Tacos!
. 
. The tacos at El Gordo do strike me as indeed very authentic. You can see from the menu they had such things as beef head and beef tongue tacos, which you don't see the the Gringofied Mexican places. I ate five or six of the Carne Asada tacos, which I thought was a safe choice. After returning Paco informed me that they also have a location near downtown Las Vegas, which didn't know at the time he mentioned the CV location. This was good in that I would like to return. It was bad in that I felt I wasted a long trolly ride to Chula Vista. Hopefully the family enjoyed it. If Nareed gets homesick for Mexican food while here in May I will be quick to take her to the Vegas location.
Another thing I liked about El Gordo is the cashier spoke with me in Spanish. I ate a lot of Mexican food the last week and at every other place they replied to me in English. At one place my daughter ordered pancakes. I asked how to say "pancake" in Spanish. This started a discussion among the staff, to conclude that Spanish for pancake is still pancake.
Finally, on a totally unrelated note, here is a video I shot of the Belmont Park roller coaster. My two older kids are in the seat in front of me. It was not easy holding the camera up through the whole ride without dropping it. Actually, it took two attempts. The first time I accidentally hit the on/off button. My favorite moment is around the 1:20 point when another passenger says "Ow, my boobs."
Yo quiero Tacos El Gordo.
Quote: WizardClick on either image for a larger version.
The shirt makes you look fat ;)
Quote:The tacos at El Gordo do strike me as indeed very authentic. You can see from the menu they had such things as beef head and beef tongue tacos, which you don't see the the Gringofied Mexican places.
Apparently tacos are quite different in Tijuana than in Mexico City, or this place has a simplified menu. There's a taco stand right across the street from my office, and it has a menu at least three times bigger (literally). I'm surprised there's no alambre on the menu at all. Briefly, alambre is a dish made of about four or five tacos with some meat (like beef or chicken), bacon, onions and bell peppers, all grilled. Most taco places will serve the grilled food in a pile and give you a stack of tortillas. In restaurants rather than stands, the tortillas come in a Styrofoam container to keep them warm.
Anyway, that aside it does seem authentic. I noticed the sesos say "beef" in parenthesis below. Sesos is a word for "brains." And, yes, those tacos are made of cow brains.
Quote:I ate five or six of the Carne Asada tacos, which I thought was a safe choice.
Good choice. I rarely eat tacos any more, and when I do it's usually chicken (where they serve it).
Quote:If Nareed gets homesick for Mexican food while here in May I will be quick to take her to the Vegas location.
That's very kind of you. I don't think I'll get homesick for that (see the recipe thread; I've made no Mexican dishes at all, and I've been eating what I cook almost exclusively for weeks now), but I would like to see how authentic they are. It would be a good place for a tutoring session, too.
Quote:I asked how to say "pancake" in Spanish. This started a discussion among the staff, to conclude that Spanish for pancake is still pancake.
It was a word of the day one time I subbed for you. In Mexico at least the term is "hot cakes."
Quote: WizardYou can see from the menu they had such things as beef head and beef tongue tacos, which you don't see the the Gringofied Mexican places. I ate five or six of the Carne Asada tacos, which I thought was a safe choice.
Another thing I liked about El Gordo is the cashier spoke with me in Spanish. I ate a lot of Mexican food the last week and at every other place they replied to me in English. At one place my daughter ordered pancakes. I asked how to say "pancake" in Spanish. This started a discussion among the staff, to conclude that Spanish for pancake is still pancake.
Tacos adobada on a trompo, resembles Greek gyros.
Beef Tongue
Over the Border is a nightclub in Chula Vista that caters primarily to young Mexicans with Border Crossing Cards so they can listen to music in the USA free from the dangers of Tijuana. You can still go if you are a gringo and you like Rock en Espanol.
Tacos El Gordo in Las Vegas is not really within easy walking distance of any casino, so you have to drive there. Perhaps you will catch the Wizard there practicing his Spanish.
Grilled onions and chiles are one of my favorite side dishes
Quote: pacomartinTacos adobada on a trompo, resembles Greek gyros.
Is that what they serve at El Gordo?
In 100% of all taco stands, that's known as "carne al pastor" and it's always pork. In some restaurants they offer "pollo al pastor," which is chicken presumably prepared the same way. I've never seen a chicken trompo, though. I've never seen beef "al pastor" anywhere.
"Adobado/a" means meat, usually, covered with a spicy hot paste. In Yucateca food they like using something called "Axiote" (pronounced "aSHiote").
Quote:Over the Border is a nightclub in Chula Vista that caters primarily to young Mexicans with Border Crossing Cards so they can listen to music in the USA free from the dangers of Tijuana.
How times change, eh? It used to be American teens crossed into Tijuana where they could drink legally at 18, and where fake IDs didn't receive as much scrutiny.
Quote:Tacos El Gordo in Las Vegas is not really within easy walking distance of any casino, so you have to drive there. Perhaps you will catch the Wizard there practicing his Spanish.
Do you know the address?
Edit: never mind. I found it on Google maps. BTW, there's a location listed in Las Vegas Blvd. just north of the Wynncore, so technically Tacos El Gordo has arrived on the Strip.
Quote: NareedIn 100% of all taco stands, that's known as "carne al pastor" and it's always pork.
Do you know the address?
I've always called it "carne al pastor", but I was copying the menu.
Son of a gun, you are correct. There is a strip location now at 3049 S Las Vegas Blvd 89109. In the review below he refers to "Mula or Vampiro" which makes no sense to me: "money or vampire?".
Quote: Chowhound
Tacos El Gordo - On the Strip
For all of the talk of celebrity chefs and high-end dining, we may have the best news item on the Strip for 2011 so far – Tacos El Gordo has opened on Las Vegas Boulevard in the strip mall just north of the Wynn/Encore (Key Center, the 3000 block of Las Vegas Boulevard South). That puts them within easy walking distance from many of the Strip properties, and provides something that has been missing entirely from that scene – top-notch ethnic food at very low prices (we will get to that latter aspect in a moment).
Tacos El Gordo has been mentioned on this board before – the chain was founded in Tijuana, and their first Las Vegas location opened on East Charleston about a year ago, a major hit from the start. The focus is on extremely fresh product, and each type of meat has its own cooking station. You order at the stations first, then take the goods to the cashier. There will also be a complimentary plate of grilled chiles and grilled spring onions with each order, and they will load those up as much as you like.
The menu is the real deal, and reflects the Tijuana roots. Meats being offered are Cabeza (beef head), Lengua (beef tongue), Sesos (beef brains), Buche (pork stomach), Adobado (spicy pork), Carne Asada (skirt steak), Tripa (beef stomach) and Suadero (beef shoulder). They can be had as a Taco, Quesidilla, Sope, Tostada, Mula or Vampiro, and there are also large platters of fries available Carne Asada or Adobado. Even when ordered as simply as a taco, each meat comes with its own particular sauce (on today’s visit the Sesos were tried for the first time, with their creaminess playing nicely to a tart tomatillo-infused green sauce).
There is seating both inside and out, and they are open until 3 AM during the week, and 5 AM on Saturday and Sunday mornings, which makes for a hell of a post-clubbing stop for those that have had too much to drink.
Here is the kicker, and it came as a major surprise – they are charging the same prices as they do at all locations. So you only pay on the Strip what you do in a beaten-down area of East Charleston. Tacos are $2, and a large soft drink from the fountain will only set you back $1.40. Those are great price points for the location, yet there is nothing “cheap” about the food – this is quality product.
Quote: pacomartinI've always called it "carne al pastor", but I was copying the menu.
Ok. As you may know, "tacos al pastor" are a mainstay of taco stands in Mexico City.
Quote:Son of a gun, you are correct. There is a strip location now at 3049 S Las Vegas Blvd 89109.
How about that? I out-scooped two knowledgeable locals who post here regularly and have more of an interest in Mexican food than I do. So there :P
Quote:In the review below he refers to "Mula or Vampiro" which makes no sense to me: "money or vampire?".
Yeah, I forgot to ask the Wizard about that. One of his photos does have "Mula" on the menu, which does mean "mule;" as WongBo so promptly supplied.
Some tacos have odd names. Alambre, which I described earlier, is so named because a similar dish, without tortillas, is often cooked by putting the meats and vegetables on a skewer and then tossing them on the grill. The skewers, for some reason, are called "alambres," meaning "wires."
But others have odd names of uncertain provenance. Carne al pastor with cheese in a flour tortilla is called "gringa." Thin beef steak strips or bits with cheese sandwiched between flour tortillas is called "volcan." The stand across from my office has something called a "taco loco" (I forget what's in it). Oh, and an alambre made with carne al pastor is called "¿Que me ves?" with or without the question marks, which means "What are you looking at?"
Tortas can be worse. I'll see if I can scan the menu of the torta stand near the office. Best hot tortas in town, too.
Anyway, I'll have to take a look at a Vegas "El Gordo." If for no other reason to tell the folks back home about it :)
Quote: WongBoMULA en engles es MULE
That was stupid of me. I am sorry for taking a shortcut and looking it up in Wikipedia where it says it is a Spanish term for money . I should have looked it up in the DRAE where it defines the word as "Hija de asno y yegua o de caballo y burra".
Quote: Nareed
Yeah, I forgot to ask the Wizard about that. One of his photos does have "Mula" on the menu, which does mean "mule;" as WongBo so promptly supplied.
Some tacos have odd names. Alambre, which I described earlier, is so named because a similar dish, without tortillas, is often cooked by putting the meats and vegetables on a skewer and then tossing them on the grill. The skewers, for some reason, are called "alambres," meaning "wires."
When I was in Puebla I had some tacos arabe which I think are unique to that city. My guess is that a "taco mula" is loaded up with all kinds of toppings. Presumably a "taco vampiro" has rare meat.
The mainstay in Oaxaca was the Tlayuda, which I have never seen in this country.
Quote: pacomartinWhen I was in Puebla I had some tacos arabe which I think are unique to that city.
"Tacos ÁrabeS"
Sorry, but ti is the thread it si after all :)
And sorry, but I know little aboutt hem. I've seen a place or two advertising "tacos Árabes," but I've never seen any. On the other hand, there used to be a kosher taco restaurant in Polanco (a swanky neighborhood in Mexico City). It came to mind because they also served "Arabian" food like felafel and humus, and they did serve tacos in Arabian style flat bread if you asked for them. They also closed on Passover.
Quote:My guess is that a "taco mula" is loaded up with all kinds of toppings. Presumably a "taco vampiro" has rare meat.
See what I said about taco names. Common sense only gets you so far.
Yes, I admit I look fat in that blue New York t-shirt. Considering the name of the restaurant, I was at least in the right place. About ten years ago my wife put on a yellow dress and asked me how she looked. I said the dress made her look fat. I have never been forgiven for that, and never will be. Neither have I asked for forgiveness. If you don't want a truthful answer from me, then don't ask me the question to begin with.
RE: Brain tacos. Ooooo! At least Paco didn't post any pictures. I was tempted to order one of them in Chula Vista, but my cowardly side fortunately won that contest. At the time I didn't know that seso meant brain, so I thought it was some cut of beef that I didn't know the name of.
That is indeed interesting that there is a stand by the Wynn. I have a feeling I'll be eating there often.
Regarding that big pile of meat, they had one in Chula Vista. You can barely see it in my indoor picture. The chef in the white uniform is facing it. One thing I will say is that it is confusing what line to stand in. There is a separate line for the various types of meat, and they are not well marked. I think those red things on the counter identify the lines -- in Spanish only.
Quote: WizardIf you don't want a truthful answer from me, then don't ask me the question to begin with.
I shouldn't have made that joke. I'm sorry.
Quote:RE: Brain tacos. Ooooo! At least Paco didn't post any pictures. I was tempted to order one of them in Chula Vista, but my cowardly side fortunately won that contest. At the time I didn't know that seso meant brain, so I thought it was some cut of beef that I didn't know the name of.
I had a quesadilla made of "sesos de cabrito" once (that's brains from a young goat). It must be one of the fattiest-tasting things I've ever tried. The flavor wasn't bad, though I didn't like it, but the consistency didn't agree with me. I've never tried any kind of brains since then.
On the other hand the menu also mentions "suadero." That's popular in taco stands here, too, but I'm not sure what it is (I've never had it). I'm getting conflicting definitions online. All of them agree it's beef, but I've read it's either shoulder, chest, or, get this, the muscle just above the udders of a cow (given the udders are equivalent to breasts, it's hard to say where the chest is in a cow, yes?)
I take it as a given you know "tripa" is tripe.
Quote:That is indeed interesting that there is a stand by the Wynn. I have a feeling I'll be eating there often.
Glad I could be of help.
Quote:Regarding that big pile of meat, they had one in Chula Vista. You can barely see it in my indoor picture. The chef in the white uniform is facing it.
Now that you mention it, I see it. It does look like your standard piece of "carne al pastor." Did you notice whether they had a pineapple on top of the meat? Traditional tacos al pastor come with pineapple, onion and cilantro.
Quote: WizardOne thing I will say is that it is confusing what line to stand in. There is a separate line for the various types of meat, and they are not well marked. I think those red things on the counter identify the lines -- in Spanish only.
Everyone complained about the multiple lines in online reviews.
The original is just a street stand, but it happens to be right across the street from the farmer's market (Mercado Hidalgo), so it is very popular.
BTW: I found one description of tacos vampiros in poor English (tortillas griddled crunchy, topped with melty cheese and your choice of topping) . So they are not rare meat as I guessed.
Quote: NareedI take it as a given you know "tripa" is tripe.
Yup. There should be a term for it (is there one in Spanish?), but I don't eat organ meat. There is something I find disgusting about it.
Quote: NareedDid you notice whether they had a pineapple on top of the meat?
They did! If you look really closely at the picture you can see it. The top of the meat is just about level to the top of the chef's head. The thing above the meat is half a pineapple.
I'm convinced what makes a good taco stand is fresh onions, cilantro and lime. I was just discussing this with a friend. The more the better. The toppings tend to overwhelm the meat, so you really just need a basic meat. (Brains work well).
Also, the dirtier the better. I'm convinced the yet-to-be-discovered best taco stand in the world is located in a sewer below a hot sheet steel mill in the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.
Tacos with tons of guacamole are the best. The stands near the border crossing into Tijuana are the best.
Of course if you go to Tacos and Tequila in the Luxor you can get the same tacos for $14 a platter.
This hallway in the market in Oaxaca was my favorite. Vendors compete for your attention to buy fresh meat, and then you buy cebollitos and toritos from someone else.
Quote: WizardYup. There should be a term for it (is there one in Spanish?), but I don't eat organ meat. There is something I find disgusting about it.
Innards? Sweetbreads? I think there is a term in Spanish, but I can't recall it offhand.
I don't anything but muscle when it comes to meat (technically that includes the heart and the diaphragm). Have you ever been to Great Britain? <wink!> Down here liver is rather common, along with chicken gizzards, cow stomach, brains, tongues, feet and other things.
Quote:They did! If you look really closely at the picture you can see it. The top of the meat is just about level to the top of the chef's head. The thing above the meat is half a pineapple.
I can barely make out something on top. Since there is pineapple on the "trompo," then it is carne al pastor. I just never heard of it called "carne adobada" before, or making it out of beef. In any case, that and the tongue and brain officially make it "authentic" Mexican. BTW I suggest you do try the "tacos de adobada" next time, with or without the pineapple. They're yummy.
Quote: teddysAlso, the dirtier the better.
Careful You can catch something nasty that way. Also, look up "estos tacos ladran cuando los muerdo."
Quote:I'm convinced the yet-to-be-discovered best taco stand in the world is located in a sewer below a hot sheet steel mill in the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.
Nuclear waste is the opposite of dirty, biologically speaking. There's only one known microbe that can even live in a radiation rich environment. The radiation might kill you, but it won't infect you :P
Quote: Wizard
Yes, I admit I look fat in that blue New York t-shirt. Considering the name of the restaurant, I was at least in the right place. About ten years ago my wife put on a yellow dress and asked me how she looked. I said the dress made her look fat. I have been forgiven for that, and never will be. Neither have I asked for forgiveness. If you don't want a truthful answer from me, then don't ask me the question to begin with.
Oh, no. The classic no-win question. At least you never asked for the forgiveness. (I am assuming there is a typo missing "never" above?) Never been married but my my guess is if you use your approach you will not be asked a second time. BTW: never try this answer---
"Honey, what's on the television?"
"Dust"
Quote: NareedSweetbreads?
Are you implying there is organ meat in sweetbread?
Quote: NareedSince there is pineapple on the "trompo," then it is carne al pastor.
I thought a trompo was a terrible dancer, which would perfectly describe me.
Quote: NareedBTW I suggest you do try the "tacos de adobada" next time, with or without the pineapple. They're yummy.
I see that adobar means to cook. How does it differ from cocinar?
Quote: AZDuffmanOh, no. The classic no-win question. At least you never asked for the forgiveness. (I am assuming there is a typo missing "never" above?) Never been married but my my guess is if you use your approach you will not be asked a second time.
You're right, I omitted a "never." I can't speak for other men, but I still get asked "how do I look?" once in a while. I'm not sure if she is looking to dock my husbanding points or an excuse to not wear something she paid good money for and never wore.
Quote: WizardBrain tacos. Ooooo! At least Paco didn't post any pictures. I was tempted to order one of them in Chula Vista, but my cowardly side fortunately won that contest. At the time I didn't know that seso meant brain, so I thought it was some cut of beef that I didn't know the name of.
I will add a link to a photo of tacos de sesos so as not to offend any ones sensibilities. But it looks like most other meat to me.
Compared with muscle meats, organ meats are richer in just about every nutrient, including minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium and iodine, and in B vitamins including B1, B2, B6, folic acid and especially vitamin B12. Organ meats provide high levels of the all-important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, especially if the animals live outside in the sunlight and eat green grass. Organ meats are also rich in beneficial fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA. Organ meats even contain vitamin C—liver is richer in vitamin C than apples or carrots! Even if you add only small amounts of organ meats to your ground meat dishes, you are providing your family with super nutrition . . . in ways that everyone likes and are easy to consume.
The problem with any kind of brain is the super high cholestorol. A 5.5 ounce can of "pork brains in milk gravy", a single serving, contains 3500 milligrams of cholesterol. The federal government suggests that adults limit their intake to less than 300mg a day, according to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. So a tacos de sesos should be a rare treat.
A popular Mexican desert is paletas (or popsicles). There hundreds of flavors of paleta including strawberries and cream, tamarind-chile, and corn.
A low risk choice is (Paletas de Arroz con Leche)
The ingredients for 12 popsicles are:
3 cups whole milk
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and beans scraped
1 cup short- or medium-grain rice
2 sticks cinnamon
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk mixed with 2 cups water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Paletas La Michoacana
3100 E Lake Mead Blvd,North Las Vegas,NV 89030
702-642-3707
Quote: WizardAre you implying there is organ meat in sweetbread?
Sweetbread is a term for some internal organs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetbread
Quote:I thought a trompo was a terrible dancer, which would perfectly describe me.
Wasn't this thread split? :)
"Trompo" means "spinning top." The carne al pasto pile looks a bit like one.
Quote:I see that adobar means to cook. How does it differ from cocinar?
It means to marinate. In Mexico it refers to marinate with a spicy paste, usually hot and spicy.
Quote: pacomartinThe problem with any kind of brain is the super high cholestorol. A 5.5 ounce can of "pork brains in milk gravy", a single serving, contains 3500 milligrams of cholesterol.
Meaning 3.5 grams, or just over 1/10 of an ounce.
Quote:I see that adobar means to cook. How does it differ from cocinar?
It means to marinate. In Mexico it refers to marinate with a spicy paste, usually hot and spicy.
Keep in mind, as Nareed said, they are called Al Pastor in most of Mexico (see menu). "Adobar" is a regional name.
Al Pastor is not really exotic, since most people have had gyros. The tracitional tacos are carne asada, carnitas, or pollo tacos;
-
The more exotic tacos are:
- Cabeza (a serving of the muscles of the head)
- Sesos (brains)
- Lengua (tongue)
- Cachete (cheeks)
- Trompa (lips)
- Ojo (eye)
- Buche (fried pig's esophagus)
-
Birria (goat)
Birria is very popular in Guadalajara, Jalisco where there is an entire neighborhood full of Birria restaurants.
I will admit the cabeza/lengua/etc. stuff is a lot better than one would think. I saw a preparation of a whole cow head on No Reservations via pit barbecue (barbacoa?) and that looked mighty tasty. I have a bit of those pieces but never on a taco.
Nareed, Paco...where does the term birria come from? I've always heard goat called cabro instead (the root of cabron, perhaps?). On a somewhat unrelated note, Cerveza Cabro in Guatemala is terrible.
Quote: Wizard
You're right, I omitted a "never." I can't speak for other men, but I still get asked "how do I look?" once in a while. I'm not sure if she is looking to dock my husbanding points or an excuse to not wear something she paid good money for and never wore.
Women can need acceptance for all kinds of things. Also they think something is wrong if you are not giving positive feedback. You can be saying nothing because you have nothing to say. This can then be taken as something being "wrong."
And we have all had the situation where any female asks, "Do you like 'A' or 'B' better?'' and you don't care. Pressed you say, "I like 'B' better!" Then she replies, "What's wrong with the other one?"
But so as not to be a hijacker, a comment on tacos.
My experience is the dumpier-looking the shop the better the product. I forget the place in Phoenix, great tacos. Had to be over a dozen people working in the back, many making the shells. Good prices, no idea how they stayed in business. If someone could duplicate it here in PA they would be slammed.
Quote: progrockerI will admit the cabeza/lengua/etc. stuff is a lot better than one would think.
I'm very particular about what I eat. I've tasted beef tongue and it's not at all bad. But 1) I didn't dislike it but I didn't like it, either, and 2) it looks terribly unappetizing.
Quote:Nareed, Paco...where does the term birria come from?
No idea. I'm not even sure what it is. I'm sure I've never tried it.
Quote:I've always heard goat called cabro instead (the root of cabron, perhaps?).
The word for goat (and didn't we split this thread? <w>) is "cabrA." Usually this refers to the female goat, but I've no idea what the male is called. There's a dish popular in the north called "cabrito," which is young goat roasted whole on a spit (called "cabrito al pastor"). The word means "little goat."
Quote: progrockerNareed, Paco...where does the term birria come from? I've always heard goat called cabro instead (the root of cabron, perhaps?). On a somewhat unrelated note, Cerveza Cabro in Guatemala is terrible.
From the DRAE: birria - México : Barbacoa de chivo.
From wikipedia: A common icon in birria restaurants (birrierías) is a pair of goat horns. The icon is used as a symbol of the purported aphrodisiac powers of birria, presumably tied to the general randiness of the goats from which it is made.
Actually it is the name of the spicy stew, but I have only ever seen it served with goat. But the sign does say "Birria de Chivo", so it is possible to prepare it with some other meat. "Los nueve esquinas" is the neighborhood in Guadalajara that has all the birrierías 's grouped together.
The DRAE also offers these other definitions, but there is no etymology provided.
1. f. Persona o cosa de poco valor o importancia.
2. f. Zaharrón, moharracho.
3. f. Mamarracho, facha, adefesio.
4. f. Collumbia y Panama - Capricho, obstinación, afición excesiva a algún juego, pasatiempo o deporte.
No quiere estudiar porque tiene una birria con el baloncesto.
Google is pretty amazing, truly. No longer much need to bookmark this and that, you just google and get your instant answers. I often use it for a quick spelling check, as it starts kicking out suggestions when you are really not close. I digress. In any case, these kicked out for Gordo,
Quote:Spanish-English Online Dictionary
fat, fatty, greasy
_
Babylon Spanish-English Dictionary
(derogatory) fatty
fat, thick; corpulent, portly, top; hard; greasy, fatty
fatso, (Slang) obese person (derogatory)
Quote: odiousgambitUnless I missed it, no one picked up on "El Gordo"... The "Greasy One"??? or "the Fat One" ??
Nareed joked early on that the shirt I wore in my pictures of the place I looked fat. Let's not forget we have our own "Fatburger." I'm not one to explain the nuances, but I've noticed in many recent Mexican movies that gordo seems to used as an almost affectionate way between friends, even when the one being called "fat" isn't overweight at all. I didn't know that "greasy" was another usage.
Quote: odiousgambitUnless I missed it, no one picked up on "El Gordo"... The "Greasy One"??? or "the Fat One" ??
I guess I assumed the "gordo" was one of those words that everyone knew (like "fiesta"). One observation is that Mexicans (and Latinos in general) can use the word as an affectionate nickname for men. It is almost exclusively an insulting nickname in English.
"Fatty" Arbuckle was a popular silent film star. The name was considered endearing. Then in sensational media he was accused of raping a young woman and physically hurting her so that she later died of complications. Possibly this trial, along with the general revulsion about fat, caused the nickname to move from cute to insulting.
In the case of the taco stand name, the food can be very fattening. We are not talking about fine cuisine. It is comfort food.
Quote: pacomartinIn the case of the taco stand name, the food can be very fattening. We are not talking about fine cuisine. It is comfort food.
Fine cuisine can be as fattening as any other.
With tacos, it depends on ingredients and preparation. If you use lean beef for bistec tacos, it's not so bad. Chicken tacos usuallya re amde of chikcen breas, which is the leanest chicken cut there is. Most places cook on a hot griddle and only a little oil, but there are some who drown it in oil. Quesadillas are deep fried in some places, so they're high in fat even before you add meat and cheese. And brain tacos, well, you know :)
About "gordo" it does mean fat. It can be an affectionate term, as for between couples. Paco, it's not limited to males, either. When you want to insult someone as being fat, you use another word, but there's no general term for that. The closest is "cerdo" meaning "pig," but that's also used for people who are untidy, dirty or gross.
And since this is a "gambling" forum and all, it bears saying that the big lottery prize is known as "el premio gordo." The Loteria Nacional in Mexico advertises the big drawings with traditional large prizes (Xmas, New Year's, Sept. 16th and such) by stressing how gordo the prize is. In a casino, any kind of jackpot can be called, in Spanish, "premio gordo."
What is the human fascination with eating exotic parts of an animal and sticking it in a taco -- Ugh!!!! Yeah yeah yeah you can't knock it until you try it). Of course, I've eaten hot dogs, so yeah, I know.
Wizard, I missed you by a week, as I was in San Diego March 27 - 29 (north of the city).
I thought the best tacos was at Taco Bell. Sometimes I like to supreme my taco to make it more exotic ;)
The last few trips to San Diego and Old Town, we went to Casa Guadalajara instead. This gringo tourist enjoyed the meals and atmosphere there.
Quote: boymimboI thought the best tacos was at Taco Bell. Sometimes I like to supreme my taco to make it more exotic ;)
Taco Bell was started in southern California for the newly emerging American-adapted Mexican food. It went public over 40 years ago with 325 restaurants, and now has over 6000.
Quote: boymimboI thought the best tacos was at Taco Bell. Sometimes I like to supreme my taco to make it more exotic ;)
You know, in my many trips to the US I've never set foot on Taco Bell.
I do like US-style fast food. These days in Mexico you can easily find McDonald's, Burger King and others (not Wendy's, though), but before they became common here, visting them in the US was almsot mandatory for me. Yet Taco bell was never appealing.
I did like Chilli's and Friday's, which aren't fast food, but do serve Tex-Mex in part of their menu (things like fajitas), but now we have them in Mexico also, along with many others.
I wonder if an authentic Mexican restaurant would be a good idea in Vegas. For one thing it may not be what the market expects. For another, restaurants are a risky business, and Vegas is already lousy with options.
Niagara Falls has nothing worth mentioning. Come up, Nareed. I've been told I need to start an ice cream stand in Mexico. Perhaps we can trade!
Quote: NareedI wonder if an authentic Mexican restaurant would be a good idea in Vegas. For one thing it may not be what the market expects. For another, restaurants are a risky business, and Vegas is already lousy with options.
For starters there are a lot of Mexicans in Clark County. If you go to some restaurants there are very few gringos, and the food is typical. There has been a trend in fine dining for Mexican restaurants, and you can find a few in any large city in the USA.
Casa Don Juan
Doña Maria Centro
Pepe's Tacos (3 locations in Las Vegas)
It always amazes me how the restaurant business seems to start new chains. For instance, there are loads of Greek restaurants. But a new chain Daphne's California Greek is doing well, despite what seems to me to be a pale imitation of Greek food.
Quote: boymimboNiagara Falls has nothing worth mentioning.
Oh, I don't know. I think the falls are kind of well-known outside Ontario :P
Quote:Come up, Nareed. I've been told I need to start an ice cream stand in Mexico. Perhaps we can trade!
I dont' think I can afford all the "free" healthcare...
Seriously, it's not like I'm planning or even want to start a Mexican restaurant in the US or Canada. I admit from time to time when I cook something I particularly like (such as the red bell pepper sauce pasta, or my take on tangerine chicken), which is also low fat and a little off beat, I think it might be a good dish to offer at a restaurant. But it's a daydream and nothing more.
Quote: 1BBDoes anyone like El Pollo Loco? The only one I know of in the northeast is at Foxwoods.
Yes, I like to eat there. However, they are only in 9 states and there is single locations in CT and IL.
That chain did start in Mexico, but the American group is now independently owned.
Quote: sunrise089Vegas has Del Taco. Coming from the land of only Taco Bell that's quite authentic enough for me!
No shortage of chains
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>"Fatty" Arbuckle was a popular silent film star. The name was considered endearing. Then in sensational media he was accused of raping a young woman and physically hurting her... this was in the wild days of Hollywood where the District Attorney was unrestrained and Fatty Arbuckle's agent could sell out Fatty easily. Indeed, the scandal started with a ten thousand dollar payment to the agent of Fatty Arbuckle. Even after the scandal was all over his "I just want to make movie" rang on deaf ears. His career was over.
>In the case of the taco stand name, the food can be very fattening.
>We are not talking about fine cuisine. It is comfort food.
Sorry but it gives me no comfort to read of brains, mules, donkeys, etc. particularly at the levels of education and hygiene observed in fast food joints. Talk about disclosure in Las Vegas... what about in the lines of a fast food joint?
All I know is that Dotty will never serve any of that stuff in her casinos.
