This is a double winner!  Guests plate their own food (not you) and they think you are a wonderful cook because they get exactly what they like!  Start with a plate, lay out the food as you would put it on your taco – tortilla, meat, cheese, sour cream, tomato etc, salsa, lettuce.  End with the napkin and silverware.  You can serve as many or as few toppings (or add your own favorites) as the occasion calls for.  Disclosure:  this is not authentic Mexican food – but it is good.  

Elements of the Taco Bar

Meat

• ground beef/taco seasoning
• cooked chicken, shredded, with salsa verde (green chili sauce)
• shredded pork (carnitas)
• cod or other flaky white fish

Toppings

• thinly sliced iceberg lettuce
• diced tomato
• diced onion, white and/or red and/or green
• cilantro
• guacamole
• diced avocado
• diced chilis
• sliced olives
• salsa
• sour cream
• cheese, cheese and more cheese – jack, cheddar, Mexican Mix etc.
• jalapenos ( “tamed” pickled jalapenos or slice up the fresh ones.)
• hot sauce – have a variety
• cabbage – if you have fish
• lime wedge – if you have fish

Hard and soft shell tortillas – corn, wheat, whole wheat, etc.  – figure 2-3 per person.