Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I really liked the first half of the book that follows the beginnings of popular dishes. However, when Arellano starts talking about Mexican food cookbooks, I sort of started loosing interest and that interest decreased up until the final chapter which discusses the top Mexican dishes in the U.S. Overall I thought it was good and absolutely well researched. Fans of Mexican food will find something to like about this book for sure. Taco USA is the second book that I've read this month about Mexican food in America. When I began, I was already a devotee of pure Mexican vanilla and the fair trade coffee of Oaxaca. Now, I've found a USDA certified organic chocolate bar! Gustavo Arellano's book has gone a long way in answering my questions about the history of Tex-Mex and Cal-Mex, why the traditional recipes changed over time, the nutritiousness of the cuisine, and how the introduction of canning, the invention of machinery, and a fascination for fast, street food (throughout our history - not just today) helped an already loved and craved-for cuisine become a regular part of our dinner or lunch repertoire.Now, all I have to do is shop the growers' markets for fresh organic Florida produce, learn to trust and to try new or familiar fruits and veggies imported from Mexico, find a source for local, unmodified corn and heirloom tomatoes, plant a new variety of peppers in the spring garden, and cook up a little Tally-Mex!
What do You think about Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America (2012)?
Deliciously well researched and well written. A great read for any food lover.
—salmanza19
If you enjoy Mexican food as much as I do, it's definitely worth a read!
—Rose
Do you like trying new tacos? I do, and I enjoyed this book.
—Shelly
So obsessed with this book. Love it. So. Much.
—anne
