Big Belly Breathing

13.3 "Cheese & Burritos" Episode 4: Burritos ***NEW SUBSCRIBER SERIES***

• Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely

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Welcome back to *Cheese & Burritos*, our exclusive SUBSTACK series just for our valued subscribers! The first few episodes have been unlocked as a little taste—enjoy!

In this episode, we’re diving into the wonderful, delicious world of *burritos*—a California staple that’s sparked endless debate. Why wasn’t this the first episode? Honestly, no idea, but we’re here now, and it’s going to be worth it! From the mission-style monsters of San Francisco to the grilled delights of SoCal, we’re covering it all.

Whether you’re a burrito enthusiast, a taco lover, or just here for the food joy, this episode is packed with flavor, history, and personal stories that’ll inspire your next burrito adventure. I’ll also be sharing some of my favorite taqueria spots around the state—yes, you need to know about them!

Thank you so much for supporting me and my small business. Your support truly means the world, and I’m so excited to continue this journey with you. Tune in, grab your favorite burrito, and let’s embrace the magic of Californian food culture, one epic bite at a time. ¡Buen provecho!

P.S. One of the most wildly amazing *taco* experiences I’ve ever had was in Mexico City. So phenomenal that I wrote an article for *Broke Ass Stuart* about it! Seriously though, check it out and then fly to CDMX.

Places in San Francisco mentioned in this episode:
- La Taqueria
- Taqueria Can-Cun
- La Corneta Taqueria


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

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Big Belly Breathing (BBB) is an audio program primarily for kids in English and French focusing on health and wellness, started by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely.

As a teacher, a parent of bilingual kids & a yoga instructor/social emotional learner facilitator and holistic health & wellness coach, Vanessa wants to encourage children to thrive through establishing daily health habits.

Healthy Habits = Happy Kids

While listening, kids learn techniques to increase their creativity and attention spans. By practicing mindfulness, breathing, & gratitude kids experience mini-moments of deep rest that help them to reset, restore and recalibrate.

In today's busy world of multi-tasking, BBB is a place to help kids get centered, grounded and feel good. By practicing techniques learned here, kids develop their own self-care rituals, routines and habits.

These tools benefit their mind, body and heart health and set them up for greater joy in their present lives, and as adults.

So that kids aren't the only ones reaping these benefits, Vanessa has also included meditations specifically for older teens or adults!

And, there's now a sub series called "Cheese & Burritos" about lifestyle and cultural phenomenons in California and France! Eventually, this exclusive series will be only for subscribers. Enjoy the current unlocked episodes :)

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Hello, friends! Welcome to episode 4 of **“Cheese & Burritos”**, the podcast where we dive into living mindfully and boosting our joy, all while indulging in some of life’s tastiest conversations. I’m your French-Californian host, Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, guiding you through this delicious journey. Today’s hot topic: **BURRITOS**. Why didn’t we start with burritos for episode one? Honestly, I have no idea—it seems like that would’ve been the most obvious choice! But hey, you’re here now, and it’s about to get really good. 


First, though, I had to lure you in with some of my favorite French-inspired recipes. You know, chocolate cake, roast chicken, and of course, vinaigrette. It’s practically a French rite of passage to know your way around those staples, so I thought we’d kick things off with some classics. But burritos... now we’re getting to the heart of California cuisine.


And before we get too far, let me share a fun fact: Our last episode on **Pet Nats** (natural wines, for those just tuning in) is officially one of the most listened-to episodes! Over 100 listens and counting. It’s safe to say the world is catching onto the beauty of low-intervention wines, and I’m here for it.


Alright, now back to burritos. I know, I know—this show starts with **cheese**, but we’re tackling the burrito debate first because, well, it’s **California**, and this debate is serious business! Whether you're SoCal, NorCal, or somewhere in between, you’ve probably grown up with taquerias as part of your culinary DNA. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve also developed some strong opinions on where to get the best burrito, depending on your favorite fillings, toppings, or overall vibe.


Let’s get personal: I’m a San Francisco native, born and raised, and I’ve been around this great state, from LA to San Diego. I’ve sampled more burritos than I can count, and I’ve come to a conclusion: **SF burritos reign supreme**. No shade to my SoCal folks—I’ve had some fantastic yellow paper-wrapped beauties down there. But something about the Mission-style burrito, tightly wrapped in foil, bursting with salsa fresca, guac, sour cream, cheese, beans, and rice? Pure magic. Oh, and let’s not forget the perfectly steamed tortilla. Now **that** takes skill.


Staying on track, because by now, you need some cold, hard recommendations, let’s talk about my top picks:


**Best overall experience? Still gotta be LA TAQUERIA!** On Mission and 25th. This place is iconic. Decades of serving up mouthwatering burritos and tacos, and yes, even though I’m all about the burrito today, I might prefer their tacos. (Shocking, I know.) They don’t do rice—CONTROVERSIAL, I get it—but keep an open mind. Their tacos are huge, stuffed with fresh avocado, tangy green salsa, sour cream, and your choice of chicken, carnitas, or carne asada. My personal fave order? A super chicken taco, super carnitas taco, super carne asada burrito, and a plain corn quesadilla. Pair that with a strawberry agua fresca, and you’re set. Quality is through the roof, people. Just ask my childhood BFF Aryn, who makes a point of grabbing a bag of these burritos every time she flies back to visit. Parenting done right, am I right?


Now, for my veggie-loving friends: **Taqueria Cancun’s veggie burrito is a must-try**. I’m talking about the one on Mission at Valencia. You will not miss the meat in this savory, filling burrito. It’s that good. Perfect balance of flavor, texture, and satisfaction. Honestly, it’s so tasty, you’ll be thinking about it long after the meal is over.


And last but certainly not least: **La Corneta**. I’m a big fan of both the Glen Park and Mission Street locations. They’ve got every filling under the sun—meats, prawns, fish, tofu—you name it. Their mushroom quesadilla is something special too. But the kicker? They offer **baby burritos**! For those of you who aren’t looking for the full-sized food coma but still want that burrito magic, get a super baby. Their combination plates are fantastic for sharing as well, so there’s something for everyone.


Though I live on the west side of The City, we consistently make the trek across town to hit up these spots because, well, some things are worth traveling for. Raising kids right means taking them on these culinary adventures too!


Alright, friends, I’ve worked up quite an appetite just talking about all this, so I think it’s time to wrap it up (pun intended). Stay tuned for the next episode where we dive into the **cheese** side of things—because this show isn’t called **Cheese & Burritos** for nothing.


Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time!



P.S. One of the most wildly amazing taco experiences I’ve ever had was in Mexico City. It was so phenomenal that I wrote an article about it for Broke Ass. You can check it out in my bio under publications. Seriously though, fly to CDMX—you won’t regret it!