Published by American Palate
A Division of The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2013 by Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece
All rights reserved
Page 1: Illustration by Pepe Yz, PepeYz.com.
Title page: Migas breakfast taco from Joes Bakery. Photo by Joel Salcido.
Opposite, top: Mando Rayo y familia. Quetzal, Argentina Granada, Ixchel Granada de Rayo and Diego and Mando Rayo. Photo by Joel Salcido.
Opposite, bottom: Jarod Neece y familia. Francesca, Andrea Yz, Jarod and Tessa Neece. Photo by Dennis Burnett.
First published 2013
e-book edition 2013
Manufactured in the United States
ISBN 978.1.62584.505.4
Library of Congress CIP data applied for.
print edition ISBN 978.1.62619.049.8
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the authors or The History Press. The authors and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Dedicated to Austin, Texas, and our families.
I would like to dedicate the tacos and this book to mi familia for their support, amor y cario. Los quiero un monton!
Ixchel Granada de Rayo
Quetzal Trinidad Rayo
Diego Armando Tenoch Rayo
Mando Rayo
I dedicate this book to my amazing wife, Andrea, and our two beautiful daughters, Tessa and Francesca. Yall make all the taco meals taste better when we eat them together!
Jarod Neece
CONTENTS
TACOS. NEVER. DIE.
MIL GRACIAS!
Thanks to everyone who helped us with the book!
Aaron Franklin
Adam Holzband and Jodi Bart Holzband
Addie Broyles
Alex Rayo
Alfredo Santos
Alton Jenkins
Amy Averett
Andrea Yz
Argentina Granada
Aurelio Torres
Bianka Becerra
Brittany Platt
Carmen Valera
Catherine Robb
Cathy Lippincott
Celeste and Adrian Quesada
Christen Thompson
Claudette Godfrey
Clovis Cisneros
Cody Symington
Cristina Balli
Daniel Macias
David Alan and Joe Eifler
David Ansel
Dennis Burnett
Diana Cisneros
Diane Valera
Dorsey Barger and Susan Hausmann
Elaine and Rich Garza
Elizabeth Englehart
Eric and Diana Orta
Eric Wilkerson
Fidel Martinez
George Milton
Glenn Rosales
Gloria Espitia
Gordon Murphy
Hoover Alexander
Ixchel Granada de Rayo
Jake Agger
Javier and Stacey Rayo
Jessika Gomez-Duarte
Jesus Becerra
Dr. Jesus Frank de la Teja
Joel Salcido
John Conley
Jorge Garcia
Jose de Loera
Jose Luis Perez
Jose Velasquez
Juan Castillo Jr.
Juan Castillo Sr.
Juan P. Meza
Justin Bankston
Kathy Vale
Laura Williamson
Lauren Eichhorn
Lisa Albracht
Llyas Salahud-Din
Lonnie Limon and Crystal Cantu
Lorena Vargas
Manuel Lopez Galvan
Marcel Rodriguez
Margarita Mendez
Maria Corbalan
Maria Vargas
Maritza Vasquez
Mary Jenkins
Michael Barnes
Mike Martinez
Mike Rypka
Mindy Stoddard
Myrna Y. Meza
Nestor Mendez
Nikki Ibarra
Nilda de la Llata
Omar L. Gallaga
Pauline Avila
Paul Qui and Deana Saukam
Pepe Yz
Paulina Artieda
Rafael Picco
Raquel Vargas
Ray Gonzalez
Regina Estrada
Reyna Vasquez
Roberto Espinosa
Roberto Vasquez
Robert Valera
Rose Ann Maciel
Sam Armstrong
Sarah Hickman
Sergio Valera
Tim and Karrie League
Virgil Ojeda Limon and Diana Estrada Limon
AND NOW A BREAKFAST TACO SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Were no writers; were no historians; were no chefs. Were just a couple of guys who love breakfast tacos. Join us as we discover the breakfast taco, the taqueros (aka taco makers) and the people of Austin who love them so much. Tacos are messy, and so is this book, so dont expect fancy recipes or elaborate ways to cook up your breakfast tacos. Our photog style and our writing are just like breakfast tacos: down-and-dirty and messy! Tacos are the peoples food, yo! Well have lots of recipessome full, some al gusto. We hope this book will make you hungry and want to go eat breakfast tacos, like immediately!
PART I
AUSTIN, TEXAS
THE BREAKFAST TACO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
AUSTINS LOVE OF THE BREAKFAST TACO
Austin: the Breakfast Taco Capital of the World? Hell yeah it is! And why not? The people of Austin love their breakfast tacos; they love them in the morning, for lunch, when theyre hungover, at midnight, on the streets and in abuelitas cocina! Wherever you go in Austin, youll find taqueros creating a plethora of the breakfast creations that are part of the culture of Austin. Weve got so many people making breakfast tacos that people were going crazy when they heard of the bacon shortage of 2012. Not only do we have traditional taqueros making them, but we also have pit masters, restaurateurs and all kinds of taco-making cooks hookin up breakfast tacos for the people of Austin. Last time I checked, we had over 370 places in Austin that serve breakfast tacos. Shoot, as Im writing and enjoying a cafecito at Bennu Coffee, I might just get one right now. Yeah, thats also a big thing in Austin. Coffee shop tacos.
Why do we love the breakfast taco? I think its a mix of things. We love the simplicity of the breakfast taco, the options, the comfort it gives us in our bellies and, of course, los huevos. Gotta have eggs for breakfast, right? But not necessarily in the morning. You can have breakfast tacos at almost any time of the day, and for a lot of Austinites, after a long night working, at a show or just going out, they really hit the spot, whether you wake up at 8:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. or even 6:00 p.m.
LA CULTURA DE AUSTIN
When in Austin, do as Austinites do. Eat barbecue, listen to live music, hang out in the East Austin bar scene (yeah, just ask los hipsters) and eat lots of breakfast tacos. La cultura de Austin is to do just that, and there are many reasons why Austinites are avid taco fans. Yes, were a university town; we do have our share of college tacos, and students eat them up because theyre cheap, quick and easy to handle. The affordability factor is a big one. You can still get breakfast tacos for one to two dollars in the east side, and that meal can get you through lunchtime. Were also an open peopleor, as we say, we like to Keep Austin Weird. (Yes, Im going there because its true!) I like to think that Austin has an openness to it. Were somewhat of a metropolitan city (at least were getting there), and most cities like Austin are more open to new experiences, new cultures and new people. We arent afraid of trying new things. Thats pretty good for Texas, right? Our willingness to try new things is one of the reasons we love the breakfast taco. Being close to the border helps, too. Whether its taco trailers or brick-and-mortar restaurants, weve experienced the influence of Mexican and Latino immigrants, Tejanos, Mexican-Americans and Chicanos in the city. And what do we do? We accept their (and my) taco ways with open arms! And for that, I thank you, Austin.
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