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Ricardo E. Corona
Professor Kim Lacey
English 111
October 3, 2019

Bonem, M. (2017, April 18). Corn vs. Flour: When to Use Each Kind of Tortilla. Retrieved from
https://www.foodandwine.com/holidays-events/cinco-de-mayo/when-use-corn-or-flour-
tortillas.
In this article the author introduces two different types of tortillas. A tortilla is an
essential part to the taco, without it you can’t make a taco. The types of tortillas are corn and
flour, according to Agust Gyate, corn tortillas came first. Corn tortillas were introduced way
back when Mesoamericans were still around. Tortillas were an essential part to the
mesoamerican diet as well. Hernando Cortez was the one who came up with the term tortillas
when he went to Mexico in 1519 and realized Mexican Aztecs loved this type of cornbread.
It is stated that Spanish colonizers refused to eat corn as it was seen as unhealthy so the flour
tortillas were then introduced. Corn tortillas are gaining popularity, as flour tortillas have
been dominating ever since they had been introduced. In Mexico the only place where flour
tortillas are made now is near the border, while the rest of Mexico makes only corn tortillas.
Today the choice of corn or flour tortillas is whatever is preferred by the person eating.
Although, the article does explain why breakfast tacos should be eaten with flour, and why
tacos al pastor and baja fish tacos should be eaten with corn.

Chaker, A. M. (2017, August 29). How Tacos Became a Fashion Trend. Retrieved from
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-tacos-became-a-fashion-trend-1504024169.
Anne Chaker from the Wall Street Journal in this article introduces a new trend during
the time period. The famous taco, has taken over the United States from plate to plate, but
now it’s taking over our clothing as well by what is stated. From $59 tank tops with tacos on
them to $358 taco truck shaped purses, tacos are now on everything. The author introduces a
taco lover who eats and keeps track of how many tacos he eats and where. That person also
wears taco apparel very often and he stated how the clothing helps with social interactions.
The taco break of 2015 is also introduced, this was when a nonprofit called Unicode
Consortium, which regulates coding standards for computer text, approved the taco as an
emoji. Taco graphics began to boom after the break of 2015, from rugs to shoes and shirts.
The author lets us know how tacos have taken over America, tacos have become a top five
food ordered in American restaurants. People in their teens and early 20s have a love for
tacos and it is seen not only by how they eat them, but their purchases of clothing and other
taco themed decorations.

Friesen, K. J. (2012, May 3). Where Did the Taco Come From? Retrieved from https://www.smit
hsonianmag.com/arts-culture/where-did-the-taco-come-from-81228162/.
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In this magazine article the author is interviewing Jeffery M. Pilcher, a professor at the
University of Minnesota that has studied tacos in depth. It is stated that the origin of the
word taco are not fully known, but he has his own theory. The magazine introduces the
role of Mexican food in Mexico and what was considered authentic Mexican food during
the industrialization time period. Then the way tacos were introduced into the United
States and how they became popular was the next topic of discussion. The first
appearance of tacos was in 1905, when migrants began to come work in the U.S. and the
food was seen as lower class or street food by white Americans. They then discuss how
tacos have changed, in the United States and in Mexico as well. Migrants in Mexico have
changed ways of making tacos and the new types of tacos. The main example is how the
United States has transformed tacos into a fast food known as, Taco Bell. It is apparent
that Mexico hasn’t had a problem introducing foods into the United States, Mexican
restaurants have arisen across the country and become more popular over the past 20
years.

Mesa, L. (2017, May 19). Your Guide to Common Mexican Dishes. Retrieved from https://la-me
sa.com/food/your-guide-to-mexican-dishes.
This website explains the common Mexican dishes and what their differences are.
Here they explain the main differences in some of the most popular types of tacos.
For example, the original Mexican taco is said to have been first made by a Central
Mexican women who brought meals to men working. Tacos then traveled into the
United States from Mexico by the Mexican silver miners who migrated to work in the
United States. There is then an explanation of tacos and the choices of meats and
condiments and sides that can go into them. The taco al pastor is brought up, which is
a different type of taco made from pork. It was introduced by the Lebanese
immigrants in Mexico and influenced by shawarma. The street taco is a smaller
cuisine and considered to be a staple in American kitchens. It can be made into a hard
shell which is not very popular or soft tortilla. These types of tacos are commonly
served in taco trucks and stands or some restaurants, particularly in the United States.
There are different types of meats that can be used for tacos as well such as chicken,
pork, beef, or even shrimp and fish.

Pilcher, J. M. (2014). “Old Stock” Tamales and Migrant Tacos: Taste, Authenticity, and the
Naturalization of Mexican Food. Social Research, 81(2), 441–462.
https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2014.0018.
This academic journal is social research about the authenticity and taste of tacos and
tamales. The author makes sure to highlight how odd the topic of tacos is. Tacos don’t
have much of a know history behind them, so what the author is trying to point out is
how one can not assume authenticity to Mexican tacos because there is so much we
should be unsure of. The author speaks of how today's sudden appearance and rapid
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spread of tacos can show its history. The taco was first made from the working class
Mexicans, but the recipes were given to the cultural elites even when they were against
the foods the poorer people made. This is where tacos were pronounced an authentic
Mexican cuisine. Overtime tacos have consistently been revamped, into new and
different flavors. The Americanization of tacos has gone up tremendously with so many
migrants coming into the country. The taco has been Americanized most by newer
immigrants, for example the Korean BBQ taco. The author compares the German
hamburger to the Mexican tamale or taco because of how it has been widely accepted
into the American culture. The tacos history’s hard to explain, but it is changing.

Schriffen, J., & Mclean, B. (2013, April 2). Inside Taco Bell's Transformation of the Traditional
Taco. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inside-taco-bells-transfor
mation-traditional-taco/story?id=18865253.
In this news article by ABC News over Taco Bell and how they have transformed the
traditional taco, they explain Taco Bells menu item, the doritos locos taco. The doritos
locos taco was selling very fast, with 400 million sold in the first year and about a million
of them selling per day. Of course Taco Bells tacos are not the same as a homemade
Mexican taco, but in the United States it is considered to be selling Mexican cuisine. In
addition to that, it is stated that Taco Bell is in the top ten fast food chains in America,
and it is the only one that is selling Mexican food. In the article they introduce the issue
that comes with this, the perception of unhealthy food and the obesity epidemic that has
taken America over because of fast foods like Taco Bell. Being such a popular fast food
chain the founder of Taco Bell, Glen Bell, faces criticism for the food he is selling, but he
says tacos are actually low in calories. He states that there are about 200 calories per taco,
and the company has secretly been making changes to make the items on the menu
healthier.

Spiegel, A. (2017, December 7). Think You Know Where Tacos Al Pastor Come From? Think
Again. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tacos-al-pastor-origin_n_619278 8.
In this article the author explains the al pastor tacos, possibly the most notable taco. This
taco is very popular around the world because of its taste. She explains how the tacos are
from Mexico, but they have a Lebanese influence. The taco was inspired by Lebanon
immigrants that came over to Mexico, it was a method called shawarma to the Lebanese.
This technique was used to spit road lamb for the Lebanese, but Mexicans adopted it
instead they used it with pork instead of lamb. Here she explains how al pastor tacos are
made, they are thin strips of pork which are marinated in spices and chiles. Sometimes
the meat cooks with pineapple and onion on top of a long spit, but this is not always
done. Some believe this marinates the pork which makes it taste better. Although, a chef
named Alex Stupake, traveled to Mexico City to taste al pastor tacos at 40 different
locations and he came to the conclusion that the pineapple sits atop the spit so it is easily
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accessible to the taco-maker. This article was about how one of the most famous types of
taco was made, and how it is made today.