If you're planning on eating at a Mexican restaurant for dinner in the United States, you probably have some expectations. A complimentary basket of golden tortilla chips and salsa, tacos, burritos and enchiladas, and an entire section of the menu dedicated to margaritas. Oh, and you expect it to be cheap.
Many Mexican restaurants in the United States are certainly good on all of these fronts, but it's a big deal to think that a Mexican restaurant has to meet all of these criteria in order to be delicious or authentic. It's a misunderstanding. Mexican food is much more diverse than many Americans realize, and numerous top Mexican chefs told HuffPost that there are several superstitions, especially six big ones that many people believe He said he believes it is simply not true.
1. Mexican food is basically rice and beans.
Rick Martinez, a Mexican chef living in Mazatlan and author of “Mi Cocina,” told HuffPost that one of the misconceptions many Americans have about Mexican food is that it's basically a taco, a burrito, or a burrito. He said the menu will consist of five dishes: enchiladas, nachos and quesadillas. The main ingredients are rice and beans. “There's more diversity in Mexico and its food than people realize,” he says.
added Jose Cepeda, executive chef of Quijote at the Lafayette Hotel and Club in San Diego, California. [many Americans] When you think of Mexican food, it's always tacos, burritos, cheese, chips, salsa and margaritas. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but Mexican food is so much more than that. ”
For example, Martinez said many Americans don't realize that seafood such as lobster, clams, shrimp and oysters is a big part of Mexican cuisine. “many [Americans] We have a limited view of what Mexico can offer through seafood and agricultural products. For example, Mexico has great citrus and coconut,” Martinez said.
Martinez pointed out that Mexico is a large country and cuisine varies by region, something many Americans may not realize. He explained that Mexican food uses fresh ingredients that are native to the local region and varies depending on where you are in Mexico.
Mary Martinez, author of Mexico in Your Kitchen, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “The idea that Mexican food is just what you typically find in the United States is incorrect. Mexican food comes in many different styles and varieties. “Mexico is made up of 32 states, each with its own unique gastronomy shaped by local ingredients, cooking techniques, and cultural influences,'' she says, adding that cuisine varies greatly from region to region. He added that it showcases a wide range of flavors, textures and dishes that go far beyond the limited menus often found in Mexican cuisine. “In the United States, exposure to Mexican food often revolves around a handful of popular dishes that may not fully capture the breadth and complexity of Mexican gastronomy,” Mary Martinez says.
2. Mexican food must be cheap.
Regarding the myth that Mexican food consists primarily of rice and beans, Julian Medina, owner and chef of Toroache, which has locations throughout New York City, says many Americans believe that all Mexican food is cheap. He said he hopes it will be the same.
“I think Americans generally expect Mexican food to be cheap because it often uses cheaper ingredients like rice and beans. However, high-end Mexican food is made with high-quality, fresh ingredients.” A lot of time and effort goes into making sauces such as mole, which can sometimes take several days to prepare.
Open Image Modal Mexican cuisine often centers around healthy ingredients, such as the lean meats and vegetables found here.
3. Sour cream and cheese are the main ingredients.
If Taco Tuesday means having daisy sour cream and yellow cheese at the center of your kitchen, then your meal might just be delicious. But that's not what you'll encounter in Mexico.
“In traditional Mexican cuisine, the use of sour cream and yellow cheese is less common than in 'Mexican' cuisine in the United States,” Mary Martinez told HuffPost. In Mexico, dishes are sometimes topped with fresh local cheeses, such as queso fresco and Mexican crema, which is thinner and more flavorful than American sour cream, she explained.
Medina added that sour cream isn't usually part of Mexican cuisine. “It's an American take on Mexican crema, and it has a different flavor profile. It's more sweet than tart,” he said. Again, if you like these ingredients in your tacos or quesadillas, that's totally fine. If you're vacationing in Mexico or a Mexican friend invites you over for dinner, expect things to be a little different.
4. Mexican food is unhealthy.
Osiris Hoyle, co-founder and CEO of District Tacos, a company with locations in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, says he often disagrees with the common myth that Mexican food is inherently unhealthy. He said he would encounter it. “I want people to know that Mexican food is balanced and healthy,” he said. Rick Martinez also said that Mexico has a lot of great produce, including sweet potatoes, corn, and berries.
Hoyle said as Mexican restaurants became more popular in the United States, many dishes began to use high-calorie toppings and rich sauces. “There's this idea that more is better. Portion sizes have increased. Taken together, this gives people the impression that Mexican food is unhealthy,” he explained. But he stressed that delicious Mexican food doesn't need these extra high-calorie ingredients. “For the tacos, we just put marinated, lean grilled chicken (we call it pollo asado), freshly made pico de gallo (just tomatoes, onions, lime juice, cilantro), and… You can top it with a roasted tomato-based salsa and you'll be surprised by the taste,” he said.
5. It's painful.
If you don't have much tolerance for spice, you may think that Mexican food is not for you. But Mary Martinez told HuffPost that's not the case. “One of the common misconceptions many Americans have about Mexican food is that all Mexican food is naturally spicy,” she says. “In fact, the flavors and ingredients in Mexican cuisine are diverse and balanced. It's true that chili peppers, both dried and fresh, play an important role in Mexican cuisine, but they're not used to add spiciness; they're simply added to the dish.” “Not all Mexican dishes are spicy, and there are many that can be enjoyed even by those who prefer milder flavors,” she explained.
Medina agreed, saying, “Chili peppers are often used.” [in Mexican cuisine]But this applies more to flavor than spice. ”
Hoyle agreed, saying, “There are certainly some spicy options, but you can always adjust it to your taste.” If you're eating out at a Mexican restaurant and can't use the spices, tell the waiter. You can still eat delicious food.
6. Authentic Mexican food never changes.
If you go to a Mexican restaurant and see ingredients like kibbeh and tabbouleh (a traditional Lebanese dish) listed on the menu, you might think you're at a “fusion” restaurant rather than “authentic” Mexican food. not. But Rick Martinez told HuffPost it's perfectly natural for Mexican cuisine to change over time, as people immigrate to Mexico from other countries like Lebanon and Haiti. These immigrants have changed the look of Mexican food, but that doesn't take away from its authenticity, he said.
Martinez said the same is true of the evolution of Mexican cuisine in the United States. He says it's only natural for second- and third-generation Mexican chefs to take cues from the types of food they were exposed to in the United States and incorporate them into Mexican cuisine. “Kitchens in general are constantly changing. Not only is Mexican food in the United States, but there's also an exchange and adaptation of American food in Mexico,” said Enrique Olvera, a chef based in Mexico City.
What all chefs say should be constants about Mexican food is that it is made primarily from fresh, local ingredients rather than processed products, combined in a simple way, and not over-adorned with heavy sauces or toppings.
None of the chefs said there's anything wrong with enjoying a cheese quesadilla topped with sour cream or paying a few bucks for a taco at a local food truck. But Medina said if you want to find Mexican food in a truly culturally respectful way, he recommends going to small, family-run restaurants in areas where Mexicans live. Why not expand your taste buds beyond rice and beans? There is so much more to discover in Mexican cuisine.
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