I could never answer the question
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
But I do know that at dinner I’d have tacos.
I’d order my usual Chicken Tinga Tacos, with delicious tomato-y, pepper-y sauce over shredded chicken topped with fresh cilantro, guacamole, a squirt of lime, and a few thinly sliced radishes. Flakey white fish tacos would be a close second. If the dinner were in August, I’d have steak tacos with homemade salsa made with ripe, juicy tomatoes. If having one of each were an option, as sometimes tacos come three in an order, my internal debate of which taco to have first and which to have last would distract me from the conversation with the dead-or-alive-person and I’d be terrible company, I’d stick with one taco type for my meal.
I used to love hard tacos shells. Hard shell tacos are a one-stop perfect world of taco filling and a basket of chips. One day my preference switched to buttery soft corn tortillas. But not so soft that they fall apart and you’re left with a handful of filling. I also love my tacos with an order of tostones. A nod to my Dominican neighborhood. “No thank you,” to ketchup. I prefer salty to sweet.
If you could dine with one person, dead or alive, what would you eat?
In thinking of Mexican street food, I’m reminded of growing up in Houston, where the best tamales were from a truck parked near the University of Houston. Those chicken tamales had enough chicken in them that you felt complete after eating just one. There was not too much cornmeal. They were soft and yet firm and held the chicken like a gift in the center. You were never left wondering if you forgot to ask for chicken in your tamale. We’d drive out to the truck and get a brown bag full of tamales and I’d eat one standing on the side of the road before thinking of getting back into the car.
I’ve been in search for years for tamales as good as the ones in Houston. I came close once at a taco truck on Broadway and 96th Street. The tamales were good but the tacos were better.
I now live in a Dominican neighborhood and the search for the perfect tamales and tacos continues. I’ve learned that Dominican food is not spicy like Mexican food but, thanks to the Mexican population here, excellent tacos can be found in Inwood. The best tacos, I’m told, are in the back of a bodega on Dyckman Street. I haven’t found the right bodega but I love the tacos at Serrano Salsa and at Cañave.
I have a friend who loves tacos as much as I do. She’s been trying for years to make a good tortilla. While she’s come close she hasn’t perfected it. Something about over mixing and not using lard.
Tacos are one meal I rarely make myself because the ones in my neighborhood are delicious. Plus, I don’t mind eating my way through tacos at restaurants and grocery stores and trucks in search for perfection.
Here’s to delicious moments!
Warmly,
Tiffany
Mom.