All photos by Tatiana Arbogast

Bill Esparza single-handedly raised our standards for authentic asada, carnitas, and pastor in L.A. through his blog Street Gourmet L.A. and writing in The L.A. Times and O.C. Weekly. Fueled by fastidious explorations of the regionally rich and diverse culinary culture of Mexico’s many states while traveling as a professional saxophone player, the Stockton native often plays secret weapon as a consultant on other parties’ street food events, intrepid eaters’ television shows, and fancy restaurants State-specific Mexican menus. Next Sunday, Esparza presents his own event, Tacolandia, in a partnership with L.A. Weekly at The Palladium. Priced at $20, the writer promises us, “I’ve put together a tight group of vendors that is a refreshing break from the usual Gourmet Truck fests–not knocking them–I love them and support them for real as I support all street food venues–but it’s nice to offer something different. We also have the best Mexican chefs in town: Rocio Camacho, Jimmy Shaw, Jaime and Ramiro (of Bell’s Casita Mexicana). We have the 4 Baja chefs and stands, Trey Foshee from George’s on the Cove in Coronado, we have traditional mom and pops, and some chefs doing great things with tacos–Wes Avila, Joshua Gil, Laurent Quenioux–can you say…escamoles?–and Ricardo Zarate.”

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Edrina Martinez, better known as Astronautica, has emerged as a rising artist in LA’s globally-recognized beat scene. She’s found a home at Alpha Pup records, played Low End and Coachella already this year, and is getting amazing reviews for her debut record. Please enjoy this Q&A with someone you’ll want to keep your eye on…

What’s your favorite taco spot in LA?
I have a couple- my friend recently took me to El Chavo in Silverlake, I LOVE potato tacos, and they did a pretty good job there, plus they have really awesome margaritas. I’m a big fan of patio dining and they have a really cool spot.

I also really like Guisados.

Where did you grow up? Where did you go to High School?
I grew up in San Dimas and went to an all girls Catholic High School called St. Lucy’s in Glendora.

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We always try to track down unique taco-related merchandise, and here’s something entirely out of left-field. Marvel’s Deadpool special edition taco-themed figurines with unique packaging. From the press release:

“Any evil that threatens the universe can eat lead. For the rest of us… tacos!”The Merc with a Mouth teams up with his favorite allies — alternate universe versions of himself– in this highly collectible and unique action figure set. The 3.75-inch Marvel Universe figures of Deadpool, Lady Deadpool and Champion of the Universe, along with figurines of Kidpool, Dogpool and Squirrelpool come packaged in individual “taco shells,” all inside a collectible taco truck package! Following the convention, a limited number will be available on HasbroToyShop.com.(Approximate Retail Price $49.99; Ages 4 & up; Available through HasbroToyShop.com, Booth #3329 at Comic-Con International in San Diego)Marvel’s Vine video previews here and here. And stay tuned for an uffocial Marvel unboxing video of the whole set, very soon

Thanks to TacoTrail for clueing us in to this bizarre, yet welcome item.

One of our longtime favorite places to eat a taco, winner of the inaugural Taco Madness tournament in 2009, Yuca’s Restaurant is a very important part of Los Angeles taco culture. Its founder, Socorro Herrera, is being lauded at the Ceremonial Proclamation of the Resolution of the City of Los Angeles: Día del Yucateco (Yucatan Day) on Friday May 24th, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles City Hall.  You can attend! Friday, May 24, 2013 at 10AM ~ City Hall: 200 N. Spring Street. More info here.

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In what proved to be the biggest Taco Madness of all time, over 40,000 unique votes were cast online by taco lovers all over Los Angeles. The finals pitted two of L.A.’s favorite tacos (and past winners of the online event) against each other in a friendly but intense competition. 32 Taqueros entered, but in the end, only Mexicali Taco & Co. was left standing.

Congratulations to everyone at Mexicali Taco & Co., who have now become the first two-time winner in Taco Madness history. Mexicali Taco & Co. is officially LA’s favorite taco!

At our event on Saturday (full photo recap coming soon!) our esteemed panel of judges (Bill Esparza, Bricia Lopez, Zack Brooks, Hadley Tomicki, Alexis Rivera, and Tien Nguyen) declared Mariscos Jalisco to have the best taco of the day. They are the first ever winner of the Taco Madness Jury prize!

Congratulations to both of our deserving winners. Can’t wait until next year!

One of the greatest hip-hop groups in LA History is reforming this weekend for special performances at the Coachella Art and Music Festival. Our very own RYO1 of Ghetto Dojo sat down with the one of our all-time favorite emcees to discuss Los Angeles, Jurassic 5, Coachella, Chali’s art, and his favorite taco, which hasn’t changed since the last time we asked!

Welcome to the Fifth Annual Taco Madness online taco tournament! Voting is now open, please review the brackets below, Vote in the first round, and read a little insight into three intriguing opening-round battles.

UPDATE: APRIL 20th: CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER: Mexicali Taco & Co.

It was a hard fought battle that came down to the final hours. In the end, while both competitors were worthy, only one could claim the crown and that was Mexicali Taco & Co.!

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The Los Angeles Times reports today that members of one LA’s most notorious gangs were indicted today in protection-racket scheme targeting taco truck vendors in Los Angeles:

A grand jury indictment was scheduled to be unsealed Monday for about two dozen reputed members of the notorious MS-13 gang in connection with a violent extortion racket that targeted food-truck operators.

The victims of the alleged organized shakedown were not four-wheeled foodie cuisine servers, such as the Kogi BBQ truck, but those who serve blue collar workers at construction sites, according to several law enforcement sources familiar with the case.

Those arrested were reputed Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, gang members but the sources, who did not want to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the case before details were revealed in court, said the arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation centered in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division.

Just another example of how hard it is out there slangin street food– our local taqueros work long hours and are squeezed on all sides by fuel prices, local regulators, drunk customers, and criminal elements. Salute your local lonchera the best way you can- stop in for a taco tonight.

Interview with recently arrived L.A. artist Chrystal Seawood by Justin Johnson of ImMovingtoLA.com.

What is the title of your latest series and what’s the concept behind it?
The Trichotomy of 5 Cents is my latest series that explores the motives of African American entertainers who voluntarily performed in the humiliating character of Blackface.

In the series I examine three distinct forms of motivation: Greed, Passion, and Obligation.

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RYO1 of Ghetto Dojo sat down with graff legend Joe “Prime” Reza to talk about his past, present, and future. And of course his favorite taco spot.

If you love music and know how to read, you read Jeff Weiss. Maybe not intentionally, as he writes for Esquire, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork, Wax Poetics, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Billboard, Knife Collector, Entertainment Weekly, Dance Teacher Magazine, Resident Adviser, NME, to name just a few. He saves all his good stuff, however, for his own blog, Passion of the Weiss, which recently named Cartoons and Cereal the best hip-hop song of 2012.

What’s your favorite taco?
This is a very sad story about a taco. I was unaware that you could develop an emotional relationship with a taco, but in hindsight, I loved the soft chicken tacos at El Nopal more than any of my second cousins. Three months ago, a callous philistine of a new owner transmogrified the once juicy but never greasy tacos, into brittle and withered husks. El Nopal remains open on Motor and National, but the tacos now taste like spicy Frisbees.

This leaves the only sensible answer: Ricky’s Fish Tacos, a little stand that operates on Virgil and Sunset. It is the perfect taco: mix a little salsa verde, crispy lettuce, crema, fresh tomatoes, a steaming corn tortilla, with a buttery flakey fillet of white fish. It was the taco equivalent of Rickey Henderson in his prime. And just this week, Ricky announced that they are shutting down operations indefinitely. I’m crestfallen.

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