Taco Bell's fare baffles Mexicans

Seattle Times ^ | 10/10/07 | MARK STEVENSON

[AngelesCrestHighway]

It sounds like a fast-food grudge match: Taco Bell is taking on the homeland of its namesake by reopening for the first time in 15 years in Mexico. Defenders of Mexican culture see the chain's re-entry as a crowning insult to a society already overrun by U.S. chains from Starbucks and Subway to KFC. "It's like bringing ice to the Arctic," complained pop-culture historian Carlos Monsiváis. The company's branding strategy — "Taco Bell is something else" — is an attempt to distance itself from any comparison to Mexico's beloved taquerias, which sell traditional corn tortillas stuffed with an endless variety of fillings, from spicy beef to corn fungus and cow eyes. Taco Bell, a unit of Louisville, Ky.,-based Yum Brands, made its name promoting its menu to Americans as something straight out of Mexico. But it's a very different dynamic south of the border. Here, the company projects a more "American" fast-food image by adding French fries — some topped with cheese, cream, ground meat and tomatoes — to the menu at its first store, which opened in late September in the northern city of Monterrey.

[Cyropaedia]

Yeah, they do that with tacos al pastor. Besides, my cousins down in "el DF" know where the *safe* spots are.

Lucky me. ;>P

[-YYZ-]

Looks like gyros or donair meat cooking on that spit. Whatever it is, it looks good!

[fatnotlazy]

Don’t get me started on how Americans drown their pastas with sauce. How the hell do you taste the semolina that way?

***

My first visit to Italy years ago was a culture shock. Pasta was basically a side dish or first course — never a huge heaping plate as a main meal. But the amount of sauce — seemed like barely a spoonful. The pasta seemed overly dry to me. But hey, when in Rome....

[GSWarrior]

Taco Bell food! Aaack....gag....barf

[villagerjoel]

“Taco Bell’s fare baffles Mexicans”

They must be baffled by the amount of actual meat in the food.

[SoKatt]

” I can attest to that fact, as I have gotten violently ill from Taco Bell crap.........”

That’s why my friends and I, as kids, called it “Taco Butt”.

[PLMerite]

I was reading a Spanish “slang” dictionary and I remember something on Taco Bell’s menu had a very different meaning in Mexico, something I wouldn’t walk up and ask for.

[editor-surveyor]

"Aha - but tortilla prices have been rising dramatically!"

Obviously a result of Mexico's "Strong Tortilla" policy.

[-YYZ-]

“Here, the company projects a more “American” fast-food image by adding French fries — some topped with cheese, cream, ground meat and tomatoes — to the menu at its first store, which opened in late September in the northern city of Monterrey.”

That’s sour cream, and what’s new about it? I don’t know about where anyone else is, but I’ve always been able to get “Fries Supreme” at the local Taco Hell. They’re not as good as the Nachos Supreme, though. I like Taco Bell on occasion, although it’s certainly not what I would call good Tex-Mex food, and not Mexican at all.

[50sDad]

My FBIBuddy comes home to Cincinnati from the backwaters of Texas once a year for Skyline Cincinnati-style chile, Graters Ice Cream, Montgomery Inn Ribs...and Taco Bell. He says he can get his fill of real Mexican food any time he wants...but his town doesn’t have a Taco Bell!

[editor-surveyor]

"Taco Smell"

That's what my daughter calls them too.

[Sue Perkick]

LOL. I remember that. He was great in that movie.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

My Mom’s family is from South Texas, and I cut my teeth on good Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is much better than Taco Bell, and different from what Mexicans eat in the interior of Mexico. It is similar. In Mexico, the people eat, peppers, tortillas, and many of the things included in Tex-Mex. However, Tex-Mex is generally more similar to sandwich food, not a main course like Carne Asado, or a steak.

[Alter Kaker]

The James Beard Foundation is trying to rename Corn Smut the “Mexican Truffle.”

[Cyropaedia]

They do put meat in their food, -just not ground beef.

[dforest]

I can’t see accepting a cheesy, beefy, burrito as a “not fair” exchange for taking over the US, free healthcare and college, and all the perks ...I just can’t understand it. /s

[Eagle of Liberty]

The food you get there is *far* different than,and *far* better than,what you get here.I wouldn't be surprised if the same were true with "Mexican" food.

Well, many of my co-workers have been to both Mexico AND China. Reports back from Mexico typically state that there are some American chains that serve somewhat realistic Mexican food, but Taco Bell ain't one of them. Reports back from China say that they couldn't stand their cuisine. It was too bland. They have said that while the American version of Chinese food isn't very close to authentic, they would eat our version over their version.

Honestly, I find comparing American versions of just about any foreign food crazy as many don't even come close. And I find it hilarious that many here bash fast food for not being Filet Mignon. It is Fast Food! What do you people expect for a buck!

[editor-surveyor]

Toxic waste disposal techniques of North America.

[Tijeras_Slim]

*SIGH*

Poor New Mexico, so far from Heaven, so close to Texas. ;)

[Alter Kaker]

I don't eat Mexican style food and I've never been to Mexico but I can say from personal experience that the "Chinese" food sold in this country doesn't even remotely resemble the food that you get in China (southern China,at least),Hong Kong and Macau.The food you get there is *far* different than,and *far* better than,what you get here.I wouldn't be surprised if the same were true with "Mexican" food.

Not only that, but to a large extent there's no such thing as "Mexican" food. Instead, you have regional cuisines -- Oaxacan food or Michoacan food for example -- many of which have as much in common as Texas barbecue brisket and a New England boiled dinner. In some places in the US you can get good Mexican food, but you have to be in the right place and know what you're looking for.