As it was with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a great number of Houstonians from all backgrounds have volunteered their time and made donations beyond what normally be expected. This extends to the local restaurant, a local industry that supplies something extremely welcome and needed by both those who are in shelters and those who have volunteered. Reef, long one of my favorites locally, was profiled donating a considerable amount of food yesterday on the PBS Newshour. Hugo’s, Caracoal and Riel were also mentioned by a volunteer delivery driver, as providing something far tastier than simple sandwiches for those displaced and helping.
Even just being open when other restaurants have not been able to do so has been a big help for many. Today’s New York Times highlights Tacos Tierra Caliente that has been parked for years in front, or just across the street from the West Alabama Ice House, where I have helped host a big crawfish boil each spring for the past quarter century. I’ve enjoyed a few tacos while in a happy state from Tacos Tierra Caliente, a great and often necessary caloric benefit for a great many Ice House patrons over the years.
From today’s Times:
A Culinary Stalwart Stays Open in a Time of Need
For nine years, the Tacos Tierra Caliente food truck has been parked at the intersection of West Alabama and McDuffie Streets in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, serving tacos al pastor, tortas and quesadillas seven days a week. The truck’s owners, eight members of the Semano family, take pride in their work — so they had no intention of letting Hurricane Harvey shut them down. Throughout the storm, even as nearly every other business in Houston closed, Tacos Tierra Caliente has kept its normal hours, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Montrose received more than 30 inches of rain over a few days, but it did not flood like other parts of Houston.
For several days during the storm, the food truck was the only restaurant open for miles. Word spread on social media. People trooped through the rain and stood in lines of up to 100. Vicente Samano, one of four family members operating the truck on Thursday afternoon, said the family had also given tacos to people who could not afford them.
Despite the long lines, the truck never ran out of food. Keeping the truck open was a matter of family and national pride, Mr. Samano said.
“That’s the Mexican spirit, the Latino spirit,” he said. “We like to work, whether we’re sick, wet, whatever. We will work no matter what.” On Thursday afternoon, John Mondel, a federal law clerk who had just moved into an apartment down the street, joined the line. “It’s one of the reasons I chose this apartment,” Mr. Mondel said.
Tacos Tierra Caliente proprietor with the estimable Robb Walsh
Even just being open when other restaurants have not been able to do so has been a big help for many. Today’s New York Times highlights Tacos Tierra Caliente that has been parked for years in front, or just across the street from the West Alabama Ice House, where I have helped host a big crawfish boil each spring for the past quarter century. I’ve enjoyed a few tacos while in a happy state from Tacos Tierra Caliente, a great and often necessary caloric benefit for a great many Ice House patrons over the years.
From today’s Times:
A Culinary Stalwart Stays Open in a Time of Need
For nine years, the Tacos Tierra Caliente food truck has been parked at the intersection of West Alabama and McDuffie Streets in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, serving tacos al pastor, tortas and quesadillas seven days a week. The truck’s owners, eight members of the Semano family, take pride in their work — so they had no intention of letting Hurricane Harvey shut them down. Throughout the storm, even as nearly every other business in Houston closed, Tacos Tierra Caliente has kept its normal hours, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Montrose received more than 30 inches of rain over a few days, but it did not flood like other parts of Houston.
For several days during the storm, the food truck was the only restaurant open for miles. Word spread on social media. People trooped through the rain and stood in lines of up to 100. Vicente Samano, one of four family members operating the truck on Thursday afternoon, said the family had also given tacos to people who could not afford them.
Despite the long lines, the truck never ran out of food. Keeping the truck open was a matter of family and national pride, Mr. Samano said.
“That’s the Mexican spirit, the Latino spirit,” he said. “We like to work, whether we’re sick, wet, whatever. We will work no matter what.” On Thursday afternoon, John Mondel, a federal law clerk who had just moved into an apartment down the street, joined the line. “It’s one of the reasons I chose this apartment,” Mr. Mondel said.
Tacos Tierra Caliente proprietor with the estimable Robb Walsh
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