Ordering Mexican food can be done the smart way or the careless way. The smart way leads to a night of great dining and a fun cultural experience; the careless way leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and that's not a metaphor. Follow a few simple guidelines and enjoy Mexican food the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
Instructions
1. Make sure it's authentic Mexican food. Go online and see what places were voted Best Mexican Restaurant in a local newspaper and make sure they serve primarily Mexican food. This is especially important in regions that aren't known for great Mexican food. Look for ingredients that will indicate Tex-Mex rather than authentic Mexican: cumin, lots of meat products, nachos and hard shell tacos, chimichangas and chili. Look for places that serve dishes like corn and soft shell tacos, guacamole, fajitas, mahi-mahi and enchiladas.
2. Keep in mind what types of ingredients are personally disagreeable and don't be afraid to ask the person taking your order to omit them. Chili peppers and contain a substance called capsaicin that can overwhelm people with sensitive taste buds. Lard is also a common ingredient in some traditional Mexican meals such as tamales so ask what dishes are made with vegetable oil if saturated fats are a no-no.
3. Complement the dish with a delicious bebida. Sangria, traditionally a Spanish drink with sweetened wine, fruit and brandy, goes well with just about any Mexican dish and can be made non-alcoholic. Ask for a drink in Mexican by ordering cerveza, tequila, margaritas, horchata, atole, aquas frescas and liquados also complement Mexican dishes extremely well.
4. Know and use some main Mexican food terms. Carne is meat, pescado is fish, marisco is seafood, legumbres is vegetables, fruta is fruit, sopa is soup and postre is dessert. For a more complete list of Mexican food vocabulary consult the resources section.
5. Get a big bunch of people together such as family or friends. Family is the center of social structure in Mexico. This will bring about a better cultural experience. Ordering Mexican food on a date could lead to uncomfortable situations after dinner.
Tags: Mexican food, authentic Mexican, cultural experience, Ordering Mexican, Ordering Mexican food