Tonight, It's TACOS!

[CZ93X62]

Marie ran me around all day today, doing errands and picking up all sorts of foofahrah. In fairness, she fed me good first at Grandma's Restaurant in Banning this morning. Omelette with jack cheese, diced Ortega chiles, and ham. Hash browns and pancakes helped considerably. But nothing lasts forever, so as the afternoon wears on into evening, so in response to my growling (stomach) she just called in an order of tacos from the same place we once got the chile relleno burritos for the now-departed Tuesday Burrito Shoots (Rosa Maria's).

 

[Ian]

You're not helping the unusual fresh green chili craving I've had since day before yesterday.

 

[popper]

Long time ago in a far galaxy (Nm or Az) we sailors ate at a small dinner. Bowl of chilies on the table, red, green and yellow. I got the red as nobody wanted the 'hot' ones. Surprise! Fish or chicken tacos - ugh.

 

[smokeywolf]

We are taco Lovers with a capital "L". Not so crazy about fish, but shrimp or beef? Shrimp have to be marinated with a concoction I dreamed up about 5 years ago, then grilled over lump charcoal and/or wood. We all get a grin when we know that's coming. Only two places that came close to our home made tacos; both gone now I think. One was called "Taco Grande" in Carpenteria, CA, other was, coincidentally, about 3 doors down from the original "Baja Fresh" in Newbury Park, CA.; can't remember the name, little mom & pop joint.

Mrs. smokeywolf loves nearly all of the more commonly served south of the border dishes. She makes an amazing pico de gallo. I make a better than fair salsa.
Due to her recent health challenges, she's rather limited as far as spicy foods, so we've backed off on salt and the various chili pepper derived spices.

 

[CZ93X62]

These tacos tonight had shredded beef, which is by some distance my favorite meat in a taco. Carne asada is a close second, then comes shrimp with shredded cabbage in place of lettuce, then fish (w/cabbage), then ground beef, with pollo finishing last. All meats get tomato slices and Mexican-blend grated cheeses (4 varieties). Tortillas can be corn masa or flour harina, and most taco tortillas north of the border are about 8"-9" in diameter.

In Baja California, the street tacos from vendor carts are a lot smaller (4"-5"), usually corn masa, and usually shredded beef or tilapia. The tortillas are usually NOT fried, and two of the tortillas are doubled to contain the meat and goodies. Near the Gulf a fish taco can be corvina (AWESOME!), on the Pacific Coast the government farms bluefin tuna in huge cages just offshore. 30 years ago when it was much safer to visit Cabo and Rosarita Beach, you could eat like a king in Baja for very little money. Rosarita and Ensenada both have large ex-pat communities of Americans living south of the border, and it remains very reasonable to live there. Several of our retirees live there, and love doing so.

 

[Bliksem]

Shortly after I emigrated to Texas years ago I became aquainted with tacos and burritos. So I asked my river swimmer friend what the difference was. If it’s folded it’s a taco, if it’s rolled it’s a burrito. Julio is the most redneck Mexicano person I know, he is my carnal.

 

[RBHarter]

I got distracted from this the first go around . For those that do the Winnemuca thing Aztecs bakery in Fallon about 1 mile out of route is about as close as you can get to farmland Mexico tacos north of the boarder , chopped flank or skirt steak served with tomato , onion , lime , and cilantro , beans and rice . Made me want for a trip to San Quintin (like canteen not the prison) every time .

Fish tacos were a later thing . Bass , cod , halibut were the best . Cabbage , sour cream , and fish breaded in something resembling Dixie fry wetted with Tecate' .

I found I greatly prefer Pacific spiny lobster over Atlantic whether Maine or Boston . Black Marlin may as well be a beef steak next to the other fish . Clam cocktails , that is about the only sushi like item that holds any attention for me .

You couldn't get me back down there now , then it may not have been the smartest thing I ever did going 120 south of Ensanada .
My last trip was right about the time the Bishop got killed . We came home that trip through Army manned check points and while that wasn't a bad expirance I'd just rather not do that ever again .

 

[RicinYakima]

Mexico is a relatively large country, as far a cuisine goes. Here in the PNW we have three types, Baja is the smallest; Tex-Mex is the next but Michoacán is by far the largest. But I have to say that the Apache/Taos/New Mexico is my favorite. None of that cilantro that tastes like soap, but hot chilies and black beans. FWIW

 

[glassparman]

Heading back west now . . . Gonna stop at Torchy's Tacos in Dallas Ft. Worth tonight. I know, they are gringo style but they are good!

 

[Charles Graff]

The taco, like the pizza and other ethnic food have morphed over the years into lots of different "taco like" things to eat. Some of the evolved tacos are good and some are not.

I have lived in Deep South Texas since 1944 and have a good idea on what a taco is and is not. Traditional Tex/Mex food has three distinguishing characteristics. 1) Fried tortilla either served as chips, a flat chalupa or a hard taco shell. 2) Shredded yellow cheese. 3) chopped tomatoes. Food from Mexico does not have these three things.

Mexico has many regional expressions of tacos, but here in Deep South Texas the "Mexican taco" or "Street Taco" has a soft corn tortilla, grilled chopped beef, white cheese, cilantro, grilled onions and lime juice added by the end user. In Mexico these would be "Estilo Jalisco/Jalisco Style tacos. Change the grilled meat to pork and you have "Tacos al Pastor".

Enjoy the marvelous taco in all it's expressions, but the above is the historic taco baseline, at least here in Deep South Texas. Buen Provecho!

Addendum: The Mexican food in New Mexico is called "Native New Mexican food" and it borrows heavily from Native American influence. It really is a synthesis of two cultures and is great food. Up in the Four Corners area, everybody like the "Navajo Taco" which is nothing more than a Tex/Mex chalupa made with fried fry bread instead of a tortilla.

 

[Ian]

Soft corn tortilla, heavily seasoned chopped beef, Monterrey Jack cheese, maybe some shredded romaine and chopped onions either fresh or grilled is my favorite. Cilantro tastes like stink bugs. Lime spritz is a good option to cut the fat. If you have to chicken wing it to keep the juice from running down inside your shirt sleeves it's GOOD.

Breakfast tacos based on flour tortillas are good too.

 

[popper]

prefer Chueys to Torchys. Food is what ever you like/prefer. Drove to Grapevine to get plates for her car. Stopped at a burger place she wanted to try. Won't go back again. Service was fine, food just normal, price OK. They do have buffalo at a 4$ adder.

 

[RBHarter]

Heading back west now . . . Gonna stop at Torchy's Tacos in Dallas Ft. Worth tonight. I know, they are gringo style but they are good!

If you have any taste at all for chicken fried steak or fried chicken you've missed out on Babes , technically it's in Denton not DFW . 2 items all the salad , biscuits and mashed potatoes and gravy you can eat with a half chicken or I'd guess about 16-18 oz CF steak .

 

[Walks]

I started on taco's the only way they were back in the early 1960's. In a little place near Olvera Street in downtown LA.
Fried Corn Shell, Ground beef, lettuce, tomato's, CHEESE and a finely chopped salsa.
These days it's Fried Corn Shell, Carnitas, CHEESE and Pico de Gallo.
guess I'm in a rut.

Now I want TACO'S !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rick]

Tuesday will be Tacos day for me. New Mexican place in town has Taco Tuesday. $1 each.

Walks, that place was or is on Olvera St wasn't it?

Was a place near there that had a huge burrito, sign said if you could eat it all it was free. Now free is good but they threw me out after I finished the second one.

 

[Charles Graff]

I ate twice at some Mexican food place about half way down Olvera Street in LA. I enjoyed the food, but it was nothing special.

 

[popper]

Babe's in Garland. Used to go to the exercise place across the street and saw all the over weight people coming out on Sunday. Made the mistake of taking SIL there, now that always where he wants to go. Actually food is pretty good. Friend who was food procurer for DISD said he's been to all the Babes, Denton is the best. Depends on the cook. She made me scrambled eggs and a couple cinnamon twists for lunch, can't beat home cooking. Used to be several if you can eat the entire BIG steak it's free places here, don't know if Dumas is the only one left. Ate there once, nope, just normal meal, just ok food.

 

[RicinYakima]

Staying at the Fossil Butte Motel in Kemmerer, WY, once and found a nice family run Tex-Mex restaurant across the street. This little motel is where the train crews overnight between the coal fields and the east. Service was excellent once we got thru the language issues and food was excellent and beer ice cold.