How to cook the best tacos at home

How many times have you arrived at your trusted taquería and thought, How is a good trompo al pastor made?, What is the key to prevent the tortilla from breaking?, or What will be the 'güero's' secret to preparing the salsa that makes you sweat more than on a hot day?If you have asked yourself these questions more than once, we took it upon ourselves to find the answers at #Metate, the Taco Festival that every Mexican should have attended on a family Sunday. And of course, committed to our task, we found the best workshops to help you become the best taquero in your family.This is what we learned at Taller Mundet, a series of 4 workshops that left us with valuable insights: How to make a good trompo al pastor (Artesano del Pastor) The key is, without a doubt, to create perfect squares that are arranged very compactly. You should stack them in a tower shape and when you finish, shape the trompo with a sharp knife. A great tip is to cut two onions from the ends so that they are even and provide good support.Did you know that you need approximately 5 kg of meat to prepare 100 tacos? Furthermore, for a good serving, you should calculate between 40 to 60 grams per portion.The art of the best tortilla (La Tortillería) This workshop was not only simple but very precise, as, believe it or not, any wrong movement can ruin a tortilla. Basic calculations indicate that to make 18 homemade tortillas, you would need 2 cups of flour, 300 milliliters of water, two pinches of salt, and knead until you achieve a homogeneous dough. Of course, don’t forget that the classic tortilla press with its respective plastic bag is essential.The secret of salsas (Salsa con esfuerzo) A good salsa martajada needs order; the reason? Because adding the ingredients in disorder would leave it with unnecessary acidity and the wrong consistency. So make sure to follow these steps: roast all the ingredients, starting with the garlic and ending with the cilantro. Grind everything in a previously seasoned molcajete with rice and, of course, add enough salt. A great tip for this is, without a doubt, to roast the tomatoes to perfection, as this eliminates acidity.Did you know that for half a liter of salsa you need 2 jitomates, 2 tomatoes, 1 serrano chili, 1 cuaresmeño chili, half an onion, and a sprig of cilantro?All about cooking the meat (Asado Perfecto) If every time you hear we're going to make the grilled meat you think it might burn, in this workshop we learned that, without a doubt, fire is not to be played with. The most important thing is to follow the instructions we will give you next, and nothing can go wrong: make sure to keep the fire at a good level on a grill with a lid. Place the vegetables on the edges of the grill for slow cooking. Use beef or pork, which you should place in the hottest part of your grill. If you are cooking marinated meat, keep an eye on the fire, as it is easier for it to burn due to the marinade.Where did we learn all these secrets? At METATE, the first taco festival in CDMX, organized by Coca-Cola and Mundet, which brought together 50 of the best taquerías in the country. This festival was not only original and family-friendly but also had taco sections divided into mini-neighborhoods with special names: The Main Avenue, The Coastal Neighborhood, Tianguis, The Northern Neighborhood, The Night Neighborhood, Pastor Alley, and Market.Hopefully, it will happen again next year, and if you missed it, you will have the opportunity to experience everything you love about one of the favorite foods of Mexicans: tacos.