Comeeda

Author: Brandon Varnado

  • Woman Stops at Every Taco Spot on 10K Route

    Woman Stops at Every Taco Spot on 10K Route

    Writer Anna Orso originally wanted to compete in the Philly 10k. Her plan was to obtain a bib last minute if someone dropped out. That didn’t happen. However, That’s when a stroke of pure genius hit her.

    “I mapped out the official course and found a whole bunch of taco joints that were either directly on the route, or just a block or two off of it. Wednesday morning, I put on my stretchiest pants and my loosest tank top and started my own version of the Philly 10K — one in which I vowed to walk the entire 6.2 miles and stop to eat a taco at every single Mexican spot I came across along the way.”

    Orso observed the time honored tradition of eating tacos rather than exercising. It is documented common knowledge that the next best thing to running a 10k is eating tacos. In fact, the next best thing to almost anything is to eat tacos. Altogether she ate 14 tacos in about 5 hours. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

    You can read about her entire journey by clicking below

    Click here [via Billy Penn]

     

     

  • Review: Lay’s Crispy Taco

    Review: Lay’s Crispy Taco

    It’s that time of year again: Lay’s Do Us A Flavor has whittled down to their final three. This year’s finalists include Fried Green Tomato, Crispy Taco, and the Everything Bagel. Unlike previous years, there was one finalist that definitely caught my attention. A crispy taco flavored chip? I could be into that. Previous finalists left me in both shock and amazement while walking down the aisle at the grocery store. Flavors such as Bacon Mac & Cheese, Cappuccino, Biscuits & Gravy, or Bacon Poutine have made me mostly shake my head while walking away (not before taking a pic for evidence). But this year is different. I feel like I have a dog in this race.

    To be honest, I was a little late to the party. I don’t routinely check for new potato chip flavors hitting the pipeline. Secondly, the flavors being offered in previous years didn’t sound too appealing. (Let me know if there are some that I should check out.) This year’s Do Us A Flavor contest has been taking submissions and selecting finalists since January and announced these three finalists in early July. When I heard that Lay’s had a crispy taco flavored chip, I thought two things: “I like chips” and “I like tacos.” What could possibly go wrong?

    Today I happened to be in the grocery store. I also happened to be in the market for a snack, so I picked some up to see what these chips are all about. On first bite it was really nothing special. And for a moment, I was a bit disappointed. The bag smelled like taco seasoning, but I couldn’t really taste taco. Taco flavored Lay’s could have been so special. So special. I closed the bag and went about my day. However, I am not one to waste food and I still had a full bag of chips, so I did what any reasonable person would do in this situation – I kept eating. I am really glad I did.


    Although a single chip doesn’t burst with flavor, after a handful or two it all starts to come together. All of the flavors start to blend and it really does taste like a crispy taco. The lettuce, cheese, beef, and crispy tortilla all dancing on my tongue. Don’t get me wrong, these chips don’t taste like the most amazing tacos ever. The flavor is more along the lines of a late night run Taco Bell. But, if you can’t get to Taco Bell, your local taqueria or taco truck, this may be the next best thing to having an actual taco.

    I was really impressed with how each of the flavors are distinct and how well balanced it was. Much like an actual taco, each part separately could get mixed reviews, but when it all comes together, that’s when you have something special. I highly encourage everyone check these out before they are gone.

    If you would like to vote for the Crispy Taco Lay’s click here: www.dousaflavor.com/ Voting ends October 8, 2017.

  • Recipe: Wannabe BLT Taco

    Recipe: Wannabe BLT Taco

    Cook Time: 30 minutes

    Serves: 2

    Ingredients:

    2 corn tortillas:

    4 bacon slices:

    2 ripe avocados:

    8 spinach leaves:

    2 tablespoons of cooking oil:

    5 diced cherry tomatoes:

    1 diced jalapeño:

    1 teaspoon of lime juice:

    1 teaspoon of hot sauce:

    You can find directions for this recipe at: logo, 99amazingtacos, tacos

  • Corners Café – 8711 MacArthur Blvd Oakland California 94605

    Corners Café – 8711 MacArthur Blvd Oakland California 94605

    The space inside Corners Café is bright and welcoming. Walking in, you definitely get the vibe that this is a community café. Employees from Youth Uprising next door, as well students were there enjoying the atmosphere. Out the windows you could see kids working on their tricks at the skate park and kids playing tag in the grass in front of the building.

     

    Corners Café shares a building with Youth Uprising

     

    There are a lot of things to like about Corners Café. They source local and sustainable ingredients. Aside from tacos, the menu includes breakfast and lunch options such as burgers, salads, etc. Nestled in the corner are nice couches where customers can sit and relax. There are a few tables for seating that would be awesome to order a coffee and relax with a book.

    But, let’s make no mistake; I was there for there for the Tacos. ((((HEAD’S UP at the time of this writing, tacos are only available as a special on Tuesdays.)))) As a part of their Taco Tuesdays, there are 4 options: Steak, Chicken, Veggie, and Shrimp.  On this visit, I went with 2 steak and 2 chicken.  Both the chicken and the steak are served on warmed – almost crispy – white corn tortillas that have melted cheese. They are then topped with a mild red salsa, red onion, and cilantro.  

    The tacos lean more to the milder side when it comes to heat. The steak is well cooked with a real melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The chicken was moist with some deep, rich flavors that are highlighted by the mix of cilantro, onion, and salsa. Overall, the tacos were great. They are a great value for $1.25 each.

    2 Steak, 2 Chicken Tacos

     

    Corners Café is a branch of Youth Uprising’s social enterprises.  Youth Uprising is an NGO whose mission is “to transform East Oakland into a healthy and economically robust community by developing the leadership of youth and young adults and improving the systems that impact them.”

     

    You can find out more about their programs by visiting http://www.youthuprising.org/

     

     

  • Taco X Lyft

    Taco X Lyft

    Taco Bell and Lyft have announced a new collaboration today. Lyft is testing out a Taco Mode that would include a ride thru a taco bell along your route. At first glance this seems like an awesome idea. A late night roll to Taco Bell scenario that plays out routinely on many Fridy nights. In this case however, the driver is presumably more sober than most late night revelers. The announcment has been met with some mixed reviews. The most vocal complaints coming from Lyft Drivers that would be obligated to sit in a Taco Bell drive thru  rather than getting people to their destination.  The only complaints from riders seems to be that Taco Bell is the only option.

    Introducing a Late-Night Ride-Thru

    “We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Taco Bell providing passengers with a unique ride-thru experience. The partnership brings to life a first-of-its-kind offering — Taco Mode — that will delight consumers by bringing them to a Taco Bell drive-thru in a Lyft ride.

    Taco Mode is an in-app option for Lyft passengers seeking the ultimate Taco Bell experience — including a free Doritos Locos Taco when you ride-thru Taco Bell on the way to their next destination. Drivers are also not required to participate, but can choose to opt-in if interested.

    We are testing Taco Mode in Orange County, California, July 27-30 and August 3-6, 2017, between the hours of 9 PM and 2 AM. We will then gather and evaluate feedback from both drivers and passengers and use this to inform any further expansion into additional markets by year’s end. As of now, there is a planned, nationwide rollout in 2018.

    Taco Bell and Lyft are two like-minded brands at the forefront of technology and innovation. This extraordinary partnership infuses the culinary world into the ride-sharing cultural movement, making a late-night run for tacos more convenient — and fun — than ever.  “

  • KQED Food: Bay Area Bites Guide to 6 Favorite Taco Spots South of San Francisco

    KQED Food: Bay Area Bites Guide to 6 Favorite Taco Spots South of San Francisco

    Awesome article from KQED on taco spots south of San Francisco. The options for tasty and authentic mexican food in the bay area are seemingly endless. In this article writer Jeff Cianci shines light on some taquerias between San Francisco and San Jose. I hadn’t checked out any of the spots on his list, but after reading this I bet that will change very soon.

     

    https://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/2017/07/07/bay-area-bites-guide-to-6-favorite-taco-spots-south-of-san-francisco/

  • San Jose Taco Festival of Innovation 2017

    San Jose Taco Festival of Innovation 2017

    Moveable feasts put on their 6th annual taco festival of innovation. The festival featured over 20 food trucks all serving everyone’s favorite food, TACOS!! There were Indian tacos, Korean tacos, ice cream tacos and a dozen versions including standard Mexican fare. The festival was held at  History Park in San Jose. The ticket cost for presale was $10 general admission or $35 for and unlimited craft beer tasting pass.

    As is the key to most things in life, to have the most enjoyable experience you need to get there early. So, that is exactly what I did. Early in the festival, the lines were pretty short. I sampled one taco from this truck and another from this truck and had a pretty good time bouncing around. I enjoyed some Lucha Libre wrestling, sampled some hot sauce things were pretty great. In all honesty, there were some AWESOME tacos to be eaten at this event.

    Overall I was really impressed with this event. The location was amazing. There was plenty of spots to sit in the grass to sit as well plenty of tables and paint buckets to rest and enjoy taco goodness. Lucha Libre wrestling performances were terrific for families to enjoy, and for those in a dancing mood. there was a stage with live music.  But I digress, let taco bout the tacos.

    A couple of the standouts included a lobster taco from the We Sushi truck. The tortilla was crisped making it more of a tostada. The crunch of the tostada and the softness of the lobster made this a homerun.  Other standouts were the chipotle honey taco from the game day truck, the Conchita pibil taco from /taco Moz. However, the taco that drew the longest line throughout the day was the fried cheese taco. Fried cheese taco? YES! Fried cheese tacos.  And I have to say they did not disappoint. The tacos were served on a flour tortilla a fired layer of cheese encased your choice of filling (Asada, chicken, carnitas) and topped with avocado cilantro and crema.

     

    It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. I personally could wander around and eat tacos all day everyday. The were some awesome local vendors. Shoutout Hella Hot Hot Sauce. (i have regained feeling in my tounge) The people hosting as well as the event goers were super friendly and fun to talk with. What else would you expect? All I’m saying is, Tacos make people happy. Can’t wait to check out this festival again next year.

  • 3 Tacos To Eat #1 – Oakland California

    3 Tacos To Eat #1 – Oakland California

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    #1 Mi Grullense #2- Shrimp
    1301 30th Ave (Goodwill Parking lot) Oakland, CA

    If you didn’t notice the 2 yellow trucks parked in the Goodwill parking lot on 30th and International, don’t worry. They have been there since the 80s and I imagine they will be there for years to come. Their shrimp tacos make our list this month simply because they are delicious. It really doesn’t get more technical than that. Two corn tortillas loaded with fresh shrimp, diced tomatoes, cilantro, and lime. All around great taco.

    *Pro Tip: Eat 2 tacos, thrift, then eat more tacos.

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    #2 Tacos El Gordo — Pastor
    4201 International Blvd Oakland, CA

    There are constantly debates (often ones that we start) about what which trucks are the best in Oakland. Tacos El Gordo is one of those trucks that consistently finds its way into that conversation. Well earned reputation for great tacos. If you haven’t had the pastor tacos here you are certainly missing out.

     

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    #3 Tacos Mi Rancho — Asada
     1434 1st Ave Oakland, CA

    Tacos Mi Rancho on the east side of the Lake Merritt rounds out our list this month.  At most times of the day, you’ll see a line congregating around their forest green truck. They make our list this month for their asada taco. Consistently great tacos from experienced taco masters. Take an afternoon stroll around the lake and treat yourself to some fantastic tacos. They are also open late for those late night taco cravings. 

     

    Like the list? Did we miss your favorite spot? Let’s taco bout it. Comment below.

    3 Tacos to Eat is a regular blog series highlighting our favorite tacos for the month. Restaurants and tacos are selected by a combination of Editors at Comeeda as well as surveys and opinions of tacophiles from our community. Lists can be grouped by taco fillings, neighborhood, city, and more. New list every month. Check out our blog for past lists, other taco related articles, profiles, recipes, and more. Follow us on Instagram — @tacos.comeeda