I've been a fan of Tacos el Tucan in Richmond for years, so when I found out that the taqueria's owners, brothers Alfredo and Edgar Padilla, were bringing their Tijuana-style tacos, which specialize in meat grilled over an open flame, to the Castro, I was thrilled. The restaurant's opening day was last Sunday, and as expected, the lines were long.

I knew it would be worth the wait, though. A huge menu features photos of the usual suspects, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and of course, quesabirria. But my favorite is the simplest: the carne asada quesataco. For this, a handful of grated Monterey Jack cheese is melted on the plancha until crispy, then topped with handmade corn tortillas, smoky carne asada, diced onions, cilantro, and the obligatory dollop of smooth guacamole. Choose your choice of salsa at the bar. I'm particularly fond of the roja, which is only moderately spicy despite being made with killer little árbols.

$4.50
3600 16th St., San Francisco
tacoseltucan.com

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When Taco Bell removed the “Grilled Stuft Nacho” from its nationwide menu in 2015, Chris Sandberg was crushed.

The specialty item – a triangle-shaped tortilla filled with beef, crunchy red strips, sour cream and cheesy jalapeño sauce – was “the best thing I ever had at Taco Bell,” Sandberg said.

The day he discovered the dish, he liked it so much, “I had it every day for a week,” Sandberg said. “The following week, it was discontinued.”

After it was taken from the menu, he moved on and tried other items, but none measured up for him. It stayed fresh in his mind. And on Jan. 4, 2021, he decided to start a daily exercise challenge on TikTok, in the hope of getting Taco Bell’s attention.

Sandberg shared a video of himself, breathless in his bathroom mirror, saying, “Day one of exercising every day until Taco Bell brings back the Grilled Stuft Nacho.”

The seven-second clip went viral with hundreds of thousands of views. Sandberg doubled down on his unusual – and somewhat illogical – effort to apply pressure to the restaurant chain through physical activity. He posted another mid-workout video the following day, and every single day thereafter. In the roughly 470 days since he started chronicling his daily exercise routine on TikTok, Sandberg has shed more than 85 pounds.

“I’ve put in an unbelievable amount of physical work,” said Sandberg, who lives in San Francisco, is self-employed, and produces social media videos and short films. He emphasized that he does not work for Taco Bell and never has.

The goal of his workout antic is twofold: While his primary objective is to bring back his beloved Grilled Stuft Nacho, when he began his Taco Bell challenge more than one year ago, Sandberg – who weighed close to 300 pounds before the pandemic – what also seeking to lose weight. He decided to merge the two missions.

“I do understand the irony in exercising every day for a fast-food item,” he said. “It started as a joke that has clearly gone way too far, but I can’t stop now.”

Although Sandberg initially executed the idea in jest, he quickly realized “it resonates for people,” as losing weight can be a stressful struggle for many. He wanted to find a way to make his experience lighthearted.

Sandberg grew eager to get in shape after “I read that people who were overweight were more vulnerable to COVID, so that had been at the back of my head for a while,” he said, adding that he was 275 pounds when he started the exercise challenge, after losing 15 pounds over the preceding few months.

Sandberg thought that publicly sharing his weight-loss journey on social media might help hold him accountable while also potentially motivating others. He wanted something to set himself apart, a cause that might be comical enough to compel Internet strangers to cheer him on.

“I didn’t want the journey to be about a number on a scale,” Sandberg said. “I wanted it to be fun. I wanted the goal to be something that had nothing to do with my weight.”

Enter the Grilled Tier Nacho.

“Everyone loves Taco Bell,” Sandberg said in a bold culinary statement. “That’s just what came to me.”

Plus, he believed his efforts might actually work.

“Doja Cat wanted them to bring back the Mexican Pizza, and look what happened,” Sandberg said. “The Grilled Stuft Nacho is better than the Mexican Pizza, and the world needs to know that.”

According to the Taco Bell Fandom Wiki, the Grilled Stuft Nacho first appeared on the menu in 2013 but was discontinued in March 2014. It made a brief reappearance in 2015 before it was pulled for good. Some people were peeved, though probably no one as much as Sandberg.

“There is a common belief that everything at Taco Bell tastes the same, but the Grilled Stuft Nacho is the exception,” Sandberg said, explaining his appreciation for a specific sauce.

“I want to make this clear,” he said. “The cheesy jalapeño sauce is different than their creamy jalapeño sauce. Without the cheesy jalapeño sauce, it is just not the same.”

Sandberg found an online community that shared his taste in fast food. Someone started an online petition four years ago pleading with the chain to bring back the specialty item. The petition collected 792 signatures – including Sandberg’s. The appeal was not enough to revive the dish, so Sandberg decided to take matters into his own hands.

First, he began with at-home workouts, then incorporated weightlifting, high-intensity interval training and long-distance running into his regular fitness routine.

“There are days that you want to give up,” Sandberg said. “On the days that you do want to work out, that’s when you push yourself physically, but on the days that you don’t want to work out, that’s when you have to push yourself mentally.”

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Emeryville’s month-long streak with no significant store closure ended last week with the abrupt shutdown of the East Bay Bridge Taco Bell (near Home Depot).

Other news in this report include the possible end of a restaurant establishment in Emeryville and the start of the upcoming renovation of the Bay Bridge Center.

East Bay Bridge Taco Bell closes

The Taco Bell at the East Bay Bridge Shopping Center near Home Depot is closed. They closed abruptly on December 27, according to a source, saying they would “open again in 30 minutes.” They never reopen and the signage has since been removed.

Other sources have indicated that neighboring Starbucks has temporarily closed due to “staffing shortages” amid the ongoing Omikron surge.

The closest available Taco Bell is located at 2255 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland.

Trader Vic looking for an apartment on site?

Trader Vic’s has started exploring buildings on the grounds of their fabled restaurant City of Emeryville November Progress Report. City planners met with the owners of Trader Vic on the property in November to discuss a potential housing project. Your design team has now also met online to discuss various development options.

The plans are preliminary and no documents have been officially submitted, but initial indications suggest that the restaurant area would not be maintained in its current form. “As far as I understand, the restaurant building would not be preserved,” noted a city contact. The Emeryville site is an extension of the original location on San Pablo Avenue and is still run by the Bergeron family.

Trader Vic’s has worked hard to adapt amid a challenging business climate exacerbated by the pandemic. They tried to maximize their kitchen space by creating a take-away Mexican spin-off called. have integrated Senor Picos. This endeavor was short-lived.

Full-service no-chain restaurants are a dying breed in Emeryville, and the few who have tried have quickly failed, including within the city 612One and Yuzu ramen.

Representatives from the restaurant did not respond to our request to clarify their long-term plans.

Hidden place for hometown heroes

The Hometown Heroes sports bar has a new kitchen tenant that we didn’t report on EvilleEye.com. Hidden Spot announced it would take over the kitchen that was previously occupied by the Populars Likha Filipino Food about a year ago.

Hidden Spot also operates a location in South San Francisco that serves burgers, sandwiches, and wings.

Order food online at hiddenspotemy.com

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Compound Gallery “Expanding” to Emeryville

North Oakland’s Compound Gallery has found a new home for their gallery space just across the border in Emeryville. The building at 1339 61st Street has lived many lives lately as an enterprise software company called relola.

They announced the move to a December 6th Instagram post after completing their tenancy. “It was a really crazy time for us and we struggled to find a way to keep the gallery alive and thriving in the future. First two years of global pandemic, then landlords fighting. “

They then explained the various challenges they faced, including resignation and legal threats. “After a crazy search, we were able to find a building that we’ve had our eyes on for a while.”

“Our extensive main facilities and studios will remain in Oakland, but the new building will house the gallery, a community printing facility (specializing in book printing – including etching and screen printing), an art shop, an art academy, and the @hifructosemag Micro Mega Store! “

Compound expressed relief and optimism about the future of their Emeryville business. “We are also very happy about the move to Emeryville and have already been welcomed wonderfully by the city.”

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Feature image and top photo courtesy of @scoobmx via Twitter.

Bay Bridge Center officially closed

All stores in the Bay Bridge Shopping Center on Christie Avenue have been officially vacated and the property has been fenced off. Wells Fargo, Allegro Ballroom, EmeryBay Cafe, and Copy Central have all either closed or moved. Denny’s and 76 gas stations will remain open and are currently not part of the redevelopment plans.

Oxford properties acquired the mall already in August with the intention of building a “mixed-use” project. Oxford has put forward a proposal that will be considered by the Planning Commission at a scheduled study meeting on January 27th.

Oakland Monster Pho parade

While the Emeryville location remains closed to customers, the Oakland Monster Pho location moves a few blocks closer to Emeryville on 40th Street off Broadway. You have been at the Broadway location since 2014.

Monster Pho reflected on her long journey and valued her employees and her loyal customer base rolled into one Instagram post. “We would like to sincerely thank you for your hard work and dedication. We’re also very happy with the continued support and feedback from the community over the years. Without you we wouldn’t be here today either. “

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The post Taco Bell Closes, Dealer Vic’s Exploring Housing, Bay Bridge Middle prepares for Redevelopment, Compound Gallery Shifting to Emeryville appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.