Community Corner

National Taco Day: How to Celebrate

Few places on earth boast more venues to celebrate the glory of the Taco than does Highland Park.

Tuesday, Oct. 4 is National Taco Day, and Highland Park offers no shortage of stands, stops and shops where you can celebrate.

First, though, let's go over the history.

A Taco is a traditional Mexican meal that was eaten by indigenous people well before the arrival of European settlers. Just as they are today, tacos consisted of a maize or flower shell filled with meat and vegetables.

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According Jim Conrad's A History of Mexican Food, the Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men were the first non-indigenous people to be documented eating tacos.

Though tacos are Mexican in origin, the word has etymological roots in Spanish, meaning a "plug or wad used to fill a hole." Presumably, the hole in this case is the eater's stomach.

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Now, let's put the history aside and talk about your future--which we think should include eating some tacos.

You can begin by browsing Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch's directory of Mexican restaurants.

For the Gluten averse, should narrow your search.

Perhaps you're interested in building your own Tacos? will help you stock up.

Should you enjoy a meat-less taco along with a cold beer, might be the place for you on this most festive of holidays.

Finally, we remind you that the the tortilla is a remarkable versatile object. Local Artist Joe Bravo proved as much with his recent display of tortilla art at .


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