Posted by With all the negativity we seem to be surrounded by lately, it’s easy to feel like 2026 is shaping up to be one of THOSE years. Gas prices, wars, political unrest, the deaths of such greats as Catherine O’Hara and Chuck Norris, it can be hard to find the silver lining. However, when Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday, it feels extra special. I, for one, will take a bright yellow cheese colored lining!
La Tiara taco shells are back!
As the kids say, if you know, you know. If you are one who feels like a taco shell is a taco shell is a taco shell, you might not know. I have been a fan of this KC made product for several years. It wasn’t until the La Tiara items left the store shelves last year, that I found out that I am not their biggest fan. The people spoke out and let their disappointment be known. Facebook groups like The La Tiara Taco Comeback Crew gave a platform for those who were not afraid to lament the loss of their favorite shell.
I should mention, the company made other products, too. It seems the shells had the biggest fan group. The shells have a special kind of crispiness. When you bite into them, they fall apart and for some reason, we love that. My heart belongs to the white corn style. It’s a flavor/texture combination that’s just right. For all the good stuff about La Tiara and all their fans, the company was still forced to close in early 2025 due to financial issues. It seemed like that was the end of the line for that locally loved product.
General Mills to the Rescue!
But wait! Is that General Mills I see in the distance with their flowing red cape coming in to save the day? It sure is! They purchased the KC based company for a whopping $10 million. The beloved shells as well as the seasoning packets returned to shelves in April of this year. Well, they say they’ve returned. KC customers might have acted like it was 2020 and there was a TP shortage again. They went a little hog wild so it’s been tough to find the shells in some stores.
The really exciting thing is, La Tiara is now available nationwide! Walmart will be stocking them on their shelves across the country. The big question is, are they as good? I can’t say because I haven’t tried them. I looked over some comments on the Facebook page to see what the comeback crews’ take was on it. The overall sentiment is they are not the exact same. It kind of makes me think about how using your grandma’s recipe for her award winning pie doesn’t always give you the same results. The biggest difference I saw mentioned was the texture. The word “chewy” was used and that does make me sad. Hopefully, that is not the case. I’m still going to give them a shot. If all else fails, I may just have to start searching for a new favorite shell. I am willing to put in the R&D into that.
Cinco de Mayo is not just for tacos.
You can’t overlook the beloved margarita. Be it frozen or on the rocks, there is just something special about a marg. Maybe it’s the exotic sounding name. Perhaps it’s the giant glass it comes in. It could be the deliciousness and the endless varieties. Just like you might think a taco is a taco, you might think a marg is a marg. You are wrong. :) It seems each restaurant has their own little twist that makes it their own. The home bartender is the same. It could be a certain type of tequila they use, a homemade mix, or just the love they put into it all. I have a recipe given to me by a friend years ago that has peach schnapps. A little trashy.. yes. A lot delicious… yes!
Margarita Wars
This past Friday night, Overland Park held their annual Margarita Wars in downtown. Event goers could purchase tickets for sampling and for voting. I actually drove past the event when it was going on and kicked myself for failing to plan to attend. However, it seems the tickets had been sold out since mid-April. It was a perfect night for margarita tasting in the park. I will have to plan earlier next year to secure my tickets. The winner was Emiliano’s Mexican Cuisine in Olathe for the second year in a row!
However you choose to celebrate; with a margarita, without, hard shells, soft shells, a burrito, or just some movie theater nachos, make an excuse for a mid week indulgence. Life is hard and Mexican food is cheaper than therapy. Find a bit of joy on a Tuesday in May. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Home Rental Services Blog 