neighborhood; Mercadito Taqueria in Chicago’s Loop, and Chicago’s Municipal Bar + Dining Company. MH Catering was launched in 2013 and the group’s newest locations, Tippling Hall (Chicago & Las Vegas), Mercadito Green Valley Ranch (Las Vegas) and Mercadito & Double A (Philadelphia and Washington DC) will open in 2014. For more information, please visit www.mercaditohospitality.com.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry Campaign™—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy meals on a budget, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, both nationally and at the state level. Working closely with the culinary industry and relying on the strength of its volunteers, Share Our Strength hosts innovative culinary fundraising events like Taste of the Nation®, The Great American Bake Sale®, A Tasteful Pursuit®, The Great American Dine Out™, and Operation Frontline®. Visit Strength.org to get involved in the No Kid Hungry Campaign.