Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

Video: Australian Aghast That L.A. Chef Uses Soft Tortillas For His Tacos

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive. 

Relations between the U.S. and Australia have always been friendly, save for some minor friction. Those ties were nearly severed this week, however, when an Australian news reporter questioned a L.A. chef about his use of soft tacos.

Reporters Sarah Harris and Jessica Rowe from Australia's Studio 10 paid a visit with Guerrilla Tacos, the famed taco truck that has climbed the hallowed halls of Jonathan Gold's "101 Best Restaurants." Chef Wes Avila, in the true spirit of Guerrilla Tacos, decided to make something unique for his Australian guests. This taco was to include Australian lamb meatballs, jasmine rice, mint, avocado, feta cheese, and sweet potato. The one ingredient that made Harris stop in her tracks?

Soft tortillas.

Support for LAist comes from

"A bit of a controversy at the moment," said Harris. "Soft. Shell. Tortillas? Really?" She then hinted at a preference for hard shell tacos.

"This is the way we do it in Los Angeles," said Avila.

"Is that the proper way to do it?" said Harris, seemingly still unconvinced.

Avila then provides a crash course in Tacos 101 by saying, "Soft shell is more traditional. The crunchy stuff is more of a Tex-Mex thing."

Rowe then abruptly changed the subject, either because she wanted to have those tacos ready pronto, or because she wanted to prevent World War III. "That's so good!" Rowe exclaimed when she took a bite of the finished product. The video cut out before Harris could sample her taco, leaving us to ponder the fates of both nations.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist