Time Out! It's Taco Thursday!
On Thursday, May 11, Time Out Chicago held its first Taco Thursday tasting event at Joe's on Weed Street. Among my friends, Joe's is predominantly known as a venue for country music live shows, and somewhere I had not visited since a fateful 2009 night, when my car was towed from outside the bar. However, this evening, vengeance over the troubles of my now-deceased Ford Taurus (RIP), was not the goal.
I have had an accomplice in my Chicago tasting event circuit. Said Partner in Food...DOES NOT LIKE TACOS! Ok, ok...so he doesn't dislike tacos. He doesn't "understand the hype". My mission at Taco Thursday was to open his mind to the greatness of tacos through the fare offered from participating restaurants: Mercadito, Dos Urban Cantina, Rojo Gusano, Taqueria El Asadero, Cemitas Puebla, Antique Taco, Holy Taco!, and DeColores.
Upon entering, my distrustful-of-tacos friend and I were greeted by a brightly-uniformed mariachi band preparing to play. And play they did! The band was the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Chicago that works to preserve the heritage of Mexican art traditions. They were phenomenal! Oh! And they were all definitely under 18. So talented AND adorable! Definitely check them out.
The excitement of the band made us thirsty and we headed to the bar. Much to our disappointment, the pre-mixed margaritas were far too syrupy sweet. But, the bartender kindly allowed us to swap for beers. We appreciated the customer service, thanked her, and headed to on to the tacos!
The winner of my personal, highly unofficial test taste was a tie between Rojo Gusano and Holy Taco!, both of which had very tender meat and plentiful tacos to serve up. Being a WLS patient, the meat is always my favorite part of the taco seeing as carbs make me extremely full and I tend to eat the middle of tacos and toss the tortillas, or just ask for the stuffings and a fork. Sadly, Mercadito, whose table I was extremely excited to visit, ran out of tacos before we got to try them. I've visited the restaurant before and was craving the yummy treat.
Despite the Mercadito mishap, the lively music and the fun photo booth balloons and blow ups, make for another great Time Out Chicago event. Next, the publication will host a Mac and Cheese Smackdown on May 21! I couldn't win over my taco-avoidant friend with the scrumptiousness of the sandwich alternative, but I still win because that Wisconsin boy is out of town for the next event, and I get to try all the cheesy goodness! 😜
Hope to see you there!
