How many taco editors are there in the United States of America?

Technically just me.

From Futuro Media, it's Latino USA.

I'm Maria Inojosa.

Jose Raleat has the kind of job that some foodies dream about. He's the

Taco Editor at Texas Monthly magazine.

Rallat also has a new book out. It's called American Tacos, A History and Guide. The book

dives into the evolution of tacos in the United States and their history in the borderlands.

When we think of tacos, we usually think of them as a

distinctly Mexican food. But according to Relat, he says that's only half of the story. Tacos are also

as American as apple pie. He says, from the breakfast kind to the puffy shell kind, the variety of tacos that have sprung up in different regions of the United States, show that this is also a distinctly American food.

But the rising popularity of tacos in the United States has, well, made a lot of us connoisseurs.

In fact, TV shows like Netflix Taco Chronicles have given a different light to this simple, yet so complex of a dish.

Last year, basketball superstar LeBron James went viral when he embraced tacos by posting videos of himself, eating them enthusiastically,

while stereotypically saying the phrase,

Taco Tuesday!

Now, according to Rallat, tacos have been here long before the hype.

They were introduced to the United States around the same time as the American burger was invented.

In his book, Rallat discusses the importance of documenting the history of tacos in the United States,

and he joins me today to talk about their unique identity north of the border.

Jose Rallat, welcome to Latino USA.

Thanks for having me.

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