Tex-Mex compared to Mexican food (tequilla, ingredients, restaurant, fast food)

[fjtee]

I've not been to Mexico yet and have been told that that means I've never had Mexican food. This is my mother speaking. She said I've only eaten Tex-Mex in the US. Yet, she was unable to clearly tell me the difference. All I've been able to discern is that Tex-Mex uses more cheese and uses beef. Oh, and I've been told that burritos aren't served in Mexico. There must be a way to know if I'm in an authentic Mexican restaurant or a Tex-Mex restaurant. Either way, I'm sure I'd be a happy eater. I am also sure many of you have been to Mexico and have eaten at Mexican restaurants here in the US. Who can explain the difference to me in a nutshell? Thanks.

[rickers]

Not very much about Mexican food can be explained in a nut shell !
I would say that most Tex Mex food is all very similar where ever you find it.
Mexican food in Mexico varies extremely between regions towns and families. I think it would be safe to say that there are as many cooking styles in Mexico as there are Mexican cooks !
If the plate has refried beans and a bunch of yellow cheddar cheese you can bet it isn't authentic Mexican food !

[Ira500]

There is plenty of authentic Mexican food in the US, but Tex-Mex is more common. Authentic Mexican food is spicier, less meaty, and less cheesy...It focuses on freshness of ingredients. Tex-Mex is also authentic, but it's not authentic Mexican, more a hybrid of cowboy cuisine and Northern Mexican...there is lots of good Tex-Mex out there, but most of the Mexican restaurants in the US aren't either real Mexican or real Tex-Mex, rather places that are catering to American tastes by using processed ingredients to produce something quickly . Real Mexican uses more whole beans than refried...Real Tex-Mex specializes in enchiladas with a mild gravy on top. I like them both. What I don't like are these fake Mexican places with this fake festive atmosphere " Hola, Amigos!", that serve greasy, mild, processed food.

[TexasHorseLady]

There's interior Mexican, and then there's Tex-Mex. Similar, but not the same thing at all, and you can find dishes in one cuisine that you can't in the other and vice versa.

There's a lovely restaurant here that serves both Interior Mexican and Tex-Mex - two separate menus. The interior Mexican is made from family recipes that the three brothers who started it got from their mother and grandmother.

It is to die for.

[seattlerain]

Is it real, or is it Tex-Mex?

"Traditional Mexican cuisine dates back 3,000 years to the Mayans, who based their diet on corn, beans and vegetables. Most Americans confuse Tex-Mex specialties such as chili, chimichangas, nachos and hard-shell tacos, often laden in processed cheese and sour cream, with real Mexican food. The same goes for Cal-Mex fusions, such as the burrito, which combines fresh vegetables, fish and even fruit-based salsas with rice and beans in a flour tortilla.
Few Mexicans have ever even seen or heard of such foods."

[Nomadicus]

I've stayed with friends in Mexico and had a little taste of the real thing. Granted it was a border town but still not the USA fast food style of tex-mex. One thing was certain you were gonna get beans. Beans every meal. At least I did. I had fried peppers (forgot the correct spelling) of sorts, and eggs hueos. There was never ground beef used. If there was beef to be had it was sliced very thin or it was small chunks that were stewed in a type of gravy. The torillias were made from corn gound just minutes before the meal time. Tomatoes were available when I was there. Not a lot of cheese if memory is correct. The long and short most all meals centered around beans and corn. Oh and the salsa was to die for. It to was prepared just before setting down to the table. And like early america, the shortening they used was lard. Didn't bring any recipes home but that was my fault. Sure wish I had. Hot peppers were a given with the beans. Never saw anyone who passed on the jalapenos. TexMex is a convenience. All wrap up nice and neat for a lot of the items. And there is nothing wrong with it at all. I like a lot of the texmex items. If you ever witness the real Mexican technique of eating you may not see a fork. Rather the beans scooped up with a piece of tortillia. Hey it works.

[Calico696]

Authentic Mexican food is very different from what Americans consider Mexican.

Check out the menu for this fantastic authentic Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia. Some of the best food and 100 different kinds of tequilla

Tequilas Restaurant - Authentic Mexican Cuisine - Since 1986

[fjtee]

Thanks, everyone. It's starting to gel now. It's funny how I always thought that cheddar cheese was a basic ingredient of Mexican food. One of these days, I'm going to have to get to Mexico or track down a real Mexican restaurant around here and sample for myself. Next year, I'm headed to China and it will be interesting to learn what real Chinese food is all about.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I agree with what the other posters have said.
I've had both, and enjoyed both--especially the Mexican tortillas.
But I came of age in Colorado and will always have a fond affection for Tex-Mex.

[Claire_F]

This book is fabulous reading about the history of Tex-Mex, and has some great photos. It's a wonderful cookbook as well. I very highly recommend it - not only for learning about the history of Tex-Mex, but for the fantastic recipes.