Friday's Turkey Tacos

It's Friday afternoon.  Kitchen activities of the previous day have made you cooking-weary. Black Friday shopping has made you exhausted. But it's not enough to be tired, you're also hungry. What do you do?

The keys to this day's eating activities are simplicity, quickness, and turkey. The solution is El Tacólico's Friday Turkey Tacos.

You'll need:

Turkey (about three-four handfuls, deboned.  Enough to cover the bottom of the pan.  Who wants to look for a measuring cup on Friday after Thanksgiving?  Not us.)

Vegetable oil

1 can of chopped tomato and green chiles (hopefully you bought it before Thursday and you have it on hand. Don't have one?  That's ok. You can use any cheap salsa you might have on hand or if you want to be fancy - and complicated, thus defying two of our keys to success - cut up a medium tomato, about half of an onion, and one chile of your preference.)

Tortillas (I prefer corn, but it's your world - do as you wish)

Garlic powder (enough to lightly dust the turkey)

Salt and pepper to taste

Coat the bottom of the pan with the vegetable oil and warm it up.  Add the turkey. Add salt and pepper and garlic powder. I've been known to also add a touch of cayenne at this point, but you don't have to. Let it fry for a bit to your personal level of crispness on medium high. Add the can of tomatoes and reduce the heat. Simmer for about five minutes while you warm the tortillas. When the tortillas are warm enough, fill them up. 

There you have it. Simple. Quick. Turkey. Tacos. 

Buen provecho!

The Taco That Ends All Discussions About Tacos

The Hippo

It was only a matter of time

Before I wrote a poem about a taco

It happened after going to Linda's on Guadalupe Street

I opened the menu and perused the taco list

The usual suspects were all there

Bean and cheese

Potato and egg

Chorizo con huevo

Papa ranchera

And so on

And so forth

Until I reached the most profound depth of the list

And there it was

There I saw it

The words glowed on the page as a choir of angels sang a perfect note

Laaaaaaaaaa

beans, 

bacon, 

country sausage, 

chorizo, 

cheese

All in one taco

This was it

This was the ultimate

This was the apex

This was el supremo taco

The taco to end all tacos

The taco to end all discussions about tacos

The taco to end any aspiration I ever had of healthy living

The Hippo

So named, in my estimation,

Because "pig" wouldn't do it justice

A larger, jollier mammal was called in 

to represent

I was compelled

I was self-dared

I was Francis McComber on safari

Facing death from his prey

Served to him by a woman 

Who thought she knew what was good for him

Like the wildlife photographer

I snapped a picture of the specimen

And posted it for the world to see

The commentary and advice poured in

"Wow"

"It looks like a heart attack waiting to happen"

"My arteries are clogging just looking at it"

But I dove in anyway

And was rewarded with a taco-rgasmic experience 

The ingredients combined in my mouth

Enriched my palette

Enlightened my taste buds

Entered my esophagus and

Reached my stomach

In a state of euphoria

"Delicious" does not do it justice

It reminded me of being the last one at the table

After a big family breakfast

Alone with the one tortilla that made it through the morning

And a morsel from each pan on the table

So I scooped the beans

And I spooned in the chorizo

I added the three bits of sausage

And grabbed the last half-strip of bacon

Then I went to the fridge and found the shredded cheese

Before putting it in the microwave for thirty seconds

Soft tortilla

Smooth texture with hints of crunch

Cheese-chorizo-bacon grease

The effects on my health were but a small price to pay

For these mouthfuls

Of bliss

Let's Taco Bout Voting

Fall has officially begun and Election Day is a little over 5 weeks away.  In Texas, and across the country, citizens will exercise their constitutional right to vote and let their voice be heard on a number of issues, from who should be their representatives in Washington, DC and their State Capitals, to a number of local and state ballot initiatives.

Now we at We Taco Bout It have each worked on election campaigns and have our own opinions on how people should vote, but we don't want to push our views onto you (at this time).  Rather, we want to take this opportunity to make sure that whoever and whatever you support, the important thing is for you to actually show your support by voting.

Every United States citizen ages 18 and up has the right, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, to vote (though some states do not allow convicted felons).  Exercising that right is your civic duty.  The best way to make sure elected leaders are representing your views is by voting for candidates who share your views.  That's a part of living in a great democratic society.  People have differing views on how to best manage a government.  If you want people who agree with your approach to be the ones making these decisions, then you have to vote them into office.  You can also help make sure others who agree with you, vote as well.  In a democratic society, the person/idea with the most votes will win.  Unless, there's a run-off, of course.

Now, just because you have the right to vote, doesn't mean you can just show up on election day and vote.  In Texas, as in most places across the country, you must register to vote.  The deadline for voter registration in Texas is October 6th.  Even if you have voted in the past, you may want to double check to make sure you are still registered to vote.  Maybe you moved.  Or maybe you haven't voted in a while.  Visit this link https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp and check to see if you are still registered, or if you have registered at your current address.

Early voting starts on October 20th and runs through October 31st.  I am a fan of voting early.  Usually, the lines are shorter and you can go to any early voting polling place, as opposed to on Election Day when you have to go to your designated voting place.  Once you vote early, you can rest easy.  You can tune out all of the political advertising that will be drowning the airwaves and filling the internet as the election comes near.  Or, you can then volunteer your time to help the candidate or cause of your choosing.  Particularly on Election Day. Eddie prefers Election Day, claiming that it's much more exciting to be among the gathered populace, waiting in anticipation to exercise the right and duty.  Either way, go do it!

Also, the Texas Legislature recently enacted new Voter ID laws.  Here is a good link for you know everything that you'll need to vote (whether early or on Election Day).  Check it out and be prepared.

http://votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id/

Texas has historically had a lower voter turnout when compared to other states around the country.  In fact, a study by the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas' Moody College of Communications, found that Texas ranked 51st in Voter Turnout and 42nd in Voter Registration in 2010. 

http://moody.utexas.edu/news/texas-ranks-among-lowest-nation-political-participation-and-civic-involvement

We are a big state and we have a lot of people, true.  But that means we have an opportunity to improve that rate.  Let's lead the country in voter turnout, like we do in job creation.  Let's show a little bit of that Texas Pride!

Elections are decided by those who show up.  So, show up and let your voice be heard!

REVIEW: Bandera Molino

On September 7, we came to La Bandera Molino on Zarzamora St. on the recommendation of our good friend, Patricia Mejia.  We owe her a great deal of gratitude because La Bandera Molino is now one of our favorite taco spots in San Antonio.  Everything we love and look for in a taco spot can be found here.  In fact, we thought so much of it that we had to go back on September 13 to taste some more taco goodness.  Here's how we scored it.

Ambiance - Walking into La Bandera Molino, you are really entering two different establishments.  First, it is a grocery store/mercado where you can find most any needed essential for a Mexican kitchen.  From food in the fridge to spices to equipment like tortilla presses or molcajetes.  The kitchen, behind the counter, is clearly visible so you can have a view of where all the goodness is prepared and smell the freshness emanating from grills and pans.  In the long display window are all the menu items for the day.  After spending time looking through all the homemade signs for the day's specials, order at the counter, make your way through a clear vinyl curtain, and enter the seating area.  Comfortable tables, chairs and booths await.  On a Sunday morning, you can catch some ABC's This Week on the TV or the Joel Osteen show.  All of it is background noise for your own taco discussions, but you find yourself in a good place.    5 Tortillas - Tacomadre!

Service - The service here was excellent.  We could not find any faults with it.  The cashiers were patient as we deliberated our order.  The food was promptly served, and hot.  The server visited often enough to offer coffee refills.  The water was self-service, but the pitcher was full.  You can't ask for more than for your food to be warm, your cup to be filled, and your experience to be hassle-free.   5 Tortillas - Tacomadre!

Water is self-service at La Bandera Molino and you get your own plastic, re-usable cup.  Eddie liked this for two reasons in particular.  One, he cares about the environment.  Two, the plastic cups are reminiscent of visiting relatives in Mexico that used this same exact style of plastic-ware.  

Menu - The menu offerings are varied and plentiful.  They range from the usual staples to some extra-special findings. Barbacoa, nopalitos, caldos. AND, the cherry on top for me was that they offered Joya.  In the Valley where we grew up, if you wanted a flavored coke (we call everything coke), you got a Joya.  And the Joya de Manzana (apple) was, by far, the best.  They carry that here! Just. Wow. 5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

Food -  The grease on the chorizo con huevo was the perfect balance.  The machacado was salty and spicy with the chopped jalapeno.  The bean and cheese was right on, although Julian thought there needed to be more balance.  ("Daddy, it's just too cheesy.") The bean and egg, though not mixed, was still delicious.  Eddie and I both tried the nopales and they were incredible.  On the second trip, Eddie and Dominique had the barbacoa, which was just excellent.  Not too soggy, not too hard.  Cooked just right.  What made the meal was the flour tortillas. Among the best we've tried.  No excess flour on the outside, didn't break apart mid-taco, just greatness. 5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

Overall Taconacity -  There have not been many places we've decided to visit more than once on this taco tour.  La Bandera Molino joins this exclusive list with Taqueria Los Angeles.  This is a place we would take our family to when they visit.  This is a place we could frequent (if only we lived a little closer).  There are so many things on the menu we want to go back to try, and we will.  Besides, I want to go back and enjoy a cold Joya de Manzana while the weather is still hot.  Visit this spot the next time you want some tacos.  Trust us.  5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

La Bandera Molino

2619 N. Zarzamora St.

San Antonio, TX 78201

(210) 434-0631

Teno's Tidbits - We first went to La Bandera Molino on September 7th, the day of the first Dallas Cowboys game of this NFL season.  America's Team started the season with a loss, but has since bounced back to a 2-1 recored.  The season is still young, but I can already tell its going to be another up and down Romocoaster, where we'll probably finish with an 8-8, 9-7, or 7-9 record.  In the NFC East, that may be enough to contend for a playoff spot.  Maybe not.  Either way, this Cowboy fan is all in again for another season.  It has been a tough season for the NFL with all the off-field issues it is dealing with (or poorly dealing with).  However, the game still remains as popular as ever.  Hopefully, the drama on the field will distract from the the drama off the field.  For a little while anyways. The off-field stuff still needs to be addressed and improved.

Eddie's Extras - Two things:  One, I have to admit I made a rookie mistake in my taco-ordering on the first trip.  I saw nopalitos on the menu and had a sudden craving, so I asked for them.  The server arrived with my tacos and I was surprised to see exactly what I ordered - nopalitos mixed with sauteed onion and tomato.  Unfortunately, I was craving nopalitos CON huevos, but I did not ask for huevos, so I got no huevos. (Hey!  Stop that thinking.  Cochino.)

Two, my kids accompanied us on the second trip.  I'm not sure if you can appreciate it, but I felt a great sense of pride when she not only asked for barbacoa, but when posed with the choice of flour or corn, gave me a look of disbelief that said, "how dare you ask that question.  There's only one way to eat barbacoa.  Corn, of course!"  #proudpapa

Babies in the river - a problem not even tacos can solve

If you've been at all involved in social justice teaching or activism, you've undoubtedly heard the story about the babies in the river.  I've heard a few variations of the story, but more or less it goes like this:

As townspeople gathered near the river for recreation, a baby was heard crying and floating in a basket in the water.  Someone jumped in, caught the child, and brought it to shore.  The people gathered dry clothes and food for the infant and began to care for it, when they heard another cry.  The story repeated itself with this child and the many more that came.  The townspeople organized and each took on specific roles with the baby-saving operation.  Some rescued directly, others checked for medical issues, and others clothed and fed and the children.  There was even a corps of crib-makers that developed.

One afternoon, a frustrated citizen dropped everything and began running along the riverbank, upstream.  "Where are you going?" The townspeople asked.

"I'm going to see who's putting the babies in the river so I can stop them."

In all the years I've been using this analogy as a teaching tool, I've never seen a more appropriate situation for its comparison.  To date, approximately 57,000 immigrant children have made arduous journeys to cross the Rio Grande River and into the United States.  Many of them have crossed near my hometown of McAllen, Texas and it seems everyone has an opinion as to what should become of them.  The issue is complicated by a previous congressional act that elongates the deportation process for Central American children and congress's current inability to act at all on the subject of immigration.  Further, conservative groups have gathered to block access to detention centers and voice their hateful rhetoric.

This country has a difficult history with immigration; this certainly isn't the first time that foreigners are seen as disease-carrying leaches on our economic prosperity, so one would think that maybe we've learned something form our past. We haven't.  Replace any of the ethnicities of the protesters with "Central American" and we might see that the arguments of exclusion are no different from those of decades before.

So what's the solution?  I won't claim to be smart enough to know that one. However, whatever solution is presented must have two prongs in order to be successful.

The Babies in the River story provides us with a basic guideline for helping those in need.  We need to do the humanitarian work of saving children from imminent danger, attending to their basic needs, and caring for them until it's time to let go.  That's what is right.  It's saddening to see that many of those person that claim we are a Christian nation are turning their backs on a Christian responsibility.  Scripture tells us that society is to be judged on how it treats the most marginalized - the widow, the orphan, and the alien.  The immigrant children are definitely alien, but also orphans of circumstance, and in a few extreme situations, some of the girls are widows, as well.  We have a moral obligation to treat the children as human beings.

The final part of the story sets in motion a more difficult task.  It's about root causes.  Seeing who is putting the babies in the river and seeking the answer as to why they are doing so, involves our taking a hard look in the mirror.  It means acknowledging that much of the instability in that region was caused by our own selfish volition.  We toppled governments and financed coups.  In Guatemala our interests in inciting war were based on the political connections of an international fruit company.  To make matters worse, the gangs that cause parents to send their children away from El Salvador and Honduras were first imported there when we deported criminals after having them serve sentences in our country.  They learned how to organize while in our prisons and took their tactics with them to places where they were admired for their attitude and markings.  Unemployed youth facing economic strife caused in-part by our influence on their political instability found protection and identity in the gangs.

Getting to the root causes of this issue and arriving at effective solutions means building up those economies, instead of exploiting their resources.  Their prosperity will not only help our continent's collective prosperity, but will lead to less future immigration - the coveted goal of the right.

It seems that many have gotten frustrated from pulling too many babies out of the water, but we can't let them drown.  Our frustration should lead us to the headwaters of the river, where we can make effective change to stop those who are so desperate that they feel they have no choice but do drop them into the water.

Taco and Movie Pairings - The 80s

Any sommelier can pair wine and food, but who pairs movies and tacos?  

We do.

We were born in the 70s, but it was the 80s when we became truly aware of American cinema.  These are some of the movies that inspired us, scared us, made us happy, made us sad, made us proud, and generally shaped us into the fine, intelligent, cultured, youngish men that we are today. As for the tacos, they have shaped us into well-rounded individuals.

So pay your Netflix (or acquire a login from an unsuspecting family member) and prepare yourself for an evening of taco-tastic films.

Great Scott, that's an excellent taco!

Back to the Future - A teenager goes back in time and befriends his father - papas con huevo. 

The Three Amigos – What makes this movie so great is how silly, fake, and caricatured Mexico is made to look.  So to complement the film you’ll need to break out a plethora of taco shells, use the envelope of taco seasoning you ignore at the grocery store on some ground chuck, and adorn with your favorite mass-produced salsa.  Perhaps something made in New York City.  ("New York City?  Get a rope..."). Or, pick something up from a Taco Bell drive-thru.

Spaceballs - Comb your house for spare change, ride a Vespa to your favorite diner (at a reasonable speed, like ridiculous speed, because light speed is too slow and ludicrous speed is too fast), ask for a ice-cold Lone Star, and order a taco that is out of this world. Then come home to your mawg and eat in relative peace, praying that no singing alien will pop out of your stomach. 

An Officer and a Gentleman - Prepare a plate of fajitas, but don't put tortillas anywhere near the dish.   Put a sign next to the un-tacos that says, "I've got no pace to go!  I've got no pace to go!"  At the end of the movie, scoop all the fajitas into one tortilla, carry it in your arms, and sing, "Love lift us up where we belong!"

The Shining - A red enchilada taco.  "Redrum! Redrum!"

Stand By Me – Tacos de lengua, because nothing answers, “Hey, do you wanna go see a dead body?” like cow-tongue tacos.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - Monkey brain tacos!  Shoot! That's the wrong one. Ok, snake tacos!  

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - Sausage wraps! After all, this is Abe Froman, the Sausage King of Chicago. 

That salsa better be fresh!

Ghostbusters - In honor of Slimer, chicharron in salsa. Make sure the the chicharron is slimy and the salsa is green.  

The Lost Boys – Vampires.  Murcia.  Blood Sausage.  No garlic. 

The Outsiders - Greasers vs Socs (yes, that's how you spell it - I read the book). For the Greasers, the chorizo trifecta: chorizo and egg, chorizo and beans, chorizo and potato. For the Socs, lettuce wraps...with empty feelings, er, I mean, fillings. 

Scarface – Say hello to my little friend…s.  This movie requires taquitos, and we don’t mean those little rolled-up frozen deals you acquire by the case at Costco.  No, this fine film requires carne asada tacos on small, red tortillas with a kick-ass salsa. Think of the type of mini-tacos you can find at any good Mexican street.  To get your fix, try Taqueria Datapoint.  

Come to the coast, we'll get together, have a few tacos

Die Hard - A dry brisket taco.  It's tough.  It won't be go away easily. Like John McClane.

Breakfast Club – At first we considered the ultimate breakfast for the ultimate breakfast movie – barbacoa and Big Red, but Rolling Stone called this the number one movie of the 80’s so it clearly needed some more consideration.  This ta-combination required much more personality:  barbacoa in a corn tortilla (an athlete); potato, bacon, and egg with green salsa (a basket case); an egg taco with two carefully placed strips of bacon (a princess), carne guisada and cheese (a criminal).

Big Trouble in Little China - Be as random as you want with this movie. Make up your own adventurous ta-combination and add sriracha instead of salsa. 

Karate Kid - Since we don't usually eat crane, we'll have to go with chicken fajita (Daniel was once considered a chicken) and some pico de gallo that packs a punch.  "Daniel Laruso's gonna fight?"  You bet he is.

Real Genius - Have a party.  Everyone brings their favorite taco, because everybody wants to rule the world.

REVIEW: Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant #4

On Saturday June 28th, we visited Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant #4 on Fredricksburg Rd. to continue our search for the best breakfast tacos in town.  Our friend and brother, Michael Gonzalez (one of the Dallas area's most finest) recommended this spot way back before we even started blogging.  While he recommended the original spot off Hwy 90, this one was closer and is owned by the same family.  (In full disclosure, Eddie was the teacher to two of the daughters of the family that owns the restaurant, but that won't stop him or us from being totally honest).  What we found here was a good, solid spot that is worth your time.

Ambiance - When you walk into this Garibaldi, if you are lucky, you will be hit with nostalgia as you recognize that it inhabits what used to be a Bonanza Restaurant.  For us, that brings back good memories of family outings in the Valley.  We're off to a good start.  The walls are colored in a soft reddish/orange-ish color and there is some nice, pretty artwork along the walls.  There are some festive, party decorations hanging from the ceiling and it all contributes to a feeling that you are in the home of a nice Mexican family.   4 Tortillas Taco-nazo!

Service - The service at Garibaldi was good and standard.  Nothing above and beyond and nothing below par.  Our server was friendly enough and brought out the food in a timely manner.  We were waiting a bit long for refills on our drinks, but that's okay.  We'll give it a score right down the middle.  Good, solid, average. 3 Tortillas Taco-rale!

Menu Options - The menus at Garibaldi are nicer than you see at most Mexican restaurants we've been to.  We also noticed the taco listings were pretty standard and comparable to what you see elsewhere.  The Bean and Egg that Teno always orders was not listed here, but he had no problem ordering 'off the menu'. Along with the niceness of the menus, we did observe that the prices were also slightly higher than we'd experienced before.  Nothing too pricey or exorbitant, but just ever so slightly higher.  3 Tortillas Taco-rale!

Food - The food at Garibaldi was good overall.  Teno ordered a Bean and Egg, Machacado con Huevo, and Chorizo con Huevo.  Eddie ordered a Bean & Cheese, Chorizo con Bean, and Chorizo con Papa.  Teno liked the flour tortillas and thought they had just the right amount of flour on the outside.  Eddie felt they were a bit thick for his liking.  The Bean and Egg were not mixed together and Teno thought the beans tasted a bit different.  Not good different or bad different.  Just different.  Eddie noted that beans seem to have a hint of chorizo mixed in with them, so that may have been it.  The Chorizo and Egg had just the right amount of grease and the machacado con huevo was spot on.  The bean and cheese rivaled the chorizo and egg in greasiness.  The chorizo con papa was all you could want it to be, as was the chorizo and bean.  As we let that meal settle in a little longer, our feelings for the tacos improve.  A pretty good meal in retrospect.  4 Tortillas Taco-nazo!

Overall Taconacity - Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant was a pretty good spot.  Better than average, but not on the all-time greats list.  We'll probably go back at some point.  Especially if and when our brother Mike visits, only this time we'll go to his original spot off Hwy 90.  The ambiance and the food were good enough to make us want to go back.  3.5 Tortillas Taco-rale/Taco-nazo!

Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant #4
4515 Fredricksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 731-9222

Teno's Tidbits - The two teams I was pulling for in this year's FIFA World Cup, USA and Mexico, have been eliminated in the Round of 16 in heartbreaking fashion.  I've normally only watched soccer during the World Cup and during big qualifying games involving the US and/or Mexico, but I think I now want to jump on the bandwagon and watch more soccer year round.  Who's up for going to a Dynamo game in Houston?

Eddie's Extras - Did you see that first picture with the Garibadi sign?  It tells you that this restaurant shares space with a payday loan company, a window tinter, and a cocktail lounge - it doesn't get much more Westside than that!  Makes you wonder, how come it's easier to customize your car, drink cheap beer, and acquire a stupidly-high interest loan, but not buy a good book or a news magazine?

REVIEW: Los Angeles Restaurant, Panaderia Y Tortilleria

On Sunday, June 22nd, we visited Los Angeles Restaurant, Panaderia Y Tortilleria #1.  It's located on Zarzamora, just north of Commerce St., in the heart of the Westside.  The restaurant was originally recommended to us by Teno's sister, Zuani.  We'd been there before and we knew we liked it, but this was a special trip because we were celebrating the beginning of Teno's birthday week.  Thus, we had decided to go to a place where we knew exactly what to expect.

Ambiance - When you walk into Los Angeles, you know you're going to a happy, family-friendly place.  The air is filled with the aroma of freshly cooked tortillas, particularly corn tortillas hot off the press near the kitchen.  When you enter, you see, hear, and smell the tortilleria.  It's got the familiar squeakiness of the large machine and woman with plastic-covered hands is stuffing maza into the head of it.  It reminds you of the neighborhood tortilleria you visited before returning to the U.S. from a visit to your grandmother's house.  Then you begin to miss those days when...(The rest of this review is mostly written by Teno, as Eddie has become lost in nostalgia.) There is a panaderia section where you can start eyeing your dessert.  Next is a large seating area that is most likely filled on weekend mornings.  And on the walls, you find words of inspiration and encouragement.  This is your 'happy' place and you're ready to order. 5 Tortillas - Taco-madre!

  

Service - The service at Los Angeles was good.  (The server reminds me of my tia.  She makes an excellent pan de nata, and when you bite into it...Focus, Eddie!)  The staff was friendly and our server came around often to ask for refills.  However, this not being our first time there, we did notice that our food  took a little longer than usual.  It was busy, but not especially so, and previous visits had yielded faster results.  We'll chalk it up to a one-time hiccup.  4 Tortillas - Taco-nazo!

Menu Options - The menu offers a number of tasty staples of most well-regarded Mexican restaurants - all the standard breakfast fare.  They are even so proud of their machacado that they list it twice.  (Ah machacado. Did I ever tell you about the time that... Darnit, Eddie!  We're trying to write a review!)  However, Los Angeles differentiates itself by offering one particularly tasty item that we have not found many places - barbacoa de borrego.  As with most places, they offer regular barbacoa, menudo, and other select offerings on weekends only.  But the barbacoa de borrego?  You can get that any day of the week.  We know.  We've tried.  We've been impressed. 5 Tortillas - Taco-madre!

Food - The food at Los Angeles was everything we remembered, and then some.  Teno ordered the barbacoa de borrego (on corn), a bean and egg (on flour) and a machacado con huevo (on flour).  After wolfing down the barbaco de borrego, he barely managed to eat half of each of the other tacos.  They were tasty, but he was full on this day.  The corn tortillas were fresh, warm, and tasty, the kind of warm where you could just roll them up with your hands and pinch of salt and enjoy by themselves, just like at my abuelita'shouse when she'd come back with a fresh, paper-wrapped pack of...  (Ha!  That was Teno.  Who's stuck in nostalgia now?)  The flour tortillas were good with just a hint of extra flour on the outside, and they held firm (mostly).  Eddie ordered the chicharron con huevo, machacado con huevo, and regular barbacoa.  He too was nearly full just off the barbacoa, but managed to finish his plate despite one of his tortillas tearing early in the meal.  This is a place we could return to often (and we have).  5 Tortillas - Taco-madre!

  

 
 

Overall Taconacity - This place exceeds expectations.  The ambiance and food alone require repeat business and the staff helps maintain the happy, wholesome, family atmosphere.  This is a place we really enjoyed and would gladly take friends and family there on future visits.  There is still so much more to try there.  We didn't even hit the panaderia this time!  Lots of goodies await.  5 Tortillas - Taco-madre!!

Los Angeles Restaurant, Tortilleria Y Panaderia

300 N. Zarzamora St.

San Antonio, TX 78207

(210) 435-2400

Teno's Tidbits - That morning, we were not only celebrating my birthday week, but also mourning the fact that my car was broken into the previous night.  It happened while I was sleeping and luckily, they did not cause any major physical damage.  I was only hurt emotionally.  I felt violated and wronged.  They did not take much, as I'd learned not to leave anything of value in my car overnight in my neighborhood.  What were the spoils the villains escaped with?  A bag of dirty laundry which included a favorite pair of jeans, some lottery tickets (I checked the numbers and they did not get away with a 'winner'), an empty glasses case and some $5 sunglasses from a convenience store.  That, and they made a bit of a mess.  Oh well.  Life goes on.  All is well.  Lesson learned. 

Eddie's Extras - ...and then my grandmother made mole, just for me...

Sorry about the distraction, guys.  It's just that tortillerias have a distinctive smell and it's one that makes my mind wander as soon as we exit Teno's Escape, walk through the parking lot, and approach Los Angeles.  (Zuani, if you're reading this, I can't thank you enough for introducing this place to your brother.)  

The flavor of a restaurant is in the pecularities

We Honor Our Fathers

Today we honor

The first man we met

The first man to to give us "the look"

The first man to introduce us to all of the most important things:

  Pedro Infante

  Salsa ranchera

  The Dirty Dozen and Magnificent Seven

  Tortillas de masa

  Cheap beer

  A sense of nostalgia often confused with hoarding

The man that commanded attention with

  A word

  A whistle

  A snap of the finger

The one that taught us

  To catch

  To throw

  To watch cartoons

  To laugh at the inappropriate

  To eat without abandon

  To dance without fear

  To shave

  To get back up

  To be proud

He may not have cooked,

But he appreciated the one who did

He may not have made the tacos

But he knew where to find the best ones

Today we honor

The landscaper

The pit-master

The air-accordionist

Who brought home the barbacoa

And was there

Even when we didn't want him to be

But always when we needed

Gracias.

-By El Tacolico

 

Free Panties

You share your apartment with everyone who has ever lived there before.  Checking the mail therefore becomes an exercise in getting to know previous residents.  I can tell you, for example, that the former inhabitants of my little slice of paradise rented furniture, had insurance with Geico, and donated to various environmental causes. 

I've also learned from the catalogs I occasionally receive, that someone ordered from, or otherwise made the mailing list for, Victoria's Secret. While the occasional mailing can be visually appealing I can also see that as a father of two, it's not something I should be hanging on to.  The other day, however, I got something more - a booklet with an offer for free panties.

This provided a dilemma of sorts.  My parents rarely threw away coupons and didn't usually turn down free offers.  I've been trained to take advantage of good deals. People in my culture will stand in line for hours for something don't even need.  I've heard people call in on the radio and ask what they won, because all they knew was that something was being given away. I am genetically predisposed to hold on to coupons.  In cleaning the top of my dresser the other day, I found a completed Marble Slab Club card from 2007 and a large part of me wants to see if there's a chance I can redeem it this weekend. 

This offer is incredibly problematic. First, I'm not sure that any of their styles are appropriate for my frame. Second, I don't have a significant other to whom I can hand over the card. Third, I just can't throw it away. And finally, I do occasionally entertain guests and it's not something I want sitting on my counter or coffee table. 

So I've decided that the best thing to do is give it to a friend, but I'm not sure if any of my approaches will convey the appropriate message.  None of the following phrases sufficiently distance me away from awkward. 

"Hey, you want some panties?"

"I got some panties in the mail and I thought you might like them."

"Not to sound creepy or nothin' but I've got some free chones for you."

"Would it be weird if I gave you free underwear?"

"I acquired these and thought you could use them."

"Hey," then wink, hand over the card, "just in case."

"I thought of you when I saw this."

"I'm not sure if you could use a new pair, but here you go."

"Um here, for you...or your mom...or your daughter, or whatever."

I think Victoria's Secret contrived the perfect social experiment. There's no way that a man can give free panties to a woman he's not in a relationship with, without it seeming awkward. And if you were in a relationship, how would you explain the free offer that would sound innocent and believable?  You'd be left thinking the best thing to do would be to pick them up yourself, which would lead to to ask her for a size (something you should never do) or looking through her drawer (again, something you should probably never do).  Not to mention that you will enter the shop and be that guy - the one guy at VS who has absolutely no idea what he's doing in that store and trying his hardest not to make any eye contact with sales associates or scantily-clad mannequins. 

This is a major crisis with no clear solution - the perfect discussion topic for us to taco bout, but all anyone wants to taco bout right now is the Spurs beating the Miami team in the NBA Finals. 

With very few options left, I've come to the safest conclusion I could think of. I'll likely just leave it in a colleague's mailbox at the school where I teach. I'm sure that's perfectly safe. 

"Hey, did you use that card I left in your box last week?"

REVIEW: Ramona's Cafe

On the morning of Saturday May 31st, we visited our first taqueria that was not on the SA Current's list of the top 5 breakfast spots on the Westside (and by first not on the list, we mean for the purpose of this blog - we have of course visited many other taquerias....just look at us).  Eddie mentioned that Ramona's Cafe was recommended by one of his former students, so we decided to give it a try.  As we drove in, we saw the parking lot was full and an adjacent caliche parking lot was mostly full too.  We felt good about our selection as we pulled in.

Ambience - We believe that any place with a caliche parking lot gets bonus points right from the start.  The inside was typical of most Westside spots.  Some colorful art on the walls, colorful menus and  Teno especially enjoyed the homely feel of the coffee mugs.  They weren't your standard plain, white cups.  His had a duck on it.  He likes ducks.  Ducks are nice.  More points.  Taco-nazo! - 4 Tortillas

Service - We generally enjoyed the service at Ramona's Cafe, with one exception.  They brought Teno the wrong tacos....TWICE!  Everyone was nice and friendly and they checked on us multiple times to refill water and coffee.  For the taco mishap, we should probably rate it a 2, taco-kay - BUT, we're nice guys.  So, we'll give it Taco-rale! - 3 tortillas

Menu Options - The menu options were pretty standard.  All the mainstays were represented, but we saw some things we liked, such as the migas taco.  It's not uncommon, but you don't see it on every menu.  We were satisfied with our options.  Taco-rale! - 3 Tortillas

Food - Everything we ordered tasted good.  The tortillas were just a tad dusty from flour.  The machacado con huevo a la mexicana was just the right level of salty - although not nearly spicy enough.  We had to add some of their tasty hot sauce on it.  Teno was a bit disappointed in the bean and egg - too much egg and not properly mixed.  The chorizo con huevo seemed to lack the desired level of grease.  Probably healthier, but not what you're really looking for when you order chorizo con huevo.  Solid meal. Nothing to get excited about, but another solid 3.  Taco-rale! - 3 Tortillas

Overall Taconacity - We both left there satisfied and full.  These were not the best tacos we'd ever had, but nowhere near bad.  They were good.  Solid.  Average.  We probably wouldn't go out of our way to revisit or make a point of taking our family there.  But, if you're in the area and find yourself in need of a taco fix, you can't go wrong.  Taco-rale! - 3 Tortillas

Ramona's Cafe
604 NW 24th St.
San Antonio, TX 78207
(210) 436-7100

Teno's Tidbits - Teno is traveling to Northern California this weekend for a friend's wedding, so we will not Taco Bout anything this weekend. UNLESS, do any of you have any recommendations for a place to get a good taco in San Francisco?  Send us a comment, tweet, or email with any suggestions.

Eddie's Extras - San Antonio isn't really known for neighborhood pubs - places where you go, hang out, have a beer, have some conversation, and go home to a place nearby. Instead, we have taquerías.  Ramona's is the perfect example of a neighborhood taqueria.  We could tell, from the moment we walked in, that this would be a place we would frequent if we lived in the area.  It had a wholesome feel to it and the food was solidly good. 

We Taco Bout a New Mayor

We’ve all heard that Julián Castro is searching for new tacos in Washington DC and San Antonio will soon have to replace our beloved mayor.  The current rules say that someone from the current City Council will have to fill in until the next election, and that’s when the real race starts.  Current Councilpersons, and other city leaders, are already hinting about throwing hats into rings, but maybe it’s time to taco bout who else should be the next mayor of this great city.  Who has the 'taconacity' to get things done.

It’s not that we don’t appreciate those on who've already thrown their hat into the ring, it’s just that we like out of the taco thinking.  So here’s our not-all-that-serious list of possible mayors of San Antonio:

Tommy Lee Jones – The first question is whether or not he’s a resident.  Various reports say he has several houses in the area and at least one of them is in San Antonio.  The second is experience and that answer is that his experience far surpasses most others.  He has business, military, law enforcement (both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial), and legislative experience under his belt.  Sure, they’re all in movies, but he was great at them.  He also introduced his old roommate, Al Gore, at the 2000 Democratic National Convention so has some political experience.  And hey, it worked for Clint Eastwood. 

Coach Pop – The man who runs the most efficient basketball team in the world can definitely run a city with that same effectiveness.  Are you tired of politicians going on and on about accomplishments, projects, goals, and everything else under the sun?  Well, all that comes to a stop with the Popovich administration.   Press conferences will now last ninety seconds and City Council meetings will be the quickest in the state as misinformed citizens with stupid questions will get “The Look” from Pop, bow their heads in shame, and quietly walk out of the chamber.

George Strait – He’s retiring from touring, so he needs something to do.  Why not be mayor and revitalize the music scene?  When things go bad, all George Strait has to do is smile and we’ll know everything will get better.  He’s the type of guy every man wants to have a beer with and every woman wants to – well, maybe just wants.  But nevertheless, think of how much more business we could attract by having people tour SA with George Strait as their host.

Flaco Jimenez – Born and raised in San Antonio, Flaco has been our cultural ambassador since he first started touring with his band.  If you think about it, Flaco’s style has its roots in Texas-Mexican heritage with influence from other cultures, including the German, Polish, and Cajun.  He’s a one-man Folklife Festival.  Flaco has a song for every situation which our city could possibly encounter.

Carmen Tafolla – A strong, well-educated, articulate, artistic woman leading our city – why has she not been considered before?  Proposals enticing businesses and conventions to come to SA would be the most well-written ones.  Ever.  Not that she would be writing them, but those that did would know they have a high standard to present.  City Councilpersons would have to take turns reciting poetry to start each meeting and every suggestion during B-Session would have to be in verse.

Eva Longoria – She’s bold.  She’s strong.  She’s not afraid to speak her mind.  We know she can fundraise and organize (from the work she does for Eva’s Heroes) and we know she’s not afraid to be in front of an audience (from her work on every screen known to man), so I’m confident that she could hold her own.  With Eva as mayor, the council would be stylin’. 

David Robinson – The Admiral.  The nickname says it all.  He’d run our city efficiently, with faith, with class, and as an inspiration to everyone.  With Robinson as mayor, Charles Barkley wouldn’t dare criticize this city and all Mark Cuban could ever say would be, “Yes, sir,” or “I’m sorry, sir.  It won’t happen again.”

Ted Cruz – No one knows sacrifice like San Antonians.  We endure heat, humidity and the occasional deluge.  Electing Ted Cruz would be the ultimate sacrifice for our nation as it would keep him out of the senate and the presidency for sure.  In the words of John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  This would definitely be doing something for our country.  The caveat is that someone will have to volunteer to claim him as a resident - rent him an apartment, say he's on your couch, whatever. It'll be only for a little while, though, as he is bound to upset enough people to be recalled within six months of being sworn in. 

Davy Crockett - Sure, he's technically dead, but his spirit still lives within the walls of the Alamo. He will lead by fear and spectral intimidation. His mere presence will increase tourism to the city by 1000%. If this really is the Decade of Downtown, then who else but the ultimate downtown resident. On Election Day, Remember the Alamo!

Atenogenes Villarreal – The name commands respect.  No other city will want to mess with us.  The mere mention of Atenogenes  will strike fear in the hearts of other city’s inhabitants whose mayors will have wimpy names like “Mike” or “Lee.”  Experience? A high-school Student Council Vice-President and the Historian for his fraternity, he has got the chops. That, and he worked for a national presidential campaign.  Atenogenes takes care of business. 

Eddie Vega – He’s an educator, a poet, a writer, a survivor.  His experience as Speaker of the House (two terms) in the Student Government Association at St. Mary’s totally qualifies him as mayor of San Antonio.  He knows how to work within a budget (trained by necessity) and knows how to celebrate accomplishment (trained by fraternity).  With Vega as mayor you’ll have a taco on every plate and a car in every garage chancla on every foot. 

There you have it.  Any of those choices would do right by our city.  Who did we leave out?  Write your own candidate in the comments and let's taco bout it.

We Taco Bout The Spurs

Spurs fans have enjoyed an unusually long period of dominance since Tim Duncan arrived in 1997. We've (yes, we use 'we' when referring to our teams) won 50 games every season, made the playoffs every year, made it to the Finals 5 times, and won 4 NBA Titles.

We think, after Tuesday night's game versus the Thunder, that we need to remind Spurs fans of a few things.  Yes, it was a disappointing game.  We wanted to come back from Oklahoma City up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.  Instead, we come back home, tied 2-2, with momentum apparently not on our side.  As fans we wake up with the nightmares of 2012 crashing back to our minds.  Spurs fans: WAKE UP!

We refuse to believe this is a repeat of 2012, or any other time the season has ended with the Larry O'Brien trophy in someone else's locker room. The beauty of sports is that anything can happen.  ANYTHING.  At any time.

Remember the Memorial Day Miracle?  That game versus Dallas in 2003 when Steve Kerr knocked down what seemed like 10 threes in a quarter?  Big Shot Bob's huge 3-pointer versus the Pistons?  And the countless other basketball moments brought to us by the likes of Stephen Jackson, Bruce Bowen, Mario Ellie, Brent Barry, and many more?!

Plus, the series is TIED 2-2 and we have home court advantage!  We play in one of the loudest and supportive arenas in the league!  The Coyote will be there to pump us up and we'll regain our championship form.  

Because of all the success the Spurs have brought us over the years, we expect things to feel easy.  We want to win every series in a sweep.  But, these are the Oklahoma City Thunder - the #2 seed in the Western Conference.  Pop said it best when he said:

"I need a little more dose of nasty...It's not suppose to be easy.  Every round gets tougher...Penetrate hard.  Good passes.  Shoot with confidence.  I want some NASTY!"

Let's block out the negativity.  Let's keep our wits about us.  Believe in our boys.  Let's bring a little NASTY to the arena or the sports bar or your living room or wherever you cheer for our team.  It's been said a series doesn't start until the visiting team wins.  All that has happened so far, is both home teams have done their jobs.  Let's help our Spurs do their job tomorrow and get their mojo back.

If you need any more inspiration, check out these links.

Best of Pop

24 Reasons why you should cheer for the Spurs

The Beautiful Game

Did you get your fix?  Alright, let's do this!  Game 5 is tonight!  We'll be at Fatso's rooting for our Spurs.  Wherever you are, don't give up.  Don't ever give up.  Go Spurs Go!

We taco bout Barkley

So Charles Barkley’s in town and it seems we have to give him attention.  He’s a commentator for NBA games and a spokesperson for a weight-loss company (oh, the irony), but San Antonio feels the need to give him even more attention. 

Personally, I’ve been conflicted about Barkley for more than two decades.  He was mean to David Robinson and later went on to play for the Rockets, so I was compelled to hate him.  But then again, he was always entertaining.  Who can forget his standout performance in Space Jam?  He made Shawn Bradley look like some guy who’d never before acted in front of a camera.

Barkley criticizes our women and our river, we get offended, he does it again, the mayor makes a video, he does it again, women on city council make a video, he does it again.  Is it me, or is there a pattern?

Barkley will always be Barkley.  His problem, however, is that he is the face of all those that criticize this town without really knowing much about it.  He’s your cousin from Dallas that laughs at how small the city feels.  He’s your old college buddy from Austin that says our music options suck.  He’s the out-of-towner that eats over-priced Touri-Mex and thinks he’s seen it all.

We can fight back all we want with stats about a decreasing obesity rate and tours of Riverwalk extensions, but he’ll still have the same perceptions and make the same comments.  We know what we’ve got.    The Riverwalk is an engineering marvel designed to control flooding that doubles as one of the most beautiful places on earth.  I’ve personally meandered for miles of it under the shade of magnificent cypress trees and rested on benches where I exchanged smiles with natives and tourists alike.  My children and I have our favorite picture spots and snack-break benches. 

As for our women, they come in all shapes and sizes and we appreciate them all.  We’ve devoted much of our energy denying that our women aren’t fat, when we should have spoken more about proper body image.  There are big women in this town – so what?  I can see where maintaining healthy eating habits are important, especially with the high occurrences of diabetes and hypertension in the local population (genetics and flour tortillas), but are we talking about healthy living or the perceptions of what beauty in society are.  Why are the words "big," "fat," and "ugly" all found together?  

Let’s not forget the real reason why Charles Barkley is here – to comment on the winning ways of the San Antonio Spurs.  This team is criticized repeatedly, but I don’t hear Pop or Timmy or Kawhi or anyone else lashing back with videos or tours.  They handle it on the court.  Their winning ways show the world what it’s all about.  Let’s learn from the Spurs and keep playing our game. 

Barkley can talk a good game, but we know what the truth is.