Ozark Living

By Randy Rice Ozark Living A little over a year ago, e Twisted Taco food truck opened for business next to one of Eureka Springs' popular watering holes, Gotahold Brewing. Since then, it has been a win-win for both establishments and a really big win for anyone who loves authentic Southwest tacos. "My husband Jason and I were frequent customers at Gotahold Brewing aer we moved to Eureka Springs," said Brande Flack, who with her husband Jason McAfee, owns and runs e Twisted Taco. "We would spend the aernoon in the beer forest playing games, enjoying music and sipping on the great Gotahold beers. Every time I was in that space, I would fantasize about having a taco truck right there in the forest. I could visualize myself making tacos to pair with the beer and coffee and could think of nothing more needed in life to make an amazing aernoon even better." Brande's vision became a reality in June 2022, and she and Jason have been building a loyal following ever since. Customers have fallen in love with their menu of authentic Southwest cuisine, in particular, their signature item – the Cast Iron Fired Taco. is taco is slow-fried to perfection in a cast iron skillet. It is slightly crunchy on the outside, but still has a soness that makes it truly unique. "e traditional taco my family made was with ground beef and potato, and that is our biggest seller," Brande said. "But I have created a shredded chicken and slow-cooked pork taco for those who want a variety of protein options." Brande embraced her love for cooking at an early age while working in the kitchen alongside her mother and twin sister, Brenda. "at was our time together and we loved preparing meals for the family," Brande said. "Mom taught us how to make several wonderful Southwest dishes and she introduced us to spice, heat and flavor. Being raised in Las Vegas, it was easy to find awesome food. I fell in love with Southwest cooking as it was a combination of flavors and textures from Native American, Mexican American and Anglo-American cultures and typically loaded with the peppers and heat." eir favorite meal growing up was Southwest cast iron fried tacos. "ese distinctive tacos were introduced to our family through our grandmother, who learned how to make them from a friend in Pueblo, Colorado," Brande said. "ey were always a requested meal for events, special occasions, a picnic in the park and every birthday dinner." Bringing a taste of the Southwest to Eureka Springs The Twisted Taco OZARK LIVING • AU G U S T 2023 • 33

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