H-E-B wasn’t that crazy

I finally had the courage to go to H-E-B. I figured that Sunday morning would be fine because lots of people go to church. Then I remembered they closed the churches. 

1. It wasn’t that crazy, but “that crazy” is a relative term. After all, this is San Antonio. 
2. I found tomatoes. Two days ago my daughter came home with pictures of an empty tomato section and a pack of some boujee Camparis. But today, I managed to get some Roma tomatoes that quite frankly, are the smallest Roma tomatoes I’ve ever bought. It’s like they got called up from the freshmen team or something. 
3. Ground beef? What is everyone making with ground beef? I ended having to get some super lean ground sirloin. In case y’all don’t know, flavor is in fat. I’d be more upset about having to get this lean sh—, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was mis-priced at the ground chuck price. 😃

3.5. The social distancing doesn’t happen    very often. I feel like it might be the occasion for steak. Buy steak y’all! Leave the ground beef for people who legitimately want to have some chalupas.

1. The pseudo-apocalypse is here and everybody’s making sandwiches? All the lunch meat was gone. Not that I wanted lunch meat, but if I did I would’ve been really pushed off.
2. Apparently it’s also a time for green onion dip, too. I actually did want green onion dip - I use it to top my chalupas. 
3. Canned beans. Apparently this is what people go for. It’s no wonder that when you see the cans in food drives that you find green beans, corn, and spinach but never beans. People hoard their beans!
4. The security guard showed up and checked in with the manager. I witnessed it all while deciding between refried charro beans and retried cheese-flavored beans. (I’d already gotten shredded cheese, so I went with the charro beans.) Do you remember Tackleberry from Police Academy. Picture this guy as Mexican Tackleberry, complete with unnecessary tactical gear (it’s a freakin’ H-E-B, not a military outpost) and a patch that says, “K-9 Unit.”  I’ve seen the German shepherd mix with a black harness/canine tactical vest he sometimes patrols the store with. Personally I think he should just admit that the pooch is his emotional support animal and be over it. “Just checking in sir. I’ve patrolled the perimeter and everything seems ok at the moment.” I’m telling you, Tackleburro is the most extra security guard I’ve ever encountered. 
5. All the bougie bread was gone - wheat, artisanal, 38-grain, etc. I actually just need hamburger buns, so I was fine. Also, there were plenty of tostadas. I like the red ones. They taste the same as the white ones, but add so much more to the table palette. 
6. It was time to go. I had less than fifteen items and felt very out of place. There were shopping carts full of supplies, like I you see when hurricanes are coming. Only this isn’t a big storm, it’s a virus. Truthfully, we don’t really know how to prepare for this. 
7. The cool thing about so many people with big-ass cartfulls is that the express lane is free and clear. I got through right away, but as I was leaving the cashier informed a lady behind me, “this is a 15-only lane ma’am.” “Yes, but I’m dividing it into three separate orders.” I smiled at her, “loopholes, huh.” She smiled back, but in that I’m really annoyed with people right now, sort of way. The lady reminded me of those times when we were limited to a number of items as a kid and my mom would give money to my sister and me and split into different aisles. Fun times. 
8. It wasn’t that bad. People are funny. H-E-B seems to have better planning than the federal government and I’m probably still ill-prepared for whatever’s next, but at least I’ll get by with a few chalupas and whatever is on Netflix. 

What do you say to out-of-town friends asking about tacos?

You know how it is. You’ve got friends coming to town so you’d like to take them out for some local flavor. They’ve never been to San Antonio before and they really want to know about one thing: tacos. (which is plural, I know, but whatever) What do you tell them? How do you explain a seemingly simple topic that you know to be much more complicated? What do you say when they ask for crispy tacos? What if they ask for Taco Bell? Or worse – Torchy’s?

Before we go on, I have to explain something. Although I’m going to go into some general tacology, this post is primarily about San Antonio tacos. If you’re reading this from any place other than San Antonio and are already scoffing at the presumptuousness of another San Anto writer making claims about quality tacos, then I’m sorry that you’re limiting yourself to your regional palette. I’ve always maintained that the best tacos you’ll ever have are the ones made to you by whomever it is that makes your most preferred tacos. My favorite tacos are the papa con huevo on tortilla de harina that I woke up to on mornings in McAllen, made by mother’s love. Yours might be from your tía in Corpus Christi or your abuelita in Laredo – that’s fine. Being closer to the border doesn’t make your taco better because the border crossed all of us. Our cuisine was indigenous and Spanish and Mexican before it was blended and Texan and American.

Some have claimed that a city north of San Antonio has better breakfast tacos owing that expertise to articles in the New York Times, but remember, that’s the same publication that suggested adding peas to guacamole. I don’t want to get into that debate much except to say this: the difference between the two locations and their tacos is that the northern neighbor is in favor of innovating and fusing flavors as part of a nouveau taco movement, whereas San Antonio prefers a more traditional approach.

So that said, it’s important to know what we’re talking about. What is a taco? Simply stated, a taco is a folded tortilla with a filling. Some people call such items “burros” or “burritos,” but that just tells you that the person making such a claim is from El Paso, and that’s ok. For them. You should know better. Burritos are wrapped like a package you might want to carry on the back of a load-bearing animal of some sort. Tacos are love letters carried from your hands to your soul.

Ancient Mesoamerican people bioengineered a grass about 9000 years ago and eventually figured out a process by which to make the seeds from that plant edible. It’s called nixtamalization and it’s what makes tortillas possible. The Mesoamericans ate corn tortillas for centuries until the colonizers arrived in the 15^th Century. But the Spaniards tried to avoid eating what the natives ate because they feared turning shorter and acquiring a darker complexion, i.e., turning into an indio, so they took corn out of the equation and developed what we see today as flour tortillas. One might say that the flour tortilla is a truly mestizo product, but that’s for another discussion.

Today, we use both tortillas. Some prefer corn over flour because of a sense of authenticity, or because they believe that they’re healthier, or because of the taste. Others prefer flour over corn because they’re usually bigger (though I’ve eaten corn tortillas as big as meal plate in parts of Mexico), or because personal health be damned, or because of the taste. My preference is for whichever goes best with the filling.

You’ll encounter tacos at all hours of the day here in San Antonio. Typically, breakfast tacos are on flour tortillas and are filled with typical breakfast fare: potatoes, eggs, bacon, and combinations thereof. There is nothing wrong with adding cheese to your taco; it’ll likely be shredded cheddar. Most people’s go-to is a simple bean and cheese – know that the beans are refried and the cheese is yellow. For a complete breakdown on breakfast tacos, refer to this post.

My picks for some of the best breakfast taco spots in town is found here.

Lunch and dinner tacos can come alone or with sides. Note that if the menu has “plate,” after the word taco, there will be rice and beans coming along for the ride. Either tortilla is fair game for these meals and you’ll likely see fajitas (beef or chicken), ground beef, or shredded chicken as fillings, among other options.

Late night tacos are what are sometimes referred to as street tacos. You’ll find these at a restaurant or a food truck, billed as “taquitos,” or “mini-tacos.” An order of these is four or five tacos on small corn tortillas and filled with asada (flat steak, chopped), pollo (shredded chicken), carnitas (seasoned pork), or tripas (beef intestines – delicious! Don’t knock it, till you try it), among other possibilities.

As for where the best tacos in San Antonio might be, well, that’s just an unanswerable question. I’ve listed the following spots as places you can go to, but it’s not a definitive list and I refuse to rank them because that’s just unfair. Again, these are just some of the places your out-of-town guests should try, but the list is not exhaustive by any means.

Lunch/Dinner

Ray's Drive-In (822 SW 19th) They invented and hold the patent (yes, patent) for the puffy taco. It's a fried corn tortilla that gets all puffed up to get you all filled up.

Taco Haven (1032 S. Presa) A lot of the cool kids go here, and by cool kids I mean locals, especially artists and politicos. It's been around since 1969 and they have some dream flour tortillas.

Taqueria Datapoint (4063 Medical Dr.) Just great tacos, all day. Go for breakfast, have a lunch special, maybe eat dinner at home, go out with friends and show up after the bar closes (Friday or Saturday night) and pick off each other's plates.

Late Night

Taco Palenque (1002 NE Interstate Loop 410)  In case you're like, pero en Laredo, we have real tacos... OK fine, here's the Laredo place so you can feel at home. Or if you're not from Laredo, you can see some of the subtle differences between SA and the border town. Somebody bring me a pirata!

Tacos El Regio (2726 N. St. Mary's) No website. No table. No problem. This is a taco truck on the St. Mary's Strip where you can find excellent tacos and only a curb to sit on. Pro tip: order your tacos (or quesadillas), but ask for your charro beans before your meal (not with it), so you can eat the beans while you wait. (They don't open until after 11pm.)

Taquitos West Ave (2818 West Ave.) You will be amazed. Stand in line, order at the counter (there's no menu, just a piece of paper on the wall with the handwritten list of ingredients) and immediately receive your tacos. You can go back and ask for more if you want. Pay for the number tacos you ate on your way out. 

We take our tacos seriously here, but let's not get into a food fight about it. If you have something to get off your chest, let's get together over a plate. It's important that WE TACO BOUT IT.

p.s. I'm sure wondering as to my credibility in these matters, which is why I offer the following pics as credentials. Peace.

We have to go

My daughter doesn't want to go to the March
I told her we had to

She had the audacity to ask why
Why do we have to go?

The father in me wanted to roar
against the obstinate teenager in my midst
and answer with the easiest retort

Because I said so

But I remembered
how that’s never a very convincing answer

So I wrote this for her:

We have to go
to remember the struggle that got us here
the marches before this one
the ones that started in peace
and ended with water cannons and rubber bullets

We have to go
to remember that the struggle is still not over
that clean water shouldn't be too much to ask for
that health care shouldn't be a political issue
that Black Lives Matter

We have to go
because the revolution is not a hashtag
or a blogpost
and it was never televised

We have to go
because we stand on the shoulders of Cesar Chavez
While farm workers carry the burden of our healthy living
on their backs

We have to go
for the Syrian Refugees un-welcomed by our governor
for the DACA Dreamers un-welcomed by the right wing
for all the women and children who escaped tyranny,
only to be welcomed into private prisons

We have to go
because the man that called your grandfather a rapist and drug dealer,
hosted Saturday Night Live
on his way to becoming a Wednesday Morning Nightmare

We have to go
because you can't escape the darkness of your skin
given to you by generations of those that toiled under terrible suns

We have to go
to remind ourselves that we can
because there are still places on earth that haven't tasted freedom

We have to go
while we still can

We have to go
por los 43 de Ayotzinapa

We have to go
Porque si se puede

We have to go
because we need more kids with funny names in the White House

We have to go
because Martin said so





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

So, where can I find the best tacos? (Breakfast Edition)

It's the question I'm most asked when people find out I have a taco blog or that I appeared in a taco book. The thing is, it's not a very simple question to answer. Further, the person asking sometimes just wants to argue with me and defend their favorite place. Luckily, I'm a patient individual and really, there's plenty of room for several great taco spots in this town, and in your belly.

Why so complicated, you might ask.  Well, there are different reasons and seasons why we taco. There's breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night. There's tacos for bringing to work, tacos for catering a theme party, and tacos just because. There are tacos with meat, without meat, on flour, on corn, and everything in between. When you ask me what the best taco is, I kind of feel like this girl:

Today, we're going to taco bout breakfast tacos.

I think a ranking system is overly simplistic and unfair. So I'm going to offer you a few places where you can get excellent breakfast tacos.  By no means is this an exhaustive list and I'm sure there will be some contention with it, but let's face it, we have different palettes.

One more thing: tacos are more than just a filling inside of a folded tortilla. Tacos are about sharing an experience with your community - be it family, your best friends, or the waitress that just brought you two bean and cheese on flour and a cup of coffee.

Really, breakfast is broken up in two categories: weekday and weekend.  Weekdays are for picking up something quick on your way to work. That means that your favorite is likely to be based on being near your home or near your office, Weekends are for calling the family together to have a much more leisured experience.


For weekdays, I have at least two of these spots on my favorites list. I ask Siri to call one as I enter my vehicle so that my tacos are ready when I walk in their door.

Taqueria Datapoint 
4063 Medical Dr. (210-615-3644) and 1702 W. Gramercy Pl.(210-733-1323)

You'll find soft tortillas and perfect fillings on all the standards (bean/cheese, chorizo/egg, potato/egg, etc.) Though it faces Gramercy, that location is really on Fredericksburg and offers a drive-thru. The Medical Dr. location can get quite busy, so if you want to pick them up, it's best to call in. Bonus: a 3-taco special (no mix) for $3.75. (The fact that I know it's $4.06 w/tax should tell you how often I frequent this place.)

Old Danny's Cocina
250 W. Old Hwy 90 (210-598-5673)

A little spot on the Westside with a drive-up window. They offer a two-taco/one drink special that's usually cheaper than a gallon of gas and much more fulfilling. Try the papa ranchera - you won't regret it.

Fina's Kitchen
914 W. Hildebrand (210-735-2524)
You can't miss the orange building and you shouldn't because Fina's has dollar tacos. That's right, dollar tacos! It's a small list of standard fare, but nevertheless you'll find good quality at an excellent price.


Weekend tacos are more of a Tejano brunch experience. Weekdays I might be more into bean/cheese, chorizo/egg, potato/egg, or my favorite - chorizo/bean, but weekends are all about machacado, chicharron, and of course, barbacoa (and Big Red).

La Bandera Molino
2619 N. Zarzamora (210-434-0631)

This place screams San Anto in the best way possible - without doing anything but being itself. There are Christmas decorations still up from several Christmases past, bumper stickers from failed political campaigns long forgotten, and all the smells of a Westside kitchen. Order a taco at the counter from a visible menu with an array of choices and then sit and absorb the atmosphere.

Los Angeles Tortilleria 
300 N. Zarzamora (210-435-2400)

You can smell fresh corn tortillas from the parking lot so busy that an attendant guides you to your spot.  People come here just for barbacoa, so there's often a line out the door for that.  Avoid the line and grab a seat and you can have the same barbacoa without all the frustration.  Whether you're old school rancho or adventurous hipster, try the barbacoa de borrego, a selection not found at many other places.  And before you leave. grab some pan dulce to take to your abuelita so she'll forgive you for not inviting her to breakfast. Maybe.

Tommy's Restaurant
6702 San Pedro (210-822-6702), 8823 Wurzbach Rd.  (210-558-9777), 1205 Nogalitos (210-223-9841)
Tommy's Cafe
107 S. Flores (210-222-9944) Note: this location is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

If you believe there can't be good tacos on the Northside, I have two questions for you: why'd you move there and why haven't you been to Tommy's? They specialize in the South Texas favorite - barbacoa and Big Red, but don't be afraid to try anything else on their exhaustive taco list. 

Garcia's Mexican Food 
842 Fredericksburg Rd. (210-735-5686)

If you're thinking, man, I'm tired of barbacoa all the time, keep that thought in your inside voice (lest you be slapped upside the head) and come here for a brisket taco wrapped in one of the best flour tortillas you'll ever taste.


Like I said earlier, this is not a ranking. These are places you ought to know in this town if you're on a taco quest or just plain hungry. Have fun trying them out or visiting them again. Then send me some feedback, so we can tacoboutit.  

Fightin' Words from Austin

The Chili Queens deserve an apology, in the least. I might go so far as to say they deserve a blood sacrifice (bovine, porcine, and whatever the chicken one is), but I'm sure they would settle for, and appreciate, a simple, "Perdoname, Doña Cuca," because they have been offended by our presumptuous neighbors to the north.

Matthew Sedacca published an article for Austin Eater whose very title is incendiary - How Austin Became the Home of the Crucial Breakfast Taco. Though it might be true that Austin is home of the phrase "breakfast taco," the article posits an opinion that seems elitist to those of us here in San Antonio and South Texas who firmly believe that taco-migration went, and ought to continue going, South to North, not North to South or (gasp) South by Southwest.

Further, is there any way to really know who invented the phrase? Moreover, does it really matter? What is necessary is to understand that no one can monopolize the term "breakfast taco" any more than Disney can own the rights to Dia de los Muertos.

The article goes on to state that "the breakfast taco’s origins lie in the kitchens of immigrant Mexican families living in Texas." It's statements like these that ought to make us demand changes in the Texas education system, especially with regard to history.  Texas, as part of a larger region that included some current northern Mexican states, was established by Spain. After Mexico's independence, it was of course a part of Mexico.  The Texas we know now was an independent nation in 1836 and an American state in 1845. There's been Mexican food in Texas for nearly three centuries.  

Corn was the original type of tortilla, as it was used by native population of Mexico.  Flour tortillas were a Spanish innovation because they didn't want to reduce themselves to eat an ingredient they considered to be pig-feed.

Tex-Mex cuisine is a product of several influences, most notably the availability of ingredients and the clever improvisation of home-cooks when a particular cheese or pepper or sausage was needed.  The primary innovators, it seems, were the Chili Queens that ruled Alamo Plaza, starting in the mid-1800s.  (See fellow San Antonio Taco Council Representative, Edmund Tijerina's article about the Chili Queens here or an NPR Hidden Kitchen report about these legends, here.)  

To make claims about Austin's breakfast taco scene as if it was the birthplace and chief innovator of the item, ignores an entire region of abuelitas waking up early to make tortillas, mom and pop restaurants that have built robust breakfast crowds, and all of the busy workers that didn't have time to make their own morning meals.  It seems that maybe the new European-American immigrants to the Austin area discovered breakfast tacos in the same way Columbus discovered America - just because you found them, doesn't mean they didn't already exist.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the best breakfast tacos in Texas are the ones you grew up with.  If you started growing up in your 30s, so be it.  

Let's keep peace among the taco community and not make incendiary statements.  Grab a tortilla, a good filling, some salsa, and taco bout it.

That Map

Several have asked our opinion of the "Tacos of Texas Map."  I hesitated at first, but since it was posted on my personal timeline three times in twelve hours, it's become necessary to respond. 

First of all, the map shouldn't be confused with the Tacos of Texas website (tacosoftexas.com) nor the forthcoming book regarding the same subject. Though I'm not the author of the book - Mando Rayo and Marco Torres are writing and photographing it - I was selected as a Taco Ambassador for the book due out in Summer of 2016. 

From the look of the map, it appears that the designer is from the Corpus Christi/Laredo area. (I know, it seems weird to put those cities together, but they are relatively close and were actually part of the same Catholic diocese at one time.) One quick look at Mr. Garcia's Facebook page confirmed a Corpitos heritage. It's human to think that good, authentic, perfect anything comes from wherever we call home. This is why your abuela's carne guisada always tastes the best, while I know you're wrong because it's my abuela's carne guisada that would change your world. (See what I mean.)

Moving west to east: the assessment of the El Paso area isn't too far off, though like the rest of the map is overly simplistic. El Paso does revel in its Mexican-ness, but there's also a New Mexico influence and we can't forget the entire nomenclature issue: burro or taco? 

I really can't argue with the upper-west Texas and Panhandle assessment. It makes me kind of sad, actually to think about those poor, unenriched people. But then, I realized that there are two fellow Taco Council members in the Midland/Odessa area so I know that not all hope is lost. 

While Dallas is home to expensive food, it's not all. I've seen some great pics of tacos I'd love to try from that area and they really do look corn-tortilla authentic. 

I'm not sure there are tacos in Tyler, nor that they mind. 

If I was from Houston, I would be most upset about this map. There are certainly more options than chile relleno. Personally, I had some tacos off a truck, from a well-to-do section of the city and was unexpectedly delighted. More research has to be done. 

I'm not sure about where the expensive little tortillas are located. Is that Austin? Waco? West? (If you're looking for tacos in West, stop. Get yourself an authentic kolache and thank me later.) In any case, if it's the Austin area, then you're dealing with fusion and hipster influences. Yes they're tasty, delicious, innovative, but not my personal style. Also, there's an entire book of breakfast tacos from there, and that has to be noted. 

San Antonio - it's my humble opinion that this area has the legendary breakfast tacos. Also, it's where the puffy taco was invented and perfected, so reducing it all to just barbacoa and Big Red is, well, like saying that Corpus is only important because Selena was from there. 

Laredo needs its own place on the map. It has its own tortilla style, which I'm sure has the biggest Monterrey influence of all places on this map. 

I'm from the RGV and I hear there's great pastor here, but the two best tacos I've had have been fajitas from a political pachanga and anything my mom makes. Also, I've encountered a strong affinity, as much as El Paso, toward the corn tortilla in this area. 

All in all, the map sparks a great debate, but Texas is too complex to reduce to a few words mixed with geography. Further, the map does prove where the best tacos are: closest to home. 

That's something we taco bout all the time. 

Taco bout an opportunity lost

San Antonio government officials have a long history of finding creative solutions to important issues and making excellent decisions impacting the city’s future.  Occasionally – some might argue that it’s more frequent than occasionally, but I generally like our elected and selected officials – decisions are made that counter our city’s history and progressive thinking.  

After leaving his position as Chief of Police to be in charge of security for CPS Energy, William McManus through his hat back into the ring and asked for his job back.  City Manager Sheryl Scully agreed.

And that, as they say, is that.  The money spent from city coffers to on a nationwide search – gone.  The time and effort on behalf of city employees – squandered. The time and effort spent by qualified candidates in applying and interviewing for the position – wasted.

However, what is most upsetting to this observer, is that an opportunity has been lost.  Interim Chief Anthony Treviño was a finalist for this position.  San Antonio had the opportunity to select one of its own, an officer who has risen through its own ranks, understanding not only its local police culture, but our local San Antonio culture and community. 

Further, the opportunity to select as its Chief of Police, a Hispanic male in a majority-minority city was lost.  San Antonio would have been the only city in America with a population over one million people, with a Hispanic as its top police executive.  That’s an accomplishment that could have been announced today, October 1, in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month.  Instead, City Council will vote today to approve what seems to the public as an underhanded move by the city manager.

I’ve met Mr. Treviño .  I’ve known him to be a humble man with a commanding presence.  He wouldn’t want the position to fill a quota or for the notoriety of being the first one of his ethnicity with that title.  He’s right.  Anthony Treviño deserves to Chief of Police of San Antonio because he’s the most qualified individual for the job.

And since he didn’t leave his position for greener, electrified pastures, it would only be fair. 

Eddie Vega (@eltacolico)

Soccer or Futbol?

Our friends at Cadera Clothing Company have cleverly addressed a situation that many of us encounter - the inner turmoil of having two sides to cheer for in the World Cup.  To some, however, there really is no conflict and a choice has been made.  We did some informal polling (a Facebook post and some conversation during Spurs playoff timeouts) and found some interesting results.  

There were some wobblers - "Well, USA first, but Mexico, too."

Some patriots - "I'm American!  I go for America's team."

A generational divide - "Sh--, my dad was a marine. In Vietnam.  And he still goes for Mexico."

An optimist - "I only root for USA!  If they get knocked out, then I cheer for for the team with the best looking guys."

And a lot of others who favor the USMNT and the squad featuring their favorite player - Argentina, Brazil, Spain, etc.

Needless to say, we didn't get a whole lot of straight answers.  Maybe they were afraid to say something, but why?

If you grew up Mexican-American in South Texas, odds are you visited family in Mexico on weekends and major holidays.  As the World Cup came around every four years, the topic of futbol accented many a dinner conversation where you would undoubtedly taco bout how good of a chance El Tri had at taking it all.  There was a whole lot of excitement in 1986 because Mexico was hosting and Hugo Sanchez was at the top of his game.  Mexico got pretty far in that tournament despite the lackluster performance from the Real Madrid star, yet was ultimately disappointed by the losing a shootout with West Germany.

And where was the American team in all this?  Absent.  The team didn't qualify in 1986.  Although there was a team in 1990, we wouldn't get very excited until 1994.  That's when our Mexican cousins started making fun of us because we were going to host a World Cup that our own people didn't care about.  Further, they would point out, there weren't even any stars on the U.S. team.  So then we had to go and find out who was on our roster besides Tab Ramos, because we all knew Tab Ramos from his Snickers commercials.  He was a Mexican like us and he was on the team.  (Actually, his father was from Uruguay, but that's close enough.  I mean, I knew at least three non-related Ramoses in high school.)  This being 1994, we had to search through actual newspapers and magazines for the information and pay attention to a lot of ESPN.  (These were the days before Sportscenter ran on a loop or told you what they were going to talk about fifteen minutes from now.)  Then we watched and we discovered Cobi Jones and Alexi Lalas and what?  Claudio Reyna?  Another Mexican!  (Turns out his dad was from Argentina, but that's close, too. I actually have family with that last name.)  We watched and they did way better than most people expected.

Things got more complicated over the years as soccer got more popular on this side of the charco.  But then came 2002, when things got really complicated - Mexico faced off with USA in a World Cup elimination game.  We had to wake up in the middle of the night to watch it and when it was over and we could finally get some sleep, we couldn't.  Now our Mexican cousins were fuming.  "How could this happen?" they asked.  They were holding onto the notion that we didn't care and this was the one thing they could beat us at.  

I watched the game out in northern California with some die-hard U.S.A. fans.  They eyed me with some suspicion, because I was torn about how much I should be rooting for either side.  But when it was over, I couldn't help but share in Mexico's frustration.  On the other hand though, I was really excited and a little relieved.  You see, when a Mexican-American travels in Mexico, even to see family, he doesn't always feel accepted.  I lived in Veracruz for most of a year and traveled through the southern region of the country.  It was the first time in my life I had ever been called "gringo."  I had to go to Mexico, where I was searching for roots, to fully understand that I was American.

Team USA made a bold statement that day (well, morning for us) in 2002.  It also helped cement our allegiance. And the continental rivalry has gotten pretty fierce, just read this account from a 2009 US versus Mexico game at Estadio Azteca.

Sporting Emotions At The Highest Pitch

But can Mexico not be thankful to the USMNT?  Remember, if it wasn't for the USA defeat of Panama, Mexico wouldn't be in this World Cup. 

God Bless America

Team USA has taken us on a roller-coaster ride, with plenty of ups, downs, and exhilarating moments.   Who can forget the 2010 World Cup and that final group match when Landon Donovan single-footedly vaulted the team into the knock-out stage.  I've watched plenty of live games at sports bars and have seen celebrations for Dallas touchdowns and Spurs jams, but there was nothing like the roar I heard and felt when Landon kicked that goal.

Yes, I might like the Mexico squad and know some of their players and who doesn't enjoy watching Miguel Herrera jump up and down on the sideline?  But I'm much more vocal, much more frustrated, and much more excited about watching Team USA.

I. I believe. I believe that.  I believe that we.  I Believe That We Will Win!

http://youtu.be/2uEpcfonkt4

Let's go USA!  Let's do this!  Si se puede!

Pete's Tako House

On Sunday, January 25th, We Taco Bout It visited Pete's Tako House.  The spot is outside of our usual Westside and Southside hunting grounds, but it came to us highly recommended by our friend Angelica Guzman-Jeffery.  Apparently, this spot has been around since 1978, but recently moved to a location, next to the Brooklynite.  Not knowing what to expect, we ventured in with Eddie's kids in tow.

We found ourselves having a highly enjoyable meal and could see ourselves coming back for more.  Here is our review.

Ambiance - Pete's Taco House is a very comfortable, relaxing restaurant.  The yellow walls are inviting and the decor is very eclectic.  There 's a mix of Texas, religious, artistic, and kitschy decorations, including someone's trophy from a competition (seemed like that of a proud parent) and a picture of the "Pope-mobile" that apparently drove by the old location on his previous visit to San Antonio in 1987.  And while it was pretty easy to find a table at 9:30 am when we arrived.  An hour later, it was pretty packed and almost at capacity.  Surely, the locals like this place. 5 Tortillas

Service - The service was pretty great.  The friendly staff checked on us right away, provide ample refills for our waters and coffee, and checked on us throughout.  Even though a line was building for seats, we never felt pressured to finish up and the food came out fast and hot.  In fact, for future visits, they even take reservations. 5 Tortillas

Menu - The menu options at Pete's are pretty standard from what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant.  All of our usual favorites were represented, along with some classic lunch items.  They even have options for the taco-averse (yes, those exist) as Eddie's kids ordered the 'pancake plate.'  (He didn't make a scene, but did seem perturbed when confronted their choice.  "Your father co-writes a taco blog and you order a pancake plate?") 4 Tortillas

Food - The food was excellent overall.  Teno tasted the Chorizo and Egg, Machacado a la Mexicana, and the Bean and Egg.  The Chorizo and Egg had a perfect grease level.  The Machacado was tasty and spicy.  If he found a flaw with anything, it would be the Bean and Egg.  Not a bad taco, but not a great one either.  The bean to egg ratio could be adjusted a smidge.  Eddie ordered a Bean and Cheese taco and the Machacado a la Mexicana, and then ate the bits of egg, pancake, and bacon left behind by his kids. He did this despite the waitress asking if he would like another taco.  "No, I'm just going to finish off their plates."  (That's what my dad would've done.) 4.5 Tortillas 

Overall - Pete's Tako House is a solid restaurant with great ambiance, service, and food.  We would certainly bring our friends and family here on a future visit.

Pete's Tako House

502 Brooklyn Ave

San Antonio, TX 78215

(210) 224-2911

Teno's Tidbits - I was pretty impressed that Pete's gives you the option to make a reservation. This is pretty common at many restaurants these days, but it was a first for me to see it at a taco spot. I made a reservation anticipating a packed house, but luckily we were early enough to not really need it. Good to know for the next time. 

Eddie's Extras - Hipsters. They're everywhere.  Given the location, I thought this place would be full of them. We did see a few, having coffee, eating omelettes, reading the paper.  Fortunately, it was 9:30 when we arrived and most of them were likely still sleeping off their PBRs. Then Teno noticed I was wearing a hat and sporting a beard. Ok, fine. There's room for everyone in this town. Austin may be weird, but San Anto is eclectic. 

I'm keeping the hat, but going back to a proper Gen X goatee. Excuse me as I go back to my Counting Crows station on Pandora. 

Las Cazuelas

It's 2015 and despite our resolutions to get healthier, we remain committed to finding and discussing the best breakfast taco spots in San Antonio.  Tacos are good for the soul, so we can't go wrong.  However, we will exercise a little more moderation this year.  As a matter of fact, we only ordered two tacos each.  (Ignore the fact that we were eating barbacoa two hours later.  See Teno's Tidbits below.)  

As we mentioned in a previous post, we will also start venturing out further from the Westside, in hopes of finding the best spots in the city.  This first visit of 2015 took us to the San Antonio Southside!

Las Cazuelas is located off of IH-35, between Division and Southcross (though closer to Division).  The site looks recently remodeled and boasts ample parking.  Now, in full disclosure, the restaurant is owned by the family of one of our friends from St. Mary's.  We knew this going in and we did our best to remain impartial.  We both walked away having both enjoyed a good, filling meal, and we'd recommend you check it out, too.

Ambiance - The decor of Las Cazuelas is simple and comfortable.  The yellow walls are soothing and the simple decor includes some colorful animal ornaments.  Our favorite decoration though, was the two large cazuelas on the wall.  They made us yearn for a meal served in one of those.  We also noticed a white Christmas tree on display.  The tree had red hearts as ornaments.  Valentine's Day tree, perhaps?  Bonus points for re-purposing the tree!  4.5 Tortillas - 

Service - Service was good at Las Cazuelas.  We were seated promptly, checked up on regularly, and the food order came out right and relatively quickly.  No complaints here.
5 Tortillas

Menu - The menu options were adequate.  No surprises.  No frills.  All the usual suspects.  We did notice several different prices for tacos, tough.  Maybe this is a philosophical question, but shouldn't there just be two price points?  One set for simple tacos (bean/cheese, potato/egg, chorizo/egg, etc.) and one for premium tacos (machacado, chicharron, nopalitos, etc.).  (Teno reminds Eddie that if he wants to write a "taco-philosophy piece," he should do that separately.  This is a review, for crying out loud!)

Food - (Um...sorry, Teno.)  The breakfast tacos we each had were pretty good.  Above average, we'd say.  Teno ordered a bean and egg and a machacado and egg.  The bean and egg featured an "egg-splosion" since it had so much egg.  One could have made 2 or 3 tacos out of it.  The beans were delicious and held a good taste.  The machacado was also pretty good - not too spicy and very flavorful.  You didn't need to add any salsa to improve on it.  Eddie ordered a bean and cheese taco to go with a papas a la Mexicana taco.  The bean and cheese was everything a bean and cheese should be.  The papa a la Mexicana featured an "papa-splosion" and really was nothing more than potatoes with some finely chopped pico de gallo dropped in.  Eddie would have preferred the pico sauteed with the papas.  4 Tortillas

Overall - We both enjoyed our outing to Las Cazuelas and would certainly return with friends and family.  The other breakfast items on the menu, along with the lunch and dinner options, seemed to hold much promise.  It's definitely worth a drive to get there, no matter where in San Antonio you live. 4 Tortillas

Las Cazuelas

645 Chalmers Ave

San Antonio, TX 78214

(210) 932-1785

Teno's Tidbits - After breakfast, we had another event to attend at a friend's house.  Our friend had made some barbacoa from scratch and invited family and friends over.  Even though we'd just eaten, we wanted to go and show support.  Our only requirement was to bring a side or accompaniment.  We chose to bring some sweet bread and found a small family shop on the Westside.  We got a box, loaded it up nicely with all manner of items.  Conchas, quequitos, churros, empanadas.  About 16 items in total.  Being from the Valley, we remembered being able to buy a similar amount of food for around $5.  We thought it'd be about that.  Maybe $8.  Much to our surprise, the total was over $13.  That's a little less than $1 per piece.  Are we wrong for being shocked at that level of pricing?  Has time passed us by?  What are your experiences buying sweet bread in town?

Eddie's Extras - First, the last time I lived in the Valley, Ann Richards was governor. (I really miss Ann Richards.)  So, maybe we're stuck in early-90s pan dulce prices.  

Second, those cazuelas. They looked beautiful.  Now I want one. I want to make mole in a cazuela.  I want to make mole, with my girlfriend at my side, for my family in a great, big cazuela.  I've never made mole without Doña Maria, my family lives in the Valley, and I don't have a girlfriend, but those are all minor details. 

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Friends, 

As we kick-off 2015, we wanted to take a moment and look back at 2014 and the beginning of our personal little blogging world about tacos.

 

We started our adventures in March and formally launched the site in May.  We’ve been to countless (seriously, it’s hard to count how many we visited) taco spots on the Westside.  If you remember, this all started by us wanting to test what the SA Current listed as the best breakfast spots on the Westside.  We visited all of those and decided to find our own favorite spots.  Here we are, in January 2015, and we are comfortable saying that of all the spots we visited, our two favorites are:

 

Los Angeles Restaurant y Panaderia

http://wetacoboutit.blogspot.com/2014/06/review-los-angeles-restaurant-panaderia.html 

La Bandera Molino

http://wetacoboutit.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-bandera-molino.html

 

Those are the places we visited most often. The places we took our friends and family to. The places we will continue to visit moving forward.

 

Now, we feel it is time to expand our search for the best tacos to the greater San Antonio area.  We will start by visiting some spots on the Southside that have been recommended to us.  This isn’t to say we are done exploring the Westside.  Rather, it just means we’ll have that many more places to choose from.

 

And, in the spirit of a new year, we are making some resolutions.  We want to be better reviewers for you.  So, we are challenging ourselves to do the following:

 

1)   Be more consistent and prompt with our reviews.  We’ve visited many more restaurants these past few months, but just haven’t written and posted the review.  This isn’t to say the places weren’t worthy, but just that LIFE got in the way.  

2)   Launch a new site/logo.  We’ve done some work on our logo, now we just need to work on the look/feel of the site.  Sadly, neither of us has much experience in web design or layouts, but we’ll make it work.  

3)   Create some fun events.  We’d talked about approaching a restaurant and arranging some kind of deal or discount for people visiting on the same day we do – like around a birthday or milestone.  We’d still like to make this happen and we’ll keep you informed.  

 

So, that is where we are as we head into this new year.  Thank you for joining us on our journey so far.  Don’t stop believing in us and, together, we’ll find the best taco spots, a place where WE can TACO BOUT IT.

 

-Teno & Eddie    

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