Taco “Finer” by Ashley Murphy

Photo by Ashley Murphy

Taco Diner is one of the finest taco restaurants in the area giving you dishes to “dine” for. On Wednesdays, my particular dish of the day is the Los Cabos salad. The Los Cabos salad is a Parisian-Mexican Cobb salad with grilled chicken breast, avocado, topped with bacon and garnish. The salad sits on a tortilla, giving it a tostada effect. The reddish sauce surrounding the tortilla is not solely for decoration; however it adds a zingy, spicy zest to the entire dish. It’s light enough to keep you fit and in good shape, but filling enough to leave you full and satisfied. The Mambo Taxi specials are the reasons for large crowds during the middle of the week. Wednesdays are usually packed due to the all-day Happy Hour Mango Margarita specials, Mambo Taxis, and Mojitos.  Whether you drink cocktails or simply prefer to dine with ‘no wine’, there is always something on the menu for everyone.

The Bistec tacos are probably the best brisket tasting tacos I’ve had, at least since last week. The tender meat combines brilliantly with the olive oil, garlic and salt. Exactly, only three simple ingredients make for an excellent taco. There are not a lot of fancy ingredients to impress the customer, which would be too over the top in my opinion. All I need is to sit and relax, listen to live music out on the patio after a long day of work, and chow down on my favorite meaty tacos; although I must caution you to wear a shirt other than a blouse or a suit and tie when dining in. The juice from the tacos is delicious and a bit messy. If you do not lean over your plate to protect your clothing, the juice will hit you like ink oozing from a pen. Taco Diner is a branch of the MCrowd group which Mi Cocina is affiliated with the group as well. Both restaurants are equally exceptional and equally packed with customers.

The prices are pricier than a lot of fast food chains or the popular Mexican food restaurant chain On the Border, which is to be expected. The Los Cabos salad is $9.95 and the Bistec tacos are similar in price. However, the price should not deter you from enjoying the perks of the restaurant. The best thing about Taco Diner is that usually there is no extended wait to be seated. It has that “walk in and out” feel, where you do not have to be bothered with lines wrapped around the building just to enjoy a decent meal. I always enjoy loosening up after work, calling up a few friends, and heading over to the diner for a good time. I’m sure you will want to return once you visit the restaurant and come to enjoy the menu too!

                                                   

Taco Ocho by Ashley Murphy

On Friday, May 20, I ventured into an intriguing little taco joint only four days after the grand opening. On Saturday, May 21, I found myself returning to the same taco restaurant with a party of three because the food was so tasty. What was so intriguing about a taco place with a name as simplistic as every other fast food eatery? Taco Ocho! It had begun to rain; lightning and thunderstorms would have kept any sane person from busting a u-turn and parking in front of a Mexican restaurant. I surely should have continued on my merry way and stayed on my route without deviating from my routine, however it was the sound of my stomach growling and the excitement of exploring a new cantina that prompted me to throw caution to the wind.

Unlike the popular Mexican restaurants like Chipotle or Freebirds, this restaurant does not serve burritos and margaritas. So if you are expecting a menu within your comfort zone, then you should keep your distance from Taco Ocho. If you have a taste for a blend of Mexican, Cuban, and Caribbean flavors then dart toward this taco haven. At first glance, I thought the restaurant was owned by NFL football player Chad Ochocinco. There are a few hamburger and wing restaurants owned and advertised by two well known Dallas Cowboys players, so I only assumed this was another football player franchise. If you mistakenly walk into Taco Ocho frantically looking for Mr. Ochocinco, you will be somewhat disappointed to discover he is not the owner of the place. Although you will quickly realize that the restaurant has its own personality distinguishable from others and the vibrant colors of the decor, a friendly manager, and cultural blend of menu items trump the Rusty Taco franchises and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop locations. The name Taco “Eight” (in Spanish) is centered upon the tradition of handmade food, inspired by the cooking styles of 8 Latin women. The Cabo fish tacos are authentic and zesty! They are tiny tacos filled with your choice of grilled or fried and beer battered tilapia wrapped in a flour tortilla, stuffed with cabbage and topped with a zesty chipotle cream sauce. The Jalapeno pork tacos were just as appealing to the palate, almost melting in your mouth instantly. The Mixteca torta is just as flavorful, filled with avocado, lettuce, queso fresco, shredded pork (carnitas) and tomatoes. My personal favorite is the Cuban torta or Cubana, which is a common type of torta that contains pork, ham, chorizo, jalapenos, spicy mustard, and Oaxaca cheese. It is a little saltier than the other types of tortas, but very tasty as well. I even tested the “authenticity” of the tortas at Taco Ocho and planned a taste test between my friend and I. We both ordered a Cuban torta from a small hole in the wall called La Paloma Taqueria and compared the freshness and flavors. Taco Ocho’s torta tasted as good as the traditional tortas at the taqueria. The bread of the torta was not quite as soft as La Paloma, however the meat was tender, the vegetables were fresh, and the jalapenos added a nice kick to the sandwich.

The Sampler trio was probably one of my favorite dishes combining Caribbean culture to the menu. I had the pleasure of sampling three different tostadas: Sonoran, Caribbean, and Americana. Each tostada provided a unique blend of flavors that I have never had before on a tostada. They were all very light and refreshing, especially after devouring a huge Cuban torta.

The Sonoran was an interesting blend of tender cactus, grilled jicama, red onions, pickled jalapenos, tomatoes, cheese, lime & cilantro vinaigrette. If you have ever gone camping and tasted cactus before you will have discovered it tastes exactly like bell pepper. This particular tostada reminds me of the desert because of its blend of vegetables. If you were to be stranded on an episode of Survivor, the Sonoran tostada would be the most sought out cuisine. The Americana stands out among all other tostadas visually because of its presentation. The drizzled chipotle ranch dressing almost makes the tostada resemble a striped zebra only without the black and white stripes. The refried black beans, pico de gallo, roasted corn, cotija cheese, and chipotle give it a Tex-Mex texture. It is pleasantly light as well. The toasty crunch of the corn tortilla makes for a nice appetizing snack. The last tostada I sampled was most memorable because if its Caribbean accented flavor. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore plantains. The most basic tostada of them all, the Caribbean, has rice, baked plantains, refried black beans, lettuce, and cream agria sauce. Its sweetness is a perfect contrast to the other semi salty items on the menu.

The owner of the restaurant is the nicest manager you will ever come to meet. He will greet you with a smile and a warm welcome every time you enter his restaurant. Invite your friends, family, or choose to go solo to visit Taco Ocho. As long as there are empty stomachs to be filled, this restaurant seems like it will be around for awhile.

Rear View Mirror by Ashley Murphy

photo by Ashley Murphy

As we enter into summer, leaving spring behind, let us take a glance back into our rear view mirrors at a restaurant praised for its pastries. Main Street Bistro & Bakery is located in the lavish, upscale Shops at Legacy in Plano. From delightful lemon pastries to sinfully delicious Nutella French toast, the sweet and savory flavors are the best items on the menu. Le Pain Perdu Decadence is covered in chocolate hazelnut and strawberries. Although in French, it means the lost bread decadence, there is nothing lost when you take your first bite of this delicious breakfast dish. The French toast is so rich in flavor that I could eat it for breakfast as well as for dessert. The lemon citron tart is as silky as an expensive couture blouse leaving no question unanswered. The contrast of sweet and sour blend with the sugary crust on top. It is cooked to perfection and topped with a naughty drizzle of chocolate. The final dessert of the hint of ‘chocolate trio’ is the Chocolate Nun. Devouring this dessert will create a bad ‘habit’ of coming back for more. It is filled with vanilla custard and glazed with a chocolate finish, an almost impossible temptation that I promise you will not want to resist. You might as well throw up your hands to surrender and ask the russet nun to say a prayer. Fully submit yourself to a possible death by chocolate. It’s that tantalizing!

Baby, I Was Born To Pay

With the recent release of her new album, Lady Gaga has been in the news more than Donald Trump has graced headlines. Her new singles, Born This Way and Judas have caused a stir among religious groups and churches. With lyrics promoting gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered liberation, she has pushed boundaries of expression and fought for the rights of those seeking equality in America in a widespread Christian society.  A fashion icon to several, an anti-religious fanatic to some, she has proven her music can hit the top of the music charts and win her several VMA awards faster than you can predict her next wardrobe change. She is in fact a trendsetter. Millions of fans line up to hear her sing at concerts all over the world, posting pictures on Facebook and updating Twitter statuses with avant-garde song lyrics and photo contest winners decked out in only the most bazaar clothing only a typical person would wear to a masquerade. Lady Gaga seems to be sitting on top of the world, invincible to her adversaries.

Could she be a musical genius? Or possibly the daughter of King Midas where everything she touches turns to gold? If she were asked the same question, I am sure she would consider herself a combination of both. However, critics question her brilliance on the debut of her new album due to similar sounding lyrics and a melodic tempo from a 1989 Madonna song entitled Express Yourself . I have listened to both songs several times, analyzed the lyrics, and have even sung both tunes while driving in five o’clock traffic. Both songs are similar. They’re almost too exact and too close for comfort. With the beginning of Lady Gaga’s song version introducing capital H.I.M. to an audience ready to rip the shirts off of young muscular boys, it mimics the same catchy tune in an almost remedial way. If Lady Gaga thought disguising her song around an eccentric dance tune and pulsating bass lines would throw her listeners off guard, she needs to remember the generation raised on the music of Madonna.

Adding insult to injury, Gaga denies ‘biting’ the musical arrangement off such a legend of an era when Prince, MJ, and Madonna were the central focus of conversation, controversy and artistry. It will be interesting to see how the story unfolds within the next couple of months. Will lawyers defend Gaga in court and be prepared to pay royalties to the record company she has allegedly stolen the song from? Or will she evade the courtroom altogether? Only time will tell in incidents like this particular one.

One thing that is evident, she will continue to throw caution to the wind and publically offend more conservative individuals who frown upon her artistic display of rebellion. Shouting expletives and offensive phrases comes as natural to her as prayer is to a Catholic priest. Neither action requires repeatedly being taught, but both are easily followed by example. A person of eminent faith may argue Lady Gaga is merely reaping what she has sown by mocking Christian scripture and pious dogma. To those nodding their heads in disbelief, perhaps she is in dire need of spiritual guidance? To those who believe she is standing for those who cannot take a stand on their own for fear of scrutiny, she is spiritually guided by another form of faith. Either way, she may need to seek legal guidance within the next few weeks.