Uncle Julios- Redsaucegate 2015

I want to begin by admitting that there were no tacos consumed during my most recent visit to Uncle Julios. There was, however, an incident and much confusion over the much beloved red chile sauce that I'd like to share with you.

A good friend picked me up for some Uncle Julios and let me know the bad news during the car ride there. "They don't have the red sauce anymore", she solemnly told me. "What?", I replied in shock. She had been informed by the restaurant in Grapevine that they no longer served the old red sauce, however there was the new "New Mexico red chili sauce" in its place. My friend expressed her dislike for the new sauce and even thought it had meat in it.

When we arrived at the restaurant and ordered, she mentioned her problem to our server. He also stated that the old red sauce was gone but if we said something to the manager, the company may bring it back. Apparently others had complained about it. I'm not one to make a fuss about such things but my friend had no qualms about letting them know her distaste for the new red sauce. While we waited, a second server stopped by our table and concurred that the old red sauce was indeed gone.

The manager came to our table to find out our problem. My friend explains the situation. The manager says, "No. We still have the old red sauce...the red chili sauce." What? Mind blown. We let her know that another restaurant and now two servers at this one all said that it no longer existed. She then seemed unsure of her comment. She offered to bring a sample of the "old red chili sauce" and a sample of the new "New Mexico red chili sauce" for us to try and compare. She also added that the new red chili sauce did not have meat like my friend thought. 

When the two sauces arrived at our table, the only visible difference was the color. One sauce was a dark brownish chili red and the other looked like it was just slightly paler in hue. I dipped my fork into the first and darkest colored sauce. I immediately recognized the familiar chili taste of the original red sauce. "This is it! This is it!", I squealed. 

The other sauce appeared to be the original red sauce but with cream added to it. It was lighter in color and milder in flavor than the original. And to be fair to my friend, it would have been an appropriate sauce for carne to be added. I'm not sure why adding cream to a red chili sauce makes it "New Mexican". I preferred the original. The secret to getting the original good stuff...ask for the red chili sauce that they use on their carnitas. Your welcome.

Letter to the Editor: Texas Monthly Magazine

Dear Editor at TM Magazine,

I was first introduced to Texas Monthly Magazine by my grandmother when I was in high school in the early nineties. She has had a subscription for as long as I can remember. She passed away in May of 2012, but her magazine still comes. She had Alzheimer's and would renew her subscription over and over, having forgotten she'd already done it. I'll be receiving her magazine until December of 2016. That's ok with me. It gives me occasion to think of her when it arrives. I remember sitting at the kitchen table thumbing through the pages with her.

Photo: Grandma with my siblings and I

When grandmothers Texas Monthly arrived in my mailbox with this months newest issue, I was floored to see that it was a taco issue. Tacos are my favorite food. I could, and sometimes do, eat them everyday. Grandmother used to eat them with me too. Sometimes, I blog about them and give my opinions of tacos I try around town (Fort Worth). I was thankful to have learned about some new places I've never tried in your article, "The 120 Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die" (Dec 2015).

However, I did feel that there were a couple of great places here in Fort Worth that could have been included. I also felt that one of your Dallas choices was off the mark and should not have been included. Allow me to elaborate.

I was a little shocked to see that Fuzzy's Taco Shop had been left off the list. Their garlic, shredded beef, Baja style tacos are unlike any other I've had in Fort Worth. They are absolutely delicious. Also, Melis Taqueria on Vickery has the best breakfast tacos in town. Hands down. Grandma loved them both. It's a travesty that these two establishments were left out of your taco spread. 

It is equally disappointing that the Velvet Taco was included in the Dallas section. Have you honestly ever eaten there. It's disgusting. I will add that I ate at the Fort Worth location and not the Dallas location. I'm assuming it's the same food though. Grandma never got the opportunity to try Velvet Taco, lucky for her, she passed before then.

Photo: Grandma with a relative

You can read my taco reviews for Fuzzy's, Melis, and Velvet Taco at

www.tacosaint.com

Do it for grandma and her loyal years of subscribing to Texas Monthly, even after her death.

Sincerely,

The Taco Saint