Perquisite: A thing regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one’s position.

Being the Taco Girl certainly has it perquisites or as most call it, “perks”. My business roots began at a now defunct blues bar in Long Beach, California, called the Blue Dog Tavern. On Friday and Saturday evenings I would set up shop and wait for the 9 o’clock show. I would open up the window on the Dutch door and the first musical note from the band that night would set the mood for the entire evening.

Every weekend brought in different bands and I was exposed to Delta, Piedmont, Chicago, New Orleans, jump and other styles of blues right in my own backyard. I loved it all.

I was lucky enough to meet a trio of gentlemen consisting of Rick Holmstrom, Jeff Turmes and Stephen Hodges. They are known as The Rick Holmstrom Band. They have traveled the globe many times over as the backup band for Mavis Staples. Towards the end of the night I closed up shop and grabbed a seat in front of the bandstand. The atmosphere was relaxed…and as the first note of Descanso, a track from the band’s 2007 release rang out, Rick smiled with what I describe as his “schoolboy grin” and proceeded to creep across the stage. Stephen Hodges is as much of a percussionist as he is a great drummer. His playing on that particular track intensified the voodoo vibe and the mojo that rolled off the skins wrapped around me like a thick Delta fog. Jeff Turmes’ sax brought to mind the Earle Hagen/Dick Rogers standard, Harlem Nocturne. My mother and father spent many an evening in burlesque clubs…they described them as classy joints. The sound of Jeff’s sax would have fit right in.

At the end of the show, the trio and my dear friend Jerry Luithle took seats in front of the service window. I cooked for them and was a part of their conversation. To me, this music should be played in Carnegie Hall and not a place called the Blue Dog. Either way I was in the front row.

I left the Blue Dog and the place shut down not long after. I have moved on to much bigger and better things as now I get my blues fix at the World Class Blues in the O.C. Concert series at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, CA. On Saturday March 16^th, I will cookin’ on the patio again while three great bands cook on stage.

It is appropriate that I dedicate this month’s taco to the band and that amazing night in Long Beach some time back. The Rick Holmstrom Band will be headlining a show that also includes Nathan James and the Rhythm Scratchers and Black Cat Bone.  

I’m Leaving Tacos:

1 lb Basa Swai filets (Vietnamese catfish)

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tsp smoked paprika

2 tbsp granulated garlic

1 lg avocado cubed

3 Roma tomatoes diced

1 medium white or red onion sliced thin

1 bunch cilantro chopped

1 cup red cabbage finely shredded

3 limes (1 cut in half, 2 cut in quarters)

8oz tub sour cream

1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

1 large clove of garlic minced

Lime zest

8-10 corn or fajita size flour tortillas 

Pat fish dry and quarter each filet. Coat with olive oil and rub dry spices on both sides. Place in shallow pan and refrigerate for 2 hrs.

Toss avocado, tomatoes, onion and cilantro in a bowl and sprinkle juice of 1 lime over mixture then place in refrigerator.

Place sour cream, chipotle pepper, garlic and juice from remaining half lime and zest from lime halves in food processor and pulse until thoroughly blended.

Place a skillet over medium heat, remove fish and place in heated pan and sear 6-8 minutes (3-4 mins per side depending on thickness).

Heat tortillas and place one quarter piece of fish on each tortilla, top with avocado mixture, cabbage and desired amount of cream sauce. Squeeze juice of lime quarter over taco.

Buen provecho...good eating.