America's Mexican Audiobook

" Very interesting history of Mexican food. Particularly interesting for me as my fathers roots are in San Bernardino and new Mexico and have eaten at the still operating Mitla Cafe. But to me, Mexican food is comfort food, even watered down margaritas or too saucy enchiladas. I still crave it often! "

" If you enjoy Mexican food as much as I do, it's definitely worth a read! "

" Another book that really reads like a series of magazine articles instead of a single coherent narrative. This one holds up better than Banana because Gustavo Arellano is an engaging writer and structures the book so that each chapter explores a single, coherent idea. Early chapters provide a glimpse into a world where grizzled 1890s street vendors were ready to knife each other to protect their tamale patches but don't explore it in any depth. Later chapters about the history of Taco Bell and the invention of the frozen margarita that make the book worth reading anyway. "

" This account of how Mexican food has made it's way into American cuisine is funny and informative. I admit to being one of the vanquished! "

" This is a much stronger effort than "Orange County." Sr. Arellano has an excellent, cohesive narrative regarding the rise and subsequent americanization of Mexican food. Is it sometimes a little biased? But of course, but I appreciate his attempts at showing how the bastardization of Mexican food is actually more Mexican than one would believe. I do disagree with his 5 best Mexican meals in America, but the point is to disagree, Sr. Arellano states as much in that chapter. Otherwise, I was fascinated with the stories of the burrito, the birth of the taquito, and the sunrise and sunset of the Mexican chain restaurant. Now, to go make some chilaquiles. "

" I enjoyed all the information about how the foods entered the American diet. The chip on the author's shoulder was a bit hard to read around at times. "

" A little too encyclopedic at times, the book does tell a good set of tales about why America (and the world) embraces and usually transforms wave after wave of Mexican dishes. "

" Really interesting about the origin of Mexican food in the US. I can now argue about what is "authentic" Mexican food. "

" Gustavo Arellano ("Ask a Mexican") has done for Mexican-American food what Jennifer 8. Lee did for Chinese-American food in "The Fortune Cookie Chronicles." Both feature tales of plucky immigrants who conquer prejudice with flavor. "

" Reading this book got me thinking a lot about hybridity and the notion of "authenticity," especially in the realm of what is "Mexican" versus "Mexican-American." Lots of interesting burritos for thought along these lines in this book that's ostensibly about food. "

" Although one reviewer was put off by the play with the term "authentic" what i got out of it was that cuisines are continuously evolving and that authentic is a term that just doesn't work. I did wish he had included a list of all the cookbooks he referenced. "

" Delicious... makes the mouth water. My favorite section was the four pages of San Diego style Mexican food in the burrito chapter, including the history of the "-bertos". Wish I could get a California Burrito out here! "

" Makes me homesick for Texas... But as I love all things Tex Mex-- frozen margaritas, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, empanadas, etc, etc, etc.... This book was entertaining, enjoyable, and a fun read! "

" Fun book, but left out so much... "

" In every chapter I had a"Who knew?" moment. This is a delightful history. "

" Quick, fun read about the history of Mexican food in the U.S. in all its variants. Made me hungry. "

" What a great book! A fascinating look at Mexican food in this country. Entertaining and easy to read. "

" Arellano definitely knows how to write about food. I learned a lot of fun facts and historical pieces. "

" made me hungry! Interesting to see how the Mexican foods were Americanized, which foods came first and how they were introduced. "

" very much enjoying this book! "

" I love books about food. I love Mexican food. This was a winner for me. "

" Excellent,very well researched, learned alot. As an aside, Gustavo also doing some good reporting on police brutalty in Anaheim. "

" Witty but purists may be offended that Arellano sees as much validity in Taco Bell and El Torito as he does in Rick Bayless and Diana Kennedy. A fast-paced, entertaining read. "