I don’t really remember when I had my first Mexican food. Maybe it was at a Taco Bell, but I’m not “sure. Clearly, Taco Bell is not authentic Mexican food. My first experiences of true Mexican food were probably in the 1970’s, when I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to attend graduate school. At that time, I was so unfamiliar with Spanish, that I didn’t even know how to pronounce students’ last names. Imagine you having a teaching assistant for Introductory Psychology who pronounced you last name as “Pa Dilla” instead of “Padiya/Padilla”.
But it didn’t take me long to become acquainted with Mexican food. It was the rage in Albuquerque, and we knew that there were many different qualities to the food. Being a poor student, we went the cheapest restaurants. Regardless of the quality, most of the restaurants were owned by people of Mexican heritage. The cheapest Mexican food was at an All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant on the way out of town on Central Avenue. It may have been called Panchos, and it was all we could afford. Whenever we wanted more food, we raised a Mexican flag on a flagpole that was on our tables. The food was mediocre, but we just needed to eat, and we accepted the food for what it was. You could stiill get Chile Rellenos and Enchilladas, which were my favorites. Honestly, I really don’t know who prepared the food. But, unfortunately, it fit the stereotype of cheap Mexican food.
There were also restaurants like Baca’s and Pete Duran’s, which we knew to be high-end Mexican food. It was only when treated to a meal, or during celebrations, that we were able to eat their food. Pete Duran’s made the best Huevos Ranchos that I have ever had, and there is no doubt that this is a Mexican-owned and mainatined restaurant. So, at some level, I had a sense of cultural aspects of Mexican food in New Mexico. But, from then on, I would always avoid Taco Bell, and, when possible, appreciate the highest quality of Mexican food.
Tacos Queens 