LOL.. everything you wanted to know, and more, about tacos. Have a good
read. When usenet deals you a lemon, etc......

http://www.fogoncito.com/english/empresa/hist_taco.html

The 1970 Academy dictionary designates the taco origin as onomatopoeia of
tac. A piece of wood, metal or any other material short and thick that might
fit in any hole. A tissue cylinder, paper or something alike.
It is also defined as something light to eat out of the regular meal hours.

No matter which is the correct origin of this word, evidently the taco was a
very popular food among the inhabitants of North America, later adapted to
the food taste of the Spaniards and obviously to the Creoles and Mestizo who
later formed the Mexican nation. Its permanency comes from centuries ago and
has been integrated to the Mexican people food through their history not
only during their wars and crisis but also in their victories and success.

However the most ingenious definition of taco is given by Jorge
Ibargüengoitia when he wrote: « I would like to invent something that will
be at the same time dish, spoon, napkin and tablecloth - he most have
thought - that it does not need to be washed but at the same time will
assure the person who is about to put in his mouth that it is clean and has
not been touched by other lips. Something that could be eaten so at the end
of the banquet nobody has the anything to wash and not leftovers be seen on
the tables

Tacos are very nourishing, they provide energy and its formula is so
simple - just a tortilla and any kind of food inside - giving ideas to try
different gastronomic combinations. The taste and personality are the
elements that accompany the El Fogoncito exquisite tacos.
Grilled meat tacos.

Among the different variety of tacos, it could be carnitas, guisado,
canasta, barbacoa, etc. There is one which maybe is the most famous in the
last decades and the one more consumed where different cultures are
gathered: tacos al carbon, a Mexican product that has combined different
gastronomical cultures to create a national fast food with un doubtful
success.

They appeared during the 60s and the fact that its main ingredients are
grilled meats reveals its North origin. Their price, quality, taste and the
success of the fast food in the Mexican life style made out of these
restaurants a great success.

In some restaurants a big grill was installed heated with charcoal where
they put marinated meat and onions to grill, pots with cheese and tortillas.
Different type of sauces was prepared: Mexican, guacamole, green, red or
morita pepper, etc. The combination of taste of the charcoal grilled meat
and the tortilla and sauces was excellent.

El Fogoncito is a witness and protagonist of the development of the most
popular tacos now days, the Tacos al Pastor.

In the same sites where the charcoal grilled meat tacos were prepared the
popular tacos al pastor were born. As there is also a dispute about its
origins, clearly the style of putting the meat and the cooking recipe is of
oriental origin. In Beirut we can observe the traditional food stands that
have a vertical rod with marinated lamb meat that is turning around a
cylinder to grill the meat on open fire. Charcoal, wood or gas heats this
cylinder. This same system is being used by the Mexican taquerias but using
pork meat instead, as this is meat highly appreciated by the Mexican
population and it is also abundant.

The tacos al pastor are prepared in small corn tortillas, heated in a comal
and accompanied with raw onion or grilled, cilantro, green or red sauce -
better with morita pepper sauce - and some add some lemon drops.

Very soon each taqueria invented their own recipe which determined the
difference and quality among them and the consumer preferences. To this
proliferation of recipes a new important ingredient was added giving its
characteristic to these tacos that were also known as Hawaiian style tacos,
the pineapple.

Today 30 years later, charcoal grilled tacos represent a total success and
each day more and more are consumed, as they are easy to consume,
inexpensive, accessible and delicious.