Forums > Specific Focus > Mexican Kitchen

jennifer rose

Sep 21, 2005, 4:20 AM

Post #1 of 21 (2114 views)

Shortcut

Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post |

What's the strangest reincarnation of Mexican food you've ever seen?

One time I was served tamales ensconced in brown gravy in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Another time in Istanbul, my cousin insisted that we go to the trendy new Mexican restuarant in Ortikoy. The most expensive rendition of Mexican food I've ever sampled outside of Mexico, the tortillas resembled something between a won ton wrapper and a crepe and the tacos were topped off with canned corn.

Anonimo

Sep 21, 2005, 4:39 AM

Post #2 of 21 (2109 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Bad interpretations of Mexican food, in the US, at least, are so profuse that I wouldn't know where to begin.

Saludos,
Anonimo

esperanza

Sep 21, 2005, 6:40 AM

Post #3 of 21 (2100 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

California-style big-as-your-forearm burritos, stuffed with meat, rice, frijolitos and guacamole...a mushed-up mess for sure.

In San Diego, I know a Mexican fast food joint that offers nacho fries--a huge platter of french fries scattered with bits of carne asada and covered with nacho cheese, that ubiquitous melted yellow plastic. Sour cream, black olives and jalapeños plopped on top made this dish complete. I could hear my arteries snapping shut as I tried it. It's not Mexican by a long shot, but *ahem* it was pretty tasty. Once.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Caarina12

Sep 21, 2005, 8:46 AM

Post #4 of 21 (2088 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Most if not all Mexican food outside of Mexico is SO laden with cumin I almost think I'm eating curry.

Here's another absurdity. I had gone to Chevys (a Tex-Mex/Cal-Mex sort of place) for a work birthday party and I had tortilla soup. To my surprise, THE SOUP HAD NO TORTILLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HUH?

TigerTonio

Sep 21, 2005, 8:51 AM

Post #5 of 21 (2087 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Esperanza, I almost gagged on my brunch after reading about the nacho fries. Gross.

Two years ago in Florence -- a 'Mexican' restaurant there served enchiladas which turned out to be an odd variation of cannelloni with an overbearing amount of thyme.

bournemouth

Sep 21, 2005, 9:08 AM

Post #6 of 21 (2079 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Being served salsa in a "Mexican" restaurant in Salt Lake City years ago which turned out to be shrimp cocktail sauce. On drawing the waitress's attention to the problem, I was assured that this certainly was salsa. At that time this restaurant was an off shoot of a well known (still operating) South Tucson restaurant which certainly knows its border and Sonoran food.

Rolly

Sep 21, 2005, 9:17 AM

Post #7 of 21 (2077 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

There are some pretty strange Mexican-like concoctions that come out of my kitchen. Smile

Rolly

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Gayla

Sep 21, 2005, 3:29 PM

Post #8 of 21 (2050 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Let's see, could be the Mexican restaurant here in San Diego that calls itself *authentic* but refuses to serve pork?!?? Same restaurant serves enchiladas enfriolada, a pretty unusal menu offering here NOB, and perhaps they should remain so. They turned out to be a sodden mess of tortillas and black bean juice. And then there is the San Diego version of the Mission Burrito (already cited by Esperanza) that includes a healthy portion of french fries wrapped up in the center of the burrito. They call it California-style

Then there is always the Rubio Fish Taco, what was once a pretty decent snack has devolved into a fast-food disappointment, yet another vicitm of too much expansion too fast.

Cynthia7

Sep 21, 2005, 4:01 PM

Post #9 of 21 (2041 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gayla] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

The tamales in the south are not Mexican but so delicious. They are part of the soul food cuisine. Pork and special seasonings. For many years I did not even think of tamales as being Mexican. We bought them from carts on the streets..wrapped in newspapers..and to die for... . Often served over hominy or grits.

song_of_joy

Sep 21, 2005, 9:16 PM

Post #10 of 21 (2016 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Try Taco Bell in Fort Myers, Florida.

I asked what was in 'em. The clerk explained that they were crisp taco shells with beans, cheddar cheese, olives, lettuce, spaghetti sauce and sour cream.

My kids were astonished. They still beg me to make Taco Bell tacos whenever I have leftover spaghetti sauce.

Aarrrghh!!!!

(This post was edited by song_of_joy on Sep 22, 2005, 9:47 AM)

Cynthia7

Sep 22, 2005, 9:13 AM

Post #11 of 21 (2001 views)

Shortcut

Re: [song_of_joy] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

To those of us that grew up with Tex Mex..tender crisp taco shells filled with cooked ground beef, crisp shredded lettuce, tomatoes,seasonings of cumin, salt, pepper etc. think that is the standard..in lew of tough, greasy tortillas filled with whatever ..meat, beans, rice,etc .. It is not right or wrong..I think it is what you grew up with or what you had first that you liked..I know I judge all barbeque by a delicious barbeque I had all of my childood..I have had some delicious barbeque but I still judge it by that original "Shack" barbeque.

song_of_joy

Sep 22, 2005, 9:46 AM

Post #12 of 21 (1995 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Yeah, but spaghetti sauce in tacos??!!

Cynthia7

Sep 22, 2005, 9:57 AM

Post #13 of 21 (1991 views)

Shortcut

Re: [song_of_joy] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Was the spaghetti sauce in the Taco Bell taco or is that what your kids want at your house in their tacos?

Rolly

Sep 22, 2005, 10:42 AM

Post #14 of 21 (1984 views)

Shortcut

Re: [song_of_joy] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

My guess is that it was not actually spaghetti sauce, but rather that was all the clerk knew to call it. At least, I hope so.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Carron

Sep 22, 2005, 10:58 AM

Post #15 of 21 (1981 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Rolly] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Well, I have to confess I have made some my my very best chilaquiles using leftover spaghetti sauce. But since I made them in Mexico I hope that restores some measure of autentica to my recipe.

HHERRINGTON

Sep 22, 2005, 11:19 AM

Post #16 of 21 (1976 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Carron] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Once upon a time my Lasagna receipe called for chili sauce and it caught many people by surprise! After a tour in Italy when I finally learned what Italian food should taste like, I stopped mixing Mexican and Italian dishes.
----------------------------------------------------

Life is too complicated to be expressed in one liners.

Cynthia7

Sep 22, 2005, 2:42 PM

Post #17 of 21 (1960 views)

Shortcut

Re: [HHERRINGTON] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

The Taco Bells where I live do not use spaghetti sauce on their tacos. They use spiced up meat..dried onion, cumin, beef bouillon, cornstarch,salt, pepper. There is a Taco Bell salsa made with tomato sauce available but the spices are cumin, chile peppers, chili powder but no Italian spices..such as Oregano or garlic, etc. I wonder if the person working there thought anything red, made with tomatoes, was spaghetti sauce. The recipes for both Taco Bell Tacos and Taco Bell Taco sauce are available on the internet..you know ..Recipezaar, CopyCats, Goldmine.. Reminds me when my boys went to grade school and came home and said they wished I could cook as well as the school cafeteria could. Turned out the main cook was an excellent cook and could take those goverment cheeses and things and make wonderful things out of them..like cheese danish and nachos with cheese..

Bubba

Sep 23, 2005, 2:04 PM

Post #18 of 21 (1944 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Outside of the canned tamales my mother served up circa 1953 on "Mexico" night (other specialty nights, "Chinese" night [chop suey and fried noodles] and "Italian" night [Chef Boy Ar Dee]), the strangest reincarnation of Mexican food I have seen was in Mexico. Specifically at the Hacienda San Antonio Chalante in Sudzal, Yucatan just outside of Izamal. We arrived thinking of the excellent home made Yucatecan food we could anticipate for dinner. At dinner we were served "enchiladas" which consisted of wheat tortillas with Hormel style canned chili with beans, grated American cheese, chopped onions and cream (not sour cream - unwhipped whipping cream). I had asked them to prepare me some Habanera chile salsa so ubiquitous in that region and was served Tabasco sauce. For the rest of our stay we ate in Izamal, a beautiful city with very good authentic Yucatecan food if you choose right.

Now I'm not knocking the Hacienda Chalante which is an old henequin plantation dating from the 1600s. I highly recommend this place and I am a hacienda freak. You can stay there for about $35USD a night and, while its location in Sudzal is remote, you are within a 15 minute drive of Izamal which is, in turn, about an hour from Merida. This is a very attractive hacienda with only a few splendid rooms. You are likely to be the only guests if you are lucky and, if so, the place is incredibly peaceful. A little spooky actually if you are the only guests there. Just plan to eat in Izamal and understand that there is no air conditioning.

In the owner's defense, when I complained about the "enchilada", she told me the hacienda was renowned for its food and many guests came there just to eat in their beautiful dining room which is, indeed, a wonderful place to eat dinner. I guess I had sort of expected local specialties.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Sep 23, 2005, 2:15 PM)

Biggles

Sep 23, 2005, 8:40 PM

Post #19 of 21 (1921 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

I went to a local Jack in the Box and ordered tacos. I wasn't expecting anything too accurate, but this was the first time I've ever had the whole, entire taco deep fried...including lettuce! Even my cast iron gut couldn't eat it.

Gayla

Sep 26, 2005, 9:34 AM

Post #20 of 21 (1892 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Cynthia7] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Actually, Taco Bell controls absolutely everything about their food and their process. All units must buy specific items from specific vendors. The bulk of it comes in vacuum sealed packages that you open and rehydrate. Refried beans take about 20 mintues to rehydrates. Many of the *sauce* mixes come dried, just add water and stir. Wht doesn't come powered comes frozen in bags, which is mostly their meat products. Units include 2 pieces of specialized equipment to accommodate the preparation, a hot water tower that dispenses boiling water and a rethermalizer. A rethermalizer is kind of like a big boil-in-the-bag unit that will reheat the product in the bag without bursting the bag. It is an extremely regimented system designed (or perhaps dumbed down is a better description) to allow minimally skilled or educated employees to operate the units (frequently at minimum wage). There is a reason Taco Bell has been a highly profitable company for a long time. Having spent a lot of time in non-commercial food service, at various times I inherited Taco Bell units when starting new units. I usually ended up closing them within a year or less. There is nothing remotely Mexican about Taco Bell food, and other than the cheese, lettuce and pico de gallo, there is nothing particularly "fresh" about their products.

Oh, and they don't use spaghetti sauce at all. They do, however, used the delicious powdered and dehydrated tomato in most of their products.................

Cynthia7

Sep 26, 2005, 10:08 AM

Post #21 of 21 (1887 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gayla] Weird Interpretations of Mexican Food

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for the info. Most food chains are adamant about having a consistent product. They sometimes vary it to accomodate local tastes.. like offering chilies, etc. Weather you like it or not it is suppossed to taste the same in Des Moines as it does in Bakersfield. I think some of the fast food tastes delicious..not so healthy maybe..but tasty.