My parents know a lot of people. They’re always busy. My mom will call a family meeting on the rare occasion when her husband and all four of their offspring are in the house (and awake). She runs down the list of events coming up. There is always something going on. People even tell my mom several months in advance about a wedding, baptism, quinceañera, birthday party, etc, so that they can make sure she’ll be there. About ten years ago she wasn’t able to make a good friend’s wedding because we would be on vacation in Australia. You know what her friend did? She changed the wedding date. En serio.

Anyway, because my parents are so easy to get along with and easy to talk to, they have a lot of friends. This also means that we are invited to a lot of things and have all sorts of connections for hook ups here and there.

Perhaps the best one is with Emilio and Marta, also known among my siblings as los Taqueros and Alma, Daisy and Emily’s parents. My mom met Emilio and Marta years ago when she was a teacher’s aide in a kindergarten classroom. Back then Emilio and Marta only had one daughter, Alma. Now Alma is in high school and her sisters are in grade school. My parents have kept contact with them since the mid 90s, and it has paid off.

Emilio and Marta, both from Mexico city, make the best tacos, salsa and caramelized onions. My mom and other family members have hired them several times for birthday parties. They’re already booked for the 16th of September, when we will celebrate Adrian’s 21st birthday. I’ve had tacos at other parties, but they’re never quite as good as Emilio and Martha’s. Perhaps the difference is the personal connection or the caramelized onions.

I’ve had lots of great tacos in LA and Mexico, but Emilio and Marta are my favorite. Perhaps it’s that personal connection, or the fact that the tacos are often free since they invite us over for their daughters’ birthday parties.

Damn, now I want a taco and it’s so tough to find a good one in West LA. Perhaps Taco Hunt will help.