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"El Torito with Jack Allison" is Episode 180 of Doughboys, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "El Torito with Jack Allison" was released on November 15, 2018.

Eltoritotweet

"Tomorrow..." - @doughboyspod

Synopsis[]

The 'boys take a deep dive into Mexican cuisine as Jack Allison (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Struggle Session) returns for a review of El Torito, a restaurant known for its made-to-order guacamole and flame-grilled fajitas. Plus, a Thanksgiving edition of Season Eatings.

Nick's intro[]

In 1876, New York bartender Jerry P. Thomas, who would become a minor celebrity for his extensive knowledge of cocktails and proto-flair style of drink mixing, published his Bar-Tender's Guide, an encyclopedia of mixed drinks that included the first documented recipe for a brandy, citrus, and simple syrup concoction called The Daisy. A popular late 19th- and early 20th- century cocktail, by the 1930s, bartenders on either side of the Mexico/US border were substituting tequila for brandy, naming the concoction after the Spanish word for 'daisy': margarita.

Jtbarguide

Bar-Tenders Guide

And the enduring popularity of the margarita in the U.S. can at least be partially attributed to Larry J. Cano, an Air Force vet who would become a pioneering figure in the sit-down chain-restaurant sector.

After serving in Korea, Cano took a job as a bartender at a Polynesian restaurant in Encino, California called Bali Hai. And in 1954, after the owner passed away, he took control of the operation. Cano realized the tiki concept was a fading fad and converted the joint into a full-service sit-down restaurant serving Mexican food, complete with a full bar to sling rocks and frozen margaritas. Cano recognized his inability to execute proper south-of-the-border cuisine, and so he turned his kitchen over to Mexican-American chef, Ignacio Nacho Segura, who would stay with the company for decades.

While Mexican food has become one of the cuisines most associated with California, in the 1950s, it was still largely unfamiliar to white locals. As Cano told the Los Angeles Daily News, many of his customers in the early years "didn't know what a taco was. They called them 'tay-cos'." And Chef Segura was instructed to keep things not-too-spicy for their Caucasian clientele.

But Californians, and Americans, soon learned to love it, and Cano and Segura added three locations in the first half-decade of operation, then expanded to 22 by 1976 when the concept was sold to a conglomerate, though Cano would remain as President through the '80s.

Aside from the margarita, Cano helped popularize enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, and the informal weekly holiday of Taco Tuesday, as Mexican food has transitioned from an exotic delicacy into comfort fare for everyday Americans.

Today, there are 69 locations where they pour the cocktail that's the Spanish word for 'daisy' at the restaurant named for the Spanish word for 'little bull.'

This week on Doughboys, El Torito.

Fork rating[]

guest / host ordered rating
Nick Wiger
  • Spicy Mango Margarita
  • Grilled Chicken Mexican Caesar Salad
  • Carne Asada and Cheese Enchilada
4 forks
Mike Mitchell
  • Cadillac Margarita (Strawberry)
  • Carne Asada and Cheese Enchilada
4 forks
Jack Allison
  • Cadillac Margarita (Strawberry)
  • Carne Asada and Cheese Enchilada
5 forks
shared
  • Chips & Salsa
  • Fresh Tableside Guacamole
  • Grande Fiesta Platter
    • Mexico City Flautas
    • Nachos Supremos
    • Buffalo Chicken Tenders
    • Cheese Quesadilla
  • Deep-Fried Ice Cream

WIth these scores, El Torito makes the Golden Plate Club!

Season Eatings: Easter Thanksgiving Edition 🦃[]

After Yusong failed in finding the 7-Eleven Thanksgiving Chips, they settled on some other brand of Thanksgiving chips. They did not say what they were exactly.

Nick said they tasted like 'bitter gravy,' and Mitch compared it to the 'aftertaste of gravy.' Nobody liked them.

Roast Spoonman[]

Eltoritoroast

Reese Witherspoon

Grease Witherspoon

–Aaron in Atlanta

Quotes[]

Hot Salad moves merch!

–Nick Wiger

I became a man at El Torito.

–Nick Wiger

As someone who worked in child modeling, and was also a devout Catholic, you dodged two bullets.

–Nick Wiger, after learning of Mitch's modeling career (see below)

#hashtags[]

  • #RogueOneCharacterContest
  • #DontYouKnowImLocal

The Feedbag[]

I'm originally from Massachusetts, but about a year and a half ago, I moved to West Virginia. I had never heard of their very popular regional food, the pepperoni roll, which in its traditional form is pepperoni in dough. It was a coal miner food. They used it as something that wouldn't spoil they could eat underground and now it comes in all sorts of ways. My favorite so far has been pepperoni, cheese and sriracha.

So my question is: what very specific regional food have you been introduced to that you really enjoy?

–Joanne

Related Episodes[]

Jack Allison episodes

Photos (via IG: doughboyspodcast)[]

Mitchboymodel

Boy Model Mitch

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