Author |
Message |
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 5:28 pm
We're not debating the definition of a tortilla, but of a taco. Traditional tacos are made from corn (and, as Tish said) are generally soft. Fried, hard shells as well as flour tortillas is pretty much an American thing. Since I grew up eating Mexican street food, I'll definitely claim to be a tortilla snob! Handmade flour tortillas are nothing to sneer at, and I love 'em when I can get 'em. But when I order a taco, I expect corn tortillas. If you want to continue to debate Mexican food, we can also discuss fish tacos. BTW, the ubiquitous Rubio's fish tacos aren't my fave and I'd sort of debate their real authenticity (I think Rubio found only guy who fried 'em and that was where he hung out). The fish tacos on the Pacific side of Baja aren't fried, they are grilled. And they are freakin' delicious. I hated Rubio's, when I used to eat fish tacos and all they did was fry 'em.
|
Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 6:27 pm
Love fish tacos - and I agree. The fish is grilled at all our authentic Mexican restaurants here, but when we were in the Virgin Islands, the shell was fried as was the fish! Tortillas - love both types as long as they're homemade. When I have to make 'em myself, I do a combo - 2 1/2 C flour to 1 1/2 C masa w/only about 2 TB of crisco per 24 tortillas. The leftovers last better. However, in a restaurant, I ALWAYS ask for corn tortillas. 
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 6:39 pm
No debate intended; just clarification, as the definition of a taco is that it is made with a tortilla - be it a corn or flour tortilla.
|
Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 7:29 pm
and it is made without cheese, tomato and lettuce. I think we should have a TACO TVCH gathering sometime! We could make it a "railroad" dinner - trying all our cities' various "authentic" tacos in a culinary quest to find The Very Best Taco north of Mexico!
|
Christy358
Member
07-10-2007
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 8:04 pm
I think that is a gread idea.... Phoenix anyone? I will be willing to sample all. (insert innocent look here.)
|
Allietex
Member
08-16-2002
| Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 10:04 pm
Bobby was the one who made the point that in Mexico you could get authentic soft tacos made with flour tortillas while Americans only knew of hard tortillas made with corn tortillas. He seemed to think that both were traditional in Mexico. I guess he could be mistaken. Personally, I like crispy tacos made with corn tortillas and soft tacos made with flour tortillas.
|
Txhazeleyes
Member
02-12-2008
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 3:47 am
My favorite is SOFT CORN tacos with ground beef pico de gallo. No funny spices or anythig in that meat, just salt, pepper and a little garlic. Flour tortillas and corn tortillas are both a part of traditional Mexican cuisine. Some restaurants here ask if you want soft or crispy tacos meaning flour is soft an corn is crispy. I never even heard of crispy tacos from corn until I graduated school and moved to Dallas in 81! lol
|
Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 3:59 am
I had the BEST blue corn chicken enchiladas Tuesday night at a New Mexican - as in the state of - restaurant. If I hadn't, I would be CRAVING spicy food now!
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 5:04 am
I made a large amount of tofu stir fry the other night (with a spicy orange sauce), so I'm not craving spicy. But I could do Mexican food every day and be happy as a clam as long as the ingredients are awesome. It's interesting how a watered down (or diluted with sour cream) guac can totally ruin a dish.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 5:06 am
I guess I have drunk the Kool-aid. I like Old El Paso crunchy corn shells, seasoned hamburger, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sour cream. I don't have any place around here to try "authentic" tacos, and I'm none the worse for wear for it. 
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 6:25 am
Glad you're not dead yet Hukd! 
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 6:35 am
Hukd, wait till you taste a "real" taco. You'll be like Tish... surprised at how good the real thing is when it's stripped down to just the essential elements. It's perfection!
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 9:17 am
Nah, I'm a simple person
|
Auntiemike
Member
09-17-2001
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 9:28 am
Thank goodness there's room in this world for "discriminating taste" such as yours Hukd. It's always nice to strive for simplicity. Life's too complicated as it is...
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 9:54 am
ha ha ha! I've never understood the "try a bite, you'll like it" thing, either aimed at me or at little kids. I figure there are plenty (way too many!) foods that I do eat, that I don't need to add any more. My gawd, I'd be a house if I found any more things to shove in my piehole!
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 10:09 am
But "simplicity" in a taco is really stripped down to it's basic form... meat, salsa, corn tortilla, maybe a hint of queso fresco. Doesn't get any simpler than that. Making an American-ized taco with seasoned ground beef, cheese, tomato, onion, salsa (or gasp! hot sauce), lettuce, prefab taco shells, sour cream... way more complicated.
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 10:09 am
Oh and Hukd? "Real" tacos are way less "fattening" than the Americanized version! 
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 10:13 am
Nah, I'll stick with my tried and true. "Real" tacos sound boring to me, actually. I love the Americanized ones!
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 10:19 am
LOL! I bet you lunch (at a really good Mexican restaurant) that some day, when you try "real" tacos, you'll agree with me and will mourn all you've been missing! <wink>
|
Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:16 am
Huk'd, i have had the official 'real' tacos, authentic mexican and tex mex versions, but I also love my Old El Paso shells too. I even like Jack in the Box's,Taco Bell's, and Taco C! LOL I am not a purist!
|
Allietex
Member
08-16-2002
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:27 am
I too could eat Mexican food every day. I have worked hard to find ways to cut down on the calories without sacrificing the taste. OMG, Costa, who would put sour cream in guacamole. I never put anything but onions and a little salsa. Huk, I really believe in this day and age there is no such thing as an authentic taco or any other Mexican dish. Mexico is not a small country and there are many different ways of preparing foods there just as there are different ways of preparing American dishes. The dishes that have found their way into America from Mexico have often been changed a lot. There is a whole sub category of Mexican food called Tex Mex that while it has its roots in Mexico, is distinctly Texan. And some of the best Tex Mex food around is found right here in San Antonio.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:36 am
I'm keeping my American tacos, so leave me alone you bullies! hee hee
|
Allietex
Member
08-16-2002
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:43 am
Huk, you go. I believe in eating what you like. I have never worried that much about authenticity in food. I just like to eat what I like.
|
Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 11:53 am
...and I believe that a good pizza comes from Pizza Hut. The Food Network people try to tell me that it has olive oil, sliced tomatoes, fresh motzarella, and basil! They're just plain crazy.
|
Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 12:20 pm
OK, I give up on Hukd. Pizza Hut? PIZZA HUT??? Ack! (BTW, my fave pizza is a margherita, as described by Hukd. When in Maui, though, the Kula Lodge does their margherita with a tomato sauce base. Just a plain tomato sauce and I tell you, it's a killer pizza! Really amps up the tomato flavor. Then they bake it in a wood burning stove, outside. Best.Pizza.Ever. Really.)
|