Episode 1 of The Tacos of Texas Is Now Live

The Tacos of Texas – a documentary series based on the acclaimed eponymous book by local taco journalists Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece – is now live.

“I don’t know how much square footage there is in Texas, but it’s a big state,” says Rayo, in the pilot for his new PBS YouTube series Tacos of Texas. His partner in crime, Neece, laughs and chimes in. “I think they do it in square miles.”

Texas spans 268,597 square miles. The pair (who, incidentally, were VIP judges for our 2018 Hot Sauce Festival) traveled 7,000 miles to reach 10 Texas cities – including Austin, where they kick off in the pilot episode. They bring the people, process, and culture behind the tacos to the people who enjoy them.

From Joe's Bakery to Veracruz All Natural, the duo use the migas taco as a vehicle to explore broader issues of gentrification and disparity in Austin. "Just like migas, these taco makers are resourceful and create deliciousness," Rayo says.

An excerpt from our July 2018 cover story about Rayo and Neece’s journey for this project:

"'It's like the Trojan horse,’ Rayo chuckles. 'Like, for Austin, it was the migas taco. And then we talked about taco gentrification, and we coupled it up with Tex-Mex versus Mexican traditional. We talk about the Eastside.’ That same premise applied to the other six cities featured in the show. On the final outing, the two returned to El Paso with a laser focus on carnitas. Getting into the kitchen with their subjects, Rayo and Neece probe regional and community issues in addition to the nitty gritty of the tortilla and meat.

What makes them taco journalists, as opposed to other storytellers, is their commitment to serving as the conduit between the kitchen and the consumer. ‘For us, it's not about us telling their story, but giving them a platform to tell their own story in their own way,’ says Rayo.”

The Tacos of Texas pilot airs Tuesday, September 25 on the PBS Indie Lens Storycast YouTube channel. Here’s the full episode lineup:

Tacos of Texas #DocuSeries schedule

Migas Tacos: Austin (September 25)

Tacos al Pastor: Houston (October 2)

Barbacoa: Rio Grande Valley (October 9)

Puffy Tacos: San Antonio (October 16)

Breakfast Tacos: Corpus Christi (October 23)

Modern Mexican: Dallas (October 30)

Carnitas: El Paso (November 6)

For more info (plus trailers, behind the scenes shots, outtakes, and deleted scenes) check out @TacosofTexas on social media.