Happy National Taco Day!

Since today is October 4th, It’s National Taco Day!

Some Taco History

For a dish so widely available, the history of the taco is really unknown. But according to taco expert Jeffrey M. Pilcher, the word originates from the silver mines in Mexico in the 18th century, when taco referred to the little explosives workers used to extract the ore.These were pieces of paper wrapped around gunpowder and placed into holes carved in the rock. “When you think about it, a chicken taquito with a good hot sauce is really a lot like a stick of dynamite,” says Pilcher in an online article at Smithsonian.com. “The first references [to the taco] in any sort of archive or dictionary come from the end of the 19th century. And one of the first types of tacos described is called tacos de minero—miner’s tacos. So the taco is not necessarily this age-old cultural expression; it’s not a food that goes back to time immemorial.”

till others claim tacos predate the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico in the 16th century. Anthropologists say there is evidence suggesting inhabitants of the lake region of the Valley of Mexico ate tacos filled with small fish. The fish were replaced by small live insects and ants in the states of Morelos and Guerrero, while locusts and snails were favorite fillings in Puebla and Oaxaca.Taco Bell is believed to have pushed the widespread popularity of Mexican food in the U.S. Founded in California in 1962, the chain of fast-food restaurants serves up a variety of Tex-Mex foods to more than two billion customers in 5,800 restaurants in the U.S. alone.The hard-shell taco was invented long before Taco Bell, a discovery that would aid their expansion across North America. The U-shaped version is first noted in 1949 in a cookbook by Fabiola Cabeza de Vaca Gilbert. A device that would hold the taco in its U-shape as it deep fried helped in the mass production of this product. Kits are now available everywhere.

Taco Types
There are many traditional varieties of tacos, some of which include Tacos de Cabeza, which are the brain, tongue, eyes and lips of a cow’s head. Others include crispy tripe tacos, shrimp tacos and Tacos dorados, which mean fried tacos. Called flautas because of their flute shape or taquito, these tacos are filled with cooked and shredded chicken or beef and rolled into tube or flute shapes and deep-fried until crispy.Taco al Pastor, which means shepherd’s style taco, is the most popular variety in Mexico. It generally consists of spiced pork, which is cut in slivers from a vertical spit over an open flame. Breakfast tacos are served at many restaurants especially in the American Southwest. This fried corn or flour tortilla is rolled and stuffed with a mixture of meat, eggs or cheese and topped with onions, salsa and avocado. Huevos rancheros, anyone?Ensenada, Mexico is said to be the birth place of the fish taco, a claim many of the city’s restaurants try to make for their own. The best place to sample them is at any of the small food stands that line the streets around the Mercado Negro, Ensenada’s fish market. The fish tacos served are small pieces of battered, fried fish in a hot corn or wheat tortilla.Trivia: Thought Taco Trucks were new ?
One of the first taco trucks is thought to have started in New York when in 1966 two New York housewives operated an early version of the taco truck. Although the truck did not have a full kitchen, it was available for catering.
Does this mean one can get a free tacos on this day?

Without hesitation, here is your list of noteworthy worthy restaurants offering this yummy Mexican dish in honor of National Taco Day.

Free Tacos for National Taco Day

Jack in the Box
The deal: Sign up for the Jack in the Box e-club and you’ll get set up with two free tacos when you make a purchase on Taco Day.
When: October 4

Taco John’s
The deal: Use the Taco John’s Rewards app to get a free Crispy Beef Taco.
When: October 4

Rubio’s Coastal Grill
The deal: Buy a beverage and you’re getting any taco on the menu for free. If you’re still hungry, download the Rubio’s app and sign-up for Rubio’s Rewards. You’ll get another free taco.
When: October 4

Condado Tacos
The deal: Everyone is getting a free taco with any purchase to celebrate this glorious day.
When: October 4

Wahoo’s Fish Taco
The deal: It’s BOGO taco time. The buy one, get one deal can be used to land you up to free tacos for the day.
When: October 4

Margaritas Mexican Restaurants
The deal: Tickle your tonsils with a free beef or chicken taco with any purchase at participating locations.
When: October 4

Taco Bell
The deal: The ubiquitous Mexican-inspired fast food chain is offering a special taco gift box — dubbed the National Taco Day $5 Gift Set — in honor of the major food holiday. Each box comes with two Doritos Locos Tacos (because the Fiery and Cool Ranch ones were sadly killed off in a major menu revamp last month) and two Crunchy Tacos. Normally, these four tacos would set you back about $6.36 (depending on your local prices), but T-Bell is selling ‘em for $5 just for National Taco Day. You can buy your own gift box or send one to a friend by heading over to chain’s website.
When: October 4

El Pollo Loco
The deal: The LA-inspired Mexican restaurant is launching a set of Fire-Grilled Combos that are just $5 each, including Chicken Nachos, Chicken Taquitos with guacamole, Tacos al Carbon, Classic Chicken Burrito, and more.
When: Available through October 30

Tijuana Flats
The deal: The chain is, fittingly, celebrating the faux-holiday for days and days. You can snag two tacos, chips, and a drink for $5.99. Upgrade that drink to a beer for just two bucks.
When: October 4-6

On the Border
The deal: Enjoy edless tacos starting at $8.99 for National Taco Day. Though, the promotion does have an end, unfortunately.
When: October 4

Taco Bell
The deal: Order at least $12 of the Bell through Grubhub and you’ll get free delivery.
When: For a limited time

Qdoba
The deal: It’s not exactly free tacos, but Qdoba is giving rewards members double points on whatever they order for National Taco Day.
When: October 4

Fajita Pete’s
The deal: Gather your friends and family for this one. For a limited time you can get a pound and a half of chicken fajitas with 12 hand-rolled tortillas, six chicken flautas, a medium order of guacamole, a large queso order, one large salsa roja, chips, a quart of beans, a quart of rice, fresh pico, sour cream, and two orders of sopapillas for $59.99. That’s a total savings of more than $30.
When: For a limited time

Torchy’s Tacos
The deal: For National Taco Day, you’ll find Torchy’s locations that have bars running an all-day happy hour that includes $1.50 off draft and bottle beer and $2 off squeezed margaritas.
When: October 4

El Fenix
The deal: Two-buck tacos — chicken or beef, crunchy or soft — are rising up at participating locations.
When: October 4

Bubbakoo’s Burritos
The deal: Celebrate this solemn occasion with $1 tacos all day long.
When: October 4

Chili’s
The deal: Chili’s Marg of the Month is the FANGtastic ‘Rita, margarita with Lunazul tequila, Cointreau, fresh sour, blood orange syrup, and topped like the Applebee’s cocktail, with fangs. It’s $5 all month.
When: October 1-31

goPuff
The deal: The convenience store delivery service is offering $10 off an order of at least $18 with the code “gotaco.”
When: October 4

Añejo – New York City, New York
The deal: Swing into Añejo for a $29 Taco Flight that will let you sample each of their tacos. That includes Chicken al Pastor, Pork Carnitas, Crispy Fish, Crispy Cauliflower and Shrimp.
When: October 4

Bodega Negra – New York City, New York
The deal: These killer tacos are going to be two-for-one all day.
When: October 4

Cantina Rooftop – New York City, New York
The deal: Get 90 minutes of unlimited tacos off the menu for $25.
When: October 4, 4-10pm

Central Taco and Tequila – Westmont, New Jersey
The deal: Gets $1 tacos all. day. long. It’s a “Throwback Taco” on a flour tortilla with ground beef, Monterrey Jack cheese, lettuce, and diced tomatoes.
When: October 4

Mercadito – Chicago, Illinois
The deal: Get a plate of the River North restaurant’s tacos for $10.40. (Eh? Get it? 10/4?) That will include their Grashopper Taco.
When: October 4

Taco Dumbo – New York City, New York
The deal: The first 300 people to text “FREE TACOS” to 1-(646)-768-8218 between 11am and 3pm on National Taco Day will get, well, free tacos.
When: October 4

Tallboy Taco – Chicago, Illinois
The deal: Grab tacos for just $2, whether you’re dining in or carrying out.
When: October 4, 11am-6pm

Tito’s Tacos Mexican Restaurant – Los Angeles, California
The deal: Tito’s Vodka and Tito’s Tacos are teaming up because National Taco Day is also National Vodka Day. For $25 you’re getting entrance to a taco party that will land you tacos, entertainment and three Tito’s Handmade Vodka Specialty Cocktails. Plus, all proceeds from tickets go to The Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation.
When: October 4, 2-8pm

Other Deals on National Taco Day

Applebee’s
The deal: The Drink of the Month is a $1 Vampire. The purple rum cocktail comes with a cherry and a set of vampire teeth floating on top.
When: October 1-31

Pizza Hut
The deal: Every day in October, Pizza Hut will be dishing up a free $20 gift card on Reddit.
When: October 1-31

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
The deal: Sink your teeth into a Pizookie for just $3 with any purchase throughout the month. It’s a cookie baked in a deep-dish pan and topped with ice cream. Make room for dessert. Lots of room.
When: Through October 6

Carvel
The deal: In conjunction with Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween” in October, Carvel is offering a Silme Shake loaded with edible slime. If that’s not your bag, you can get $3 off Halloween-themed cakes and $2 off Lil’ Screamer Novelties all month.
When: Through October 31

Romano’s Macaroni Grill
The deal: First responders can get a free serving of Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs & Spaghetti. Just flash an ID when you’re dining in.
When: October 1-31

Mrs. Fields
The deal: To honor the nation’s great cookies, Mrs. Fields is offering a buy-three-get-one-free deal all month.
When: Through October 31

Bojangles
The deal: Participating locations are serving up coffee in any size for just a buck.
When: Through December 31

You make a taco and then everything falls out…what a bummer, eh?

We have a solution for your taco filling spills…introducing:

Tricerataco Taco Holder

It is a necessary accessory for Taco Tuesday and everyday for that matter. Kids and kidults that are looking to add a bit of fun to the dinner table will love this!