"There's no good Mexican food in California"

**AntiSoCalSkier** · 10-16-2003, 10:42 AM

I went to lunch yesterday with a friend and some guys he works with. One of the guys made the claim that there is no good authentic Mexican food in Southern California. At first we were all too shocked to say anything, but when pressed on the issue, it turns out that this guy honestly believes that there aren't any good Mexican restaraunts down here. He's from Texas, so my first thought was that he simply didn't like cilantro (which is heavily used here, and rarely used in Tex-Mex cuisine). I pointed out that in California, we eat food from a different part of Mexico than they eat in Texas, but he claimed to have eaten Mexican food from all over Mexico and that it just wasn't any good here.

What a pompous asshole!

That's about the biggest insult imaginable to the millions of Mexican/Americans living in this region. If the recent immigrants living 10 to a room in Santa Ana are happy with their mexican food choices (and they seem to be), then this guy really has no idea what he's talking about. This isn't like somewhere in Ohio where the local Mexican place is run by someone who's family emmigrated to Texas in the late 1800's. Most of the restaraunts here are run by people who actually lived in Mexico for some part of their lives.

Of course he also announced that the Pho (cheap Vietnamese noodle soup) he was eating had a much "fuller bouquet" after he added Rooster Sauce (spicy red stuff) to it, so this guy is clearly somthing of a food snob.

KQ · 10-16-2003, 10:45 AM

Were you having lunch with Tahoe_Skier?

**bad_roo** · 10-16-2003, 10:46 AM

My fuckwit buddy Chas stayed in a gourmet chalet in Zermatt and horrified the chef by pouring chilli oil he'd brought with him over every dish he was served.

**Plakespear** · 10-16-2003, 10:47 AM

Well, at least you don't live in NY, where half the burrito shops are run by Chinese and half the Chinese Takeouts are run by Mexicans. Can anyone PLEASE explain this to me?

**The AD** · 10-16-2003, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by AntiSoCalSkier
I went to lunch yesterday with a friend and some guys he works with. One of the guys made the claim that there is no good authentic Mexican food in Southern California.

Next time don't take him to Taco Bell

Seriously though, there are a lot of people who make these crazy food claims about how you can "only get good X food in X location." It doesn't matter what kind of food: pizza, barbecue, Mexican, you name it. These people are idiots.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 10-16-2003, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by Plakespear
Well, at least you don't live in NY, where half the burrito shops are run by Chinese and half the Chinese Takeouts are run by Mexicans. Can anyone PLEASE explain this to me?

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with NAFTA.

**Benny Profane** · 10-16-2003, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by Plakespear
Well, at least you don't live in NY, where half the burrito shops are run by Chinese and half the Chinese Takeouts are run by Mexicans. Can anyone PLEASE explain this to me?

Cuba. It all started there when Castro allowed some of Mao's people in, and a mix started. Some came here, and Chinese/ Spanish came with them.

The Asians and Spanish immigrants seem to like each other in business here in the NYC area. Find me a Korean greengrocer without a Spanish staff, or Chinese restaurant (well, any restaurant, for that matter) without Mexican or Central American help. Betcha can't.

**bad_roo** · 10-16-2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by The AD
Seriously though, there are a lot of people who make these crazy food claims about how you can "only get good X food in X location." It doesn't matter what kind of food: pizza, barbecue, Mexican, you name it. These people are idiots.

Where can I get a decent Indian curry in San Francisco?

**bossass** · 10-16-2003, 11:02 AM

Watch out for that rooster sauce. I used to be addicted but had to quit cause my asshole couldn't take it anymore on the other end. Great flavor, really hot, but just doesn't agree with me internally.

In my experiences, "authentic" mexican food, even in mexico, is really bland. Just not as much spice and heat as I'd like. Maybe I'm wrong. I have to say that Pedro's Tacos is the best goddam Mexican food I have had, and it's so cheap. I don't care how "authentic" it is. You can get a bean, cheese, and potato burrito and a cheese quesadilla for 2.88 and you'll be busting at the seams. Ummmmmmm.....Pedro's (drool....)

**Benny Profane** · 10-16-2003, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by bad_roo
Where can I get a decent Indian curry in San Francisco?

Oh man, I want to turn you guys onto this site. WAY better than Zagats.

http://www.chowhound.com/

**Viva** · 10-16-2003, 11:08 AM

So, I guess that you're just ranting AntiSoCal or are you seeking recommendations?

**grrrr** · 10-16-2003, 11:11 AM

Mexican food bland? Some is, but certainly not all. One of the popular local dishes on the Baja is jalapeno pickled onions.

My pick for WA: El Puerco LLoron for cheesy setting and fresh hand slapped tortillas. Tacos Guaymas for cheap, authentic mexi.

I did notice that there are many more burrito stands in NYC than when I was growing up. Back then, the east coast idea of tacos was Old El Paso. It has gotten better, but I can't say that I would opt for Mexi in NYC. Not when there's so much good dim sum. Likewise, I wouldn't even know if there is any good Mexi in Vancouver. Why would you want to eat Mexi there?

**Foggy_Goggles** · 10-16-2003, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by The AD
Next time don't take him to Taco Bell

Seriously though, there are a lot of people who make these crazy food claims about how you can "only get good X food in X location." It doesn't matter what kind of food: pizza, barbecue, Mexican, you name it. These people are idiots.

Unless you're talking about pizza west of say Binghamton and north of the Jersey shore, then these people are not idiots. I'd like a large Sally's meatball from Wooster St. for lunch please.

**AntiSoCalSkier** · 10-16-2003, 11:19 AM

I guess there really isn't any standard for what makes "good" X food. One person may like their Mexican food spicy, while another likes it mild. My wife prefers Westernized Chinese food to the more authentic stuff served in the Chinese neighborhoods (I'll even admit that on some days I just want to eat Panda Express).

It's still offensive to claim that there is no good X food when the region is filled with people from country X. It's like going to Japan and bragging about how the sushi in LA is much better. It's OK to declare that you prefer LA style sushi, but it's not OK to announce that the stuff in Japan isn't "real" sushi.

KQ · 10-16-2003, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by Benny Profane
Oh man, I want to turn you guys onto this site. WAY better than Zagats.

http://www.chowhound.com/

Quisp!!!!

http://www.chowhound.com/quisp/quisp.gif

Quest for Quisp

**Viva** · 10-16-2003, 11:34 AM

So, having done some traveling in Mexico myself, I pose to you (any of you) the question what makes Mexican food authentic ?

**Arty50** · 10-16-2003, 11:36 AM

I'm fucking dumbfounded. If I had been at lunch with you, I would have reached across the table and pounded that guy into the ground. No authentic Mexican food in LA? That is absolutely the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard in my entire life. Seriously.

If the guy's experience were limited to El Torrito and Alcapulco, then I could understand. But if he's eaten at any of the numerous taqueria's and little restaurants in and around LA County then he needs to get a huge dose of shut the fuck up. I've been to places down there where Mexicans bring in huge empty pots and walk out with them full of Menudo or Birria for their whole family, places where the waitresses barely understand english and just sort of nod at your stupid gringo ass, places where they'd stick a real cowboy boot or a nice shiny blade up his fat Texan ass.

Frankly though, I shouldn't be so surprised. As we all know, only two things come from Texas. And he doesn't sound like a steer.

Yes, I know I shouldn't be getting so worked up over something so removed from me. But sometimes other people's wealth of ignorance astounds me.

**Viva** · 10-16-2003, 11:39 AM

I remember Quisp fondly. When the socks came out, I rushed to buy a pair. I wear them regularly.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/images/p...045-QU_lrg.jpg

**Benny Profane** · 10-16-2003, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by Arty50
But sometimes other people's wealth of ignorance astounds me.

Hey, here's a total highjack. I just got a haircut, and was rendered speechless when my barber (youngish, stylish metrosexual) tells his buddy across the room that they actually found evidence that Kobe's girl had sex with three guys on the three days before Kobe poked her. His buddy sez, yeah, I heard that too.

Never skimp on a lawyer.

**Tavi** · 10-16-2003, 11:46 AM

This Texan you speak of; I get the picture of the Texan in the Austin Powers flick who, in the restroom, tells Austin "that's quite a getup you got on there" just before finding out who Number 2 works for.

Seriously, one of the best Mexican / El Salvadorian restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at was in Eugene, OR. Who woulda thought? If you're in the area go eat at Taco Loco. They will make you smile.

**Arty50** · 10-16-2003, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by Viva
So, having done some traveling in Mexico myself, I pose to you (any of you) the question what makes Mexican food authentic ?

That's actually a great question. As with any type of cooking there are tons of different regional styles and unique dishes. And within those regions you find variations on each, naturally because each chef cooks things their own way.

So then what's really authentic? Well we can naturally eliminate Taco Hell and Del Taco. I dare you to find anyone in Mexico that cooks like that. Beyond that the sky's the limit. And that's why LA is so great. There are restaurants down there run by people from almost every region. So chile verde in one place may come in a blended tomatillo sauce while the place down the street may serve it with chopped up tomatoes and onions and stuff. Order Birria in one place and you get goat soup. Another may serve it as a specially marinated meat for eating with tortillas or in tacos and such. So to say that LA has no authentic mexican food is an insult. I dare say it represents the wide variety of Mexican food far better than any region in the US. Hell, it's even easy to find Salvadorenian, Cuban, Brazillian, Agentine and many other Central/South American styles.

KQ · 10-16-2003, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by Tavi

Seriously, one of the best Mexican / El Salvadorian restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining at was in Eugene, OR. Who woulda thought? If you're in the area go eat at Taco Loco. They will make you smile.

Who would have thought? Come on now - huge population of Hispanics in Oregon.

In Oregon, Hispanics are the largest ethnic population in the state representing over 8% of the state's population, with over 275,314 Hispanics. In the last ten years, the number of Hispanics in the state grew by 144%. In the Tri-county area: Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, the number of Hispanics increased by 191% to 116,086, in the last ten years.

Oregon Hispanic Metro Chamber

**Benny Profane** · 10-16-2003, 11:54 AM

Not a highjack: Did you ever see the movie "Big Night", when Tony Shalhoub's character lovingly makes a risotto, brings it to the table, and the wife demands some pasta on the side? "What kinda Italian restaurant doesn't serve pasta on the side?"

This is the problem with ethnic food as it gets swallowed up in our culture. Can't blame the restaurant owners, they're just trying to make a buck.

**bad_roo** · 10-16-2003, 11:56 AM

Chipotle. A word rarely heard in England.

**Viva** · 10-16-2003, 11:57 AM

Hey! I've had strawberry risotto once, Yummm.

Now, if you really want to get an Italian going, serve bread with pasta: " You must not serve bread with da pasta, dis is for the barbarians" .