I recently listened to a podcast that was discussing chain restaurants, and they went on and on about their love for Taco Bell. I thought for a while they were joking (they are comedians, after all) but it seems they were serious and did actually have an affinity for the "food" served at this most common and unavoidable manufacturer of the North American fast food taco experience. I think it had to do with the nostalgia of being young with the car keys, and eating something cheap while drunk. I even admit to having devoured a few 7-Eleven microwave bean burritos in my time. But anyway, they went so far as to claim the dislike for Taco Bell was elitist, which I just have to disagree. But still, I thought I'd return (being on campus and all) after all these years and give it fair trial. I was even very hungry on this day.
Maybe it was wrong of me to try to go the slightly "healthy" route, but as they only offer flour tortillas for tacos (which I hate with a passion) I thought I'd get a taco salad. At least it was cheap! But it really reminded me of nothing so much as someone throwing up in their salad, and then eating it. I was starving, and ate it, and it did have that kind of hangover food appeal. The whole experience, the black plastic plate, the plastic fork, the packets of hot sauce, the little bag of chips, and the dining area in the student union (you've all been to student unions - they are both grim and wonderful) - it made me feel a little like I was in high school again, with the whole world of higher standards out ahead of me. Maybe it's fitting, in trying to revive with blog and taco dining project, to start at the bottom and then work our way south.
