Tacos, Mole, and Churros, Oh, My! Eating My Way Across Mexico City –  Part 2

Tacos in Centro Histórico

My effort to try all the foods across Mexico City included an evening taco tour in Centro Histórico. Tacos while strolling through colonial architecture of Mexico City? Sign me up!  Club Tengo Hambre  guided me on an intimidating seven stops. First, I need to emphasize again how energetic Centro Histórico is. So many people out and about, shopping, dining, drinking, going about their business. The lively sounds of an active city provides a colorful backdrop to our walk through town.

On to the tacos. How many different ways can you have a taco? Turns out a lot of ways.  Each stop was a little different. First stop, Tacos de Canasta “El Flaco.” Loosely translated to “Basket Tacos by “Skinny.” Basket tacos are folded tacos that are steamed and filled with mashed ingredients for a soft and moist texture. There were a couple of options, but I had a delicious potato concoction.

Next, we stopped at Antojitos Mexicanos Las Escaleras, Mexican snacks the stairs. They serve a number of tacos here, but I enjoyed a super stuffed vegetarian, lightly fried quesadilla. This was not the thin quesadilla I’m used to in the US. This delight seemed was big! And so delicious I knew I shouldn’t eat it all, but I came close. I was already getting into trouble.

Third stop was Taqueria el Torito. This taqueria served several types of tacos, but our guide quickly informed us that their best taco was half suadero (beef brisket) and half tripe (intestine). Anthony Bourdain raved about this type of taco on his show. I would normally never order tripe. But, as almost everyone else in my group ordered this taco, I bravely did the same. And it was amazing. Looking at my taco, lightly seasoned with onion and cilantro, I couldn’t separate what was brisket and what was tripe.  I ate every bite.

No taco tour would be complete without tacos al pastor which we had at el huequito.

We stopped for a short cocktail break at  Tío Pepe. This cantina has been serving drinks since 1869 and is one of if not the oldest bars in town. This dark, moody saloon was filled with historic and romantic atmosphere is right on the edge of Barrio China. A very atmospheric place to enjoy a margarita or mezcal.

I was sure I couldn’t eat another bite. But churros filled with chocolate! I made room. I thought we were done here, but we had one more stop. I’m sad to say I was unable to enjoy the taco guisado at the last stop. I’m sure it was wonderful, but it was a lot of food. I somehow rolled myself home after the night was over.

Mercado de Medellín

I have to mention one other delicacy I tried. I didn’t mean to, zero intention.  I didn’t only want to eat all the food, I wanted to learn something about cooking all of these dishes.  Cooking Class! I booked a class with  Aura Cocina Mexicana, who was going to guide me and three others through a full meal.  Before cooking, we started with a tour through Mercado de Medellín in Roma. After seeing the stalls for tortillas, meats, fish and vegetables, our host asked us if we wanted to try insects! Friends, you know my gut reaction was heck no! While I was trying to be adventurous, there are lines. But my fellow cooks were trying them, there was some resistance, but still. And, they assured me it tasted fine. These days, I’m not really susceptible to peer pressure, in fact, it makes me dig my heels in. But I do suffer from serious FOMO. So, I went for it.  I have pictures to prove I tried insects. The cricket tasted like salt and lime. The agave worm, kind of like a Cheeto. The jumil, more salty lime. The chicatana, which I think is some type of ant, also, didn’t taste like much. The scariest item was last, the cocopache, a type of beetle. This actually tasted the best, like smoked cheese. That said, I could not eat this regularly. The sight is just too ick.

After the market, we headed back to the kitchen to get to cooking. More on that in the next post.