“an ahead-of-its-time innovation and an exactly-of-its-time decadence”
August 26, 2016 3:42 PM Subscribe
The Legend of the Choco Taco [Eater] “For just about everyone other than the French inventor of the Cronut, the Choco Taco [wiki] is the stuff of nostalgic summer sweet tooth obsession — the most beloved and innovative of all the American ice cream "novelties." Its acolytes are legion. Restaurant pastry chefs and boutique scoop shop owners regularly pay homage.”
Never got the love of these. Crappy ice cream and sub-par chocolate aren't a great combination. Love the idea though.
But there's something to be said for eating one of these on a hot summer day. Just the right combination of chocolate, vanilla ice-cream, wafer, and melt. It creates this gooey mush of joy. I'm sure my love for these things is very much influenced by nostalgia, but they're just so damn tasty.
posted by Fizz at 3:57 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
But there's something to be said for eating one of these on a hot summer day. Just the right combination of chocolate, vanilla ice-cream, wafer, and melt. It creates this gooey mush of joy. I'm sure my love for these things is very much influenced by nostalgia, but they're just so damn tasty.
posted by Fizz at 3:57 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
Marky: “Never got the love of these. Crappy ice cream and sub-par chocolate aren't a great combination. Love the idea though. Made something similar last summer using rolled out Rice Crispy treat for the shell filled with chocolate banana ice cream. Everybody seemed to like them.”
That's the kind of creativity that makes choco tacos awesome – and I am one who loves the form, too, but thoroughly avoids the original, as it is as bad as you say. But as the article indicates, there are many more versions out there now all over the place!
A local place here in Albuquerque, Pop Fizz, hand-makes some really amazing choco tacos. They have a food truck that sells them, and there are a lot more flavors than those listed on their web site – if you can get there before they run out, their avocado-flavored ice cream taco is amazing, although cinnamon churro is probably still my favorite.
If you look around, many cities have an ice cream joint that makes a version of choco tacos that is vastly superior to the original.
posted by koeselitz at 3:58 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
That's the kind of creativity that makes choco tacos awesome – and I am one who loves the form, too, but thoroughly avoids the original, as it is as bad as you say. But as the article indicates, there are many more versions out there now all over the place!
A local place here in Albuquerque, Pop Fizz, hand-makes some really amazing choco tacos. They have a food truck that sells them, and there are a lot more flavors than those listed on their web site – if you can get there before they run out, their avocado-flavored ice cream taco is amazing, although cinnamon churro is probably still my favorite.
If you look around, many cities have an ice cream joint that makes a version of choco tacos that is vastly superior to the original.
posted by koeselitz at 3:58 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Choco Taco is no Chipwich.
posted by paulcole at 3:59 PM on August 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by paulcole at 3:59 PM on August 26, 2016 [4 favorites]
Huh, this is one of those weird things where I've literally never seen or heard of this in my life but apparently its everywhere and I'm the only one who missed it somehow? At first I assumed it was some regional thing but the article seems to imply otherwise.
posted by thefoxgod at 4:00 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by thefoxgod at 4:00 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
haha somebody should invent the brr-rito!
[googles]
curse you ben and jerry
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:01 PM on August 26, 2016 [10 favorites]
[googles]
curse you ben and jerry
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:01 PM on August 26, 2016 [10 favorites]
The Choco Taco is no Chipwich.
I would argue that the Choco Taco is superior to the Chipwhich both in taste and in architectural construction as a device for carrying chocolate and ice-cream into my mouth.
posted by Fizz at 4:08 PM on August 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
I would argue that the Choco Taco is superior to the Chipwhich both in taste and in architectural construction as a device for carrying chocolate and ice-cream into my mouth.
posted by Fizz at 4:08 PM on August 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
So it's a like Cornetto or a Drumstick, but in taco form (and minus the caramel and the big chocolate(y) nugget at the bottom). Doesn't the ice cream just squish out of it when you take a bite?
posted by Flashman at 4:38 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Flashman at 4:38 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Never got the love of these. Crappy ice cream and sub-par chocolate aren't a great combination. Love the idea though.
Made something similar last summer using rolled out Rice Crispy treat for the shell filled with chocolate banana ice cream. Everybody seemed to like them.
Where's the flag for "Most MetaFilter comment of the day"?
posted by Etrigan at 4:45 PM on August 26, 2016 [22 favorites]
Made something similar last summer using rolled out Rice Crispy treat for the shell filled with chocolate banana ice cream. Everybody seemed to like them.
Where's the flag for "Most MetaFilter comment of the day"?
posted by Etrigan at 4:45 PM on August 26, 2016 [22 favorites]
Just make sure you have "safe search" enabled if you do a image search for chocotaco.
posted by 445supermag at 4:46 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by 445supermag at 4:46 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's no It's It, but it is one of the best things I could pull out of your average 7-11 freezer (except for the ones with the It's Its). And it was the only thing I actually liked at Taco Bell. So, a solid B+.
posted by happyroach at 5:05 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by happyroach at 5:05 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
At least eight of my twenty–six years were spent patiently waiting for my next Choco Taco.
They are always, always worth it. Ignore the foolish critics.
posted by rorgy at 5:05 PM on August 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
They are always, always worth it. Ignore the foolish critics.
posted by rorgy at 5:05 PM on August 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
In 53 years of avid junk food consumption I've never had a chocotaco. What's wrong with me?
posted by doctor_negative at 5:15 PM on August 26, 2016
posted by doctor_negative at 5:15 PM on August 26, 2016
Have I made a mockery of a culture / Like a Choco Taco
Was I to Rap / as France was to Morocco?
Was I colon Rap colon colon France colon Morocco?
I:rap::France:Morocco
- MC Paul Barman, Old Paul
posted by The Giant Squid at 5:20 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
Was I to Rap / as France was to Morocco?
Was I colon Rap colon colon France colon Morocco?
I:rap::France:Morocco
- MC Paul Barman, Old Paul
posted by The Giant Squid at 5:20 PM on August 26, 2016 [7 favorites]
The Choco Taco came from Philly! More hometown pride!
posted by SansPoint at 5:40 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by SansPoint at 5:40 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
My boy scout summer camp had Choco Tacos in the trading post for $1 apiece. I used to ration out my spending money so I could buy one each day I was at camp.
posted by mbrubeck at 6:08 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mbrubeck at 6:08 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ice cream burritos with peanut brittle and cilantro are a super-common street food in Taiwan. You wouldn't think that ice cream and cilantro would work that well, but it's really pretty good.
posted by strangely stunted trees at 6:12 PM on August 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by strangely stunted trees at 6:12 PM on August 26, 2016 [3 favorites]
Welp. Now I'm going to have to swing by the absurdly-priced shake place tonight. Thanks.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:21 PM on August 26, 2016
posted by middleclasstool at 6:21 PM on August 26, 2016
Choco Tacos and It's Its are my go-to summer snacks.
posted by gucci mane at 6:23 PM on August 26, 2016
posted by gucci mane at 6:23 PM on August 26, 2016
Doesn't the ice cream just squish out of it when you take a bite?
It's similar to any ice cream sandwich. If the ice cream is not frozen hard enough and the sandwich/shell exterior doesn't have enough give against your teeth it will probably squish out.
So, the traditional ice cream sandwich with it's two soft chocolate biscuits is actually a fairly good design if you need to transport/hold a sandwich and are unsure if it can be kept cold during that time. Using a real cookie for an ice cream sandwich does taste better, but if it's not kept cold the cookies just become a way to press the the entire sandwich together (as I've found out the hard way when I've hastily attempted to eat an It's-It that I just brought back home from the market).
posted by FJT at 6:27 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's similar to any ice cream sandwich. If the ice cream is not frozen hard enough and the sandwich/shell exterior doesn't have enough give against your teeth it will probably squish out.
So, the traditional ice cream sandwich with it's two soft chocolate biscuits is actually a fairly good design if you need to transport/hold a sandwich and are unsure if it can be kept cold during that time. Using a real cookie for an ice cream sandwich does taste better, but if it's not kept cold the cookies just become a way to press the the entire sandwich together (as I've found out the hard way when I've hastily attempted to eat an It's-It that I just brought back home from the market).
posted by FJT at 6:27 PM on August 26, 2016 [2 favorites]
FJT It's similar to any ice cream sandwich. If the ice cream is not frozen hard enough and the sandwich/shell exterior doesn't have enough give against your teeth it will probably squish out.
Mr. Softee trucks sell a soft-serve ice cream sandwich on crispy chocolate cookies, and it is literally impossible to eat without creating a huge mess. I had to try twice before I learned my sticky lesson.
posted by SansPoint at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2016
Mr. Softee trucks sell a soft-serve ice cream sandwich on crispy chocolate cookies, and it is literally impossible to eat without creating a huge mess. I had to try twice before I learned my sticky lesson.
posted by SansPoint at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2016
Are these regional? I grew up in MN and never heard of these until I moved to the EastCoast.
And totally agree that they are pretty much junk, but still a sweet indulgence.
I would love to see more homemade/tribute versions!!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:57 PM on August 26, 2016
And totally agree that they are pretty much junk, but still a sweet indulgence.
I would love to see more homemade/tribute versions!!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:57 PM on August 26, 2016
I went to summer camp in Wisconsin and every year they'd bus us to Family Land in Wisconsin Dells for a waterpark day and as we'd step off the bus they'd hand us each three dollar bills. Every year that would buy me two delicious Chocotacos, my only encounters with them ever. Mmmemories.
posted by yellowbinder at 8:23 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yellowbinder at 8:23 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
OMG, this has been the summer of the Choco Taco for me, thank you, thank you so much for posting.
posted by maryr at 8:33 PM on August 26, 2016
posted by maryr at 8:33 PM on August 26, 2016
Gracie's Ice Cream, Somerville, MAI don't believe Gracie's was serving this as of last Friday night, but I could be convinced to check again.
Peanut Butter Choco Taco ice cream
posted by maryr at 8:38 PM on August 26, 2016
Ice cream burritos with peanut brittle and cilantro are a super-common street food in Taiwan. You wouldn't think that ice cream and cilantro would work that well, but it's really pretty good.
When mankind invented the burrito, God was sore displeased, for we humans had created the perfect food, and none but God should be perfect. To appease him in his wrath, we agreed to put cilantro into every burrito, the Persian flaw in our perfect food--yea, even the dessert burrito full of ice cream and peanut brittle must carry the sin of our ancestors.
posted by JDHarper at 9:29 PM on August 26, 2016 [11 favorites]
When mankind invented the burrito, God was sore displeased, for we humans had created the perfect food, and none but God should be perfect. To appease him in his wrath, we agreed to put cilantro into every burrito, the Persian flaw in our perfect food--yea, even the dessert burrito full of ice cream and peanut brittle must carry the sin of our ancestors.
posted by JDHarper at 9:29 PM on August 26, 2016 [11 favorites]
prize bull octorok: "curse you ben and jerry"
Seriously. That idiotic Ben and Jerry's "BRRR-ITO!" is the single worst ice cream product I have ever consumed, and that includes the awful lobster ice cream I tried once. The waffle stuff is not actually a shell, as you might assume looking at the picture - it is a floppy, soft, porous, immediately soggy and gross flap of fake waffley stuff. Ice cream is instantly everywhere except your mouth. I adjure you to avoid this monstrosity.
Choco tacos are much better.
posted by koeselitz at 11:36 PM on August 26, 2016
Seriously. That idiotic Ben and Jerry's "BRRR-ITO!" is the single worst ice cream product I have ever consumed, and that includes the awful lobster ice cream I tried once. The waffle stuff is not actually a shell, as you might assume looking at the picture - it is a floppy, soft, porous, immediately soggy and gross flap of fake waffley stuff. Ice cream is instantly everywhere except your mouth. I adjure you to avoid this monstrosity.
Choco tacos are much better.
posted by koeselitz at 11:36 PM on August 26, 2016
Criticizing Choco Tacos for the quality of the ice cream means you're missing the point of Choco Tacos. It's like saying those strawberry shortcake bars are better if you use real strawberries and homemade shortcake.
posted by teponaztli at 11:43 PM on August 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by teponaztli at 11:43 PM on August 26, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can never eat a Choco Taco because of this story related by Anthony Burch
posted by vaghjar at 3:08 PM on August 27, 2016
posted by vaghjar at 3:08 PM on August 27, 2016
Well, there's a link I'm not going to follow then. Why would I risk my future Choco Taco consumption?
posted by maryr at 7:20 PM on August 27, 2016
posted by maryr at 7:20 PM on August 27, 2016
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Made something similar last summer using rolled out Rice Crispy treat for the shell filled with chocolate banana ice cream. Everybody seemed to like them.
posted by Marky at 3:51 PM on August 26, 2016 [1 favorite]