10,000 TACOS®

Isidro Salas

Tacos are life and cilantro is a choice. This is a storytelling show about the taco life. Having grown up in a taco truck, I can't help but think of life events and tie them to the experiences and lessons learned from parents who made tacos for a living. Tacos are my life. Tacos are my culture. I am the Proud Son of a Taquero and I invite you to a taco with me (digitally) and hope your day can be made better with some of the stories we tell!

  1. 08/28/2024

    The Last Taco

    As I wrap up this podcast, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support throughout our episodes. This podcast has been a reflection of my life, my family, and the lessons learned in our taco truck days.  A special thanks goes to Stanford Florence (Flobama), Patrick Owen, and José Ralat, as they all helped me on pivotal paths to achieve many of these episodes. My siblings, Martha, Jose, Victor and Mike have not only contributed to the richness of our podcast but also profoundly shaped my identity as the proud son of taqueros. Though my parents no longer run the taco truck, their legacy and passion fueled my voice and creativity. Their sacrifices inspired me to explore my own path, one that has led me to my amazing wife and without her, there is simply no podcast.  With over 60,000 downloads and 97 episodes, every return visit from you echoed the loyalty of my parents' taco truck customers, a testament to the love and connection we've built.  Thank you for joining me on this adventure. This may be the end of the podcast, but the journey continues in new forms. TAQUOTE: "May you all keep flipping tortillas with your bare hands" My sister's restaurant - Cantaritos Restaurant & Bar                                             1530 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539 American Tacos: A History and Guide  by  José R. Ralat You can still find me on: ·       Instagram (12k followers)   ·       TikTok (29K followers)   ·       Facebook  (25k followers)  ·       twitter (mamadas followers) ·       If you wish to send us a good bye, we'll be honored - comments@10ktacos.com _________________________________________________ It has been an honor to be part of your speakers and or headphones!

    17 min
  2. 08/12/2024

    Inappropriate Motivation

    Recently, when I heard some white girl call her salsa 'restaurant style home-made' I was triggered to make a reaction video to call her out on her use of 'catchy' words to attract an audience. When I think about social media's influence, I wonder if I would have taken to promoting our food like so many do today, claiming we had the best tacos.  On today's episode, I tell you about what I call inappropriate motivations – when guided by bad intentions, you will likely yield negative results. I often reflect on the role my mother's fiery salsa played in our taco truck. Late-night customers, often a drunk off their assess, would line up for tacos, and we kept the extra spicy salsa separate to enhance their experience and possibly sober them back to reality. While there was no concrete evidence that the salsa sobered them up, their reactions—sweating and cursing yet still enjoying their food—indicated it was doing something right. My parents operated with humility, believing in the power of our food to speak for itself. They taught us that confidence doesn't require boastfulness, and I realize now how effective true sincerity can be in attracting customers. Ultimately, I appreciate how my parents ran our taco business with a focus on genuine connections and continuously improving our offerings. They instilled in us the importance of gratitude and respect, which forged lasting relationships with our customers and helped build our reputation. This understanding of authenticity in business continues to resonate with me today as I honor their legacy. TAQUOTE: "A tortilla has two sides"   Connect with Us ·       subscribe www.tenthousandtacos.com or www.tacopodcast.com [Website Link] ·       Instagram  TikTok twitter Facebook ·       Please let us know what you think of the show by sending us a note - comments@10ktacos.com _________________________________________________

    19 min
  3. 07/24/2024

    Five Dollar Crisis - REPLAY

    Episode Summary   Thinking back four years to when the pandemic began is like rewatching a tough episode because it reminds us of how hard things were. Many people lost loved ones during that time. But it's also important to see that we made it through and are moving forward.   Even though we still face challenges from the pandemic, if we stop and ask ourselves, "Are things better now than during the pandemic?" I believe a lot of people would say yes.   It's like looking at how much we've improved since then and feeling hopeful about the future. We went through some really tough stuff, but we're getting stronger and making progress every day.   This episode speaks about the questions we ask that serve us no real purpose. And it stems, for me, at least, from a time I'd been robbed while working in the taco truck.   "Questions that Waste Time"   What are the lessons I learned from the day someone took 5 dollars from my hand and ran away?   Call to Action If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends. Let's spread the love for peace, tacos, and everything in between! Connect with Us ·       subscribe www.tenthousandtacos.com or www.tacopodcast.com ·       Instagram  TikTok twitter Facebook ·       Please let us know what you think of the show by sending us a note - comments@10ktacos.com _________________________________________________     TAQUOTE: "Reflection without actions is like a taco without a tortilla!"

    15 min
  4. 07/12/2024

    Cilantro is a Choice

    Episode Summary In this episode, I express my deep love for cilantro and its essential role in creating real tacos. To me, a taco isn't complete without the fresh burst of flavor that cilantro, along with onion and salsa roja, brings to the table. But my affection for cilantro goes beyond its culinary necessity. It symbolizes a profound sense of gratitude for my journey to the USA. Growing up in my parents' taco truck exposed me to the art of chopping cilantro, a skill that laid the foundation for my success today. This simple herb embodies the sacrifices my parents made, igniting a flame of appreciation that fuels my every endeavor. Through the experience of chopping cilantro, I forged a stronger connection to my roots and the hard work that defines my family. It's not just about the taste; it's about honoring the dedication and perseverance that have shaped my life. From pursuing higher education to seizing rewarding job opportunities, cilantro serves as a reminder of the resilience and spirit that courses through my heritage. Join me on this journey as we explore how a humble herb like cilantro can carry the weight of tradition, love, and the unwavering bond between family and food. Let's chop, savor, and celebrate the essence of cilantro together, one taco at a time. Call to Action Thank you for tuning into this heartfelt episode. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends. Let's spread the love for peace, tacos, and everything in between! Connect with Us ·       subscribe www.tenthousandtacos.com or www.tacopodcast.com [Website Link] ·       Instagram  TikTok twitter Facebook ·       Please let us know what you think of the show by sending us a note - comments@10ktacos.com _________________________________________________   TAQUOTE: "Cilantro taste like soap to certain people because it's God's way of telling them to wash out their filthy fucken mouths!"

    15 min
  5. 06/26/2024

    Peace, Love and Tacos: Taco Truck rules to live by!

    Episode Summary In this special episode, we honor my dad on his birthday by sharing the invaluable lessons I learned from him that shaped his success as a taquero. These lessons, which I call "Taco Truck Rules to Live By," are not just for running a taco truck—they are principles for living a fulfilling life. Key Points Today is my dad's birthday. Honoring him by sharing the "Taco Truck Rules to Live By." Taco Truck Rules to Live By: 1.    Don't be late – Always be punctual. 2.    Be courteous – Treat everyone with respect. 3.    Be welcoming – Create an inviting atmosphere. 4.    Be grateful – Appreciate what you have. 5.    Be thankful – Show gratitude to those around you. 6.    Be forgiving – Learn to forgive others. 7.    Be clean – Maintain cleanliness in all aspects. 8.    Behave – Act responsibly and ethically. 9.    Believe – Have faith in yourself and your mission. 10. Repeat 1-9 every day – Make these rules a daily habit. At the very least, life will guide you to some tacos. What I'm really after is peace, love, and tacos! Call to Action Thank you for tuning into this heartfelt episode. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends. Let's spread the love for peace, tacos, and everything in between! Connect with Us ·       subscribe www.tenthousandtacos.com or www.tacopodcast.com [Website Link] ·       Instagram  TikTok twitter Facebook ·       Please let us know what you think of the show by sending us a note - comments@10ktacos.com By following these Taco Truck Rules, you can bring more joy and fulfillment into your life, just like my dad did every day. _________________________________________________      TAQUOTE: "If you know how to cook, you should thank a chef. But if you know how to make tacos, then you should thank a taquero!"

    25 min
  6. 06/12/2024

    Authenticity's Myth

    Authenticity used to be a word with significant meaning, but I think it has now become subjective and often exploited as a marketing tool. I once tweeted, "The closer you come to making it from scratch, the more authintic it will be." And that tweet reflected my beliefs at that time. The belief in the value of effort and craftmanship. Howeveer, a friend's perpective, based on the "abuelita principle," has challenged my assertion. Or at least that's how it felt when he replied, "Authenticity is a myth!" His point was valid. He argues that what we consider authentic is deeply personal and tied to our earliest experiences, such as the food cooked by one's grandmother. Since everyone's experiences and memories differ, defining authenticity universally becomes impossible. This, he says, makes authenticity more of a personal opinion than objective truth.  The idea of authentic Mexican cuisine illustrates the subjective nature of authenticity. If you believe your grandmother's cooking is the best, no other dish will measure up. Moreover, not every grandmother's cooking is exceptionally good or unique, adding to the complexity. This subjectivity has, in my view, turned authenticity into a marketing buzzword, reducing it to a myth. Marketers use it to attract attention but often deceive consumers. Despite this, I still believe that making something from scratch brings it closer to being authentic. While others may see this as just my opinion, it retains some of its original significance for me. _________________________________________________        TAQUOTE: "Flipping tortillas with your bare hands is authenticity!"    Please subscribe www.tenthousandtacos.com or www.tacopodcast.com - to our mailing list for the latest updates and follow us on:     Instagram  TikTok twitter Facebook            Please let us know what you think of the show by sending us a note - comments@10ktacos.com

    9 min
4.7
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Tacos are life and cilantro is a choice. This is a storytelling show about the taco life. Having grown up in a taco truck, I can't help but think of life events and tie them to the experiences and lessons learned from parents who made tacos for a living. Tacos are my life. Tacos are my culture. I am the Proud Son of a Taquero and I invite you to a taco with me (digitally) and hope your day can be made better with some of the stories we tell!