The World Cup in My Tummy: Mexico and USA(!)

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

At the turn of the century, Mexican food in Seattle was limited to Rosita's, La Cocina Cantina, and Taco del Mar, and I would fly to the Oakland Airport just for lunch. Since then, we've been hit by a wonderful amount of taco trucks and regional restaurants, giving the area tasty variety.

With that being said, I am using my Mexican meal to further a cause that should be near and dear to the heart of every Seattleite: saving the Roanoke Tavern.

Every Wednesday the Roanoke serves dollar tacos, with the most amazing salsa in the city. The recipe is a secret, and the contents, along with the bar itself, may be lost forever because its building is for sale.

The original buyer has backed out, and currently the Roanoke is on a month-to-month lease. There is still time, but who knows what could happen. As with most causes, a Facebook page has been setup (ultimately your downfall, Tiananmen Square uprisers), and they may need people to chain themselves to the patio ping pong tables if the unthinkable happens.

Now, while Americans have taken Mexico's most famous culinary export and warped it into whatever Taco Bell introduces during the playoffs, the rest of the world has done the same thing to our hamburger. I mean, have you ever had a cheeseburger from an Istanbul street vendor?

We are lucky enough to have the world's best fast food hamburgers in Seattle. I lived in California for a few years, so I had my share of In-N-Out, and yes, that place is amazing, however, Dick's is much better. The meat, cheese, ketchup, mustard, bun, and grease all become one, and you truly taste America.

Dick's will always be with us, so let's make sure the Roanoke is as well.... Oh lord, please don't let them turn it into a Baja Fresh.