If your habitual taco Tuesdays have been plagued by the downsides of takeout (no one likes a soggy tortilla), it may be time to switch up your rotating roster of must-order taquerias.
Taco Tuesday Toronto is a new virtual pop-up run by chef Erik Palomino that offers made-to-order taco kits with rotating feature tacos.
So far, chef Palomino has featured four different offerings, with kits available in 1/2 kg or 1 kg size. His debut offering was a Smoked Al Pastor Kit, priced at $35 for 1/2 kg and $65 for 1 kg.
The Cochinita Pibil Tacos came with pulled pork or chicken, lime pickled red onions, habanero peppers and arbol chili salsa.
Of course, Palomino had to capitalize on Toronto's craze for birria and offered his own kit that came with braised beef, consommé, cilantro, onions, limes and arbol chili salsa.
The most recent kit to drop was a Carnitas Kit, comprised of pork carnitas, diced onion, cilantro, arbol chili salsa, tomatillo salsa, guacamole and limes.
Chef Palomino is a seasoned industry veteran who previously helmed the kitchen at chef Anthony Rose's wildly popular Rose & Sons. Back in March of 2020, Palomino had been working as a private chef for a family, but once COVID hit, the family's altered circumstances had them back living in the US.
The chef began working with an agency and was given private contract work as he stayed home with his three-year-old daughter. Taco Tuesday Toronto came into fruition as a reaction to COVID and has been a side hustle for Palomino. Like many in the hospitality industry, COVID has strangely helped many chefs and cooks rediscover food they are genuinely passionate about, returning to their roots and cooking food that brings them comfort.
"I decided to start Taco Tuesday because it was an uncomplicated concept that was true to my roots. Making small-batch taco kits with the menu changing every couple weeks," chef Palomino explains.
The kits are available to pre-order with the cut-off on Sunday night and pick-ups are on Tuesdays. Orders can be made by messaging Taco Tuesday on Instagram. The pop-up took a short hiatus but is back next week with a new kit, with the menu dropping this week.
