Bentley - From Culinary Other to Mainstream America

The relationship that South Western Cuisine has with influencing America is a very rocky one. Millions of Americans benefit from the worldwide phenomena known as Mexican food. It’s supplied hungry Canadians, Americans, and other countries worldwide, with food items, such as tacos, tortillas, burritos, nachos, etc. America, on the other hand, has advertised South Western cuisine in numerous fast food establishments nationwide. Taco Bell is the perfect example of one of the fast food conglomerates that has flourished over the last few decades. It would seem that each has a mutually beneficial agreement, but all is not as it seems.

The South West feels that the concept that made their food unique, has been altered so much by America that the definition of Mexican food, has been forever changed; ingredients are added or removed, traditions and customs are lost, and, as a result, Mexican cultures have been absorbed into American culture, leaving almost none of its originality remaining. For instance, many people of Mexican decent hate the Taco Bell conglomerate; primarily due to the reason that Taco Bell focuses on everything that South Western Cuisine isn’t. It focuses on adding new ingredients that were never a part of traditional South Western food and preparing the food too quickly and with not enough care. Mexican peoples also detest the Taco Bell franchise, due to the wrong messages it purveys to the public; for instance, the Mexican Chihuahua that advertised the American Taco Bell was seen as stereotypical in the eyes of many Mexicans and even had to go through the courts at one point.

Americans, on the other hand, feel that they’re doing a lot for the Mexican Cuisine. They’re having chili cook offs, to promote one of Mexico’s staples; the chili pepper. Also, they’ve integrated corns, jalapenos, and many other South Western originated food into the everyday life of many Americans. America, while also bring the Mexican based snacks, such as Fritos and Tostitos, to the top of the junk food ladder, has also helped Mexican fast food franchises reach the pinnacle as well. They have attracted many customers, who gladly eat there everyday, enjoying the “authentic Mexican” cuisine that is provided to them. At the moment, America is trying to reach out more to the people who believe that the “Mexican” food served right now is not “Mexican” enough. They’re doing what they can to entice the few who want to see Mexican food, the way Mexico originally intended for it to be presented.

However, more recently South Westerners and Americans have enjoyed sharing their customs with each other at social gatherings. They enjoy the conversation, facts they learn about each other’s culture, and, of course, the amazing food that they get to indulge upon. The acceptance that America has felt for Mexican food, has also given an opening into society’s mainstay for Brazilian, Caribbean, Cuban, El Salvadorian, and other Latin cuisines. The various spices and tastes that Americans are experiencing, means that these new food ideas will surely flourish, as the next big businesses to spring up.

In conclusion, while I believe that the South West and America has done a lot for each other, that their customs clashing with each other was inevitable. There has virtually been nothing that has remained the same throughout the years, without changing in some way or another. A perfect example is cars; they started out as scrap metal with an engine thrown in. Due to ideas from Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Canadian, American manufacturers, etc., they have combined the best ideas from every region to benefit the consumer as best they can. Food is much the same; while one country originally started the food, Americans, Canadians, etc. do what they can to, in their eyes, improve it and, at the same time, give credit where credit is due. This, in the end, has opened doors to businesses, such as Taco Bell, who will provide the public with mouth watering meals for years to come.