Taco Town

tacocat is a halloween costume

2009-11-04T19:45:38Z

palindrome

Our buddy Phil gets the ultimate tacotown stamp of approval™ for his costume at Phish’s Festival 8…TACOCAT!!

here’s the original, in case you live in a cave.

cabeza

TacoTown’s Salsa Recipe Gets Published in ACL Cookbook!

2009-11-04T16:38:51Z

Music in the Kitchen: Favorite Recipes from Austin City Limits Performers

When Austin salsa music legends, Beto and the Fairlanes, were asked to submit a recipe for the newly released “Music in the Kitchen: Favorite Recipes from Austin City Limits Performers”, they of course chose the best salsa in Austin – Our own Chappy’s Green Salsa! Thanks Beto! We are honored to be included in the book.

Other recipes include My Morning Jacket’s “Quinoa Eggs with Cheese, Please!”, Willie Nelson’s “Willie’s Tequila-Mango Salsa”, and Joss Stone’s “Veggie Lasagna.” You’ll find the recipe for Beto’s favorite – our famous green salsa on page 25.. [amazon link]

Conserve the Hill Country by Eating Tacos

2009-10-27T19:41:25Z

TacoTown has contributed a silent auction basket of taco-goodness for this Friday’s ‘Hill Country Nights’ event benefiting the Hill Country Conservancy.

Hill Country Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust committed to preserving the natural beauty and open spaces of the Texas Hill Country – forever.

Our basket includes contributions from:

Republic Tequila – thanks Tom & Ken for the signed bottle & T-shirt!
Rio Grande – gift cards, margarita glasses, sports bottles, lime sunscreen
Cabo Bob’s – free taco cards!
also, we included a jar of the award winning Chappy’s green salsa & some stickers.

Hill Country Conservancy’s 3rd Annual Hill Country Nights
Friday, Oct 30, 7:00pm | An evening of dinner and dancing | entertainment by Marcia Ball {More Info}

TACO, TACO, TACO

2009-10-07T01:11:46Z

There’s a new Austin-made short film available via HBO on Demand called “Taco! Taco! Taco!.” Directed by UT-alum John Estrada, all we know is that its about a taco-stand owner and his plot to bring down a new competitor.. looks spicy! [more flickr photos from the set]

ACL Music Fest : TacoTown Approved EATS!

2009-09-30T21:21:27Z

The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival is shaping up to be the best yet, with cooler weather, lush green grass, a very solid lineup, and perhaps finest crop of food vendors ever assembled…This ain’t yer daddy’s “state-fare” of turkey legs and funnel cakes…We’re talkin gourmet, Austin-style goodness…even vegetarians have options….and so here’s the…

Taco Town Approved Grub at ACL Fest:

Hudson’s on the Bend
Hot & Crunchy Cone: Shrimp/Chicken/Avocado
NEW! Purple Pig Cone: braised pulled pork w/ purple slaw & horseradish sauce

Mesa Verde Grill
Quesadillas: Spinach Mushroom, Chipotle Chicken or Steak
Smoked Wings with Sweet BBQ or Mango Habenero Sauce

Torchy's Green Chile Pork taco

Torchy’s
Green Chili Pork Taco
Potato Bean Green Chili Taco
Trailer Park Taco

Wahoo’s
Blackened Fish Tacos
Grilled Chicken Tacos
Burritos: Fish/Chicken/Veggie

Moonshine
Fried Fish Tacos w/ Jicima
Lunar Burrito

Taco Shits: Inventors Edition

2009-09-25T16:15:10Z

WANT! Taco Wallet

Tacos: a good place to put your money
No, literally. Its a freakin taco wallet! Thanks for the tip Fuck Yeah Tacos!

Stand Up!
Awww snap! Taco night at Bernie’s just went PRO with these interlocking taco holders. Now use both paws to stuff that taco with our delicious Bison Picadillo Recipe. These things are dishwasher safe, but in Texas we like our carbon footprint XL, so we’re waiting on these disposables.

Patented Taco Shells:
only thing better than a taco stand is a freestanding taco, and the only thing better than an ice cream cone is a taco cone!

Nuked Crispies?
Taco Pablo brings you the Taco Toaster, a revolutionary device that turns soft corn tortillas into crispy taco shells with your microwave. Genius.

Chappy’s – Its a Winner!!

2009-09-08T16:24:33Z

Wow! Somehow this slipped past our habanero rubbed eyes, but it was just called to our attention that our very own CHAPPY’S Original Green Salsa was awarded honorable mention in the Individual Green Sauce division of this year’s Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival.

This is our 2nd honorable mention award in 4 years of competing at The Chronicle Fest, to go along with our two 1st place champion awards at Joby’s Hot Sauce Contest. – so we’re feeling somewhat validated and definitely movitated to make the podium next year…

after the jump: the full list of Individual winners from 2009:

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival 2009
Individual – Judged Division – Winners

Red Sauce

1st Place: Twyla Wick*
2nd Place: Michael Hutchinson*
3rd Place: Robert Heady*
Honorable Mention: Heath Garcia (Hurst), Eileen Fuessel (Hutto), Maria Estela Flores, Michael Rypka, Rita Huffman, John Cunningham, Marlo Cooper, Jacob J. Serda, Mark Wayne Choban, B&R Salsa, Chris Samarripas, Adam Wear, Rene Moreno

Green Sauce

1st Place: Karen Kessel*
2nd Place: Gary Peifer*
3rd Place: Brett Appolito*
Honorable Mention: Eric Reyes, Célangé Santiso, Bobby Nall, Kala Uprety, Dustin & Evan Bozarth (TacoTown.org)

Special Variety

1st Place: Burt Friedman*
2nd Place: Jim Hoppers*
3rd Place: Carol Castillo* (Dallas)
Honorable Mention: Austin Shockley & Caleb Dawson, Russell & Mattie Lewis, Shane Crawford, Patty Tomasco, Melonie Canga, Jason Parsons, Sonya Miller, Andrea Christi Michelle, Célangé Santiso, Michelle Hardy

is Fonda San Miguel Slippin?

2009-09-02T17:32:59Z

Despite its legendary status as a benchmark in fine interior Mexican cuisine, Austin American Stateman food critic Mike Sutter was clearly NOT impressed with his recent visit. He is certainly was aware of over 3 decades of untarnished praise bestowed upon FSM by food writers, much of it from the Stateman itself…but just maybe things have slipped with the newest head chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas.

We weren’t prepared for the room-temperature preparation of the relleno (neither the menu nor the waiter mentioned it). I was disappointed by the chopped tuna filling, which reminded me of canned fish. Even with olives and capers, two Anaheim peppers and a side of heirloom beans, the dish was a washout of soft textures and even softer flavors.

Sutter goes onto to DISS the award winning interior design art collection as “tacky and carnivalesque” and their famous Sunday brunch as “like eating in a storage room”…And don’t get him started on the Angels on Horseback, “a trainwreck of stiff textures and a sour-sea aroma…”

Of course, its not ALL BAD – he does say like 2 nice things, but i think its just to be diplomatic…read for yourself

OK – I will admit that my last visit for Sunday Brunch was not quite as amazing as previous euphoric experiences…and with great new spots like Garrido’s and La Condesa popping up to challenge the throne of Interior Mex – I’d say Fonda better keep their game tight – but that’s as far as i would go – Fonda is still the king to me…until further notice.

cabeza

Torchy’s Birthday Party – FREE BEER!

2009-09-02T16:47:04Z

Austin’s most popular gringo taco trailer & mobile food pioneers TORCHY’S TACOS turns 3 years old this week. To celebrate, they’re throwing a Birthday Party this Thursday evening at their non-mobile location on the corner of South 1st & El Paso. FREE KEG BEER will be served from 7-10pm along with fiddle music from teenage prodigy Ruby Jane Smith.

Don’t forget about movie nights up the road at Torchy’s South Austin Trailer Park (1311 s. First). Tonight’s feature film is GroundHog Day

-cabeza

Dave Brown’s Taco-Hat Roves the Hot Sauce Fest

2009-09-01T03:25:51Z

Results: 2009 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival

2009-08-31T18:08:42Z

We entered the fest for our 4th year in a row.. put in 2 salsas – The Chappy’s green tomatillo sauce and an expirimental Peach/Habanero/Red Pepper salsa for the Special Variety class… no prize this year, but we had a blast anyway.. The music was good, the lines were manageable, the beer was cold..and the salsas were a-plenty.. I kinda wish they would have the fest late-afternoon into the evening so that the heat would be more managable.. something tells me eating hot sauce in the mid-day sun could lead to cardiac arrest.

Fest judging results after the jump..
(Pace got 3rd place for People’s Choice Red Sauce? WTF?? )

Restaurant Category

Red Sauce

1st Place: Torchy’s Tacos
2nd Place: La Condesa
3rd Place: El Caribe

Green Sauce

1st Place: Los Lomas
2nd Place: El Sazon
3rd Place: Cuatro’s Restaurant

Special Variety

1st Place: Curra’s Grill
2nd Place: La Condesa
3rd Place: El Sazon

Individual Category

Red Sauce

1st Place: Twyla Wick
2nd Place: Michael Hutchinson
3rd Place: Robert Heady

Green Sauce

1st Place: Karen Kessel
2nd Place: Gary Peifer
3rd Place: Brett Appolito

Special Variety

1st Place: Burt Friedman
2nd Place: Jim Hoppers
3rd Place: Carol Castillo

Commercial Bottlers People’s Choice

Red Sauce

1st Place: Kala’s Kuisine – Curry Chipotle Sauce
2nd Place: Austin Slow Burn – Salsa Con Habanero
3rd Place: Pace – Pico de Gallo

Green Sauce

1st Place: Kala’s Kuisine – Mirchi Masala Salsa
2nd Place: Big Dawg’s Fire Rescue Jalapeno Hot Sauce
3rd Place: Tears of Joy 6th Street Green

Special Variety

1st Place: Tears of Joy – Tequila Lime Hot Sauce
2nd Place: Pepper Creek Farm – Island Flame
3rd Place: Kala’s Kuisine – Mango Chutney

Pepper Sauce

1st Place: Big Daddy’s Ass Burn Hot Sauce
2nd Place: Sgt. Pepper’s Tropical Tears Mango Hot Sauce
3rd Place: Big Dawg’s DNR

Commercial Bottlers – Judged by Celebrity Judges

Red Sauce

1st Place: Don’t Panic Hispanic
2nd Place: Tears of Joy 6th Red Salsa
3rd Place: Kala’s Kuisine Curry Chipotle Salsa

Green Sauce

1st Place: Tears of Joy 6th St. Green Sauce
2nd Place: Austin Slow Burn Salsa Verde
3rd Place: Kala’s Kuisine Mirchi Masala Salsa

Special Variety

1st Place: Aztexan Habenero Supreme
2nd Place: Tears of Joy August in Austin Hot Sauce
3rd Place: Austin Slow Burn Jerk Marinade

Pepper Sauce

1st Place: Aztexan Habenero Supreme
2nd Place: Tears of Joy August in Austin Hot Sauce
3rd Place: Austin Slow Burn Jerk Marinade

Rio Grande Food Bloggers’ Happy Hour

2009-08-31T17:45:24Z

We have been to the Rio numerous times in the past.. The atmosphere and drinks – always good.. but the food- usually hit and miss.. Well, with the help of new management and an exciting new menu, it looks like they’ve stepped up their game and are ready to challenge the other downtown metro-mexuals like Garrido’s, La Condesa, Maria Maria, Manuels. In addition to a variety of tasty margaritas, the food blogging elite in attendance were treated to samples of Mahi Mahi tacos, Steak tacos, Grilled 9-pepper Shrimp, and fresh-made guacamole.. Everything we tasted was outstandingly fresh and prepared with an attention to detail and flavor that truly impressed us. Props to the new management at Rio Grande.. we will be back for a full meal soon.

Cheese Covered Cheese (with Chicken): PR’s Taco Palace- Winter Park, FL

2009-08-04T19:42:14Z

Blackened Chicken and Cream Cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, then deep fried and covered with queso

I recently had the pleasure of making it back to my hometown of Orlando, FL for the July 4th weekend and was able to hit up an old school Mexican joint that we used to frequent in high school. The place is called PR’s Taco Palace and it definitely was, and still is, a nice little hole in the wall restaurant. All the original wood and smells therein still remain embedded.

Now PR’s as far as I can recall, was always thought of for its “train track tequila” deals. To explain… PR’s was built about 50 feet from the tracks that run through Winter Park. Back in the day when the train used to come screeching by, they would come around with a cart of tequila shots for FREE. Of course it was, and still is, Jose Cuervo… which I refuse to touch any more, period. Except now, they’re not free any more, just discounted. So this time when the train came by while we were there, I just opted for Patron just to keep with the tradition of at least shooting some kind of agave booze.

As for the food at PR’s, not amazing, but traditionally tasty none the less. I always roll with their favored gut bomb called the “Fundido”. The Fundido is simply blackened chicken and cream cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, then deep-fried and topped with queso. So as you can imagine this thing is amazing for the sole reason that it contains the words “cream cheese, queso, and fried”. I followed suit of my good buddy and only got the mini-Fundido as the regular sized one is something that would have created leftovers that woulda sat in my buddies car for the entire rest of the evening while we were at the bars. Not to mention I was with good friends that I hadn’t seen in a while and the dinner turned more into a tequila-thon than a food event.

I would write more about what everyone else at the table had but they didn’t speak to highly of their dishes so Im going to just tell you to get the damn Fundido and like it.

Bernout~

Gut-Bombs Over Capitol Plaza: Amaya’s Taco Village

2009-07-23T23:32:34Z

Amaya’s Taco Village is a mainstay of the i-35 taco scene.. Not much has changed in years… expect to find the place packed at lunch time. The highlight of the (otherwise lackluster) menu are the Village Tacos.. Served in thick yellow corn fried shells that are a combination of chewy, crunchy, and greasy.. with processed yellow cheese, lettuce and tomato.. then your choice of ground beef, shredded chicken, or beef fajita. Though you can get as many as 3 tacos to a plate, with rice and beans, 2 is more than enough to keep your belly full for the rest of the day.

For me, its the combination of the greasy, chewy shell and the half-melted yellow cheese that make these tacos taste so damn good.. sometimes you just have wipe that ’south austin – holier than thou – organic – whole food ‘ look off your face and enjoy the beauty of processed cheese… at least i do. The ground beef is ok, but i would reccommend the fajita beef at a small extra charge.. it adds to the amazing texture of these tacos.. Amaya’s tacos have a weight/mass to them that is unrivaled.. a true gut-bomb if there ever was one.

Amaya’s Taco Village
www.amayastacovillage.com
5405 N Ih 35
Austin, TX 78723-2429
(512) 458-2531
Get directions

Patty melt at tin cup grill

2009-07-18T02:44:08Z

Taco Shits – Yum Yum’s Laser background

2009-07-14T07:14:48Z

Coed Fish Tacos
Tasty UT undergrad makes a hideous fish taco

Brooklyn vs. Austin
Where are America’s Best Tacos?

99 Cent Chef
recipe for Huevos Rancheros on the cheap

Crack Sauce
Blogger makes love to TacoDeli’s Doña Sauce

Video: Taco Bell’s New Green Menu! 100% UN-Natural.

2009-07-06T13:52:55Z

YouTube – Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature.

Fancy Fast Food – Tacobellini

2009-07-02T21:16:33Z

Ever wondered how to turn a Taco Bell Fail feast into a gourmet dish? Fancy Fast Food shows you how to make a TacoBellini from a Burrito Supreme…Yes, its still liable to give you giardia, but doesn’t it look fancy?

Las Flores Tacos!

2009-06-29T17:52:36Z

Al Pastor taco $0.99

I found this GREAT little taco stand just a couple minutes South-East of Austin, off Hwy 183 and DG Collins Rd. I was the only gringo there, and the girl inside spoke ZERO engles…which is always a good sign in my book.

Chorizo/egg taco (.99) was and great, especially with the chunky, vinagery house salsa piled on top..reminded me of Maria’s w/ the chimichurri (though not quite THAT good).

Bomb Taco Alert: the Al Pastor Taco (.99), was more like a BBQ pulled pork smothered in red sauce – but it was AMAZING…highly recommended.

Las Flores – try to remember that name – and go there next time you head out near the airport or traveling towards Lockhart – its right off 183 about 5 min south of hwy 71…It may be a little off the beaten path, but there’s also a Pollo Regio stand across the street- if you feel like u wanna double up.

will post more pics later.

-cabeza

Taco Shits: San Fran, Lens Eating, Barbacoa, etc…

2009-06-29T17:20:26Z

California Love
ATX Taco Blogger El Mundo de Mando (of Taco Journalism) blogs his Taco Crawl through San Francisco’s Mission district for SFweekly. La Taqueria and Taqueria Pancho Villa both received high marks. He goes on to weigh the pros & cons of Tacos vs. Burritos…is it even close, Mando?? (SFweekly)

Eat This Lens!
local photographer has some stunning shots from their recent Houston Taco Tour…nice work Marshall.

Houston’s Top 10 Taco Trucks
H-town’s finest mobile tacos – as compiled by the honorable and knowledgable Robb Walsh…El Ultimo (My favorite) comes in at a respectable #3….and the winner is >

Barbacoa 2 ways
Señor Robb Walsh gives us a detailed recipe and history lesson on the all-but-extinct art of Mexican Mutton BBQ, Barbacoa de Borrego…Also, peep Robb’s video tutorial on Backyard Barbacoa, AKA smoked cow head.