Friends, the secret’s out, and the Summer’s on.
Last week, we established some ground rules for a big, new project, aptly called The Summer of Taco™, and we even dispatched a brief Tacumentary update on our progress this morning. Last night’s inaugural Taco fest, hosted by the lovely folks at Taco Rico, was an exercise in diplomacy and democracy. Good times were had all around, but the evening was also a reminder that judging tacos is not only difficult, but absolutely essential.
You’ve heard a bit about Taco Rico in Chattarati’s volumes before. An uninspiring façade, conveniently located next to the Main Street Boxing Gym—kids get in for $4, by the by—across from the fire station. Inside, it’s sweetly simple, with a television set that rivals the Bijou in size.
Being serious, argumentative gastronomes, we all ordered the same thing: one beef taco, one chicken taco, and one chorizo taco. Beef and chicken served on a corn tortilla, chorizo on flour; all with a generous topping of cheese, cilantro and onion and a side of fresh pico de gallo, lime, and oddly satisfying radish slices. Everything was accompanied by plantain chips and a holy trinity of salsas—green tomatillo, smoky red, and chimichuri chock full o’ garlic. The total cost per person? $5.
So how does the food stack up? Well, the money’s in the math, no?
Below are our staff ratings, including those by two guest judges, Phillip Allen of the DJk789 combo, and Donald Sayers, of ChattOutLoud fame. At the very end, we wrap it up with an aggregate staff score. We each chose a favorite taco, included in our rankings, on which to judge each category.
Phillip Allen — Guest Judge
Average Score: 3.9
Presentation & Experience: 4
Construction: 3
Quality of Ingredients: 4
Flavor Balance: 4
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.5
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "Had to pay attention to keep the taco together. Lucky they didn't sell beer or it might have been a little difficult while drunk."
Veronique Bergeron
Average Score: 4.1
Presentation & Experience: 4
Construction: 3
Quality of Ingredients: 4
Flavor Balance: 5
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.5
Taco preference: Pork
Comment: "Smokey. Subtle. Splendid."
Steve Clay
Average Score: 3.2
Presentation & Experience: 3.5
Construction: 2
Quality of Ingredients: 4
Flavor Balance: 3.5
Creativity & Authenticity: 3
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "Fresh greens and vegetables. Strong flavor."
Aaron Collier
Average Score: 3.8
Presentation & Experience: 4
Construction: 3.5
Quality of Ingredients: 4
Flavor Balance: 4
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.5
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "LEED certified taco."
John Hawbaker
Average Score: 4.1
Presentation & Experience: 4
Construction: 3.5
Quality of Ingredients: 4
Flavor Balance: 4.5
Creativity & Authenticity: 4.5
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "Highly authentic."
Joe Lance
Average Score: 2.9
Presentation & Experience: 3
Construction: 2.5
Quality of Ingredients: 3.5
Flavor Balance: 2.5
Creativity & Authenticity: 3
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "Love the plantain chips."
David Morton
Average Score: 3.65
Presentation & Experience: 4
Construction: 3
Quality of Ingredients: 3.5
Flavor Balance: 4
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.75
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "This taco lives and dies by condiments."
Adrienne Royer
Average Score: 4.45
Presentation & Experience: 4.5
Construction: 3.25
Quality of Ingredients: 4.5
Flavor Balance: 5
Creativity & Authenticity: 5
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "Good recommendations by staff for sauces."
Donald Sayers — Guest Judge
Average Score: 3.8
Presentation & Experience: 3.5
Construction: 3.5
Quality of Ingredients: 4.5
Flavor Balance: 4.5
Creativity & Authenticity: 3
Taco preference: Beef
Comment: "The limes and radishes are a nice touch."
Casey Tuggle
Average Score: 3.5
Presentation & Experience: 3.5
Construction: 3
Quality of Ingredients: 3.5
Flavor Balance: 4
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.5
Taco preference: Pork
Comment: "Some tortilla lateral tearing."
And so, Taco Rico’s Final score in Summer of Taco™...
Average Score: 3.79
Presentation & Experience: 3.88
Construction: 3.03
Quality of Ingredients: 3.94
Flavor Balance: 4.25
Creativity & Authenticity: 3.84
Taco preference: Beef, 8 to 2
Comment: "A voyage of self-discovery."
Look for opportunities to join our panel of judges all summer long.
CaseyTuggle on May 5, 2009
It was a tasty start, to be sure, and I think we did right by Taco Rico and its authentic delights. It deserved the average 3.79 of 5, and there was much nodding of Chattarati heads when we announced the preliminary aggregate score.
On to future tacos!
kevin on May 5, 2009
do yourselves a favor and try the tilapia taco at taco roc (lee hwy @ shallowford); tienda jalisco serves a bad-mothertrucker of a taco at the chattanooga market as well; click my website, taconistas
Larry Miller on May 6, 2009
Taco Rico should be called Pupusa Rico. Their tacos are quite good. In fact, everything I have tried is excellent. But the pupusa, a thick masa pad - is their signature food.
Robert T. Nash on May 6, 2009
The authentic silver dollar-sized Mexico City Tacos at La Altena on Main Street are very tasty, but The Real Taco Goodness - of all sorts - can indeed be found at Taco Roc...
CaseyTuggle on May 6, 2009
We've been hearing a lot about Taco Roc. Fear not, readers, it's on the list for scrutiny in the continuing quest for Chattanooga's Best Taco.
mattdaviss on May 7, 2009
Very cool - It's all happening, should be a very exciting #summeroftaco.
K Fairchild on May 9, 2009
Gotta stand behind those La Altena Mexico City Tacos....!
suzypublic on May 17, 2009
Taco Roc changed hands recently and I look forward to your comments on it under new ownership. It was considered to be the best authentic Mexican in town at one time.