Daily Loaf

The lady making the tortillas

Excited by Chef Rene Valenzuela’s expansion of his empire, and because I ‘ve been a taco zealot since CL’s Tournament of Tacos in March, I ran right to Taqueria Monterrey on the first day open.

Taqueria Monterrey Day 1:  An artist is still painting signs on the walls.  He asks me to verify his spelling of the word ’Also’ and says the design is inspired by old world Spain.

In keeping with CL’s Beef Week, I ordered Read the rest of this entry »

After four weeks of voting — and over 7,500 votes cast — you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the entire Bay area.

The Championship match pitted the popular Dunedin Mexican restaurant Casa Tina against the surprisingly active fans of Lutz’s Mekenita Mexican Grill in a 24-hour marathon of voting. It was the most active contest by far, with over 2,500 votes cast.

Did the Dunedin Darling beat the Lutz Lover?

Which taco wins the coveted prize of Readers’ Poll Champion?

Find out after the break –

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It’s all come down to this. All the signs in the restaurant, the mass emailings to patrons and friends, the voting every ten minutes like clockwork. Casa Tina and Mekenita Mexican Grill have both done their jobs, mobilizing fans and getting out the vote. But now is crunch time for these taco prom queens.

Can the Dunedin Darling beat the Lutz Lover?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break –

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With over 800 votes cast — and a fairly close tally throughout the last 24 hours — Mekenita Mexican Grill has managed to knock Mema’s Alaskan Tacos out of the Readers’ Poll by a vote of 455 to 358.

Now it’s time to vote for the biggest match of all, the battle across the bay, the titannic taco-a-taco throwdown finale, the 2009 CL Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll Championship! GO VOTE NOW!

If you want to find out who won the Critic’s Bracket, it’s up on the food site.

For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

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Both Mekenita Mexican Grill in Lutz and Mema’s Alaskan Tacos in Ybor have been able to motivate the troops and get out the vote, no matter the competition. But how will the two powerhouses fare against each other?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break –

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Wow. WOW! Over 850 votes were cast in this epic battle between two Pinellas taco favorites, but only one can move on to the Bay area championships. With a count of 571 to 293, Casa Tina utterly dominated the vote. So much so, in fact, that Zurritos’ Zack Gross emailed me a concession earlier today.

Congrats to Casa Tina, Pinellas champion of the 2009 Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll!

Now it’s time to vote for the Tampa championship match — Mekenita Mexican Grill vs. Mema’s Alaskan Tacos. Can either of those two worthy spots muster the kind of turnout that Casa Tina did?

If you want to find out who won the Critic’s Bracket, it’s up on the food site today. And check back tomorrow at 2 p.m. to start voting for the Readers’ Poll Bay area championship, Casa Tina vs. ???

For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

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Zurritos has consistently motivated its loyal customers to get out the vote in the competition, with some of the highest tallies of any of the matches. Casa Tina has had it fairly easy so far. Can they ramp up their efforts to compete with the seemingly unstoppable Zack Gross fans?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Championship?

Vote after the break –

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No matter how much I may disagree with the results, there’s no arguing with popularity. At least, that is, in a popularity contest like the Readers’ Poll. Casa Tina easily surpasses La Cabana Del Tio and moves on to the Final Four

Voting for the final match of the Edible Eight began today — El Taconazo vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill — and continues through tomorrow, so be sure to support your favorite spot! For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

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El Taconazo may be the most well-known taco joint in the Bay area, but it can’t rest on its laurels in this fight against Mekenita. In previous rounds, the Taco Bus hasn’t mustered nearly as much fan support as the Lutz-based Mekenita. Which restaurant will get out the vote?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break –

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Mema’s again turned out the troops to propel it into another round of the tournament, despite Acapulco’s exceptional traditional tacos.

Voting for the second match of the Edible Eight begins at 2 p.m. today — with Casa Tina vs. La Cabana del Tio — and continues through Monday, so be sure to support your favorite spot! For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

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Casa Tina is a perennial favorite among northern Pinellas folks, thanks the its congenial atmosphere and often incredible sauces. La Cabana del Tio is a tiny spot with a devout following amongst the Bay area’s taco cognoscenti. Will the Dunedin restaurant unseat the Clearwater taco specialist?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break –

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Mema’s can bring out the crowds to vote for their odd fried tacos stuffed with chicken, beef, and shrimp patties, while Acapulco is a corner bodega that — lets be practical here — possibly doesn’t even know this tournament is going on. Can the little market with exceptional traditional tacos beat the popular Ybor spot?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break –

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Zurritos continues its domination of the Readers’ Poll, trouncing popular competitor Red Mesa by a score of 104 to 45. Zurritos advances to the Final Four and will compete against the Pinellas North winner next Tuesday.

Voting for the second match of the Edible Eight begins at 2 p.m. today — with Acapulco Grocery facing Mema’s Alaskan Tacos — and continues through the weekend, so be sure to support your favorite spot! For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

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Zack Gross’ Zurritos has marshaled a huge fanbase for this tournament, while Red Mesa has suffered from rather tepid turnout. Can the long-standing St. Pete modern Mexican fixture beat the popular Zurritos?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Final Four?

Vote after the break –

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In lukewarm voting, La Cabana del Tio beat Taqueria El Maguey to move on to the next round.

Which means the Edible Eight is fully fleshed out: Red Mesa, Zurritos, La Cabana Del Tio, Casa Tina, Acapulco, Mema’s Alaskan Tacos, El Taconazo and Mekenita Mexican Grill.

Voting for the Final Four begins at 2 p.m. today — with Red Mesa facing Zurritos — and continues through the weekend, so be sure to support your favorite spot! For all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket with all the matchups after the break:

In the most lopsided victory of the tournament so far, Mekenita’s fans absolutely devastated the tasty tacos of Sabor Latino by a vote of 143 to 5. Can you imagine what would happen if the NCAA had a fan-based poll instead of a single elimination tournament?

Mekenita Mexican Grill moves on to the Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: La Cabana Del Tio vs. Taqueria El Maguey, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

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La Cabana del Tio received a number one seed thanks to the recommendations of many Bay area taco experts. Turns out, it richly deserved the ranking. Taqueria El Maguey is an unknown Mexican joint with a following, but not for their tacos. Can a humble restaurant knock off a number one seed?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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By an overwhelming vote of 103 to 25, Mema’s slam-dunked this popularity contest with ease. Will they have the same success against the noticeably superior tacos of Acapulco in the next round? Tune in to see, and vote.

Mema’s Alaskan Tacos moves on to the Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: Sabor Latino vs. Mekenita Mexican Grill, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

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Mekenita is a hugely popular, modern quick-Mex joint way up in Lutz, created by former Roy’s chef Rand Packer. Sabor Latino is a hole-in-a-strip-mall traditional Mexican restaurant on Busch. Can Mekenita’s fan base (and updated taco construction) beat out the unknown traditionalist that has tacos good enough to rival Taconazo?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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Holy crap! Turnout for this contest was like the turnout at a kick-the-banker booth at the county fair! Both Peg’s and Zurritos did their darndest to mobilize their base, and though Peg’s ran out to an early lead, Zurritos fans had the stamina to carry through the evening and snatch victory from the Gulfport cantina. Final vote: Zurritos 139, Peg’s 112.

Zurritos moves on to the Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: Algusto vs. Mema’s Alaskan Tacos, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Like yesterday’s contenders, Mema’s has a vocal and ardent fan base that will likely mobilize to push that Ybor spot over the top in this battle. But don’t count out Algusto, which had one of the strongest turnouts in the first round. Which style  will get out the vote: the fried tacos from Palin country or classic Mexican?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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Wha huh? Were all the Taco Bus supporters on vacation, or too busy noshing on El Taconazo take-out and watching college basketball to log on and vote? This was a close one, folks, with the Taco Bus barely eking out a win over Don Pancho Villa thanks to a last-minute push.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: Peg’s Cantina vs. Zurritos, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

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Both of these places have rabid fans and die-hard supporters, as well as great fish tacos, so this taco-a-taco matchup may be the most hotly contested of the competition so far. Mobilize your base, Zurritos and Peg’s, and get out the vote!

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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In an outcome that’s no surprise for anyone who’s experienced the massive fan base of Casa Tina, Dunedin’s favorite Mexican joint dominated the polls, with 71 votes to El Toro Negro’s measly 3. Casa Tina moves on into the Readers’ Poll Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: El Taconazo vs. Don Pancho Villa, and for all results check out the Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll info page.

Updated bracket after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

Is this a competition even worth having? Is it remotely possible that a dreary Mexican restaurant with mediocre tacos could summon the devoted fanbase necessary to unseat the Taco Bus? Nope. Click for Taconazo and go back to your basketball game.

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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Thankfully, Estela’s supporters failed to turn out for the Friday competition, allowing die-hard taco afficionados to propel Acapulco into the Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: Casa Tina vs. El Toro Negro.

El Toro Negro is a nondescript Mexican joint that airs financial news and telenovellas on their TVs all day. Casa Tina is a Dunedin fixture that’s incredibly popular with folks from around the Bay. Can the hole-in-the-wall beat the upscale fave?

Which taco deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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No contest here, either in flavor or popularity: Red Mesa takes the voting handily and moves on to the Edible Eight.

Don’t forget to vote in today’s match: Acapulco Grocery vs. Estela’s.

Acapulco Grocery has no serious popular support — outside the taco cognoscenti, at least — while Estela’s mobilized a reasonable voter base in the first round. Can a corner bodega with exquisite tacos beat out a popular Tampa mini-chain.

Well, it is a popularity contest. Who will get out the vote? Who deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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Considering the respectable voter turnout in Red Mesa’s first round contest — where its tacos garnered over 70 votes — compared the the tepid taco voting in Zapata’s contest, it seems the Mesa should have an easy time in this contest. As well it should, in my opinion, since the tacos at that St. Pete favorite are vastly more interesting than Zapata’s standard offering.

Still, this is a popularity contest. Who will get out the vote? Who deserves to move on to the Edible Eight?

Vote after the break –

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Over a thousand people voted in the first round of CL’s Tournament of Tacos Readers’ Poll and — although I might have disagreed with a couple of your picks — most of you have shown remarkable taste. Most of the competitions were no surprise — like Taconazo, Red Mesa, Mema’s or Peg’s moving on thanks to their hordes of loyal fans — but a few dark horse taco joints managed to buck the pundits and turn out the vote.

Who made it into the Savory Sixteen? Find that and an updated bracket after the break.

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It seems like a fight between tradition and modernity, but there’s more to this battle than just old versus new. Don Pancho is another competitor from the Armenia corridor, a place that combines semi-classic Mexican fare with a lunchtime all-you-can-eat buffet. Chico’s is a Chili’s clone in Westchase — which ain’t a taco hotbed.

Check them out for yourself and vote now. Which taco deserves to move up to the Savory Sixteen?

I’ll reveal my pick tomorrow, but you still have a say. Vote below for your favorite in this taco-a-taco showdown and we’ll track the results in our readers’ poll. And if you haven’t tasted these two worthy competitors, this is a perfect excuse for an extended, taco-tasting lunch.

Check out all of CL’s Tournament of Tacos coverage here for past and future matchups, daily results, contact info for contenders and updated brackets.

So who wins: Don Pancho Villa or Chico’s Wood Fired Grill? (And don’t forget to vote in today’s other matchup!)

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Check out the full, UPDATED Tournament of Tacos bracket after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Taqueria El Maguey is a popular Mexican spot in Pinellas Park, while Carmelita’s vies for control of the same area. Which can summon the meat and corn necessary to win this battle?

Check them out for yourself and vote now. Which taco deserves to move up to the Savory Sixteen?

I’ll reveal my pick tomorrow, but you still have a say. Vote below for your favorite in this taco-a-taco showdown and we’ll track the results in our readers’ poll. And if you haven’t tasted these two worthy competitors, this is a perfect excuse for an extended, taco-tasting lunch.

Check out all of CL’s Tournament of Tacos coverage here for past and future matchups, daily results, contact info for contenders and updated brackets.

So who wins: Taqueria El Maguey or Carmelita’s? (And don’t forget to vote in today’s other matchup!)

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Check out the full, UPDATED Tournament of Tacos bracket after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

The past few days saw some of the closest battles yet in the Tournament of Tacos, mostly among mid-seed spots desperate to show their worth and make it into the next round of the tourney.

Here were the matchups:
Taqueria Mi Mexico vs. Algusto
Zurritos vs. Agave
Sabor Latino vs. Maya’s
El Toro Negro vs. Los Mariachis

Is there a dark horse vying for the Final Four? Who advances to the Savory Sixteen? Which tacos took the popular vote?

Find out after the break:

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Taqueria Mi Mexico is one of the many Mexican, Columbian, and Puerto Rican joints on the Armenia corridor between I-275 and Waters. Algusto is a South Tampa Mexican haven that won a Best Of award from Cl in 2006. Can a non-descript, makeshift restaurant beat out an established favorite?

Check them out for yourself and vote now. Which taco deserves to move up to the Savory Sixteen?

I’ll reveal my pick tomorrow, but you still have a say. Vote below for your favorite in this taco-a-taco showdown and we’ll track the results in our readers’ poll. And if you haven’t tasted these two worthy competitors, this is a perfect excuse for an extended, taco-tasting lunch.

Check out all of CL’s Tournament of Tacos coverage here for past and future matchups, daily results, contact info for contenders and updated brackets.

So who wins: Taqueria Mi Mexico or Algusto? (And don’t forget to vote in today’s other matchup!)

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Check out the full, UPDATED Tournament of Tacos bracket after the break: Read the rest of this entry »