SeeCalifornia.com

Are you a fan of tacos? If so, it’s likely you contributed to the 4.5 billion tacos consumed by Americans last year. While there are many stories and legends about the creation of tacos, the word “taco” may have originated in the 18th century silver mines of Mexico where it referred to the little explosives workers used to extract the ore.

Californians can thank Glen Bell and his Taco Bell, a home grown corporation based in Irvine, for promoting this beloved food:

• In 1954 before Glen Bell created Taco Bell, he started Bell’s Drive-In and Taco Tia in the San Bernardino area.
• In 1962 Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell restaurant in Downey, serving what his customers called “Tay-Kohs.”
• Today the chain of fast-food restaurants serves up a variety of Tex-Mex foods to more than 2 billion customers in 5,800 restaurants in the U.S. alone!

While you may see the likes of chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger roll their eyes this week on March 29-30, 2019, you can give some of their gourmet foods a try at the Los Angeles Latin Food Fest at Los Angeles State Historic Park. California’s largest annual Latin culinary extravaganza includes high energy party Chefs Night Out and Gran Tasting Los Angeles, the festival’s signature event featuring food, beverage, wine, beer, and spirits stations, cooking and wine demonstrations, chef awards, and a four-hour music performance by La Junta Sound System. Prices start at $25.

California Taco Festivals

• SAN DIEGO: Tequila and Tacos Music Festival April 27-28
• SANTA CLARITA: Tequila and Tacos Music Festival May 10-11
• SAN DIEGO: SoCal Taco Fest May 18
• SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Taco Festival June 1
• VENTURA: Tequila and Tacos Music Festival July 20-21
• LOS ANGELES:  L.A. Taco Fest August 19
• SANTA CRUZ: Tequila and Tacos Music Festival August 24-25