From Gerald Ford’s corn husk to Del Taco Street tacos and Breakfast Tacos in Texas — a light hearted look at fifty years of politicians who still don’t quite get it
Thanks for a wonderful analysis. I truly appreciate your posts.
I had forgotten about Gerald Ford and the tamale. I do have a modicum of sympathy for him.
I grew up on the East Coast at a time where there were very few Mexican American residents. I was used to Caribbean, Central American, and South American tamales.
I moved to Arizona in my mid 20s. I didn’t realize these tamales were wrapped in cornhusks. I couldn’t understand why they were so tough as I tried to cut them.
My brother and I were the two blond kids on our street in West Whittier - Los Nietos area with Pico Rivera just on the other side of the 605/San Gabriel River Fwy. in the 1960s early 1970s. Our neighbors and childhood friends' Mommas and Abuelas taught my Momma how to make her own tortillas, to use flank steak instead of ground beef on the tacos and/or burritos, etc. And she loved her tequila. Friday nights at friends' houses with our Mommas making dinner and drinking margaritas is such a wonderful memory.
And then we moved to Sunny Hills area of Fullerton in Summer 1973. Tacos at a friends' house for dinner meant store-bought taco shells (GROSS!!!) and ground beef marinated in Lawry's taco seasoning. (More GROSS). Many of my friends parents were 2nd generation American born with parents that had been raised in Chicago or Brooklyn. My Momma quickly found the Mexican stores in Downtown Fullerton. And she taught the friends of my brother and I what Tacos meant when we were told dinner was tacos.
My Senior year of college in 1986 I did the obligatory trip to Mazatlán for Spring break. We took the train from Mexicali to Mazatlán because our budget would not allow for plane flights. I remember stopping in Benjamin Hill, Sonora to merge with the train coming from Nogales also loaded with College Kids. We got off to stretch our legs. Found a street vendor. Best tacos I ever had - and to this days I have no idea what kind of meat was on it. LOL!
I'm blessed to have grown up with so many cultures around. Our food choices were definitely varied. But I also have experienced what it's like to be immersed into cuisine that I did not have a lot of knowledge about when we would visit my husband's Grandparents in Georgia and rural Alabama. Homemade biscuits with Sausage and Gravy! omg yes please. Fried Okra, not so much.
As always, thank you for the take and insight. Gracias!
I'm vegan (not vagan Trump) and it doesn't stop me from eating my favorite burritos! Great walk down memory lane. Thank you for bringing it home to today. Chuck would never let James go to Del Taco and call it authentic.
Then there's the most essential tamal question of our time: corn husks or platano leaves? Any politician who thinks all latinos are corn husk users deserves to be humiliated.
I remember Ford eating that tamale with the husk- our family had a good laugh. Huckabee might be right….
Also, just curious if you realize that Texas breakfast tacos are served on soft tortillas? I’m getting the feeling that people think breakfast tacos in TX are in hard shells or something. They are just smaller burritos- you just don’t wrap them quite the same and they almost always have eggs. I mean, it’s breakfast after all….
Oh I’ve had them many times in San Antonio. They’re just eggs with a tortilla - no taco necessary unless you’re eating it with more than that or taking it to a job site
Hmmm. Maybe Steve Hilton took you to get them? It’s not just eggs. There’s pico de gallo and sometimes chorizo or bacon and beans or potatoes. Avocado. Cheese if you like cheese. Always with a choice of salsas. Just depends on how you order them. And always on a tortilla, usually corn.
P.S. Scroll through the photo gallery toward the bottom of the website for Taco Joint, the place where Talarico and Hinojosa took Obama. They don’t just serve eggs with a tortilla.
I know how hard it is for you to comprehend that no one else - especially not Mexicans - call it a breakfast taco - but it’s true. I don’t need to scroll through anything it’s Texans being Texans. I’m good.
Rule #1 for candidates: Do your homework! If you can't be bothered, then we can't be bothered to vote for you. (Signed, an old white guy who knows his street tacos!)
The Talarico story is a great example of Democrats never being able to win -- no matter how good a candidate is, Fox and Trump will invent a flaw. Meanwhile Trump has effed up as royally as it's possible to eff up and still has supporters. How is he not yet below 30 percent?
I just hope the Democratic Party listens to Mike this time and beyond!
The SUPERMAJORITY PLAN TO IMPEACH TRUMP and HIS ADMINISTRATION
It will take 292 house and 67 senate votes to obtain a supermajority vote. This is the key to accomplishing anything in the house or senate. The house and senate will be able to impeach Trump and his administration for their crimes and corruption.
The Democrats are the only ones that will stand against Trump. We have to vote out as many republicans as possible. The republicans have already proven they will stand with Trump no matter what.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD MIDTERM ELECTIONS TO MAKE THIS WORK
Make sure you share this with everyone you know without social media. People without social media are unaware how corrupt and detrimental Trump’s administration really is for our country. The media outlets do not post anything negative about Trump. Some people don’t even know what the midterm elections are or how important they are.
TRUMP, HIS ADMINISTRATION, HIS BILLIONAIRE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING NETWORK (Elon Musk) , AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE CORRUPTING THE GOVERNMENT TO COVER THEIR CRIMES .
I don't understand your dig at Texans liking breakfast tacos. They are not anyone trying to be cool, they are just tasty, filling/satisfying, portable and cheap. As your other commenter mentioned there are options beyond eggs, cheese, potatoes, pico de gallo or salsa, avocado, chorizo, and more. There are breakfast burritos too, within which one usually expects to find beans. I don't eat beans for breakfast, but eggs for breakfast are an old tradition, whether they are in a tortilla or not, making the MAGA dis especially dumb. Talarico is not likely to take Texas Latinos for granted.
You just described a traditional Mexican breakfast. Because it’s eaten with a tortilla - as they all are - doesn’t make it a taco. As I mentioned, I think it’s a Texas thing because no one else calls it a breakfast taco - certainly not the Mexicans
Jebus Christie. Texmex, ever heard of that? You put eggs and the other things *in a folded tortilla* then pick up the filled tortilla and eat it then and there or take it with you. Breakfast taco. Simple, delicious, and portable.
Yes I’ve heard of it. It’s stupid. That’s why I wrote an essay on it. Being stupid doesn’t change Mexican food - it makes it a Texan oddity. Only Texans do this. That’s the point.
Tex-Mex cuisine has a long history in Texas and the Southwest. I find it bizarre that you would call such a widespread and beloved food tradition "stupid". Maybe you should run for office with this as one of your talking points.
Thanks for a wonderful analysis. I truly appreciate your posts.
I had forgotten about Gerald Ford and the tamale. I do have a modicum of sympathy for him.
I grew up on the East Coast at a time where there were very few Mexican American residents. I was used to Caribbean, Central American, and South American tamales.
I moved to Arizona in my mid 20s. I didn’t realize these tamales were wrapped in cornhusks. I couldn’t understand why they were so tough as I tried to cut them.
It took me years to live down that story.
Not uncommon!! Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼
Love your post!
Thank you. This was very readable and somewhat appetizing... now I am hungry. (smile now)
Haha
Talarico should have gone with the barbacoa, bout as TX as it gets.
My brother and I were the two blond kids on our street in West Whittier - Los Nietos area with Pico Rivera just on the other side of the 605/San Gabriel River Fwy. in the 1960s early 1970s. Our neighbors and childhood friends' Mommas and Abuelas taught my Momma how to make her own tortillas, to use flank steak instead of ground beef on the tacos and/or burritos, etc. And she loved her tequila. Friday nights at friends' houses with our Mommas making dinner and drinking margaritas is such a wonderful memory.
And then we moved to Sunny Hills area of Fullerton in Summer 1973. Tacos at a friends' house for dinner meant store-bought taco shells (GROSS!!!) and ground beef marinated in Lawry's taco seasoning. (More GROSS). Many of my friends parents were 2nd generation American born with parents that had been raised in Chicago or Brooklyn. My Momma quickly found the Mexican stores in Downtown Fullerton. And she taught the friends of my brother and I what Tacos meant when we were told dinner was tacos.
My Senior year of college in 1986 I did the obligatory trip to Mazatlán for Spring break. We took the train from Mexicali to Mazatlán because our budget would not allow for plane flights. I remember stopping in Benjamin Hill, Sonora to merge with the train coming from Nogales also loaded with College Kids. We got off to stretch our legs. Found a street vendor. Best tacos I ever had - and to this days I have no idea what kind of meat was on it. LOL!
I'm blessed to have grown up with so many cultures around. Our food choices were definitely varied. But I also have experienced what it's like to be immersed into cuisine that I did not have a lot of knowledge about when we would visit my husband's Grandparents in Georgia and rural Alabama. Homemade biscuits with Sausage and Gravy! omg yes please. Fried Okra, not so much.
As always, thank you for the take and insight. Gracias!
I'm vegan (not vagan Trump) and it doesn't stop me from eating my favorite burritos! Great walk down memory lane. Thank you for bringing it home to today. Chuck would never let James go to Del Taco and call it authentic.
Then there's the most essential tamal question of our time: corn husks or platano leaves? Any politician who thinks all latinos are corn husk users deserves to be humiliated.
This was awesome to read! Face palm and SMH lol!!😂🤣
I remember Ford eating that tamale with the husk- our family had a good laugh. Huckabee might be right….
Also, just curious if you realize that Texas breakfast tacos are served on soft tortillas? I’m getting the feeling that people think breakfast tacos in TX are in hard shells or something. They are just smaller burritos- you just don’t wrap them quite the same and they almost always have eggs. I mean, it’s breakfast after all….
Oh I’ve had them many times in San Antonio. They’re just eggs with a tortilla - no taco necessary unless you’re eating it with more than that or taking it to a job site
Hmmm. Maybe Steve Hilton took you to get them? It’s not just eggs. There’s pico de gallo and sometimes chorizo or bacon and beans or potatoes. Avocado. Cheese if you like cheese. Always with a choice of salsas. Just depends on how you order them. And always on a tortilla, usually corn.
So adorable. Everywhere but in Texas that’s called eggs with a tortilla.
We Texans can be pretty adorable.
Just to other Texans
Ouch!
P.S. Scroll through the photo gallery toward the bottom of the website for Taco Joint, the place where Talarico and Hinojosa took Obama. They don’t just serve eggs with a tortilla.
https://austintacojoint.com
I know how hard it is for you to comprehend that no one else - especially not Mexicans - call it a breakfast taco - but it’s true. I don’t need to scroll through anything it’s Texans being Texans. I’m good.
Rule #1 for candidates: Do your homework! If you can't be bothered, then we can't be bothered to vote for you. (Signed, an old white guy who knows his street tacos!)
The Talarico story is a great example of Democrats never being able to win -- no matter how good a candidate is, Fox and Trump will invent a flaw. Meanwhile Trump has effed up as royally as it's possible to eff up and still has supporters. How is he not yet below 30 percent?
I just hope the Democratic Party listens to Mike this time and beyond!
Bean and cheese an bacon and egg! My favorites and always on flower tortillas with plenty of salsa!
Flour!
oh! so that's why the felon has been calling Talarico a vegan.
Yup
The SUPERMAJORITY PLAN TO IMPEACH TRUMP and HIS ADMINISTRATION
It will take 292 house and 67 senate votes to obtain a supermajority vote. This is the key to accomplishing anything in the house or senate. The house and senate will be able to impeach Trump and his administration for their crimes and corruption.
The Democrats are the only ones that will stand against Trump. We have to vote out as many republicans as possible. The republicans have already proven they will stand with Trump no matter what.
EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE NOVEMBER 3RD MIDTERM ELECTIONS TO MAKE THIS WORK
Make sure you share this with everyone you know without social media. People without social media are unaware how corrupt and detrimental Trump’s administration really is for our country. The media outlets do not post anything negative about Trump. Some people don’t even know what the midterm elections are or how important they are.
TRUMP, HIS ADMINISTRATION, HIS BILLIONAIRE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING NETWORK (Elon Musk) , AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE CORRUPTING THE GOVERNMENT TO COVER THEIR CRIMES .
WE HAVE TO STOP THEM FROM DESTROYING THE COUNTRY
Love this, needed some light hearted politics! Always enjoy your posts Mike, keep it up!
I don't understand your dig at Texans liking breakfast tacos. They are not anyone trying to be cool, they are just tasty, filling/satisfying, portable and cheap. As your other commenter mentioned there are options beyond eggs, cheese, potatoes, pico de gallo or salsa, avocado, chorizo, and more. There are breakfast burritos too, within which one usually expects to find beans. I don't eat beans for breakfast, but eggs for breakfast are an old tradition, whether they are in a tortilla or not, making the MAGA dis especially dumb. Talarico is not likely to take Texas Latinos for granted.
You just described a traditional Mexican breakfast. Because it’s eaten with a tortilla - as they all are - doesn’t make it a taco. As I mentioned, I think it’s a Texas thing because no one else calls it a breakfast taco - certainly not the Mexicans
Jebus Christie. Texmex, ever heard of that? You put eggs and the other things *in a folded tortilla* then pick up the filled tortilla and eat it then and there or take it with you. Breakfast taco. Simple, delicious, and portable.
Yes I’ve heard of it. It’s stupid. That’s why I wrote an essay on it. Being stupid doesn’t change Mexican food - it makes it a Texan oddity. Only Texans do this. That’s the point.
Tex-Mex cuisine has a long history in Texas and the Southwest. I find it bizarre that you would call such a widespread and beloved food tradition "stupid". Maybe you should run for office with this as one of your talking points.
I’d win in 49 states outside of Texas
Calling a traditional Mexican breakfast Tex-Mex isn’t a tradition. It’s called nonsense.