El Camaron
A Twist on Tacos
Words by Sam Lauron photos by Shelby Bella
Bethany DiBaggio and Rafael Rodriguez could not have predicted that they’d be starting a taco delivery business just a few months into 2020. At the height of a busy season for their catering and events company, La Pera, the pandemic suddenly put a halt to all the events on their bursting calendar, forcing the two to quickly pivot their experiential food service.
Drawing inspiration from one of their beloved catering appetizers, crispy shrimp tacos, the pair decided to launch a pop up delivery eatery focused solely on tacos. They figured the mini taco would serve as a simple way to bring La Pera’s Latin-inspired dishes straight to doorsteps, plus the couple had a personal history with tacos being the center of family dinners.
“I can remember Raf telling me about these tacos at least 12 times in the first month of us dating,” Beth laughs. “But now I understand why; they’re addictively good.”
The tacos that brought them together derive from a family recipe created by Rafael’s dad in the ’80s. A restaurant owner himself, the patriarch would often travel to Mexico to gather inspiration for his Veracruz-style dishes. One day, he decided that he wanted to put his own spin on a classic crispy potato street taco by adding shrimp to it. And thus, the crispy shrimp and potato taco was born. The meal became a staple in Rafael’s household; he recalls his mom regularly making these snackable tacos for him and his siblings growing up. “Ever since I can remember, I would peek up at the stovetop. She would have the pan of oil, and the tacos would be getting crispy,” Rafael describes. “We would always ‘sample’ a couple before we actually sat down to eat.”
This family favorite became the foundation for El Camaron. A crispy outer shell houses a balanced combination of savory shrimp and red potato and is topped with fresh cabbage, tomato dressing, locally-sourced radishes, lime, and queso fresco from Antonelli’s Cheese. The taco is complete with Tapatio salsa, a Rodriguez family favorite.
El Camaron’s tacos are served in packs of 12 and are delivered frozen. Simply pop them in the oven and top the crispy bites with the fresh ingredients included with each kit. The shrimp taco is their original, but El Camaron created two additional tacos for the menu: a Texas-style brisket and potato taco and a seasonal vegetarian option of squash and yuca. The menu also includes complimentary sides like street corn, rice and beans, and unique sweets like nopal cupcakes.
Although La Pera is beginning to pick up with small in-person events, Beth and Rafael plan to continue delivering an at-home experience through El Camaron. “We find so much joy in gathering people around a table of food,” Beth says. “And right now, El Camaron is a way for us to do that and stay connected to our community.”
Contact:
elcamaronaustin.com
@elcamaronaustin
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