What: The Brooklyn Taco Experiment
Where: The Bell House, Gowanus, Brooklyn
When: Sunday, January 31, 1- 5 p.m., free after party
Why: The Atlantic recently tweeted a timeline on food history that dated the tortilla shell back to 5000 BC. Since its discovery, the utensil-less taco universal appeal comes from the limitless sweet and savory combinations found in the middle of its shell.
This Sunday, Nick Suarez and Theo Peck of the Food Experiments are bringing their latest cook-off to jack-of-all-venues, The Bell House. Sunday afternoon will feel like an endless indoor taco truck as 300 people consume the 11,000 four-inch mini corn tortilla shells donated by Tortilleria Chinantla in Williamsburg.
“This time we asked ourselves, ‘What constitutes a democratic food that jumps racial, economic, and regional barriers? And what is a food that everyone likes?'” said Suarez. “The taco was the first thing that came to mind.” The pair will host 30 chefs as they test their taco techniques with fillings like pork, beer, chicken, chorizo, and oh yes, chocolate.
Some of the judges include Andrew Knowlton of Iron Chef and Bon Appétit magazine Cesar Fuentes, and a secret Vendy award winner. Not only will contestants cook to win over the judges and a hungry crowd, they’ll be competing for the biggest prize in New York cook-off history—two roundtrip tickets to anywhere in Mexico, courtesy of Aeromexico.
“You can’t reach for greatness unless you experiment,” said Peck. So, cancel your brunch plans, you’ve got to eat and vote for Brooklyn’s first King of the Shell.
Cost: $20 Advance (includes one free beer and free after party), $25 same day, A portion of ticket sales will help support Ovarian Cancer Research
How to get there: Take the F train to Brooklyn. Exit 4th Avenue near 9th street. Walk North on 4th avenue towards 8th street. Turn left on 7th to the address. (The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn, 718.643.6510, thefoodexperiments.com)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram