DRAGONS LOVE DRAMATURGY
Dragons Love Tacos- And We Do Too!
Welcome to the taco recipe and restaurant recommendation hub! Here is where I'll be sharing and displaying all of the taco recipes as well as restaurant recommendations for the best places to get tacos. Click on any of the buttons below and it'll take you to recipes and menus so you can have a taco party of your own.
Glazer's Children's Museum Tacos and Storytime Activity
Due to the immense popularity of Dragons Love Tacos as a children's book, there is actually a Dragons Love Tacos inspired exhibit that has made its way across the country at various Children's museums with fun, hands on activities inspired by the book. Glazer's Children's Museum took this concept one step further by adding a special activity page to their website, complete with a Walking Taco recipe and an activity sheet. Click the button below to get this super easy recipe as well as a Dragon inspired word search.
Elin Loves Tacos!
One of the student costume designers Elin Voegeli ('26) sent this lovely recipe for fish tacos. A costume designer is predominantly in charge of creating and designing the costumes that are seen in the show, and making sure that everybody on stage is looking their best. This involves drawing the pictures of the costumes (called renderings), measuring actors (to ensure that the costumes fit correctly), physically making the costumes through sewing and other methods, and then making any adjustments necessary to the costumes after the actors try them on.
Mandy Loves Carnitas! (And Tacos)
This link is a link to the restaurant recommended by Mandy Kholbe, our scenic and props faculty designer. She is particularly fond of the carnitas there.
A scene and props designer is mainly concerned with what the set looks like, as well as any of the hand held objects in a play. This area of expertise also includes furniture.
Nick Loves Tacos!
Hey Kid! Did you know that the dragons aren't the only ones in our show who love tacos? Our Man in Suit loves them, too! La Crosse native Nick Bilyeu ('25) gets his favorite tacos from Super Street Tacos, which is just down the road from campus.
As the narrator of the show, Nick has the most lines out of all of the characters on stage. But he greatly enjoys performing and says that this show in particular was super fun to be a part of.
August Loves Esquites!
No good taco party would be complete without a couple of sides! Which is where August Jennings' ('24) esquites come in handy. Esquites are a Mexican street style of corn on the cob. For extra flavor, August recommends adding some smoked paprika (but only if no dragons are invited...)
August is the other student costume designer for Dragons Love Tacos. You can see his work in particular with our fantastic foam dragon heads!
Dr. Nic's Fish Taco Recipe!
In any good production, it's very important to have a director who's passionate both about the message of the show, as well as the process of creating something fun and exciting with a large group of people (they also get to be in charge of the whole thing). Dr. Nic has taken great care to direct the show in the best way possible, but when he isn't busy teaching dragons how to make silly noises, he also enjoys making tacos. And now you can too (with a grown-up's help)!
Skillet-Charred Fish Tacos
For Spicy Mayo:
½ Cup Mayonnaise
¼ Cup Sriracha
For the Fish:
3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
1½ Tablespoons Minced Garlic (about 2 cloves)
1½ Teaspoons Kosher Salt
½ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
1½ Pounds Tilapia Fillets (or other favorite white fish)
For the Tacos:
12 Corn Tortillas
1 Cup Finely Shredded Red Cabbage
2 Small Tomatoes, Diced
6 Radishes, Thinly Sliced
½ Cup Sliced Scallions
1 Large Avocado, Peeled, Sliced
Cilantro Sprigs and Lime Wedges for Serving
For Hot Green Pepper Sauce:
4 Serrano Peppers (hot) or 20 Green Thai Chiles (very hot)
6 Cloves of Garlic
3 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
½ Tablespoon Brown Sugar
Juice and Zest of ½ Lime
Instructions: In a bowl, combine the chili powder, garlic, salt, pepper, and half the oil. Rub the spice mixture all over the fish. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining oil and when the oil starts to smoke add the fish in one layer and cook until slightly charred. 3 minutes per side. Remove from the heat, cool, and flake the fish.
Make the spicy mayo by stirring together the mayo and Sriracha in a bowl until smooth.
For the pepper sauce, in a blender, combine the peppers, garlic, and ¼ cup water and pulse about 15 times. Then, blend until almost smooth (some bits and seeds are OK), about 15 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and add the fish sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice.
Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat, flipping every few seconds (or microwave). Stack the hot tortillas to keep them warm.
Spread 1 tablespoon of spicy mayo on each tortilla, then top with some fish. Add some cabbage, tomato, radish, and scallion to each. Top with avacado. Drizzle with pepper sauce and garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedge.
Serves 4-6
30 minutes