First Fridays With Tacos al Pastor: Museo de las Americas and Toluca Mexican Restaurant

Needless to say, as my life continues to revolve around the every want and need of two beautiful little boys, my going-out-to-eat-life has suffered dearly; and even though I have been peed on more in the last two months than all of R. Kelly's teenage girlfriends combined, I move forward with a degree of love and devotion that I have never known before.

Take this example: Two nights ago I received an email about 7pm from a man with a picture of four incredible-looking tacos al pastor that he reported were just shaved off the spit and given to him (without being grilled a second time) on the street in front of the Museo de las Americas. Now normally this sort of email would be my bat-signal: I would have slid down my bat pole and rocketed off in my 1995 4-cylinder station wagon. But alas, I don't even keep the bat-pole greased anymore, as the spontaneous decision-making that has dictated my life up until now takes a backseat to new and exciting-- albeit at times overwhelming-- responsibilities.

That being said, just because I am lovingly chained at times to a crib and changing table doesn't mean that you out there reading this blog shouldn't continue to go out an enjoy life, so I thought I would share this important taco-al-pastor-related news flash. 

According to this reader, these tacos are from a taqueria called Toluca in Westminster near 92nd and Lowell, which when out on the road is called El Divino. I had actually been tipped to this location last year, but when I called them they said they didn't have their pastor on a spit. One look at the following picture and it was clear that there was some sort of grave miscommunication.

Now that is art worthy of a First Friday art walk. (It is also clear that this reader is a much better photographer than me.) Allow me to continue to live vicariously for a moment through his words: 

I'd probably say these are the best tacos Al Pastor that I've had in Denver...the meat is cut directly off the spit into a tray as you order and is loaded directly on to your tortillas. The tortillas were quite good but the meat was definitely the star of the show with a nice flavorful marinade and good marbled texture. Slices are thin, which I like, and they are generous with how much goes on the tortillas. I had a plate of 4 tacos with fresh pina (unfortunately not on top of the spit) for $5...Ultimately, I enjoyed the hell out of the tacos so I have no complaints.

Tantalizing, no? Apparently there is a good chance that the Museo de las Americas will bring El Divino back for the next First Friday, so mark your calendars and cross your fingers that your art-and-wine-filled walk on May 6th (that is Cinco de Mayo weekend--could get interesting) will culminate in eating from this towering sculpture of marinated meat.