Written by Since today is Cinco de Mayo, it seemed like a good day to have tacos for lunch. This day marks the 1862 Mexican victory over France at the Battle of Puebla, but most Americans just see it as a perfect day to have margaritas and beer. In fact, it’s a much bigger celebration in the U.S. than it is in Mexico, where only Puebla hosts a really large fiesta. Even so, Los Angeles holds Fiesta Broadway which has been called the largest Cinco de Mayo party in the world, dwarfing the one in Puebla entirely. That sounds exhausting and with way too many people, so I’m happy just celebrating with a few tacos.
I’ve actually only been to Mexico once, staying in a lovely costal town called Bucerías outside of Puerto Vallarta. Of course the beach was the main highlight of the trip, but second on the list were fish tacos (not shown here as that wasn’t on the menu today). There was a little restaurant in Bucerías with purple and yellow walls and a name that’s been long forgotten. They had the most amazing fish tacos served “dorado” style which means “golden.” Though the word and translation sound lovely, it was really just a poetic way to say “fish bits deep fried in yesterday’s oil.” They were delicious!
No matter the version of taco I’m eating these days, it always takes me back to that wonderful little restaurant in Bucerías. After almost a decade, I’m not sure if it would feel the same if I ever went back. I’ve spun the memory in my head so much now it’s really more of a fantasy than a reality. But perhaps one day I’ll make the trek back to that little spot to see if the purple and yellow-walled taqueria is still there. Or maybe not. Sometimes a good fantasy can be even more delicious than reality.
You’re all invited to a Doodlewash Dinner Party during the month of May! Just tag your food or drink image #doodlewashdinner and I’ll feature you and your culinary creations in a delicious Doodlewash Gallery at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Gamboge, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Pyrrol Red, Permanent Green Pale, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pens with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Those lock fantastic ! The shells and lettuce are really great.
Awww thanks!! Glad ya liked this one! 😃💕And they were delicious! Hehe
ARG! I was on my Kindle and #1 Grandson thinks when I’m on my Kindle I’m stealing his time so squeezes onto my lap. I make even more typos then than I normally do. I’m sorry!
We went to our favorite Taqueria on the 4th. The 5th we knew would be too crazy! I don’t think I could live anywhere where Mexican food wasn’t served. A well stocked Salsa bar is a must! 🙂
Haha…oh my gosh…didn’t even notice the typo until you mentioned it. My mind just edited it back into place. Oooooo…yay to salsa bar…Delish!! 😃
Thank you for filling in the missing words!
I’ve been know to say ordering at new Taquerias…” I’m gonna need a lot of salsa. Is that going to be a problem?”
The fam still quotes that every time we’re in a Taqueria!
Haha…you can never have too much salsa I say !! 😉
Exactly! Except…not too picante! That’s He-Man! I like mine on the medium side…not burn my lips and tongue off spicy! 🙂
That lettuce is so lively on these tacos. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Awww thanks Cynthia! 💕😃Happy Cinco de Mayo to you as well!
Wow, another awesome sketch that looks good enough to eat. Happy CdM
Hehe…thanks so much Teri! Glad you liked this! Hope you have a wonderful CdM today! 💕😃
I could eat all three. Terrific rendition of a classic. N.
Hehe…I totally did! And they were awesome! 😊Thanks so much Nina! 💕😃
Tacos, good any day of the year, and more than once a day is fine too. Terrific art, looks yummy. But don’t you like cheese?
Thanks Sharon!! 💕😃Tacos are the best! Actually I don’t like them as well with lots of thick cheese. Mine had a little grated Parmesan. 😊hehe
Parmesan cheese on tacos – that’s bordering on the blasphemous . . .
😊😊😊
Yum! And the lettuce is beautiful. I may need a second dinner…(K)
Hehe… Thanks Kerfe! 💕😃 It had actually been awhile since I had tacos. I could totally repeat it tomorrow! 😊lol
I love fish tacos and have a fond memory of some in San Diego where I tried them for the first time over a decade ago. Isn’t it funny how our mind can make such a distinctive amazing memory we are afraid to re-experience if it won’t live up to it! BEAUTIFUL doodlewash Charlie !
Thanks so much Jodi! 💕😃Fish tacos are the bomb! Hehe… And yeah… I love how our memories tend to keep the best bits and enhance them. That’s actually pretty awesome!
Super looking tacos, Charlie. One of my favorite foods. And, I love fish tacos! A must have at the dinner party. 😄🌮
Thanks Sharon!! 💕😃 Yeah, these definitely have more mass appeal than my alien elephant milk yesterday! Lol Glad you liked them!
well done Charlie, I must say….. this is the BEST Lettuce I’ve seen!!! and your tacos, sorry. gotta go. I am so hungry Now! 🙂
Hehe! Thanks Debi!! 💕😃 Glad ya liked my lettuce. I was initially worried it would just be a green mess, but then I managed to make it show up! 😊
so good!!
The colours packed together here in (and of!) those shells is very pleasing. And the lettuce has a perfect crispness to it. It’s been far too long since I’ve had a taco – coincidentally I was only pondering on this earlier – and in your doodlewash I can see how criminal that is. They look delicious!
They were delicious! Tacos are fabulous…I think you should have them immediately. It’s simply not healthy to go too long without them! 😉Though actually it had been months for me. I typically only crave them when the weather gets warmer. Not sure why though. Hehe
A great time to enjoy tacos! Thanks for the information. Your tacos look delicious Charlie.
Thanks Susan!! 💕😃They real ones I had were truly yummy! Gotta love tacos!!
Superb looking tacos! That lettuce looks frrrrresh :-). Yup, they would pair well with yellow and purple walls…
Thanks Myriam! 💕😃 I do often wonder if that place is still around. It was a good color scheme to pair with tacos. Hehe… Man I love these things! I’m getting hungry again thinking about them… 😊
:-D! They look awesome! Maybe tomorrow is a good taco day… Yup! Sunny skies!
wew, that’s look fantastic
Thanks so much! 😃
wow, Charlie those look delicious!! well done !
Awww thanks, Rachel! 💕😃So happy you liked these!!
I had a black bean and brown rice taco for lunch in celebration! 🎉 I forgot to add the lettuce – yours looks incredibly fresh! 😄👍🌟 Can I have a leaf or two? Hehe! 😝 Cheers Charlie! 🍺
Hehe…you needed lettuce!! 😉hehe Thanks so much Jill! 💕😃 And of course Jill share my lettuce with you!! Lol
Wow, Charlie! Your tacos are so realistic! Amazing you did this with watercolors. I do love tacos, though I can’t ever keep my taco from breaking apart..I usually end up eating a taco like nachos.. Lol.
Thanks Kari!! 💕😃 They got s little bit more rendered than I was going for… hehe…Just couldn’t stop! Oh, they totally disintegrated in the first bite, but tasted amazing! Lol
The tacos look lovely!…and delicious…even if the fish was fried in yesterday’s oil…too funny.
Hehe… Thanks so much Haunani! 💕😃Glad you liked this!
These look like the perfect taco, so neat, a shame that when I eat them bits will be falling all over the place, leaving quite a mess, lol your lettuce is to perfection.
Awww thanks Rebecca!! 💕😃 Yeah….they always fall apart on the first bite!! Lol
Aww Charlie these Tacos looks a delight! To me better than the real ones lol! Ahah and that beautiful green lettuce just ready to eat! 😉
Thanks Carolina! 💕😃So glad you liked these… there’s so much detail in tacos I wasn’t sure how to pull this one off. Hehe… Thrilled you think it worked out well!
Oh yes they looks great! You covered all the details! 😉
Omg Charlie!!! This is my favorite. Absolutely the best work I’ve seen from you, and that is saying something! A real stunner, I could literally lick the screen and I just ate! And it is breakfast time, not taco time but holy goodness, these are beautiful! Wow and not an easy one either! Bravo, encore!!
Awww… thanks so much Laura! That’s so sweet of you!!! 😍💕 Yay… I’m getting better then! hehe… I honestly have no clue. I just keep making one a day and see what comes out. Tacos for breakfast sound just fine! You should have gone for it! LOL
((((((((Charlie))))))))
I like like your work!
Thanks so much my friend! Appreciate it! 😃
you’re welcome!
“Sometimes a good fantasy can be even more delicious than reality”. THAT my dear Charlie O’ is a bigger mouthful than your wonderful tacos.
Beautiful painting!! I’m very passionate about colors, though I can’t draw that well. Its great to find such a wonderful colors dedicated to colors. And the stories you come up with each drawing makes it even better!! 🙂
Hope you are having a great weekend 🙂
Thanks so much, Mithai! So happy you liked my doodlewash! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend as well! 😃💕
Thank you so much!!
Take care 🙂 🙂
Your taco painting looks tasty… but where’s the cheese!
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 haha! Yeah, these are too authentic. If they were American, you wouldn’t be able to see the taco for all the cheese! YUM!!