(Guest blogger Wade Mackey, pictured standing with Taqueria El Crucero owner Jesus Betancourt on the left, has been a faithful WacoFork friend since the beginning of our venture. He's also a loyal El Crucero patron.)
By Wade Mackey
This past Saturday morning I made my weekly visit to Taqueria El Crucero for breakfast only to be met with the bad news that they had been robbed the previous night. I went by Common Grounds and ran into Jake Patterson, another faithful Crucero-er, who suggested that in response to the thief's cowardly actions, we could do our part to refill Crucero’s coffers by eating there every day this week.
While many people have tried the Crucero favorites, El Oso, Breakfast Burrito, or Green Chicken Enchiladas, I wanted to explore some lesser known parts of the menu this week. It has turned into a feast of breakfasts of its own accord. And I’m OK with that.
Monday: Pastor breakfast burrito. Two of my favorite things at Crucero are their al pastor offerings and their breakfast burritos. For some time I have had the intention of presiding over their marriage. On Monday I finally did, and it was glorious. Getting the bursts of pastor in the middle of the always-consistent breakfast burrito was a little extra surprise I was not accustomed to. It might have become my favorite breakfast burrito.
Tuesday: Huevos a la Mexicana. Eggs scrambled with pico, beans, and home fries. I got corn tortillas rather than flour (I get flower most places, but Crucero has amazing corn tortillas) and of course used a large amount of green sauce on my handmade burritos. It was phenomenal, and especially for our vegetarian friends, a great option.
Wednesday: Al Pastor Quesadilla. Quesadillas are always good, but I rarely get them because I consider many other things to be better. I know I just keep raving, so it might be hard to take me seriously, but this was the best quesadilla I can remember having. I expect I will have it again eventually.
Thursday: Ranchero Breakfast Burrito. This is not listed on the menu inside, but is written onto the drive thru window. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I was sure not let down. It is basically a plate of huevos rancheros wrapped up in a tortilla. What really gives it an extra dimension of flavor is the eggs over easy rather than scrambled eggs in the burrito. There is golden yolk permiating the burrito, something I have never had before, but loved.
Friday: Torta de Huevos (con Chorizo). Another breakfast plate that makes the argument that breakfast should never be neglected. I think the highest praise I can give at this point is to say it was just as good as I expected. In talking with Jesus afterward, he mentioned this was one of his favorite meals, and that he had been making it since he was a kid.
And of course for all these dishes I used a large amount of Mexican ambrosia, which turns out to be green sauce. It also must be mentioned that the Betancourts are one of the nicest families I have ever met.
