A lot of people on social media have beef with a British-born man running for governor of California ― and it’s all because of a taco.
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and Republican gubernatorial candidate, attempted to connect with Golden State voters over the weekend by extolling the virtues of a taco he had purchased after doing a town hall in Barstow.
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“Why am I holding a Barstow street taco right now?” Hilton said in the clip, which he appeared to film standing beside a freeway in a button-down shirt. “Because I just bought it at this historic location.”
The “historic location” Hilton was referring to is the original location of the first Del Taco, a chain restaurant with around 600 locations across 17 states.
Oh, and that “Barstow street taco”? It looked just like the chain’s typical hardshell, ground beef taco complete with a single slice of tomato balanced precariously on top.
For those not in the know: Street tacos are typically served in a soft tortilla with some kind of grilled protein, along with onions, cilantro and salsa.
Considering Hilton only became a naturalized U.S. citizen five years ago on May 11, 2021, it’s probably not reasonable for him to become an expert on all of the nuances of Mexican cuisine.
But since Mexican food is so ubiquitous in California, many people mocked his praise for a mere fast food taco ― that he didn’t even eat on camera.
Hilton responded to the outcry after one person criticized his description of the hardshell taco in his video as a “Barstow street taco.”
But his response just reiterated his knowledge of Mexican food is sorely lacking.
The person he was responding to didn’t accept the excuse.
Hilton then tried to move the conversation away from the authenticity of the “Barstow street taco,” and said he visited the Del Taco because Lt. Gov. candidate Gloria J. Romero worked there as a teenager.
“Not everything in life has to be turned into a political argument!!” he insisted.
Romero said she appreciated the visit.
But people on social media thought Romero should have done a better job schooling Hilton on the intricacies of California’s Mexican food culture.
And they took it upon themselves to do the work.
Hilton currently leads a crowded field of candidates with 20% of the vote. The top two vote getters after the June 2 primary ― regardless of party ― will advance to the November election ballot.
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