We're currently crushing on Trejo's Tacos. Read on. You will be too.
According to his cookbook, his love for food came from his mother.
When he was in and out of trouble, her food came with unconditional love.
She’d make amazing meals that, I can tell just by reading his story, healed his soul a bit.
Where we found the book
Don’t you just love when a book finds you?
We were in Atlantic Spice in Truro which is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. This little gem of a shop has an old-world feel, and stepping over the threshold instantly transported us into a cluttered apothecary in a remote town in the country. Which, I guess, it kind of is. Here’s a great picture of it on the Edible Communities site so you can see what I mean.
Within seconds, we were hit by the slightly acrid burn of fiery spice, bringing the about-to-sneeze tickle that hits mid-nostril. It quickly dissipated and we were left with a nice warm feeling that wanted us to stay a while; the spice shop equivalent of a rich bowl of beef pho.
It’s a foodie heaven that speaks to the senses. While our noses recovered from the initial spicy onslaught, our eyes began taking in the vivid onslaught of colorfully and creatively patterned dish towels, aprons, napkins and placemats, funky dishes and kitchen tools.
Danny’s book stood out from the rest because the first thing you see is the familiar actor centered on a white circle, almost as if it’s a halo behind him, surrounded by a bubblegum pink background mottled with yellow. He’s got a happy smile, not the fierce grimace we know from his films and he’s wielding what looks to be a well-loved kitchen cleaver, I assume in homage to his famed Machete character.
I put it in my basket without opening it.
The author
Trying to think of the movies I know Danny Trejo from, I couldn’t muster one from my memory banks. Not because I hadn’t seen them, but the opposite. I had seen him in so many places, I couldn’t pinpoint a specific film.
Trejo has been over 300 movies, as well as several prisons including San Quentin, Soledad and Folsom. To really get the story, you need to watch his documentary, Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo. It really drew me in. When it ended, I found myself admiring the man for what he’s done with his life and how he’s impacted the lives of others.
In the documentary, Trejo, his friends, family and others in his life bring us through his days as a young addict, a criminal, a prisoner, and a boxer before he became a celebrity. He was a badass who decided to turn his life around and do good. He became a substance abuse/misuse counselor and travels the country to speak at youth and detention centers.
According to his cookbook, his love for food came from his mother. When he was in and out of trouble, her food came with unconditional love. She’d make amazing meals that, I can tell just by reading his story, healed his soul a bit.
He recalls stories where, at the beginning of the month she’d put on amazing feasts and by the end of the month when the money ran out, there would be good, wholesome and healthy food that she made with, “Whatever we had left in the cupboard.” And he said those were some of his best memories of his childhood.
The cookbook experience
Vivid photography brings the book to life. Ingredients pop off the pages. It has almost a graffiti feel I was instantly drawn to.
Tucked into page 80 of our copy is a freshness seal from a spice jar that Keith decided to use as a bookmark. What recipe did he save? Carne Asada, one of Trejo’s Master Recipes.
A bright green page backdrop covers the majority of the 2 page spread, with a lime green color-block on the left side. The recipe comes to life with fun typography and yellow highlighting. Moisture rings, squozen (I submit that “squoze” and “squozen” become official words.) lime wedges, and several handmade soft tortillas dominate the page. Juicy medium-rare beef chunks and lettuce spills out onto the green table creating a contrast that is mouthwatering. I just want to grab a lime wedge off the page and squeeze it again.
It’s drool-worthy, and the book is riddled with photos like this. Well-loved baking pans, covered in the black drips, stains and marks that only come from being a well-loved kitchen favorite acts as a backdrop for nachos. A beautiful blue and white tiled counter contrasts against the earthy tone of the Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookie crumbles that litter the page.
Credit is given to Ed Anderson for the photography. It’s lovely. If you’re a fan of photography, you can pick this book up just to look at the pictures.
Trejo introduces each section of the book, connects the upcoming segment to growing up in L.A. or to the how and why the upcoming recipes are popular in his restaurants.
The recipes
The recipes also each have a short introduction and are clearly written and easy to follow. Most, but not all, are accompanied by a gorgeous photo, so you know what you’re making. And, if it isn’t a picture of the recipe, it’s a photo of the L.A. area, Trejo in the kitchen or something uniquely interesting and eye-popping.
After the ingredient list, you’ll find the recipes written in paragraphs, not in numbered steps. This format adds to the casual and “homemade” feel of this cookbook.
There’s something for everyone if you like Mexican and Latin-inspired food. He has many vegetarian and vegan recipes throughout, recipes for the carnivore, margaritas, sides, and, of course, donuts. (Danny owns Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts).
One thing I appreciate is the extras. Many of the recipes have a “Trejo’s Tip” sidebar to give you options for altering the recipe. There are a few other bonus segments sprinkled throughout the book which readers will enjoy.
We’ve made several of his recipes. (I just realized I said “we’ve” which may give the impression I had something to do with the actual preparation of the recipe. Let me be a bit more clear. Keith has made several of the recipes while I have enjoyed every last morsel and helped with the clean up.) Some of Keith’s (and my) favorites are the Carne Asada and the Refried Beans.
Now, if only he would offer cooking classes.
Overall
We love this cookbook. It was only put away for a short time when we moved into our new home. For the last month or so, it’s been found on the kitchen table, the counter, and the living room coffee table. It’s so pretty that we didn’t even put it away when “picking up” before my sister and brother-in-law came for a visit. She thumbed through it and ended up ordering one for her daughter who also loved Trejo’s documentary and is an accomplished home cook.
Get it for the photos, the recipes, the stories or all three.. You won’t be disappointed.
