In Greek mythology, the gods sat upon Mount Olympus where they drank nectar and ate ambrosia. Ambrosia was never fully defined, but some scholars claim it translates roughly to “cheesesteak.” However, everyone knows where those scholars hail from. The more hip and informed scholars are fairly certain what the Greeks actually meant by “ambrosia” was “tacos.” To celebrate this food handed down from on high, here are the 10 best books for taco lovers everywhere.
The Taco Tuesday Cookbook: 52 Tasty Taco Recipes to Make Every Week the Best Ever
Tacos bring families together, the same way they bring together meat or beans, vegetables, spices, and shells and/or tortillas. In order to avoid divorce and discord, it’s advised to have tacos once a week. With this cookbook, you’ll never want for a new recipe to keep the home fires deliciously burning.
Austin Breakfast Tacos: The Story of the Most Important Taco of the Day
None know from whence the breakfast taco came. Perhaps it was a recipe found on ancient papyrus pulled from the Dead Sea. Perhaps it was made as a sin to test humanity’s gluttony. Well, wherever it came from, this book explores every variation along with the succulent lore. You’ll never be able to look a standard breakfast burrito in the eye again after this books changes your taste buds forever.
Tacolicious: Festive Recipes for Tacos, Snacks, Cocktails, and More
In the most scrumptious overthrow on record, tacos replaced Rice-A-Roni as the San Francisco treat. This cookbook from the San Fran restaurant Tacolicious has tacos galore, but also salsas, cocktails, and many other side-orders to help elevate your tacos to epic levels. It’s a required read for knowing how to turn your tacos from outstanding to legendary, and from legendary to approved by your mother-in-law.
Guerrilla Tacos: Recipes from the Streets of L.A.
Wes Avila has forgotten more about tacos than most will ever know. He’s Mexican, which gave him strong taco Kung Fu right from birth. Then, he spent his life working in some of the finest restaurants in the world. He’s also been lauded as having the best taco truck in Los Angeles, the promised land for the taco truck aficionado. Finally, like any true master, he passes what he knows on to everyone in this book. It’s more than recipes, but a look behind the curtain to see culinary genius hard at work.
American Tacos: A History and Guide
The taco is more than a dish. It’s a way of life. Across America various variations on the taco have sprung up to tantalize our tongues. From strict religious communities came kosher tacos. Tex-Mex created the puffy taco. This book even managed to find the fry bread taco spoken of only in whispers. This provides a full history of tacos in America, and directs the ravenous to where they might sate their endless hunger for novelty.
Tacopedia: The Taco Encyclopedia
While American Tacos shows how the food has evolved in the U.S. the Tacopedia goes back to the source. This book is stacked with more than 100 recipes taken directly from Mexico, and shows how the land that invented the dish has never stopped reinventing it. Plus, it offers the best salsas, sides, and fillings depending on what variation you’re putting in your food hole.
The Tacos of Texas
Many books go macro. This one goes micro. It is focused with pinpoint accuracy on tacos in the Lone Star state. It goes from the Rio Grande up to the panhandle to find every alternative, every variant, and every mouthwatering mutation that the home of the Alamo ever devised. If you were thinking of messing with Texas, this will teach you to leave it be so it can continue this proud tradition.
Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A.: A Cookbook
This little publication comes from the man behind Machete, Danny Trejo. Whether you know him as the baddest Mexican on the silver screen, or the sweetest guy when off camera, you’ll see a whole new side to this growling ex-con done good. He not only gives you great recipes for donuts and his signature dishes, but serves up loads of entertainment and advice to read while you dine.
Tequila & Tacos: A Guide to Spirited Pairings
Tequila and tacos go together like tequila and tacos. There’s not another pairing that compares. However, it is possible to improve how your booze complements your food by putting the proper hooch with the right dish. Here, you’ll learn what works with Casa Dragones Blanco, what needs Patrón Añejo, and when you should be breaking out the Tears Of Llorona. Answer: Anytime.
Vegan Tacos: Authentic and Inspired Recipes for Mexico’s Favorite Street Food
Stepping away from the siren’s call of meat is a tough choice to make. To celebrate the brave souls who deny their tongue to support either their morals or their health, here’s a complete guide to vegan tacos. Not only do the dishes herein contained avoid animal flesh, the recipes also eschew anything derived from animals, right down to the cheese. It’s proof that this food is truly where we all might come together to fatten our bellies and celebrate this heavenly amalgamation of flavor.