Good food, great company, and a little friendly competition!
At Straight Edge Technology, we’re usually focused on keeping businesses running smoothly with reliable IT support and cybersecurity. But recently, our San Antonio crew traded troubleshooting tickets for taco-making at the 2026 Men Who Cook event!
And apparently, we know a thing or two about tacos. 🌮
Our team took home 2nd Place People’s Choice and 3rd Place Critics’ Choice with our homemade birria tacos!
After all the excitement, we figured it was only fair to share the recipe behind our award-winning dish.
A Winning Recipe and a Great Night
Men Who Cook gave our team the opportunity to step away from their usual routines, enjoy some friendly competition, and connect with the San Antonio community.
Our crew came ready to serve up something special: tender, flavorful birria beef tucked into crispy corn tortillas with melted Oaxaca cheese and a rich consommé for dipping.
The secret? A little patience, plenty of flavor, and an extra layer of Oaxaca cheese crisped right onto the outside of each taco.
The result was a crowd favorite, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who stopped by our table, sampled our tacos, and voted for Straight Edge Technology!
Let’s Talk Tacos: Our Award-Winning Birria Recipe
The best part about this recipe? You don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen. We use an Instant Pot to get tender, flavorful beef without hours of slow cooking.
Ingredients
For the birria beef and consommé:
- 3 lbs grass-fed chuck roast (well-marbled)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 dried guajillo chiles, stems removed
- 4 chipotle chiles in adobo (canned)
- 1 Instant Birria Seasoning Bomb
- 32 oz beef bone broth
- 8 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ red onion
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
For the tacos:
- Yellow corn street tortillas
- Shredded Oaxaca cheese
- Optional: diced onion, cilantro, and lime wedges
Step 1: Sear the Beef
Set your Instant Pot to Sauté, add olive oil, and brown the chuck roast on all sides.
Step 2: Add the Flavor
Add the guajillo chiles, chipotle chiles, birria seasoning bomb, beef bone broth, garlic, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, red onion, and fire-roasted tomatoes.
Step 3: Pressure Cook
Secure the Instant Pot lid and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally before opening.
Step 4: Shred the Beef
Remove the roast and shred it using two forks. Keep the shredded beef in a separate bowl.
Important: Don’t add the beef back into the cooking liquid!
Step 5: Make the Consommé
Using an immersion blender, blend the remaining cooking liquid, chiles, and vegetables until smooth.
Keep the consommé warm and separate from the shredded beef.
Step 6: Build Those Award-Winning Tacos!
Here’s where the magic happens.
- Heat a skillet or flat-top griddle over medium heat.
- Lightly dip each corn tortilla into the consommé.
- Place the tortilla on the hot griddle.
- Add shredded Oaxaca cheese and birria beef, then fold the tortilla in half.
- Sprinkle an additional layer of Oaxaca cheese directly onto the griddle and press the outside of the taco into it.
- Cook both sides until golden brown and crispy.
That extra cheese crust on the outside is what makes these tacos something special!
Step 7: Dip, Eat, Repeat!
Serve your tacos hot with individual cups of consommé for dipping. Add fresh onion, cilantro, and lime if you’d like.
And don’t forget the napkins!
More Than Just Tacos
While bringing home two awards was definitely a highlight, what made the evening memorable was the opportunity to spend time together and be part of a great community event.
At Straight Edge Technology, we believe showing up for our communities is just as important as showing up for our clients. Whether we’re helping a local business with its technology or serving tacos at a community event, we’re proud to be part of what makes San Antonio special.
A huge thank-you to everyone who supported our team at Men Who Cook 2026!
Now it’s your turn!
Give our birria recipe a try, and let us know how your tacos turn out. We’d love to see your creations!
From our Straight Edge kitchen to yours, happy cooking! 🌮