Mexicans: Creative Genisuses!
After listening to an amazing comic, Jim Gaffigan, I decided to research some Mexican food dishes and see how the officials classified each dish. And by officials, I mean dictionary.com. And by research, I mean type in all the Mexican food dishes I know and see what I get. And by type, I mean bash my head against the keyboard.
So to start off, we will begin with the most famous Mexican dish of them all: The Taco. I have a slight preference to the Soft Taco due to my clumsiness while eating the latter. Hard Tacos always fall apart on me, and then I cry. It really is embarrassing. Anywho, what does dictionary.com say?
ta•co (täk) n. pl. ta•cos A corn tortilla folded around a filling such as ground meat, (lettuce, tomatoes), and cheese.
As you can tell, I take some liberties with the definitions. I added in a section from on definition to another to better describe the entry known as the Taco. Lets note the key ingredients: Tortilla, Meat, Vegetables, and Cheese.
Moving on.
The burrito. This is my fav due mainly to a lovely establishment known as Chipotle. If Chipotle was a person, man or woman, I'd have its babies. Little Chipotle Adams burritos running around everywhere. What a day that would be... woot... To the Dictionary, Batman!
bur‧ri‧to [buh-ree-toh; Sp. boor-ree-taw] –noun, plural -tos. Mexican Cookery. a tortilla folded over a filling, as of ground beef, grated cheese, or refried beans.
No liberties were taken here. The Definition is word for word. Key Ingredients: Tortilla, Meat, Cheese, Vegetables. Hmm....
Next.
Fajitas. Though I partake of this entree considerably less than the others, it is still no less a delectable dish.
fa‧ji‧tas [fah-hee-tuhz, fuh‑] –noun (used with a singular or plural verb) a Tex-Mex dish of thin strips of marinated and grilled meat, served with tortillas, salsa, etc.
Yet, again the key ingredients are: Tortilla, Meat, and Vegetables. The cheese is strangely lacking. Every Fajita I have had always came with cheese. Maybe I'll lobby to get that definition changed.
Ok one more for now...
The Enchilada. Dictionary.com don't fail me now!
en•chi•la•da (nch-läd) n. A tortilla rolled and stuffed usually with a mixture containing meat or cheese and served with a sauce spiced with chili.
Yet again. Tortilla, Meat, Cheese, and the Quasi-vegetables: Chili.
The point I'm trying to get across here is that the Mexicans have found a way to repackage the same dish tens, if not hundreds of times. It's amazing. I mean, you could say that about Americans with their hamburgers and Italians with their Pasta, but Mexicans find ways to serve a dish that is not only delicious, but also entertaining! How could you not have fun while eating a dish that comes from south of the border?! Chase it down with a little Tequila and pretty soon everyone becomes a Carlos, Enrique, or Maria.
Oley!
Some type of Mexican culinary conspiracy? Who knows. All I know is that I'll eat any Mexican dish you throw in front of me, hands down. Well, I hope you have enjoyed this little exploration through cuisine from way down south as much as I did. Until later, Adios!
