The late Jonathan Gold, chief food critic of the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "Taco should be a verb. The tortilla's hot. The meat's hot. They combine. The sauce is sloshed on it. And then you're almost eating it in one continuous motion, from the way it comes from the grill, to the guy, to the counter. I know it's overly romantic." Here in Texas, Jose R. Ralat is carrying on the tradition of taco rhapsody as the official taco editor of Texas Monthly; taco journalists Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece bring us statewide exploration in Tacos of Texas episodes. And of course, your local alt-weekly's taco news coverage spans nearly four decades, so naturally, we're here in the new year with more under-the-radar spots.