The Salt over at NPR has an extensive
interview/150 mile trip with Gustavo Arellanos, who just published
a book: Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America. They
visit the (still existing) stand where tacos where first
introduced, places where fusion tacos are created, and the "baroque
masterpiece" of the Battleship Taco. Of particular interest is the
discussion of the part that Taco Bell (now making 2 billion
tacos/year) played in overcoming consumers' suspicions about
contamination and strangeness; in fact, Arellanos shows us where
Taco Bell got their original recipe. If you've ever eaten a taco
(and who hasn't?) this is a
fascinating story.
