Characters; Jorge of Tacos on the Street.

Tacos on the Street; an interview with Jorge Diaz Gómez

Finding excellent food certainly appeals to the foodie in me; the story behind the ‘place’ fills my appetite almost as much as the food!

At the time of this writing (April, 2015) I’ve been living in La Cruz for 6 years and was pretty sure I knew all there was to know about Tacos on the Street or TOTS as some call it. Waiting in line I boldly shared ‘their story’ with friends when someone came up beside me, crossed her arms and leaned in… “Keep going, I love hearing the various versions of our story” It was Mama Taco herself! “Hmmm, that was pretty close”, she allowed. When I interviewed her son Jorge I learned she was being kind as I had most of it wrong!

What brought you to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle?

“The family story began when my father, Jorge Amando (Sr) was in medical school in Baja, Mexico. In his class was Mom’s sister. One night when there was a class party, my aunt brought mom, Raquel. Jorge Sr and Raquel began their love/life story when they met, hung out and fell in love.

Mom and Dad settled in an area called Valle de las Palmas, owned a farm, had me and then Aaron. Dad trained greyhound dogs, that would stay with us for one or two months as he trained them.

We moved to La Cruz at when I was 7 years old, about 26 years ago. Dad took a trip to Vallarta to visit his mom, visited La Cruz and loved it! He went home, sold everything, gathered up the family and moved here. Why? So we kids could have a great childhood and it was too cold there, like California. Dad quit being a doctor when he started fishing and never went back. Sport fishing in La Cruz became his passion and his career.

Mom (Raquel) decided to help the family and their savings by making and selling tacos like the ones in Tijuana. On August 3rd, 1993 the business started with Raquel making her own wheat tortillas. The tacos are carne asada/rib eye tacos, typical baja style, grilled on mesquite charcoal. We serve very fresh vegetables, onions, cilantro and guacamole. Our high quality, homemade flour and corn tortillas have split preferences by our guests; half of our clients like the flour ones and half prefer corn. We accommodate vegetarians with veggies and cheese. One request that we don’t serve is beans.

It all started in the family kitchen and at the ‘take-out’ window you see today. It was stand up tacos (or take out) only but clients starting bringing tables, someone named Pablo brought the first table. That was in 1993 and we were only open Saturday and Sunday. Then people brought more tables and chairs. So when people started eating their tacos sitting on the sidewalk, we decided to grow. We always grew slowly never made big changes at one time.

This location, where the restaurant is, used to be Mom and Dad’s house and where Aaron and I grew up. It was a small casita, with mangoes growing in the yard and where all the neighborhood kids hung out. We used to play marbles, slingshots and kids games with kids from the neighborhood. We were friends with everyone, you know some of them; brothers Abraham and Danny from Philo‘s were our best buddies and we played together like a big family. The Tatewari boys, Esau, Danny and Mimi lived half a block away. They were a little younger but we played. It was a magical town, we knew everyone.

The kitchen that is now the restaurant kitchen was our family kitchen before. When business was good, too many clients to keep everyone outside in the rainy season it was tough, so we built a house in the back for us to live. The space that used to be the patio became a large open area and a couple of bedrooms.

Obviously, we did grow the business… over the years we’ve opened on more days, then in the last couple of year’s added menus, liquor, t-shirts and a professional sign BUT the menu has always stayed the same.

In the early days we didn’t have a name and one day a client brought a couple of beach rocks with Tacos on the Street painted on them, the name stuck!

Now Dad is retired from fishing and Mom and Dad take the Saturday/Sunday shifts. Aaron and I work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Business is good and every year is better, breaking records! Christmas and New Years is fabulous. So many folks want to invest and open in other areas. That would change my whole life, it would be all about business and not about life. BUT never say never. It’s been really good for all of us, my family, every now and then someone complains, nothing big.”

Who is your clientele?

“About 33% Mexicans, 33% expats and 33% tourists; Canadian/American/Mexicans equal.

I adore the music you play at TOTS, am I correct to say it is always Latcho and Andrea and Willi and Lobo?

Yes, no reason except its joyful music, our trademark.

Tell me about the pool table, is it true, no one is allowed to play unless invited by your dad?

Yes, that’s true. It is a high quality, three cushion, French billiard table, no holes, cushions at sides. Unless dad invites no one else plays.”

What do you see as the greatest change to La Cruz in recent years and do you like that change?

The beautiful marina that was built, it helps the fisherman and brings people to the fish market. The marina is a good thing.

If you could preserve something from earlier times in La Cruz what would it be?

I hope it doesn’t grow like Bucerias. I like being in nature, in 10 minutes you can be in solitude. I hope it is always safe like now, can be walking in the middle of night and totally safe, tourists or locals. Amigos de La Cruz are keeping the streets clean and we’re so happy about that.

If you had a magic wand, what would your wish for La Cruz de Huanacaxtle be 5 years from now and beyond?

• A little more artistic/artists centre;
• More healthy options for people; an Olympic swimming pool, gym, exercise for kids, gymnastics, boxing, sports.
• Teach kids to integrate in the community/community centre.

What do you think people ‘about town’ don’t know about you or your family?

When I’ve left town at different times, some people think I went to work in other areas but it was my love of travel that took me away. I’ve lived in lived in Paris, France, Holland and Germany and I rented an apartment in Paris for 3 months, then to the Alps, Toulouse, Spain and I worked in Cataluna and spoke French. I worked in Cabo San Lucas and San Miguel de Allende to make money and then lived there for a year. I also lived in Canada and the States before I moved home.

We always have different projects;

• My dad is working on a project that repopulates the rivers with fresh water shrimps in La Cruz.
• Aaron is working to open a micro brewery. (This just in, the beer is ready and being served at the restaurant! Local resident, Randy Wilson. says “It’s a good lager. Just a bit richer than the popular Mexican bottled beers. Pairs perfectly with tacos. And it’s on draft!”
• I’d like to be an actor and I’ve started selling real estate. I enjoy reading, playing tennis and surfing.
• I cater, just like Tacos on the Street but in peoples homes, at weddings , etc. Need 30 people or more and we bring tables and paper plates, everything.
• We love to be active; Kayaking, fishing and fly fishing in Oregon in the summer, snorkeling and spear fishing here, for fun.

I’ve seen you and Aaron surfing in front of our place, when is surfing good in La Cruz?

Normally, inside the Bay is summertime, it gets swells from the south and southwest. There are waves the whole year in different areas.

Where is your favorite spot to surf?

Veneros near Destilerados beach.

What inspires you?

Everything! Travel.. music… nature… but mostly my baby girl, she’s turning 5. She’s what I love more than anything, and my family. I love sharing with my family and friends.

I was so surprised when you said that both you and Aaron learned to speak English as adults. You speak it so well, where did you learn?

Our parents learned as children on the border. Aaron and I learned as adults mostly on our travels when we both lived away.

Do you have a favorite quote?

Live your life as happy as you can, respecting how others think!

AND

Don’t take anything too seriously.

Thanks Jorge for sharing about you and your wonderful family!

The next generation of surfer’s, way to go Emma (Aaron’s daughter)!

Another fun fact; Danny Gomez, La Cruz’ fisherman extraordinaire is Jorge’s uncle.