What is "real" mexican food?

Question

I always hear people complain that there are no "real" mexican restaurants in virginia beach. I think they are still pretty good. Is there a different way of cooking an Enchilada or is there something I'm missing altogether?

Answer 1

http://www.mexgrocer.com/mexcocina-traditional-mexican-dishes.html

Answer 2

Mexican food really varies so much... it's a huge country! I feel that the good restaurants here in the states show everyday, Mexico city kind of food.

There is a whole spectrum of Mexican "alta cocina" or gourmet Mexican food that I feel can hold it's own against French or Italian fine dining. This kind of food seems almost impossible to find it seems.

As well, the coastal regions of Mexico tend to cook with a lot more sea food than what is available on most US Mexican rest. menus.

Answer 3

Mexican food varies widely from region to region but the key to real mexican food is that it has the right mix of spices and it isn't dulled down for Americans. Also, real Mexican food means not skimping on the lard, especially in empanada dough, not skimping on the fat, and getting the fresh, unprocessed meats. When you go to a Mexican restaurant and see a huge chunk of meat spinning to be cooked, that's real Mexican. Homemade- that is key. Yes, even in restaurants, real Mexican is STILL homemade and that's what makes it so good. You will see them still rolling out tortillas by hand. One piece of advice...the best Mexican food, I promise you, comes from the little hole in the wall restaurants. You'll be suprised first off by how much nicer the inside is in comparison to the outside and secondly, the food will amaze you. Finally, real Mexican food is, in most cases, incredibly spicy. Try some home made hot sauce, which you will find in the GOOD Mexican restaurants only. Okay, so I lied, one more thing...real Mexican restaurants are locally owned, not chains, and most, but not all, have names that refer in some way to humble, country farm living (note: that automatically rules out places like El Paso and Mexico restaurant).

I recommend going to your local public library and checking out Diana Kennedy's Regional Mexican Cooking cook book. Yes, she is American, but she has spent a ton of time in Mexico, learning the techniques from the natives and compiling recipes from different regions of Mexico that come straight from the natives, with no changes made to Americanize it. She's really good about using the exact recipe from the natives and giving them credit since she hasn't Americanized it. Her other Mexican cookbooks are equally good.

Answer 4

well it's true, i am from Laredo,TX. it's a big city on the border of Mexico. the food is great just about anywhere you go. well, i live in Kentucky right now and the Mexican food out here is very different, and the weird thing about it is that is run by Mexican people..( please i mean no disrespect) but it doesn't compare to the food back home. the sauces, salsas, fajitas, tortillas are not homemade, everything is different. in fact, i have given up looking for a good Mexican place to eat at out here!

Answer 5

It's not really the technique, but the ingredients that are different. You can buy Pace salsa and Old El Paso green chilies anywhere. But take New Mexico, where I live, there is a very distinct style of cooking known as new mexican food. It is different from TexMex, too. There are just differences in the types of chilies, cheeses and spices used in each style of cooking.

Answer 6

It just depends were you are. I grew up in New Mexico. I then moved to Ohio and could not find the same New Mexican style of food there. Now I live in Colorado and the few mexican restuarants here are not that good compared to back home. I LOVE FOOD.

Answer 7

Mexican food like all ethnic foods is difficult to explain. Each province has subtle differences and variety of ingredients. Much like Italian foods Mexican food prepared in America has been adapted to the American pallet. There are foods available in Mexico and Mexican cookbooks most restaurants wouldn't consider because they lack the vibrancy most people expect from prepared foods. The foods most Americans are used to are simplified and reworked versions of the original and although tasty may lack the original intent of the country of origin. To try some more authentic foods you would have to go to Mexico or prepare them yourself. Here are a few websites for your perusal: http://mexicanfood.about.com/ http://www.mcifoods.com/free_res.htm
http://mexican.betterrecipes.com/
Good Luck!

Answer 8

NO this is not. for each body affirming that that is of route has did not do not forget that this human being isn't talking about Chipotle the foodstuff yet somewhat reffering to Chipotle the actually eating position or possibly you in elementary words comprehend not some thing of genuine Mexican. lol i'm Mexican and this position might want to somewhat be labeling themselves Chipotle South Western Grill..not Mexican.

Answer 9

There is no such thing as "real" mexican food unless its cooked in Mexico, which probably won't happen. Mexican food is from recipies from Mexico, and is usually spicy, but not always.

Answer 10

I agree with you on that....I'm in NC, moved here from CA. We had awesome mexican food in CA....here it tastes a little "canned" to me. I have some really good home made recipes for mexican foods, some are lengthy ... e-mail me at [e-mail] if you'd like a few.

Answer 11

From What I Heard....

'Resturaunts like Taco Bell aren't real Mexican food, the food is not made by real Mexicans'

I'm guessing what they meant is that resturaunts that are faast- food, that are made by Mexicans are ral Mexican food.