When you think of Mexican cuisine you usually think "tacos!". Tacos consist of a fried tortilla, typically folded, filled with various mixtures, such as seasoned meat, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes. You can have them for any time of the day for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It's no wonder they've been around for so long and are as popular, but did you know...
The word taco comes from the Nahuatl word 'tlahco' which means "half or in the middle", referring to the way it is formed. It also has other meanings like wedge or plug.
October 4th is National Taco Day! Call up your favorite Mexican restaurant or make your own at home, either way, it's a day for celebrating this delicious dish!
3. Tacos became popular in the US thanks to the amazing women from San Antonio known as the "Chili Queens". These were mainly immigrant women from Mexico who would sell their food in the city on makeshift stands. Their food would bring popularity to what was usually street food in Mexico but has now become a staple in almost every Mexican restaurant.
4. Crunchy taco shells were not a thing until the 1940's when mass production came into play and Taco Bell utilized this to streamline their operations!
5.The first recorded taco party was held in 1520 by Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador. He and his fellow conquistadors showed up in the new world in 1519 and the local Aztecs introduced them to tacos. Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier who arrived with Cort, wrote detailed reports of these taco extravaganzas.
Photographer credit: Natalie Poette