The Correct Way to Make a Taco
by Cory Clark
“The order in which you build a taco is actually very important,” he said.
“Is it?” she replied, an amused expression on her face.
“Oh, definitely,” he said, “You start with the tortilla, obviously. Warmed in the microwave, but not fried. Then a generous smear of refried beans, followed by the protein of your choice, usually seasoned ground beef for me. Then, and this is the most important part! The cheese goes on top of the meat, and you want to make sure you cook your meat fresh because you want it hot so that cheese will melt.
“After the cheese, you add a few dollops of sour cream. Then a liberal helping of hot sauce; I prefer a nice jalapeno and poblano green sauce myself. After that it gets less essential, but if I’m feeling wacky I add some halved olives, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro.
“Then you wrap it all up in the tortilla, making sure to fold the end in first, so you can tuck it under the sides of the tortilla as they come around. Then you enjoy.”
“Hm,” she said, “If you’re folding it like that, isn’t it more of a burrito than a taco? And if you want the cheese to melt, wouldn’t it make more sense to put it in between two hot ingredients, like the beans and the meat?”
He stared at her for a moment, then frowned.
“Go to hell.”
Cory Clark is an amateur author from Nebraska. His first book, a collection of short stories, can be found in the bio of his personal Twitter: @CoryWClark.