‘Tacos are Mexican-style sandwiches’: Fresno’s response to Indiana court ruling
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An Indiana judge declared on Monday that tacos are “Mexican-style sandwiches” as part of a years-long battle between a restauranteur and the county.
But YourCentralValley.com reached out to a local expert for a second opinion.
Do you know ‘Gordo’? Fresno Yosemite International Airport has an adorable mascot
Clemente Barrera Cruz runs El Rey De La Barbacoa on the corner of McKinley Avenue and Peach Avenue. He says he’s been eating tacos in Mexico since he could form memories.
He says he’s been making tacos in his truck for six years – and that there is no way to compare a taco to a sandwich.
“No, no, no, a sandwich is essentially bread, and tacos are made with tortillas,” Cruz said, “That’s a big difference.”
Cruz says there are authentic Mexican dishes similar to sandwiches but it’s not a taco.
“The only thing similar we would have to a sandwich would be a Mexican torta,” Cruz said, “but that’s not a sandwich either, it’s a torta.”
Cruz says tortas can be prepared on a grill, or ironically, on an electric sandwich press, but Cruz says even that doesn’t make a torta a sandwich.
“A torta is a Mexican torta, not a sandwich. You can’t even compare the two,” Cruz said, “there’s really nothing comparable.”
It’s Cruz’s opinion that people stop comparing foods in general – and simply enjoy each other’s cultural cuisines without comparison.
“All food is different, that’s that. There’s no comparing. We can’t compare American, Mexican, Chinese, or Japanese food,” he said, “We all have our own way of making food.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
