Taco Cabana® Brings Back the Unique Flavor of Its Hand Marinated Shrimp Tampico

SAN ANTONIO, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco Cabana® brought a fan favorite back to the menu last week, re-introducing a line of Shrimp Tampico items just in time for the Lenten season.

Now through mid-April, the seafood favorite is available in either a personal or large quesadilla, or as part of a two or three enchilada plate with hand-made sour cream sauce, rice, a choice of beans and two freshly made flour tortillas. And new this year, customers can add Shrimp Tampico to their custom-built Cabana Bowl©.

Taco Cabana marinates the shrimp by hand multiple times each day with chipotle and ancho spices to ensure freshness and quality. Shrimp is then grilled with garlic, lime and cilantro for a unique flavor, which was inspired by a marriage of the interior Mexico chili flavor (ancho) with a coastal staple (shrimp).

"Our Shrimp Tampico has been a seasonal fan favorite since 2007, and we're delighted to bring it back to the menu," said Todd Coerver, chief marketing officer at Taco Cabana. "By combining these authentic Mexican flavors right in our kitchens, we are able to introduce customers to a fresh, flavorful, new way of enjoying shrimp."  

Taco Cabana's special pineapple chipotle salsa, which is ideal to top off Shrimp Tampico menu items as well as other Taco Cabana favorites, will be available on the salsa bar in addition to traditional salsa offerings.

"The sweetness of the pineapple combines nicely with the smoky chipotle flavor in the salsa to compliment the complex flavors of this shrimp specialty," said Walter "Smokey" Waters, corporate chef at Taco Cabana. "We are always striving to offer our guests new ways to experience the unique flavors of Mexico."

As part of Taco Cabana's current television campaign featuring veteran cooks, the Shrimp Tampico commercial features Maria Martinez who has been with the company for seven years and is currently working her magic in the kitchen of #123 in Austin, Texas.

About Taco Cabana: The Story Behind our Obsession

In 1978, Taco Cabana began as a taco stand in San Antonio, with the unique recipes and ingredients that reflect our rich Tex-Mex culture and food. With more than 156 restaurants in 3 states, Taco Cabana continues to redefine the Mexican fast-casual dining experience through ongoing menu and service enhancements. We are committed to satisfying the appetites of our customers through our obsession for making great-tasting Mexican food. From our kitchens' daily fresh-made tortillas and handmade salsas to our flame-grilled fajitas and refreshing margaritas, our obsession lives on, making Taco Cabana one of the region's most enduring and beloved Mexican food brands. Taco Cabana is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. For more information on Taco Cabana or Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., visit www.tacocabana.com or www.carrols.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for offers and updates from Taco Cabana.

SOURCE Taco Cabana