Tacos For Strength

With its four locations – two in New York, one in Chicago and one in Miami – the Mexican restaurant Mercadito, owned by partners Alfredo and Felipe Sandoval and chef-partners Patricio Sandoval and Ryan Poli, has become justly famous for innovative tacos. But with its “Tacos for Strength” program, it’s equally as renowned for charity.

Launched in 2011 and now in its third year, Tacos for Strength benefits Share Our Strength®, a national non-profit organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. Each month, a noted culinary talent, such as Chef Douglas Rodriguez of De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean or Chef Doreen Colondres of La Cocina No Muerde, creates a signature taco that’s sold nationally for the campaign. Five percent of the proceeds from the taco then go to the charity.

The program increases in popularity every year, and at the end of 2012 Mercadito Hospitality was able to donate $4,017 to Share Our Strength’s® No Kid Hungry™ campaign. With half of 2013 still left to raise money, the group hopes to top that amount this year.

To that end, the coming months of 2013 will bring tacos from Ben Pollinger of Oceana in New York (June); Rick Tramonto of Tru in Chicago (July); and Todd Erickson of Haven in Miami (November). In the past, tacos have contained everything from blackened catfish to fried oysters. With such creative personalities – many who bring different cultural influences to the table – on the horizon, patrons will reap some seriously tasty dishes, and Mercadito Hospitality will no doubt reach a third-year high.

Perhaps just as importantly, Patricio Sandoval notes, the chefs and the Mercadito guests are especially enjoying the concept. “We partnered with many of my chef friends and peers that I admire,” Chef Sandoval says. “It was so much fun to see the inventive recipes that these chefs from different cuisines and backgrounds came up with — all for tacos! I think our guests really enjoyed the monthly variety from chefs that they recognized.”

Can’t get to a Mercadito to do your part – and eat your share? We’re happy to help. Check out these three recipes from past participants, make them at home and, if you like, send in a donation to Share Our Strength®. Like tacos themselves, no amount is too little to appreciate.

Next up, take a bite out of Mercadito’s tacos with three delicious recipes...

[ pagebreak ]

Chicharrones Fish Tacos with Chipotle Tartar Sauce 

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 to 2 chipotles en adobo, seeded and finely chopped
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 scallion, white and light green part only, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 pounds skinless red snapper fillets (or other firm, flaky white fish)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Get the full recipe. 

Bohemia Braised Brisket Tacos 

• 2 pounds of lean brisket
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup Spanish onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 5 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons chipotle puree
• 2 cups canned tomato puree
• 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano

Get the full recipe. 

Galbi Churrasco Taco with Green Tomato Slaw and Queso Fresco 

• 1 cup kimchee base
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon soy
• 1 tablespoon ginger
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 4 whole cleaned Churrascos
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Get the full recipe.