Trippy Taco

48 Smith Street, Collingwood
Phone 03 9415 7711

I first came across Trippy Taco last year at Golden Plains, an awesome music festival held in the foothills of Meredith. After five too many beers, the lure of their fare was too much to resist (…but to be perfectly honest, the five too many meant I didn’t photograph the food, and hence, I forgot what I ate!). That being said, I remember it certainly hit the spot!

Recently, the place was rememebered to me by where’s the beef, so with Dan’s craving for Mexican (and the excuse of a long weekend), we headed over to Smith St.

Bob Marley provided the soundtrack as we walked through the door; the two young guys behind the counter  very much into singing along with the Master of Reggae. The place is small, but vibrant for it’s vermilion walls and whimsical luchadore mascaras (masks). The menu is small, but covers all the regular Mexican staples such as tacos, burritos, taquitos and tamales, and all vegetarian.

We shared the taquitos, a crisp fried tortilla filled with refried beans and topped with fresh chopped salad, guacamole, soy cheese and salsa. To be perfectly honest, these trumped taquitos I’d had at Los Amates as they were wonderfully generous with the filling, which was the perfect foil for their deep fried casings.

We also shared tacos – the soft kind – and they were piled ridiculously high with black beans and all the trappings.  Don’t quote me on this, but I think the tacos were home made as there was a delightful irregularity to them, and the beans were slow cooked to the point of softness, yet still firm in their skins to maintain form.

One must of course avail themselves of the selection of hot sauces available. In fact, it would be a downright crime not to use them!  I felt they just gave the food that little extra kick, which had my mouth tingling and wanting more, only moments after I’d eaten.

Then to dessert – and Cindy…this one is for you. This is the sweet corn tamale with banana, cinnamon, maple syrup and ice-cream. Oooh…I tremble just thinking about it! The tamale itself was studded with nibs of real sweet corn, which turned this oft poorly prepared dish into something absolutely divine. Then top it off with the holy trinity of sweet stuff, and you have home style comfort food at its best.