Juan Diego Ramirez

In the late 90s, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero, members of the self-titled band Rodrigo y Gabriela, embarked on a one-way trip to Dublin, Ireland after feeling frustrated by their struggle to break into the mainstream heavy metal scene in their native Mexico. In order to sustain themselves while abroad, the duo traded their electric guitars for acoustic ones and became street performers.

José Ralat has a job title that might leave some foodies with envy. Ralat travels around the U.S. and Mexico to eat, taste, and write about tacos. He is the Taco Editor at Texas Monthly Magazine and consequently the only taco editor in the United States. But, when we think of tacos, most of us think of them as Mexican food. In his new book, “American Tacos: A History and Guide,” Ralat dives into the evolution of tacos in the U.S. and its history in the borderlands.