Alison's First Love Is a Hard Shell Taco | Home Movies with Alison Roman
TLDRIn this delightful episode of 'Home Movies', Alison Roman hosts a Taco Tuesday night, sharing her passion for hard shell tacos, a dish she grew up with and holds dear. She reminisces about the homemade taco nights her dad used to make, where he would fry his own tortillas. Alison provides a detailed recipe for a beef mixture seasoned with spices like paprika, cumin, and chili flakes, suggesting the addition of water to create a saucy texture. The video is interspersed with humor and personal anecdotes, including a tribute to Dennis, a member of the team who is moving to Los Angeles. Alison emphasizes the communal and fun aspect of taco nights, suggesting it as an ideal meal for entertaining friends. She also shares her preference for certain toppings and a quick method for preparing beans to accompany the tacos. The episode concludes with a toast to Dennis and a reminder that food is about enjoyment and bringing people together.
Takeaways
- 🎬 The video is a part of a series called 'Home Movies' hosted by Alison Roman.
- 🍴 Alison emphasizes her personal preference for hard shell tacos, particularly those reminiscent of her upbringing in L.A. and experiences in Southern California.
- 🌮 The concept of 'Taco Tuesday' is discussed, highlighting its various interpretations and the nostalgia associated with it.
- 🏭 David mentions two places known for their hard shell tacos: Austin, Texas, and Taco Bell, referring to them as 'the two capitals of the world' for this dish.
- 👨🍳 Alison shares a family recipe where her dad used to fry his own tortillas to make taco shells, a technique she seems to admire.
- 🍹 A sponsorship message is included, promoting Maker's Mark bourbon and a related cocktail recipe.
- 🥩 The beef mixture for the tacos is emphasized as the primary cooked element, with suggestions for alternative proteins like Beyond Beef, pork, chicken, or turkey.
- 🧂 Seasoning the beef mixture involves ingredients like paprika, cumin seed, and chili flake, with a caution to add spices towards the end to prevent burning.
- 🔥 Toasting the taco shells is a crucial step, which Alison suggests doing in an oven or toaster oven for the best results.
- 🍅 Alison discusses the importance of layering ingredients in the taco, with a preference for pickled jalapeños and hot sauce over more delicate garnishes.
- 📦 The video ends with a tribute to Dennis, who is moving to Los Angeles, and a light-hearted exchange about a potential email address for him at AlisonERoman.com.
Q & A
What is the significance of the day in the video?
-The day is significant as it is both 'Home Movies Tuesday' and 'Taco Tuesday', indicating a special theme for the episode focused on making tacos at home.
Why does Alison Roman have a bow in her hair?
-Alison Roman is wearing a bow in her hair as an intentional fashion choice, not because something is sticking out of her hair.
What does David refer to when he says 'Taco Thunder'?
-David's reference to 'Taco Thunder' is a humorous play on words, likely referring to the sound of thunder crashing during the filming of their taco-themed video.
Who is mentioned as a 'friend of the show' and why is it humorous?
-LeBron James is mentioned as a 'friend of the show', which is humorous because David and Alison clarify that he is not actually a personal friend, but rather a 'friend of a friend of the show', indicating their admiration for him from afar.
What is Alison's opinion on hard shell tacos?
-Alison believes that hard shell tacos are their own unique category of tacos, and she has strong opinions on them, especially since she grew up in L.A. and now lives in New York. She prefers the ones found in places like Austin, Texas and at Taco Bell.
What is the name of the place in Austin where Alison had the best hard shell tacos?
-The place in Austin where Alison had the best hard shell tacos is called De Nada.
What is the technique Alison's father used to make hard shell tacos at home?
-Alison's father would shallow fry soft white corn tortillas in oil, then hang them on a wire dish drying rack to form a taco shell shape as they browned.
Why does Alison recommend toasting the taco shells before filling them?
-Alison recommends toasting the taco shells to enhance their flavor and crispiness, which she considers a non-negotiable step for making hard shell tacos.
What is the ratio of meat to fat that Alison suggests for the taco filling?
-Alison suggests an 85/15 blend for the taco filling, which means 85% meat and 15% fat.
What is the significance of adding water to the beef mixture?
-Adding water to the beef mixture helps to create a saucier texture, preventing the meat from being oily and crumbly, and making it easier to spoon into the taco shells.
Why does Alison suggest using a box grater for the cheese?
-Alison suggests using a box grater for the cheese to make it easier to shred and stuff into the taco shells without breaking them.
What does Alison think about the concept of 'Taco Tuesday'?
-Alison believes that 'Taco Tuesday' can mean different things to different people, whether it's going out for tacos, having tacos for dinner, or making a special taco night at home.
Outlines
🎥 Introduction to 'Home Movies' and Taco Tuesday
The video begins with David encouraging the crew to start filming a new episode, which is a special one due to being the last video. The show is called 'Home Movies', hosted by Alison Roman, who is wearing a bow in her hair. The team discusses the concept of 'Taco Tuesday', which can vary from person to person, and David shares his personal preference for hard shell tacos, particularly those from Southern California and Texas. They also mention a shout out to LeBron James, a friend of a friend of the show. The video transitions into a cooking segment where Alison discusses making hard shell tacos, including a personal story about her father making fried tortillas at home.
🍳 Preparing the Beef Mixture for Tacos
Alison explains that the key to the taco filling is the beef mixture, for which she recommends using a blend of 85% meat and 15% fat. She suggests adding water to the browned meat and spices to create a saucy texture. The video provides a list of spices to use, such as paprika, cumin seed, and chili flake, and Alison emphasizes the importance of blooming the spices in the fat to fully release their flavors. She also discusses the use of a garlic press and shares a personal anecdote about losing her grandmother's heirloom garlic press. The beef mixture is cooked with onions and garlic, with spices added towards the end of cooking.
🌮 Assembling the Tacos and Adding Toppings
The video moves on to the assembly of the hard shell tacos. Alison shares her method of toasting the taco shells in the oven for five to six minutes, emphasizing that toasting is a crucial step. She discusses the filling process, advocating for a hands-on approach with various toppings like lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. The crew members share their personal taco-building techniques, and Alison admits her love for lettuce in tacos. The conversation lightens as they joke about the simplicity of the task and reminisce about Dennis, who is moving to Los Angeles.
📺 Wrapping Up the Episode and Reflecting on Taco Night
As the episode concludes, Alison and David reflect on the taco-making process, noting that it's reminiscent of childhood and is a comforting food. They discuss the communal aspect of taco night, suggesting it's an entertaining meal to share with friends. Alison recommends serving tacos with beer and offers a tip for preparing beans as a side dish. The team jokes about the ease of the recipe and the nostalgia associated with hard shell tacos. The episode ends on a sentimental note with a farewell message for Dennis as he embarks on his new journey to the West Coast.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Taco Tuesday
💡Hard Shell Tacos
💡Taco Seasoning
💡Toasting Taco Shells
💡Beef Mixture
💡Sponsorship
💡Beyond Beef
💡Garnishing Tacos
💡Hot Sauce
💡Taco Party
💡Refried Beans
Highlights
The concept of 'Taco Tuesday' can vary from person to person, with some going out for tacos, while others have tacos at home on Tuesdays.
The host, Alison Roman, has strong opinions on tacos, considering Southern California to have the best tacos outside of Mexico City.
Alison's game is hard shell taco night, with crispy hard shell tacos being their own category, particularly from places like Austin, Texas and Taco Bell.
She shares a personal story of her dad making hard shell tacos by frying his own tortillas on a wire rack, a technique from 25 years ago.
Alison recommends toasting the taco shells before filling, which is a non-negotiable step for her.
The beef mixture is seasoned with beef, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, paprika, cumin seed, and chili flake for a bit of spice.
Adding water to the cooked beef mixture helps create a saucy texture, similar to an emulsification.
Alison suggests using an 85/15 meat to fat ratio for the beef, as 90/10 is too lean.
The onions, garlic, and spices are added towards the end of cooking the beef to prevent burning and to fully bloom the spices.
To assemble the tacos, Alison prefers to layer onion, lettuce, and then cheese, to avoid spillage.
She emphasizes that hard shell tacos are nostalgic and reminiscent of childhood.
Alison shares her method for making 'Refried Brothy Beans' to serve alongside the tacos.
The episode is a tribute to Dennis, a member of the team who is moving to Los Angeles.
The show humorously discusses creating a special device for filling taco shells, as it can be a messy process.
Alison emphasizes that food is entertainment and encourages viewers to host their own taco parties with friends.
The episode concludes with a heartfelt farewell to Dennis, who is loved by the team.
Transcripts
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