JUDGES

Bob Ruggiero

Bob Ruggiero is a longtime Houston-based journalist whose articles and interviews on music, books, art, and pop culture have appeared in the Houston Press, Houston Chronicle, Texas Music, and the Village Voice. He is the author of The Classic Rock Bob Reader and a biography of the band WAR (both available on Amazon!).

He has now had plenty of time to digest the tacos consumed as a judge at several previous Tacolandias to return this year, ready to enter the feeding fray again. He is married to fellow judged Lorretta Ruggiero, and they will probably not agree on their favorite taco of the day.

Marco Torres

Marco Torres is Chron.com‘s taco columnist, penning a monthly dispatch on Houston’s Mexican food scene in his “Tacos y Más” column.

Born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas (Mexico) – Torres moved to Houston with his family when he was two years old and has lived here ever since. A graduate of the University of St. Thomas, he dabbled in the oil and gas and banking industries before picking up a camera at age 24.

The authors of “Tacos of Texas” commissioned his photography for the 2016 book, cementing his “taco journalist” moniker. Torres has photographed and written about food and music for the Houston Press, Houstonia Magazine, Eater, Chron and the Houston Chronicle.

When he’s not eating or thinking about food, Torres is roaming around the great City of Houston in search of good music and colorful graffiti.

Adee Mendez

Adee Mendez better known as “Mexican Connected” is a brand and representative in the Latino/Hispanic community; she is an entrepreneur, activist, and movement leader. Adee attended Texas Southern University on a athletic soccer scholarship where she obtained a Bachelor’s in Spanish, a minor in Speech Communications, a Masters in Public Administration, graduating on the Dean’s list. Mexican Connected’s roots span across California and Arizona shaping a diverse background with Texas now considered home, providing a vibrant platform for Mexican Connected’s entrepreneurial endeavors and community driven pursuits.

Mexican Connected owns Adee Cosmetics a vegan, cruelty-free, minority-based Lipstick company that focuses on teaching, developing, and influencing healthy cosmetics. While simultaneously active in the music industry this includes artist management, event coordinating and brand development. As an advocate in the Latino community bringing cultures together through music, and art is the focus as a public administration recipient learning to make all worlds communicate.

For media inquiries, brand collaborations, or speaking engagements, please contact mexicanconnected@gmail.com.

**Stay Connected:**
Website: www.adeecosmetics.com
Instagram: @mexicanconnected
Twitter: @mexconnected
Facebook: /mexicanconnected