¡Viva El Taco!

I don't think I'm alone when I say that any day is a good day for tacos. Actually, I am certain that there is a large contingent of taco fans in this town and boy am I grateful because that means there are endless places (aside from trucks) to find cheap and delicious tacos. And for some reason, Monday-Wednesday is where it's at. When someone finds a Taco Thursday, let me know. I'll be there. 

Marix Tex Mex

1108 N. Flores Street, West Hollywood

118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica

Monday Margarita Madness: $3 margaritas

Taco Tuesdays: All-you-can-eat tacos for $7.95

The Mission Cantina

5946 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

Mission Mondays: $1 tacos, $4 Tecate & Dos Equis

The Spanish Kitchen

826 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles

Enchilada Mondays & Wednesdays: $6-8 enchiladas

Taco Tuesdays: $2 tacos

La Cantina Taqueria

6541 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

Margarita Mondays: $5 margaritas

Taco Tuesdays: $2 for two tacos

Malo Restaurant

4326 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

Monday Taco Night: $1-2 tacos 

Candela Taco Bar

831 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles

Taco Wednesdays: $1 tacos

Don Antonio's

11755 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles

Taco Wednesdays: $1 tacos

Life Swap

This isn't a new idea, but it seems so appropriate now that we're all counting our pennies: swapping. You know, taking your piles of old records, sweaters or even plants to trade for someone else's stuff. In fact, if you look, you can probably find a swap for anything. Sites like SwapTree and Clothing Swap can help. But tomorrow is all about books. Clear out the shelves of those old college textbooks, paperbacks collecting dust and how-to reads and find something more interesting (plus tacos). From 1-4pm, Book Soup (8818 Sunset Blvd.) is holding a book swap/taco stand/social hour. Get your friends and let's go. 

Inspiration: 

Quick Bite: Tacos

Monday again. End of the month. I'm back from Sacramento (more on that later) and I need a quick, delicious dinner. For this off-the-top-of-my-head recipe, you'll find all you need at Trader Joe's. No, they don't pay me to advertise, but if you've ever eaten their Truly Handmade Flour Tortillas (which kind of taste like Northern New Mexican sopapillas--amazing), then you know that perfectly round machine-made tortillas just don't compare. This recipe serves 3-4.

You'll need:

1 lb skinless, boneless organic free range chicken breast

14 oz. can of diced tomatoes

1 Trader Joe's guacamole kit (contains 2 avocados, 2 limes, 1 shallot, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 jalapeño, 1 roma tomato)

1 cup of shredded organic romaine lettuce

1 pack of Trader Joe's Truly Handmade Tortillas

1-2 tsp cumin

1 tsp adobo seasoning

sour cream

1-1 1/2 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Boil 4 quarts of water. Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, throw in the whole can of tomatoes, 1/2 shallot, 1 clove of garlic, 1/2 jalapeño, cumin, adobo seasoning, salt and pepper. Blend until you have a smooth sauce. When the water is boiling, put in the chicken and cook thoroughly. Add about 1/2 cup of the chicken broth to your sauce. Drain the chicken and cover with cool water. While your chicken is cooling, make the guacamole. First, dice the remaining shallot, garlic, jalapeño and 1/2 roma tomato (the other half is for on top of your tacos). Using a fork, mush the avocados and stir in your other ingredients. Season with salt, pepper and cumin. Squeeze the limes in. Shred the chicken and in a pan, add it to your sauce. While the chicken is simmering, heat up the tortillas in a pan or over the flame. To assemble your tacos, first add the chicken, then the guacamole, sour cream and top with lettuce, cheese and tomato. Grab a Tecate with some lime and eat up chico!