Three Takes On: Tacos

Nuevo Taco

Valparaiso University (Indiana)

Served in the Mexican concept Nuevo at this northern Indiana university, students enjoy Nuevo Tacos because of the “full flavor and freshness of our recipes and that they have the option to choose how they would like their taco to be complemented,” says Anthony Coschignano, director of dining services. Students can tailor their dishes by choosing the protein (pork, chicken or flank steak) and toppings. 

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Catfish Tacos 

Austin Independent School District (Texas)

“Fish gets a bad rap in school foodservice,” shares Steven Burke, foodservice chef. “It is underutilized and the dishes are usually ancient or not so appealing to that age group. Fish tacos have been a popular dish in mainstream restaurants for a few years now, and I thought it was time to bring a fresh new look to fish [we] served.” Using breaded catfish strips in this flavorful spin on fish tacos “was the way to go, and the kids really do love it!”

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Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp Tacos

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, N.J.)

Taking advantage of the popularity of ethnic flavors, Timothy Gee, executive chef, finishes these seafood tacos with chimichurri sauce. “My customers love chimichurri sauce and this is a great recipe that is both light and flavorful,” he says. Packed with cilantro and garlic, the sauce provides bold, refreshing flavor to the shrimp and stir-fried vegetables. “You are getting a lot of unique flavors that are not found in your run-of-the-mill taco recipe,” Gee explains.

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