Taco ’Bout National Taco Day

Last year, Americans ate an estimated 4.5 billion tacos. They have become a national obsession and a top-5 favorite food. They can be eaten crunchy or soft, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or at 3 in the morning. The world is full of so much taco love that they even have their own annual holiday…National Taco Day, celebrated on Oct. 4.

Some Buzz neighbors shared some of their taco adventures. 

Joel, Meredith, and Gianna Vela, celebrate Taco Tuesday. Meredith expanded, “Joel likes tacos every week so that’s what we have! I usually make ground beef tacos although sometimes I branch out with shrimp or fish tacos.” 

Their four-legged family member, Lucy, also loves tacos. “Our dog Lucy is a natural vacuum so she would be happy to eat any kind of taco, which is why I got reprimanded for her weight recently by the vet!” said Meredith. Gianna likes to keep Lucy fashionable by dressing her in a stylish dog taco costume.

Those who love hard-shell crunchy tacos are very loyal to this mouth-watering traditional taco. (Photo courtesy of Chuy's)

When Janelle Rusch and her now-husband, Erik, started dating, they tried to go to Taco Tuesday at a local restaurant. Janelle shared, “The place was too crowded, so we ended up at a little Italian place and discovered the all-you-can-eat spaghetti night. That became our little love spot each week. But we ended up coming full circle when we had a Taco Cart at our wedding.”
 
Katrina Johnson craved crunchy tacos her entire pregnancy with her son, Joss. Right after his delivery she asked her husband, Ray, to please go get some crispy tacos. Katrina added, “Ray came back to my hospital room with a beautiful basket that included a red checkered tablecloth, a bottle of wine, a delicious chicken dish, and breadsticks from our favorite Italian restaurant to which I replied, ‘Does this look like crunchy tacos to you?!’ Of course, I sent him back out for the tacos. The nurses gave me some dirty looks, but I didn’t care. I can’t believe I did that, but I needed those tacos!”

One taco fan wanted to remain anonymous. “I love pretty much any kind of taco, from gourmet, to breakfast, to Taco Bell! I’m a little obsessive about my order, too - has to include Taco Supremes… okay, if I’m really thinking about it, that used to be a payday treat for me early in the college years. I think they used to have a Taco Bell Grande sort of like a long Taco Supreme. Maybe I’m dreaming. Okay, I’ve confessed enough taco sins.”  

Fun Ways to Enjoy Tacos on Taco Day - Oct. 4 - and All Year Long 

This fun family went all out to "Dress Like a Taco" for Chuy's National Taco Day Celebration. (Photo courtesy of Chuy's)

Dress like a taco for a free meal at Chuy’s Mexican Restaurants
Oct. 4
All locations
Post a photo in your delicious costume with #ChuysTacoDay and head to your nearest Chuy’s for a complimentary dine-in entrée of your choice. Chuy’s will also have taco and drink specials all day. 

8th Annual Tacolandia Houston
Oct. 15, 4-7 p.m.
Water Works, Buffalo Bayou, 105 Sabine St, Houston 77007
Houston’s largest taco festival includes unlimited taco samples. The event benefits Kids Meals. 

Crafty Taco Time

• Kids’ Homemade Taco Costumes - find inspiration here and here 
• Adult Do-it Yourself Taco Costume - find a how-to here
• Taco Pinata DIY
• Gift Ideas for a Taco ’bout Theme (Taco ’bout a Baby, a Wedding, a Celebration, a Grad)
• Taco Greeting Card Printable
  Playdoh Tacos inspired by Adam Rubin’s Dragons Love Tacos children’s book

Taco Night at Home

• Taco Tuesday Recipes
• Fish Tacos with Tropical Fruit Salsa
• Chicken Chalupas

Taco-Themed Sweet Treats

• Homemade Taco Cake 
• Birthday Tacos: Arranged to Create the New Number for the Birthday Person 
• Taco Cupcakes 
• Taco Cookies

Feeling like a power breakfast? How about eating a four-pound breakfast taco in 10 minutes? If you complete the challenge, you get a t-shirt and a framed photo on the wall of Chacho's Tacos Restaurant in Corpus Christi. Only about 20 people have succeeded in the past two decades. (Photo courtesy of Chacho's Tacos) 

4 lb. Breakfast Taco Challenge
Chacho’s Tacos
3700 Ayers St., Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Mon.–Fri., 5:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Sat., 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Sun. closed
The next time you are in Corpus Christi, head over to Chacho’s Tacos to check out their gigantic taco. The Almighty Taco Challenge requires eating a 14-inch homemade tortilla full of refried beans, cheese, carne guisada, egg, potatoes and bacon in less than 10 minutes. Conquerors earn a Chacho’s t-shirt, their framed photo hung on the wall, and the taco for free. Only about 20 people have succeeded in the last 22 years. If you are not up for the challenge, you can still order the $15.99 taco and even get it to-go.

Taco Trivia

In closing, here is some taco trivia to make you look clever in front of your friends the next time you are enjoying the delicious delicacy. Viva Tacos!

• Astronauts often eat tacos when they are out on their missions, as tacos are supposedly less messy to eat in a zero-gravity environment. 
• I’m into fitness. Fit’ness taco in my mouth.
• Taco cat spelled backward is taco cat.