You’ve probably heard of “The Rio,” the Fort Collins- based chain that serves pretty good Mexican food and high- powered margaritas.
What you might not know is that The Rio Grande got its start in 1986 in a small storefront on College Avenue in Fort Collins. Who knew that the musician dudes behind the bare-bones Mexican food joint would go on to make millions and become the nation’s largest buyer of Jose Cuervo tequila?
But that was 20 years ago and now it’s the dudes’ kids’ turn. “The Rio was never about money, it was about having a fun place to work,” says Andre Mouton, who started the place with his twin brother, Stephen, and their pal Pat McGaughran.
Call Taco Nation “Son of Rio,” or more accurately, “Children of the Marg.” Like its daddy, this Tex-Mex startup is a shoebox of a restaurant with a big name and high hopes. “We want to let ’em see how it is to run a business,” says Mouton. “If they make any money they can keep it. If they don’t, they don’t get paid.”
Like its papa, Taco Nation focuses on Mexican flavors, beans and rice.
But like any prodigal child, this new generation has to do it differently. Amelia Mouton, 25, her cousin Ben Mouton, 22, and their partner, Liz Gaylor, 30, use as many organic ingredients as possible in their tacos. They start with six-inch flour tortillas from local bakery Las Americas, and fill them with beef, chicken, mahi-mahi, eggs, veggies or tofu cooked to order and topped with cheese that melts into a crisp crust right on the grill. The beans, rice, potatoes, vegetables and tofu are organic. The oil is trans-fat- free, and the eggs are cage-free.
All this for $2. That’s right, all tacos on the menu are $2 with tax. You can get a platter of two tacos with beans and rice for $6, $8 for three tacos. “Fancy drinks from the little fridge” are $2, and water is a buck. Sides and dessert, $2.
True to its less-is-more ethic, all the Taco Nation website has to say is “Coins? COINS? We don’t need no stinkin’ coins!”
Starting next week, bring your paper money to the Taco Nation cart on Oak Street Plaza in Old Town Fort Collins during the weekday lunch hour and late nights Thursday through Saturday.
“We just want to to make sustainable, organic food in a happy place that makes people feel good,” Amelia Mouton recently told The Post.
If you really want to join Taco Nation, do like all the young people and go to the kids’ MySpace site: myspace.com/twodollartaco, or just make the drive to Fort Collins. It’s worth it, for the tacos and the smiles.
Food editor Kristen Browning-Blas can be reached at 303-954-1440 or kbrowning@denverpost.com.
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Taco Nation
Mexican|120-B W. Laurel St., Fort Collins, 970-472-8226;|
$2-$8|11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; cart on Oak Street Plaza in Old Town Fort Collins weekday lunch hours and late night Thursday-Saturday
Front burner: Mostly organic soft tacos made to order for $2.
Back burner: Tiny place offers just a few seats. (But there’s a picnic table out front.)
