TacoMania raises over $35,000 to support local artists
TacoMania winners gathered for a group photo are in back (l-r) Lo Tibbits and Jordan Schmidt of Dewey Beer Co., and Zane Kesler of Drift. In middle row are Ginger Breneman and Lyndsey Lewis, Bluecoast Rehoboth; Amber Carbino and Joe Slavinski, Drift; Ryan Minnick, Giovanni Ortiz, Eli Jackson, Neko McDonald and Armando Morales, Stingray; Travis Bower, winner of the Best in Show Skull; and Dru Tevis and Chase Cline, Brûlé Bakery owners. In front, representing Somewhere, are Brandon Rather, owners Kyle Ten Eyck and Aileen Hearn, and Marnie Rodgers.
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Developing Artist Collaboration officials are thrilled to announce that its signature fundraising event, TacoMania, raised more than $35,000 this year in support of local artist workforce development programs. The popular celebration took place Oct. 9, at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach.
Since its launch in 2016, TacoMania has brought together culinary creativity, community connection and artistic impact, one taco at a time. Attendees taste, sip, and vote on tacos and margaritas crafted by some of the region’s best restaurants, food trucks and catering teams, all in support of DAC’s mission to help artists build sustainable careers.
This year’s sold-out event hosted more than 500 guests who enjoyed the crisp fall sunset and danced to the high-energy sounds of Hot Sauce Band. They sampled inventive taco and margarita creations while casting their votes for crowd favorites. The event showcased the highest-ever participation from Hispanic-owned restaurants, a milestone DAC is proud to celebrate.
“This was hands-down our best TacoMania yet,” said DAC founder and event creator Leah Beach. “We featured more food trucks, more up-and-coming culinary creatives, and our highest number of small catering businesses. It was powerful to see so many voices from the local food scene represented, especially Hispanic-owned businesses.”
The 2025 competitors included: Guanacos Melting Pot, Somewhere, Lighthouse, Shorebreak Lodge, Bluecoast Rehoboth, Bodhi Kitchen, Bethany Blues, Stingray, Rusty Rudder, Chesapeake & Maine, Shore Island, Frio’s Gourmet Popsicles, 2nd Line New Orleans Cuisine, Big Chill Surf Cantina, Palm Beach Bar & Grill, Drift, Brandylynns, Dewey Beer Co., The Lodge at Historic Lewes, Michy’s, Dewey Post, Taco Reho, Chakra’s Veggie Cuisine, Brûlé Bakery and Squash Blossom Mexican Cuisine.
“TacoMania brings our community together in such a fun and meaningful way,” said Stingray’s Ryan Minnick. “It’s a chance to celebrate creativity in the off-season and raise money for a great cause. DAC makes it all happen.”
The 2025 award winners for Best Taco are - first place, Stingray; second, Drift; third, Dewey Beer Co. For Best Margarita - first, Bluecoast Rehoboth; second, Drift; third, Somewhere. Most Creative Taco honors went to Brûlé Bakery, Chef Dru Tevis. Somewhere restaurant also carried off awards for Best Team Spirit and Best Margarita Rim Job.
“This was my first TacoMania, and I’ve always wanted to do it,” said Tevis. “I loved pushing the boundaries with a dessert taco. To win [Most Creative Taco] among all that savory talent was a true honor.”
DAC’s beloved ceramic Sugar Skull Silent Auction returned with 19 original artist creations raising over $2,000. Best in Show was awarded to artist Travis Bower, whose hand-turned base and miniature interior scene honored Mexican heritage with intricate, respectful detail.
