Courageous "Crazy" Maria Corbalan - South Austin's Taco Queen, Book Author, Community Activist
This is the story of Maria Corbalan from birth in Buenos Aires to Austin legend - her wild journey from homelessness to economic independence, from drug-induced disasters to recovery and healing - from dysfunction to success. Her courage inspires hundreds of budding small business dreams and thousands of people touched by her outrageous wisdom and radiance. This is the story of life itself - as it could and should be lived.
Viva Maria Loca! South Austin's icon and taco queen! These days she is featured on the food network, interviewed and portrayed by Rachel Ray and Guy Fiery - no less, baby!
Viva Maria Loca! South Austin's icon and taco queen! These days she is featured on the food network, interviewed and portrayed by Rachel Ray and Guy Fiery - no less, baby!
South Austin's Taco Queen
South Austin's Icon
South Austin's Idol
Three reasons to love Maria Corbalan
Can you say: Too many reasons to count?
ONE: HER "IMPERFECT" LIFEMaria made mistakes. Many mistakes over many years. She recognized and corrected them. That means "a life lived perfectly".
TWO: HER DREAMS
Maria dreams of retiring to a huge house with windows facing the ocean, with many rooms for all her friends who are single, widowed or just too old and ugly to catch someone.
THREE: HER BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
"I've had people offer me money, to do chains, to open other places, and I say no, then you start cheating your name. This is perfect. I mean I wish I had a better kitchen, more tables inside and everything, but then again, what it is is what I've got, and I'm happy. It's one of a kind, it's a fun business, I get to know neighbors, my friends, I get to give more personalized attention."
Maria's "Baby"
South Austin Backyard Dancing
Featuring Maria with cowboy hat
South Austin backyard dancing...
In this video you see Crazy Carl Hickerson (perennial candidate & local eccentric), Maria (from Taco Express) & Miss Lavelle White, among others! My uncle Riley's b-day...he's playing guitar with the band. These are happy people dancing!
curated content from YouTube
The Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers
Sunday salvation at Maria's Taco Xpress
Hippie Church in Austin, TX
curated content from YouTube
Here's my favorite link:
I share my story with you!
John Kelso recommends:
This is the autobiography of a courageous woman who didn't let life's adversities stand in her way as she marched toward economic independence. This is the story of a woman who started out selling tacos out of a cart, and turned the business into a beloved Austin institution. This is the story of a self-made woman who has become a South Austin legend.
John Kelso, journalist, Austin American Statesman
The Autobiography of Maria Corbalan
Her gift to her friends and the world
This is the story of a woman's life from birth in Buenos Aires to Austin legend, and the wild journey she traveled from homelessness to icon, from dysfunction to healing. Corbalan brings us a swell of dream, disaster, drugs and recovery as she grows wisely outrageous.
Susan Bright, poet
Susan Bright, poet
Maridée: The Memoirs of María Haydée Corbalán
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 12/25/2009)
List Price: $14.95
Release Date: 12/31/1969
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What you will find in Maria's book
- A Mexican prison is hell
- A Father dies
- Drugs, booze, and sex
- Torture in a mental institution
- Marriage, divorce, hot checks, guns
- Passionate love and murder
- Texas - a new home
- Sobriety, a taco trailer, neighborhood activism
- New restaurant and roaring success
- A happy end.
From the upcoming film: "Last Call for Tacos"
Based on Maria's life story
This is a brief scene. See the movie trailer through the blog links below.
Bloggers love Maria
Please Visit My New Website: "ChefKeem.com"
Hilarious cooking videos and some seriously good recipes!
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Shout Out For Maria Corbalan!
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- orelpap orelpap Aug 8, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
- My wife just came back from austin with a salsa from you;
and i have to say its not as good as it use to be 2years ago.
It 's still good but not as tasty as it was the first time i 've taste it and
for my french mouth it was terrific.
Maybe you mist the cillantro in this one?!!
Don't take it as an offence it's just my point of wiew.
Keep on whatever...and sqz my english.
Orelpap
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Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Jul 27, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
- Oh wow! This is an amazing story for I had NO idea that there was already someone who had attained the coveted role of Taco Queen -- figures, she'd be there in Texas! That's OK -- I'll stick with being the Stuffed Cabbage Queen from Jacksonville.
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- poddys poddys Oct 27, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
- Great lens Chef, 5***** She sounds like a fascinating lady.
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- Yes Yes Sep 22, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
- Yes
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- SusanVillasLewis SusanVillasLewis May 25, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
- Oh, I'm so glad you submitted this to the Lone Star State group!! Definitely some real Texas flavor here. Love it!! (And have to see the movie now!)
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- hunnydoodle hunnydoodle Apr 18, 2008 @ 7:56 am
- I agree whole heartedly with my husband, Chef Keem. Maria's story is inspiring and and full of hope. You did a wonderful job of portraying Maria's story, Honey!
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- Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut Apr 17, 2008 @ 10:01 am
- oh, my gosh, what a story!
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- mulberry mulberry Apr 17, 2008 @ 7:08 am
- This sounds like a worthy read; very interesting and not your average heroine.
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- chefkeem chefkeem Apr 16, 2008 @ 9:49 am
- Dear Maria,
Thank you for allowing me to make my "fan lens" about you. Whenever I feel discouraged about the progress of my small food business, I think about your example of perseverance and strength in the face of great adversity. That always renews my motivation to keep pushing forward. You are a powerful inspiration to many more people that you could possibly know. You are our beloved "crazy" angel "Maria Loca"!
Yours always,
Chef Keem
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTable of Contents
- South Austin's Taco Queen
- South Austin's Icon
- South Austin's Idol
- Three reasons to love Maria Corbalan
- Maria's "Baby"
- South Austin Backyard Dancing
- The Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers
- Taco Xpress Home Page!
- I share my story with you!
- John Kelso recommends:
- The Autobiography of Maria Corbalan
- What you will find in Maria's book
- From the upcoming film: "Last Call for Tacos"
- Bloggers love Maria
- Please Visit My New Website: "ChefKeem.com"
- Quick, what do you think of Maria Corbalan?
- Shout Out For Maria Corbalan!
- P.S. If you buy something from this page...
- It was so nice to meet you! Y'all come back, y'all hear!
- Follow me on Twitter!
- Have you heard about the new Squidoo Magazine SquidLog?
by chefkeem
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