Trejo's Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A.

by Danny Trejo

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Two words: Margarita Donuts! This love letter to Los Angeles and Latino culture offers everything from tips for stocking a Mexican pantry to cantina favorites and ways to expand your taco repertoire, including several vegan recipes in the mix! With vibrant photography and reflections on his legendary life and career, this cookbook does not disappoint.

Hollywood’s baddest good guy shares 75 recipes that make Trejo’s Tacos the Los Angeles go-to for award-winning tacos, donuts, and more.

Long before he was a Hollywood star, Danny Trejo used to joke with his mom that they should open a restaurant. A few arrests, a couple boxing championships, and more than 300 movies later, Hollywood’s favorite bad guy did just that with Trejo’s Tacos. His unexpected journey from ex-con to actor to Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous counselor to successful restaurateur is a true rags-to-riches story.

Now, in Trejo’s Tacos, Trejo not only shares 75 recipes for cantina favorites like succulent carnitas, vegan cauliflower tacos, and pillowy-sweet cinnamon-sugar lowrider donuts, but offers insights into his life and pays respect to his hometown, his roots, and all of the colorful characters who helped him along the way, creating a delicious tribute to L.A. and the city’s vibrant Latino culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984826855
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	75,026
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Danny Trejo is an acclaimed actor and restaurateur. He owns seven locations of Trejo’s Tacos, Trejo’s Cantina, and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in the L.A. area.

Read an Excerpt

Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than 4 million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California. Learn more at www.laurainesnelling.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

Once Upon a Time in Los Angeles

How to Cook the Trejo Way 14

Mix It Mexican 17

Trejo's Pantry: Essential Ingredients for Making the Most of This Book 21

Butcher Basics: Why Meat Matters (and Seafood, Too) 27

From Machetes to Molcajctes: The Gear You Need 33

Trejo Town: A (Mostly) Food-Focused Look at Danny's L.A. 37

Salsas, Cremas, Sauces & Vinaigrettes 44

Tacos, Burritos, Bowls & Quesadillas 68

Food That Isn't a Taco 148

Donuts & Desserts 178

Margaritas & Other Drinks 204

Acknowledgments 218

Index 220

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/06/2020

Instantly recognizable as a menacing bad guy in over 300 films and TV shows, actor Trejo is also an L.A. restaurateur, and here he presents excellent recipes from his Trejo’s Tacos restaurants. Trejo begins with advice for stocking a Mexican pantry, then offers traditional recipes based on key ingredients that can be used in tacos, burritos, or rice bowls—including Barbacoa brisket, carne asada (as well as a mushroom version), carnitas, and grilled chicken. For those wanting to expand their taco repertoire, Trejo offers inventive riffs on such fillings as falafel, roasted cauliflower, beer-battered fish, grilled spicy shrimp, and even a chicken tikka. He rounds out the collection with sauces (chipotle shrimp cocktail sauce), sides (cotija and chile mashed potatoes), and desserts (nacho donuts, made with cheddar cheese and poblano chiles), as well as a variety of margaritas. Trejo keeps the sourcing and prep to a minimum while coaxing maximum flavor out of each dish, making the food approachable for home cooks of all abilities. This fiendishly creative collection is a must-have for taco lovers. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

07/01/2020

Trejo has ascended from veteran actor to established restaurateur, with Trejo's Tacos and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts becoming must-visit Los Angeles institutions. In this cookbook, he shares 75 of his favorite recipes, from his signature donuts to margaritas, and everything you'd eat in between. For many recipes, he begins with a "master recipe" based on the type of meat featured, which can be repurposed in various ways, including tacos, bowls, and burritos. Vegetarians and vegans should not fret as many of the tacos, entrees, and sauces feature plant-based ingredients. There are even some surprises, like chicken tikka tacos and an entire chapter on "Food That Isn't a Taco." Vivid photographs by Anderson are featured throughout. Also included are autobiographical reflections on the actor's life, along with helpful advice on cooking and ingredient selection. VERDICT Readers will find Trejo's cookbook, like his acting roles, to be a solid effort which does not hold back nor disappoint.—Jennifer Clifton, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis

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