The Taco Thread!

tempo_n_groove

eddiec said:

Mexico is pretty big. I don't know enough about the history of the taco, but there must be regional variations, no?

But yeah, I'm used to the tacos you described- slow cooked pork, cilantro, onion, hot sauce, and squeeze of lime.

I'm sure.  Here in NY I ask for Albondigas at what is perceived as a Authentic Mexican restaurant and I get looked at like I have 10 heads...

HesCalledDyer

bbiggs said:

And it's funny how the "American" version came about.  All of a sudden people thought tomatoes and lettuce on a taco was a good idea?  Or beans and rice?  Interesting evolution of the taco.

Funny story about the lettuce, tomato, & cheese.  A few years back, this guy from Texas who grew up near the Mexico border moved here and opened a taco shop. Delicious authentic tacos. Dude basically worked 16 hours a day day (store was open 8 hrs), hand-rolling tortillas, braising meats, and of course, making tacos for customers. 

We had lunch delivered at work one day from him. I had been there several times, and so had one of my coworkers and we both raved about it to all our other coworkers. So the delivery comes and damn near everyone was bitching and moaning. “This is just meat & onion! Where’s the lettuce? There’s no cheese on mine! What, no tomato?! This isn’t a taco! I’m not ordering from there again!” etc.  

I live in the boonies and most ppl around here have never even left our podunk county. Their idea of taco is an Old El Paso kit from the grocery store. I was cracking the hell up at all the hysteria… and enjoying the fuck out of my tacos!

GlowGirl

I love tacos, and agree that traditionally they don't have lettuce or tomatoes. I can't eat cilantro, though. It tastes like soap. When I order tacos, if there is an option I like to top mine with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and hot sauce. I don't need the lettuce. But I do like shredded lettuce in my burritos. I also like my tacos with a soft shell. However, how many of us have a soft spot for those hard shell tacos we used to get in school lunches? They almost had sloppy Joe filling in it with lettuce and tomatoes and shredded orange cheese. I can still conjure up that taste.

tempo_n_groove

GlowGirl said:

I love tacos, and agree that traditionally they don't have lettuce or tomatoes. I can't eat cilantro, though. It tastes like soap. When I order tacos, if there is an option I like to top mine with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and hot sauce. I don't need the lettuce. But I do like shredded lettuce in my burritos. I also like my tacos with a soft shell. However, how many of us have a soft spot for those hard shell tacos we used to get in school lunches? They almost had sloppy Joe filling in it with lettuce and tomatoes and shredded orange cheese. I can still conjure up that taste.

I lived in socal and never had a hard taco for lunch.  What is this madness?  I was duped!

Strangest thing I got was a corn dog in socal.  Never saw or heard of a corndog in NY.

Wobbie

tempo_n_groove said:

eddiec said:

Mexico is pretty big. I don't know enough about the history of the taco, but there must be regional variations, no?

But yeah, I'm used to the tacos you described- slow cooked pork, cilantro, onion, hot sauce, and squeeze of lime.

I'm sure.  Here in NY I ask for Albondigas at what is perceived as a Authentic Mexican restaurant and I get looked at like I have 10 heads...

we stumbled (drunk) into a pretty authentic mexican place in NYC….close to the UN, I think….I could never find it again, but it was packed and damn good.

GlowGirl

tempo_n_groove said:

GlowGirl said:

I love tacos, and agree that traditionally they don't have lettuce or tomatoes. I can't eat cilantro, though. It tastes like soap. When I order tacos, if there is an option I like to top mine with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and hot sauce. I don't need the lettuce. But I do like shredded lettuce in my burritos. I also like my tacos with a soft shell. However, how many of us have a soft spot for those hard shell tacos we used to get in school lunches? They almost had sloppy Joe filling in it with lettuce and tomatoes and shredded orange cheese. I can still conjure up that taste.

I lived in socal and never had a hard taco for lunch.  What is this madness?  I was duped!

Strangest thing I got was a corn dog in socal.  Never saw or heard of a corndog in NY.

You never had taco day at school? I grew up in Maryland outside of DC, and we definitely looked forward to taco day in elementary school. The bottom of the taco shell would get really oily. Anyone else remember these?

BTW, there are these Korean corn dog places showing up all over my neighborhood in NYC. Haven't been yet, but they are becoming a trend here.

tempo_n_groove

GlowGirl said:

tempo_n_groove said:

GlowGirl said:

I love tacos, and agree that traditionally they don't have lettuce or tomatoes. I can't eat cilantro, though. It tastes like soap. When I order tacos, if there is an option I like to top mine with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and hot sauce. I don't need the lettuce. But I do like shredded lettuce in my burritos. I also like my tacos with a soft shell. However, how many of us have a soft spot for those hard shell tacos we used to get in school lunches? They almost had sloppy Joe filling in it with lettuce and tomatoes and shredded orange cheese. I can still conjure up that taste.

I lived in socal and never had a hard taco for lunch.  What is this madness?  I was duped!

Strangest thing I got was a corn dog in socal.  Never saw or heard of a corndog in NY.

You never had taco day at school? I grew up in Maryland outside of DC, and we definitely looked forward to taco day in elementary school. The bottom of the taco shell would get really oily. Anyone else remember these?

BTW, there are these Korean corn dog places showing up all over my neighborhood in NYC. Haven't been yet, but they are becoming a trend here.

Nope.  No taco day.  We had pizza and hamburger days that were looked at as good days.  All the others I bagged lunch.

tempo_n_groove

Wobbie said:

tempo_n_groove said:

eddiec said:

Mexico is pretty big. I don't know enough about the history of the taco, but there must be regional variations, no?

But yeah, I'm used to the tacos you described- slow cooked pork, cilantro, onion, hot sauce, and squeeze of lime.

I'm sure.  Here in NY I ask for Albondigas at what is perceived as a Authentic Mexican restaurant and I get looked at like I have 10 heads...

we stumbled (drunk) into a pretty authentic mexican place in NYC….close to the UN, I think….I could never find it again, but it was packed and damn good.

I judge a place by their salsa.  If that is good then the food will be too.

JeBurkhardt

I grew up in San Jose CA, and the way to find the best Mexican food was to search out the restaurants that weren't much bigger than a household kitchen. They were always the best and if someone's abuela or tia were doing the cooking, you knew what was up.

tempo_n_groove

JeBurkhardt said:

I grew up in San Jose CA, and the way to find the best Mexican food was to search out the restaurants that weren't much bigger than a household kitchen. They were always the best and if someone's abuela or tia were doing the cooking, you knew what was up.

Yessss!  One w outdoor dining only!

mfc2006

tempo_n_groove said:

Wobbie said:

tempo_n_groove said:

eddiec said:

Mexico is pretty big. I don't know enough about the history of the taco, but there must be regional variations, no?

But yeah, I'm used to the tacos you described- slow cooked pork, cilantro, onion, hot sauce, and squeeze of lime.

I'm sure.  Here in NY I ask for Albondigas at what is perceived as a Authentic Mexican restaurant and I get looked at like I have 10 heads...

we stumbled (drunk) into a pretty authentic mexican place in NYC….close to the UN, I think….I could never find it again, but it was packed and damn good.

I judge a place by their salsa.  If that is good then the food will be too.

Bingo

CROJAM95

Carne asada
al pastor
carnitas

Those are my faves

Get_Right

What is your take on breakfast tacos? 

I am 100% with the two corn tortillas three ingredients school.   Cant stand when I get a taco that looks like a sideways Big Mac.  As far as cheese goes, I think a sprinkle of queso fresco is completely acceptable.  Just none of that orange stuff!

And GlowGirl, yes, grew up in CT and hard shell tacos prepared using ground beef and the El Paso taco kit were a staple of my youth.  Once in a blue moon I will get a hard shell from Taco Bell to relive that flavor and texture. 

The Juggler

GlowGirl said:

I love tacos, and agree that traditionally they don't have lettuce or tomatoes. I can't eat cilantro, though. It tastes like soap. When I order tacos, if there is an option I like to top mine with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, and hot sauce. I don't need the lettuce. But I do like shredded lettuce in my burritos. I also like my tacos with a soft shell. However, how many of us have a soft spot for those hard shell tacos we used to get in school lunches? They almost had sloppy Joe filling in it with lettuce and tomatoes and shredded orange cheese. I can still conjure up that taste.

DELICIOUS.

tempo_n_groove

Get_Right said:

What is your take on breakfast tacos? 

I am 100% with the two corn tortillas three ingredients school.   Cant stand when I get a taco that looks like a sideways Big Mac.  As far as cheese goes, I think a sprinkle of queso fresco is completely acceptable.  Just none of that orange stuff!

And GlowGirl, yes, grew up in CT and hard shell tacos prepared using ground beef and the El Paso taco kit were a staple of my youth.  Once in a blue moon I will get a hard shell from Taco Bell to relive that flavor and texture. 

On the weekends I make breakfast BURRITOS!!!

Meltdown99

Taco 🌮 Tuesday???

mca47

There isn't much better than a taco.

F Me In The Brain

Breakfast taco is good but I go for the breakfast burrito.
San Diego fish taco - really good.

And there are loads of regional differences on Mexico.  Mexico City is meant to be the Mecca.

tempo_n_groove

Tis Tuesday.

Taco Tuesday.

Don't put pizza in a tortilla and call it a taco...

Get_Right

Love me some Tapatio! Do not know why I do not make more breakfast burritos.  So easy and good.