Guns and Tacos

El Taco Mexicano

October 10th, 2009 in Tacos! by oberata | 2 responses

Taco Truck Virgin Goes Motorin’

A few months back, Mr. Guns & Tacos himself asked me to contribute to this blog about . . oh well, you know.  It sure the hell wasn’t guns.

"I NEVER DID IT, OK?!"

I wonder if it occurred to him that I had NEVER ONCE visited a taco truck.  Oh yes, I was your regular Molly Ringwald (“Claire”) from Breakfast Club: a pompous virgin of massive proportions who had never hosted her own taco invasion.

Oh sure, I could tiptoe my way around Airline Dr., visiting many an independent Mexican joint.  But I never thought I was brave enough for taco trucks.  Or maybe it just never crossed my mind.

I am so glad all of that changed today.

CHASTITY VANQUISHED "AL PASTOR"

My dad was driving me home from cardiac rehab.  He had to stop for gas, and ended up at an Exxon station in Humble – very near George W. Bush Int’l Airport.  (FM 1960 at Lee Rd.)

In the parking lot sat my knight in shining armor:  Tacos El Mexicano (or El Taco Mexicano).

Being 4 o’clock in the afternoon, there was no one around, but the big neon said OPEN so off I went while dad filled up the car.

In Spanish I ordered two tacos, both “al pastor”.  I asked for “cebolla, limon, y cilantro” (onion, lime, and cilantro).  As I waited, I couldn’t resist asking the guy whether or not they made the corn tortillas from scratch.

He explained that they made the “harina” (flour) fresh but the corn tortillas were made by Guerrero, and he even showed me the package.  As he assured me how wonderful they were, I know that somewhere, somehow, someone’s sensor de bullsheet must have been blowin’ up.

I also noticed with mild amusement a Harris County certificate of Food Service Managerial Training that was posted on the window.  Probably there to appease curious gringos like me.  It hedged my doubt by at least 6%.

Anyway, they quickly produced two tacos al pastor, and I was on my way.

As I settled into the back seat, my dad – previously uninterested in snacking – quickly changed his tune.

“Oh man, these look good, Pop,” I said.

And they did.  What they lacked in size they made up with thickness:  two double wrapped tacos filled with firm seasoned pork, onions, and cilantro.  I was happy to see they had included sauteed onions on the side.

I was so ready to snarf these down that I forgot to take a picture until I’d eaten most of the 2nd taco.  Here’s the best my Blackberry could render:

After all the evidence was gone, I discovered the little cup of green sauce I’d requested at the bottom of the bag.  I fished it out, dunked in a finger and tried it . . . I think my  pupils must have turned the color of volcano lava.  A hot mofo of a green sauce that I was glad I’d left off my tacos, in retrospect.

So there you have it.  I’m your sleazy, promiscuous, Taco Truck bitch!  And I’m proud of it.  So if you’re predisposed to Taco Bell, Chipotle, or heaven forbid Casa Ole, go find yourself a stud taco truck and see what you’ve been missing.