Ahmed Nashaat – 5 Reasons to Love Tacos

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My buddy Ahmed Nashaat moved to Mexico City a couple of years ago and when I first went to see him one of the things that I noticed was the difference in their approach to tacos. Here in the US, we love tacos but they are nothing like what you find south of the border, down there they have the original taco-style, The key difference is the type of tortilla, they use handmade maize tortillas which are small and soft, not like the crunchy tostada type tacos we have in the US. If you haven’t yet fallen in love with tacos, then here are 5 reasons to love them.

All-Purpose

Something I really love about this meal choice is that you can eat them for any occasion. If you are looking for a meal then you can grab yourself 4 or 5 of these little beauties to enjoy, if you only fancy a snack then you can easily eat one just to fill you up a little. Super versatile and great for any moment of the day.

Range

There are what seems like an infinite amount of taco types and styles and in Mexico especially there is an enormous range of fillings that you can get with tacos. These range from common meats like pork, chicken and beef, but it also goes beyond this and they serve almost every part of the animal from the tongue to the brain. You can also get fish tacos or if you are vegan there is also a range of seitan and tofu tacos as well, something for everyone.

Community

The thing that I really loved about eating tacos in Mexico City is that they are a real central point of the community where people convene to eat together. There is a real beauty to a collection of strangers from different walks of life, standing on the street in front of a taco stand, enjoying some delicious snacks. On any given day you could easily be standing alongside a high powered businesswoman, a street sweeper and a family of 4, all enjoying tacos together and shooting the breeze.

DIY

I think one of my favorite aspects of tacos, and street food in general, is that it is very messy, hands-on food which you put together yourself. There is something very human about grabbing the food with your bare hands, adding garnishes and sauce and then just eating it there and then, no airs and no graces.

Delicious

One of the main reasons why you are going to love tacos is that they are simply delicious, no matter which type you try. As long as you get them from someone with a good reputation, you are going to fall in love with the rich flavors and textures of these little bundles of joy.

If you haven’t fallen in love with tacos yet, then you will the moment that you set foot in Mexico.

Boris Dzhingarov