Trying To Define The Difference Between Tex Mex And Mexican Cuisine

Origins of dishes, food style, and ingredients are hot topics of conversation between foodies

. One question of endless examination is the difference between Tex Mex and Mexican cuisine. Basic shared ingredients (meats, tortillas, chiles, etc) are found in both cuisines. So what is the real difference?

Tex Mex is a term that came to the general masses vocabulary sometime in the early 1970's, about the same time Americans discovered their fundamental love for salty tortilla chips. The term Tex Mex was originally coined to describe all the Mexican restaurants popping up in the Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas. Still in the 1970's, authentic Mexican cuisine had yet to establish its foot-hold on middle-America but by the last few years of the decade Mexican cuisine (or Tex Mex depending on your point of view) would be everywhere.

There's a little touch of the chicken verses the egg argument akin to the defining of Tex Mex and Mexican cuisine. The argument can certainly be made that Tex Mex cuisine was introduced to the United States first but how would we get Tex Mex cuisine without traditional Mexican food first. Attempting to solve this ongoing head-scratcher, the logical first step is to shine some light on native Mexican cuisine.

Like any other foreign, regionalized cuisines, Mexican food reflects the natives, their handed down traditions and techniques, history, religion, and primary available ingredients. Tex Mex takes all of those elements, both human and culinary, and Americanizes them.

Widely thought to be the two cuisine's defining difference, but not agreed upon by all, is that what really separates these two cuisines was the introduction of dairy into or onto most dishes. Burritos slathered in melted cheese with a large dollop of sour cream, many would say Tex Mex. None the less, weather you're a self-proclaimed authentic Mexican cuisine aficionado or cheesy Quesadilla with extra sour cream and guacamole fan, both are delicious.

As an example, Cafe Rio Mexican Grill. Producing food steeped in the Rio Grande Valley tradition, Cafe Rio offers delicious Mexican/Tex Mex fare. Exceptional in their commitment to fresh, natural ingredients, Cafe Rio's menu offers simply prepared dishes brought to you by a helpful, quick staff. This Mexican restaurant giant is poised to become the new epicenter of the Mexican verses Tex Mex argument. A time tested questions that, most importantly, doesn't seem to be stopping anyone from enjoying their food.

by: Cafe Rio

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