Orange Walk Tacos Fest Makes A Comeback
The Orange Walk Tacos Fest returned after being on pause for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sunday, Fort Cairns Market in the heart of town came alive with tacos vendors from across the country and visitors from near and far who wanted a taste of what the event had to offer. The all-day event began at seven a.m. and concluded at ten p.m. News Five’s Paul Lopez was in attendance. He filed the following report in this week’s Culture Tuesday coverage.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Orange Walk Tacos Fest is an annual food festival held in Orange Walk Town. Vendors from various parts of the country converge on the Sugar City to promote their tacos businesses. And, on this day only, you can find the widest variety of tacos made in Belize all in one location. Robert Usher is an Orange Walk resident and one of the organizers behind the fest.
Robert Usher
Robert Usher, Organizer, Tacos Fest
“What makes tacos fest what it is all about the vendors, because the vendors are the ones that make up the tacos fest and like we weh eat the tacos, then we make it bigger. The tacos have been in Orange Walk from the seventies. Those times people sold tacos in carrier bikes. You go buy your tacos and say give me two, three tacos. Deh nuh give you in plate, just your hand and it start to grow and grow. We looked at it as a growing industry and we did a count ten years ago that time we had fifty tacos vendors in Orange Walk. So, they have so many fest across the country, so why not a tacos fest.”
Our first stop was Sheppard’s Smoked Foods. They serve a style of tacos that is unconventional to Belize, the crispy tacos. The process of preparing this meal begins with the hard taco shell being placed in the holder. They then add your choice of meat, some lettuce/cilantro mix, cheese, and sour cream. We spoke with Raymond Sheppard, the owner of this business; this is his first time at the fest.
Raymond Sheppard
Raymond Sheppard, Owner, Sheppard’s Smoked Foods
“The idea came from the Taco Bell business in the United States. I noted that while there are many varieties of tacos in Belize there are no crispy tacos, at least of the kind that I do which are similar to the Taco Bell in the US. So, that is how it came about. This is a new product being introduced to Orange Walk and I trust in fact that people will gravitate to the experience and enjoy tasting our tacos as well.”
And from the newcomers to the longstanding tacos fest fans, Francisco Chata, the owner of Francisco’s Tacos Place, has been selling Mexican style tacos for the past thirty years. Influenced by neighboring Mexico, Francisco’s Mexican Style tacos is prepared by first heating the soft corn tortilla on an oiled skillet. That same skillet is then used to reheat the precooked meat, your choice of beef and pork. Both are combined and garnished with cabbage, onion, tomatoes, and a bit of pepper sauce for that added kick.
Francisco Chata
Francisco Chata, Owner, Francisco’s Tacos Place
“Like me I got this belief, I would never say my tacos are this. I go the costumers. It is the customers come and tell me bway Mr. Chata your tacos is very good. Because, if I try to frame myself and then the customers when they come to me and say that’s no. So, I make the customers. I have chicken tacos, pork tacos, and beef tacos but Mexican style and I add the cochinita, the one you roll. You call that cochinitapibil and suh.”
Annually, thousands travel from across the country to Orange Walk to attend this festive event. Tacos vendors flank visitors on both sides of the venue’s narrow walkway. But the food is not the only reason why people flock to the event, the friendliness of OrangeWalkenos is just as welcoming. And, the live music will have you dancing all day. Quality Poultry Products remains one of the event’s main sponsors. The company gives away a free case of chicken to every vendor that signs up for the fest.
Lydia Turcios
Lydia Turcios, Manager, Quality Poultry Orange Walk
“Quality Poultry has always been the gold sponsor for the Tacos Fest only because the pandemic we didn’t do it. This year we went bigger. We sponsored more crates of chicken than the usual amount, thirty crates of chicken and that is what you are going to see. Every taco you taste is from Quality Poultry.”
And if you are not feeling for chicken, beef, or pork then seafood tacos is also an option.
Alfredo Dominquez
Alfredo Dominquez, Ocean Primes Restaurant
“We have our variety of tacos. We specialize in sea food. We have shrimp tacos, lobster tacos, fish tacos, but we also have the traditional Orange Walk chicken tacos and the pibil one as well.”
Paul Lopez
“How much demand is there for seafood tacos? It is not a conventional taco.”
Alfredo Dominquez
“We are surprised with how people are responding to the seafood tacos. We are the only one with sea food. So, the people are eating good, are coming to buy and that makes us happy. Some of them already went and come back.”
Upon our arrival, Robert Usher, the organizer of the fest, prompted us to stay true to the theme of the event. And, that we certainly did.
Robert Usher
“The theme for the tacos this year and I point to you, eat all you can eat tacos.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
