...Smoke Taqueria with Burgh Gourmand & Food Collage

I may have a slight addiction to tacos.  And smoked meats.

I can't say enough about Smoke Taqueria in Homestead - their tacos are so fresh and so delicious that they cause a constant craving.  It's SO CLOSE to where I live, yet not close enough that I wouldn't have to drive there, so I have that moment to rationalize with myself, "No, you don't need tacos tonight, you have food at home to eat," or "No, you don't need tacos today, you have other restaurants to try."

*sigh* The dilemmas of a food blogger.

Burgh Gourmand has recently become quite the addict to Smoke's tacos as well.  When I see him check in on FourSquare (recently, quite often), I won't lie - I am extremely envious, and my urge to hop in the car and drive down Route 837 kicks in.  Then my brain kicks in, rationalizing as to why I don't need tacos at that time.  

Stupid brain.

Food Collage had mentioned a few weeks back that she wanted to try Smoke Taqueria, and that we should go together sometime.  We had discussed how fantastic their tacos are with other food bloggers on the Dormont Food Blogger Tour, and it was obvious that this trip needed to happen sometime soon.

Potato salad with smoked bacon

When I received a tweet from Food Collage last week, asking if I was free to go to Smoke sometime within the next week, it was a no-brainer to check my schedule and work this trip in with her.  I also invited Burgh Gourmand, just to feed his taco addiction some more, and also so that he could meet Food Collage, as they had not yet met in person.

Jalapeno apple slaw

We asked if there were any specials before we ordered, and the waitress told us no, but that the menu would be expanding soon - YAY!  Not that the standard menu isn't amazing, but I think that I've tried everything on it now, so more options will just mean that I need to eat there more often.

*SMACK* You don't need tacos that often, Señorita!

Pork taco

BG had recently tried the pork tacos, and he commented that it was his new favorite - pork is typically not my friend, but I have not had too many issues with it since losing weight.  I also went with my personal favorite - the veggie taco - and jalapeno apple slaw.  To drink, I ordered a horchata (of course), despite the choice of pineapple agua fresca.

 

FC ordered one of the recommended pork tacos, along with a brisket taco (which I had on my very first visit), jalapeno apple slaw, and a horchata.

Chicken taco

BG went with the same tacos as FC, but instead of the slaw, ordered the potato salad, which was topped with smoked bacon (like the kind on that chicken apple taco we had last time that was SO FANTASTICALLY TASTY that I fantasize about it still...for real).  Eating these smoked meats makes me realize that I need to work a grill with a smoking element into my budget.  No joke.  Smoked bacon in potato salad is mind-blowing.  What else will smoked bacon transform into a mouthwatering meal?  

Veggie taco

I'm willing to experiment and find out.

Even after eating this, it was hard to resist any more tacos.  FC has way more willpower than BG and I, because she declined a second round of tacos due to fullness.  BG ordered a chicken taco, and I ordered a Mexican migas with chorizo, at the waitress's suggestion.

Horchata

Round 2 - same as the first.  No regrets, just a fuller belly.

In addition, my horchata was even better on this day than the last time - there was more cinnamon in it, which made it taste refreshing and autumn-like.

Mexican migas with chorizo

BG, FC, and I spent over 2 hours at Smoke, not only eating, but engaging in conversation about our food experiences, career experiences, and overall life experiences.  Having had conversations and meals with each of them separately, I knew that I enjoyed conversing and dining with each of them; however, the three of us dining together made for an even more noteworthy evening meal.

I suppose that is what happens with tacos, too - separately, the ingredients are delicious, but when they come together within the tortilla, they become more gratifying.  Separately, I enjoyed my experiences with FC and BG, but having the 3 of us come together within the walls of Smoke Taqueria, it was even more gratifying.  Gracias, mis amigos :-)

Smoke BBQ & Taqueria

205 E. Eighth Ave.

Homestead, PA 15120

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/smokebbqtacos

Food Collage

Website: http://www.foodcollage.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/foodcollage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/foodcollage

Burgh Gourmand

Website: http://www.burghgourmand.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/BurghGourmand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BurghGourmand

…Smoke Taqueria (yet again!)

I love fall – and fall foods!

September, October, and November are prime months for my eating – having been on Weight Watchers for almost 2 years, and coming to learn which foods are good for you AND filling, I know that this time of year is best for two of my favorite staple foods – winter squashes and apples.

My favorite winter squashes include acorn, spaghetti, and butternut – and of course, I love anything made from pumpkin: pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin cookies…

Apples, though, have definitely become a huge part of my regular diet.  Two years ago, I went to Trax Farms in Finleyville for their annual Fall Festival, where they have apple sampling – about 12 different varieties of apples, all to be sampled (with or without caramel dip, of course) – and I never realized how different the different varieties of apples tasted until then. 

I eat at least one apple every single day – my favorite is Pink Lady, but sometimes I change it up with Fujis or Galas.

I have even tried making slaw out of apples.  I love the Hungry Girl cookbooks, and one of her most famous recipes is “I Heart Apple Slaw”, made from Granny Smith and Fuji apples, broccoli slaw mix, fat-free yogurt, honey, and Splenda.

Super sweet and savory slaw!

When I visited Smoke Taqueria in Homestead (yes, again), I knew what I was going to get – the chicken taco, plus their jalapeno apple slaw, which I have been saying for weeks that I really, really needed to try, since I was such a fan of “I Heart Apple Slaw”. 

I met another food blogger at Smoke that day – Burgh Gourmand.  His tweets from restaurants around Pittsburgh – and his other commentary – always have me intrigued, so I was anxious to have a meal and conversation with him.

Burgh Gourmand had visited the taqueria within the last week, so he had been recognized by the owner by the time I arrived (which was not long after).  We were immediately presented with menus and told that there was a special taco available that night.  I was thrilled – THRILLED – to hear that the taco was a chicken and…APPLE taco!  Woo hoo!  Perfect for fall!  I ordered one in addition to my pre-selected chicken taco and jalapeno apple slaw.  Burgh Gourmand opted for the chicken and apple taco, brisket taco, and macaroni and cheese.  To drink, I ordered a horchata (YAY!  They had it this time!), and Burgh Gourmand ordered the agua fresca flavor of the day – pineapple.

Our drinks arrived, and I immediately put my straw in to taste the horchata I had been wanting to try since my last visit.  Horchata is a corn drink, but doesn’t taste like corn, just like the Chicha Morada I had at Chicken Latino – and at Smoke, they add lime zest to the mix, which gives it a margarita-ish flavor (no alcohol, though, of course!)

The slaw and mac and cheese arrived next, and we each offered to have the other try our choices.  

Oh, wow.  That mac and cheese was amazing!  I had a student who visited Smoke recently, who said in her extra credit report that the mac and cheese was great, but now I KNOW that it is, without a doubt.  

The jalapeno apple slaw was also delicious – I wasn’t sure how spicy peppers and apples would go together, but they work well together – it was spicy, but nicely balanced with the sweetness of the apples to give it a tasty flavor.

Then the tacos arrived.  I started with the chicken and apple taco, since it sounded so interesting.  

I’m in love.

Smoked chicken, smoked bacon, apples, cheese, cilantro, jalapeno mayo…a fresh, warm, soft, made-from-scratch tortilla…how could I not want to marry this taco?

My chicken taco was also delicious – yes, I preferred the chicken and apple, but I have to say that smoked chicken is much, MUCH tastier than regularly cooked chicken, which can be extremely boring and bland. 

The food was amazing, the conversation was great, and I was CRAVING that chicken and apple taco the next day.  I wrestled in my head for hours that next day, debating on whether I should call and place a take-out order…but I did not :-(

Thank goodness Smoke Taqueria isn’t far at all – but this could throw a wrench into my diet!  Looks like I’ll be eating a lot of winter squash to compensate…

Smoke Taqueria

205 E. Eighth Ave.

Homestead, PA 15120

Burgh Gourmand

Website: http://www.burghgourmand.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurghGourmand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BurghGourmand

Trax Farms

528 Trax Rd.

Finleyville, PA 15332

Website: http://www.traxfarms.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trax-Farms/107081760932

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TRAXFARMS

Hungry Girl

Website: http://www.hungry-girl.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HungryGirl?sk=wall

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/HungryGirl