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Author: Jacki

plates of tacos
Let me introduce Tako’s sister: Tako Torta.

Let me introduce Tako’s sister: Tako Torta.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Kevin and I ventured out for an early lunch before the game day festivities. I chose a taco place suggested by another coworker. Like Viva Los Tacos, this restaurant is also east of the city. We made our way to Tako Torta in Bakery Square. Tako Torta is a taqueria-inspired outpost, compared to its full service sister restaurant, Tako, in downtown Pittsburgh. Tako Torta has the same authentic ingredients, creative tacos, and handcrafted cocktail focused specialties…

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Buffalo chicken tacos
What happens in Oakland, stays in Oakland at Viva Los Tacos!

What happens in Oakland, stays in Oakland at Viva Los Tacos!

On one of the many frequent cold weekends, Kevin and I bundled up and made our way to Harrison Hills for a winter hike. I revisited my old friend, the Rachel Carson Trail, and introduced Kevin to the eastern terminus of the trail. We have hiked sections together near North Park, but none east of Hampton. One of my favorite segments has you trek through an ATV park near Saxonburg Road. I chose this section because of the rolling hills…

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plates of tacos
My farewell Mount Washington meal at Gordo’s Tacos.

My farewell Mount Washington meal at Gordo’s Tacos.

Less than halfway through a long work week stretch, I needed to take a break and get tacos in my neighborhood. Both work and life outside of work had me exhausted. When I was not verifying medication orders in the hospital, I was lifting cardboard boxes from my apartment to my car. I am in the process of moving into my boyfriend Kevin’s house in the North Hills. Although I am going to miss the accessibility to everything in the…

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Speeding around Daytona for Tia’s Tacos.

Speeding around Daytona for Tia’s Tacos.

In the beginning of November, the day after my Halloween birthday, I tagged along on Kevin’s work trip to Saint Augustine, Florida. It was a birthday treat to spend some time in 70 degree weather versus the 30 degree temps back in Pittsburgh. We flew into Orlando on a direct flight and then rented a car to drive up north. On our route to Saint Augustine, we stopped for lunch in Daytona Beach. I chose Tia’s Tacos based on its…

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I put on my jewelry (and bring my taco notebook) just to go to La Bodega.

I put on my jewelry (and bring my taco notebook) just to go to La Bodega.

When my Ultimate Frisbee game was cancelled on a beautiful Thursday evening due to lighting issues at the field, I took that opportunity for a “bike the Burgh” and “eat the tacos” kind of night. The last time I bicycled in Pittsburgh, I went to Taquitos taco truck and Voodoo Brewery. This time, I went to La Bodega in Southside followed by Penn Brewery in Troy Hill. La Bodega was my initial plan last time, but I got taco-stracted by…

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tacos and Pittsburgh
Bike the Burgh and eat the tacos at Taquitos.

Bike the Burgh and eat the tacos at Taquitos.

Kevin and I had a bicycle and taco date night planned for a beautiful fall afternoon. The plan was to check out the fairly new taco place called La Bodega in the Southside on our way to Voodoo Brewery via the Greater Allegheny Passage Trail. The plan was quickly changed when I locked eyes with Taquitos Taco Truck less than 1 mile into our ride. My preferred bike route down Mount Washington involves cycling on Grandview Avenue all the way…

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acorn squash tacos
Harbor hopping in New England for Tacos.

Harbor hopping in New England for Tacos.

Around Christmas of 2020, I had a taco dinner night with my middle school friends, Deepali and Hillary. If you follow my taco instagram, there is a picture of our taco spread on Hillary’s dining room table. It was quite the setup, where it looked like the table was set for 15 people and not just 3. But hey, tacos can make great leftovers. During dinner, we brainstormed planning a trip together and set a date in the calendar for…

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four tacos
Should I swipe left or right for Tacos Al Chile in Golden?

Should I swipe left or right for Tacos Al Chile in Golden?

The week prior to my visit to see Carolyn in Colorado, Carolyn and Tyler had some disappointing news. Their boat’s transmission died. We wanted a backup plan for boat day so we decided on a river float. None of us were prepared for the exhilarating rapids of Cedar Creek in Golden, Colorado. We all imagined the float to be super casual that maybe even involve a drink or two. That was clearly not the case. We screamed in fear, gripping…

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The Golden Gate to my heart are tacos in San Francisco.

The Golden Gate to my heart are tacos in San Francisco.

In the beginning of July, I made my way back to the West Coast to explore 4 National Parks, 1 National Forest, and spend (not enough) time in San Francisco, California and Bend, Oregon. Over the course of two weeks, I hiked 76 miles, kayaked 5 miles, white water rafted 3 miles, and mountain biked over 20 miles. Even though I was a walking zombie by the end of the two week period, I would take an action-packed trip like…

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Tacos, beer, and all the outdoorsy stuff in Oregon.

Tacos, beer, and all the outdoorsy stuff in Oregon.

The last tacos I had in Oregon were back in 2018. Click here to see the Portland, Oregon taco post. Just like my 2018 visit, I started my trip in California and worked my way up to Oregon. My Pittsburgh friend, Kevin, was working in Klamath Falls, OR. He met Alexis and I for kayaking on Shasta Lake, dining in Redding, and hiking the beautiful waterfalls of Shasta-Trinity National Forest. After a wonderful week and a half with Alexis, we…

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