Faux Mexican food...

[Archae]

My niece's husband, has parents who emigrated here from Mexico.
And they make DEE-LISH-US Mexican food.
Including stuff that isn't real spicy, since I don't like spicy food.

I asked them about the faux Mexican food we Americans get ladeled out to us, like Taco Bell.

Ever hear anyone swear in Mexican? :-)

But I love eating at my niece's in-laws.

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1. I'll probably have my hearts revoked for this, but...

...the beans at Taco Bell are superior to most refried beans I have had at "authentic" and "Mom and Pop" Mexican restaurants, and I live in San Diego, where there is a taco shop on almost every corner and full-blown Mexican restaurants in every neighborhood. When you order beans at any of these authentic places, you usually get a puddle of lard with some beans floating in it. As non-delicious as it is unhealthy. I have to give Taco Bell credit for getting the beans right - they use vegetable oil instead of lard, and season them just right. I'll take them any day over the runny brown/black diarrhea that passes as "refried beans" in most "authentic" and "Mom and Pop" Mexican eateries.

[WinkyDink]

5. But they are still only "eateries". I'd bet HOME cooks in MEXICO can make some awesome dishes!

Italian immigrants here also often don't make authentic Italian dishes, in "Mom and Pop" places; too much sauce, for one thing.

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6. The caregiver who comes here to help me take care of my Mom makes flan

once in a while, and it is unlike any flan I have ever tasted otherwise - very creamy and full of caramel flavor. Nothing like the jello-like flan you can buy. She is from Oaxaca and she also makes excellent posole and chiles rellenos that are far better than those in any restaurant.

[WinkyDink]

9. I've read that Oaxacan food is the tops!

[yellowdogintexas]

7. my neighborhood Mexican place has the most awesome beans I have ever had

anywhere. Perfectly creamy, dippable, not greasy. I always save some chips out to dip up the last of the beans from my plate. Oh yeah and they don't over spice the food either. There is only one dish on the menu that is billed as hot, and that is only if you ask for it.

We won't even get started on their flan or cherry flautas.

My favorite thing there is spinach enchiladas, which are smothered in a cream sauce from heaven. (my daughter says it has crack in it, it's so addictive)

Taco Bell has its place but it isn't Mexican food.

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8. That sounds like an awesome place

I love the jalapeño cream sauce which is sometimes served along with the salsa and chips.

[yellowdogintexas]

12. it is awesome. Family place, been there for YEARS, always busy. In a town full

of really top notch Mexican food, it has stayed in business, is always busy and lots of Mexicans eat there, always a good sign.

If you are ever in Fort Worth it is 2 blocks south of Interstate 20 (exit on McCart/Westcreek in a humble little strip center.

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15. thanks what is the name?

[yellowdogintexas]

17. Mexico Real. Good chips and salsa too. nt

[MilesColtrane]

10. You may prefer reconstituted, powdered beans, but they are in no way superior to freshly prepared.

[begin_within]

14. If done right I'm sure they are. I'm interested in beans, not lard.

[janx]

32. Taco Bell does a lot of that (reconstituting). My son worked

there for awhile when he was in his teens and told me that they start with powdered meat and rehydrate it.

[alphafemale]

16. They're OK but I really prefer making black beans.

I spice them up with a bay leaf, garlic, some chili powder and fresh ground cumin and let it simmer.

[Kali]

34. hee. I replied to you in the wrong spot.

see post #20.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

35. Taco Hell beans are OK if you leave off the red sauce.

I can't eat spicy food either.

The red sauce on top of the beans makes my lips burn.

But the chiz helps.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I once ate what I thought was Mexican...then I found out she was actually Cuban.

[KitchenWitch]

3. I live near Santa Ana CA, where I can get GREAT autentico Mexican food, and cheap too.

:9

[AwakeAtLast]

4. I really only learned the good swear words from my Spanish teacher

that and how to ask where the bathroom is. She said that would be enough to get us through any real issues, lol!

:D

[Deja Q]

11. Mi puta comer caca

:scared:

:yoiks:

[Jamastiene]

13. OH, GREAT!

Now, I'm hungry :9

[skygazer]

18. My husband grew up in Salinas and makes great Mexican

When we went to St. Paul for my daughter's wedding, she invited us out for "good Mexican" and took us to Chilies. :rofl:

[Systematic Chaos]

19. For Mexican-type flavors made quick and easy, Taco Bell isn't too bad.

I agree with the poster up top about the beans. Taco Bell does have some awesome beans! Their bean burritos and 7-layer burritos are a couple of the best cheap items on any fast food menus anywhere. Many of their other menu items, however, are just the same few basic ingredients mish-mashed together in different shells and appearances. Not to mention their infatuation with nuclear orange nacho dip "cheese", which gets old with a quickness.

For overall quality in Americanized Mexican-style fast food, Del Taco is even better than Taco Bell in my humble opinion. But again, we're still talking about quick and easy.

Real authentic Mexican eateries which don't overdo the lard and grease are still the best places to go, by a mile. But only if you have the money and time.

[Kali]

20. really? meh their beans are just so-so to me,

too thick and bland. I like them a tad runny with a good flavor of smoked pork. Refritos need fat, (otherwise they are just mashed beans) and lard really is the most authentic but we use a mix of veg oil and bacon grease at home. Best place I know of is Midway Molina's in Tucson. The other Molinas' taste like they use canned to me.

Most of what we think of as Mexican food is what Mexicans call antijitos - snacks. Real Mexican food isn't anything like what Mexican restaurants serve in the US.

[Kali]

33. I just realized I replied to the wrong post

that was supposed to go to reply #1. oops.

[Skittles]

21. I can find pretty good Mexican food in Texas

there are SOME good things in Texas :D

[XemaSab]

23. Mexican food in Texas is AWESOME

Very different than California Mexican food (which is also good.)

[Skittles]

28. it's what people who visit me in Texas want to eat

not hard to find around here, for sure :thumbsup:

[JCMach1]

25. Mexican food in West Texas was the la bomba!

Best tamales I have EVER eaten were bought off of a lady who made them herself and sold them... she brought them by a car dealership in Midland while I was waiting for repairs... YUM!

[XemaSab]

22. Faux-mida Mexicana

:hide:

[JCMach1]

24. I hate it when ethnic restaurants adjust their spice for what they perceive the American palate

to be...

Had Mexican food in Clearwater, FL last night... The salsa had little or no cilantro and the Mole was so wimpy it was LIMP.

I also hate it when they do that to Indian and Sri Lankan food! Oh and Italian too (Olive Garden anyone :puke: )

[davsand]

26. Chocolate covered chiles anyone?

I was amazed the first time I tasted a Mexican candy that was pretty much a chile covered in dark chocolate. (I was also hooked on them--but that is another story...)

You can't "dumb down" a cuisine and expect it to be any good. I call it "Taco Smell" for a reason.


:shrug:


Laura

[JCMach1]

29. Mole is the bomb when done right...

Chocolate and chilis rock

[davsand]

30. Mole done badly, however, is kinda sad.

Still edible, but nowhere near as fine as when it is done right.



Laura

[JCMach1]

31. Touche-

[no name no slogan]

27. It's probably made by Faux Mexicans