Nowadays, the Taco is part of the street-food. Considered as a snack in its country of origin, it has established itself and exported beyond its Mexican borders. We can find it on the menu of restaurant tables as well as on the menu of food trucks. Once reserved for peasants, the snack is becoming popular and is affecting the whole of society.
The origins of the Taco
It is hard to define the origins of the snack. Several interpretations follow one another. According to some people, its name dates from the 18th century and is linked to the working techniques of miners. To others, the first Aztec emperor called Moctezuma (1440-1469) initiated its invention by using it as a spoon. Finally, the last explanation refers to the way in which the food was wrapped to send it to the peasants who worked in the fields.
It was from the 1950s that the product began to be marketed. The tortilla producers who are the villagers made it a lucrative business which is spreading all over the country. The village of San Vincente Xiloxochita in Tlaxcala became its capital. The product is a real success and sells hundreds every day. With the arrival of Lebanese migrants in 1960, it experienced a new boom. These are tortillas with new flavors.
What is a Taco?
There is a wide variety of tacos. Here is a list of some of them
The tortilla can be with salt ;
It is made from corn or wheat in northern Mexico,
It can contain several condiments such as chicken, chili, avocado and meat like the Lebanese charwama ;
It can be cooked in different ways, steamed or fried.
The combinations vary and offer a wide choice of possibilities.
The Mexican Tortilla, a multicultural food?
The Mexican tortilla experienced many cultural influences. It ended up entering and establishing itself in European cooking. It is possible to encounter the snack in various eating places that are not exclusively devoted to Mexican food.
Business that are opened to cultural diversity can offer this snack, as well as so-called traditional restaurants. The snack belongs to a new form of consumption. It is eaten on street corners and in alleys as a main course or in "antiojitos", as an appetizer. It is sometimes placed on specialized stalls to be better appreciated. That is why it's part of street food. One can eat it hot, on the go, in public spaces. To take away, it does not represent a large budget.
For example, in France, the product has been radically transformed. It no longer resembles and no longer corresponds to its initial production. It is constantly reinvented. It is one of the main competitors of other fast foods such as kebabs or wraps. The tortilla is embellished with all types of ingredients, spices and seasonings. It even contains beneficial nutrients for the body. Thus, the taco becomes a source of inspiration that aligns with everyone's tastes. It is possible to speak of a fad with a meal that meets the needs of a generation focused on responsible consumption. For example, there are vegetarian or vegan tortillas for people who follow a strict or special diet. It's a tasty and efficient street food.
A Mexican restaurant in Lausanne
Based in the city of Lausanne, Mexicana is an authentic exotic restaurant. It invites you on a journey through a selection of courses and flavors from Mexico. You can enjoy the exoticism of tasty and exclusive meals. The establishment is the first to offer corn tortillas, emblems of Mexico. Mexicana also has a catering service that adapts to your desires and preferences. In large or small groups, all you have to do is place an order by filling in the products you want. The brand will be happy to personalize your order and give you complete satisfaction. These are Quesadillas, Burritos and other specialties that you can freely taste.
In full evolution and change, Mexicana will join with Flon bowling. You will then meet and discover a new catering service under a new, secret name at Flon, in Lausanne, still centered on Mexican cooking. The upcoming opening in September 2022 promises a friendly place with large tables to accommodate groups. "From the North to the South of Mexico, there is a wide variety of Mexican specialties, a certain number of which are already well known and others remain to be discovered".