Mission Mission

Dear El Farolito, Cancun, El Metate, Pancho Villa, et al (except for you Cu Co’s–we’re still cool):

We’ve been through a lot together and I definitely still love you, but I think we need to have a little talk.  You see, I strayed a bit too far this past weekend, and now I’m not sure I can ever go back.  Hey, please don’t cry.  Let me explain.

Waking up to Tijuana sunshine the morning after playing a show with a bunch of Mexican hardcore kids, there was nothing I wanted more than a taco.  And wow, just like Bo knows baseball, Tijuana knows tacos.

Now that’s a taco.  Basically a metric shit ton of marinated shrimp sizzled in spices and served with a dixie cup of tortilla soup broth, a pile of just-fried tortillas (see what they did there?), a monstrous bag of still-hot tortilla chips, ridiculously fresh Pico de Gallo, and the best green avocado salsa that I’ve ever had.  Commenting on the price might seem insensitive given the harsh economic realities of our trade policies, but rest assured the whole thing was cheap as hell.

Even the corner taco stands had the right idea.  You walk up, sit down, and order a few.  The taco chef (love that phrase) slices a few pieces of pastor from his shawarma skewer and tosses it onto the grill.  A minute later he throws it on a tortilla already deftly dipped in the grease catcher and serves it with plentiful portions of guacamole and grilled onions.  You pile on some salsa as you sit on a stool at the stand and satiate the stretch receptors in your belly.

If that doesn’t quite do the trick, simply ask the gentlemen for a few more and he’ll go through the process again.  Once you’ve had enough, tell him how many you’ve had, pay your tab*, dismount your stool, and confidently walk away, leaving fellow patrons muttering in disbelief over the amount of habanero salsa that damn gringo was able to stomach.

*Tijuana taquerias and carts all seem to operate on the honor system.  Even places that have counters and seating.  Go ask  the dude for two tacos and he’ll just give them to you.  Finish them and ask for two more.  Keep doing it.  Once you’re stuffed, saunter over to the counter (not always close in proximity to the taco guys and always staffed by different people) and tell them how many you’ve had.  They multiply that by a dollar (or 12 pesos, the going rate for tacos these days), you pay, and everyone is happy.  I’m not saying this would work in the Mission (it wouldn’t), but it was still neat.

Armand from Mission Local seems to be on assignment on the Indian subcontinent somewheres, and he’s got this gem of a photograph (and a boatload more) to prove it.

Dr. Sameer, we salute you (and your facial hair).

Armand, keep up the good work (and say hi to your facial hair for us).

P.S. I’ve heard of some bullshit degrees in my time, but at least nobody else is actually calling it a B.U.M.S., amirite?

Previously:

Becca in India: Single-Speed Bike Loom

Time to check in with my sister’s blog about her trip to Okinawa again. Go for this rad picture of her rad bowling shoes; stay for the audio clip of the HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE exclamation some English speakers taught some locals to say when they bowl a strike. LINK.

Previously:

Japanese Pizza Rules!

Over at 40 Going on 28, TK and his intrepid New Bar Night crew (not pictured) ventured south on Mission Street into the wilds of Bernal Heights, where they found a dive they liked, St. Mary’s Pub:

[I]t’s more that undefinable “Hmmm, I could hang out here” feeling. I mean, there’s nothing really special or extraordinary about this place. It’s just a nice, mellow bar. Sometimes you just want a bar and not a Scene.

Link. Amen. Lots of Scenes back in our neck of the woods. What’s everybody’s favorite “Hmmm, I could hang out here” bar?

Photo by David Gallagher.

Here’s a bean and cheese burrito I had at Senor Taco in Okinawa last month. It was no M.B., obviously, but it was better than nothing when I found myself in the mood.

Previously:

Taco Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Japanese Pizza Rules!

It’s Texas, so shorts seem like a good idea, but it was chilly out this afternoon, so everyone had to huddle around the heater. Breakfast tacos are just as good as everyone says.

Behold! A taco truck on the streets of Japan.

(Via LA Taco, via streetfoodSF.)

Mexican food in Japan can be a surreal and bizarre experience. This will be either totally awesome or incredibly awkward. Either way I want to eat there badly.

Further googling in-depth research yields us a Japanese foodie web site called ｢Food Event Hunt｣ (translated page here) that covered the ｢フィエスタ メヒカーナ｣, aka  ｢Fiesta Mexican｣ where our new favorite taco truck made an appearance.

Best line: このブリー ト、かなりボリュームありました。 (“This burrito had considerable volume.”).

And through some judicious internet translating and stalking, we have discovered the home base of our now world-famous Aguacate Taco Truck. On your next visit to Tokyo, approach slowly and make no sudden movements.

Yesterday Andrew posted about this cafe space up for grabs on 18th and Treat. Here is the spot on Google Maps:

But check this out: if you click the right arrow on 18th, Google Map’s built-in flux capacitor fires up and you get to see the same spot as it will appear in 2 months, if current economic trends continue!

Use this feature wisely and always remember: if you travel back in time, try not to fuck up your parent’s first date. Otherwise, they will never hook up and you will start to fade from existence. (But wait, then how did you get there in the first place? Damn, time travel is confusing. Discuss.)

A couple days ago, Johnny0 made a crack about Japanese pizza not being very good.

Just now, as if in answer to this crack, oki yo (my sister and my cousin’s blog about their three-month trip to Okinawa) published a post that spotlights some extremely delicious-looking Japanese pizza. I mean, look at that crust! And those fresh vegetables! I wish I could have a slice in my mouth right now!

AND, they dined with some kind of expert pizzaiolo who attests to the crust’s quality. Read on.

Eat your words, Johnny0!

Previously:

Mission Pizza Explosion!

Japanese Hot Dogs Rule!

Burritos in Berlin!

So you party a little too hard at Debaser and wake up in someone else’s bed, but UH-OH, you forgot that you have that early-morning meeting at Ritual with some venture capitalists who are ready to pump funding into your game-changing gumball machine idea.  While trackstanding at a stoplight, you realize your breath smells like Zeitgeist on porta-potty cleaning day and will only get worse once rinsed with espresso culled from an $11,000 coffee machine (or not).  What to do?

Luckily, your gumball machine game-changer also happens to be exactly what you need in this situation.  Synergy!

The Chewable Toothbrush

‘All in one’ disposable toothbrush and breath freshener.  No toothpaste or water required! For instant results simply place the soft brush in your mouth and chew (see diagrams).  Leaves your whole mouth feeling clean and fresh!  Great anytime after snacks or meals.  Ideal for holidays and travelling.  Not suitable for children under 6 yrs.  DO NOT SWALLOW.

Is anyone surprised to see that this comes from London?

Previously: Start Your Own Mission Empire for $60