Making Cultural Connections Through Food

"The Unexpected Lessons of Mexican Food" by Armando Montano is a story of Armando's life growing up Hispanic. His mother is Anglo (white) and his father is Mexican. Growing up in Texas, he remembered watching his family cook Mexican-styled food and later learned how to cook himself. Armando's Mexican side of the family only saw him as white and not Mexican. Then while he was in college he traveled to Buenos Aires where their food wasn't spicy like the Mexican food, so he began to make Mexican food for himself and for his friends. Armando's story reminds me of my friend from Mexico who was also seen as white, but by society rather than her family like in Armando's story. She has shown me and our friends what authentic Mexican food tastes like, and it is better than anything I have ever had before.

Armando grew up with food always cooking at home. He is close with his father and they went on research projects together along the border of South Texas every year since he was a young boy. His father is from Eagle Pass, where they could see the Rio Grande River, Mexico, and the United States. I have always wanted to see the Rio Grande River in person and I think Armando was pretty lucky to be able to explore such diverse lands and cultures growing up. My friend Brigitte is from Mexico and when she was six years old her family moved to Texas, just like how Armando was living in Texas. I think it is pretty amazing that their stories are so similar.

When Armando went to Buenos Aires, the food was of a Western European diet so he didn't like it very much because it lacked the rich flavors of Mexican food. He missed the spices of Mexican food, and decided to cook his own food with his friend Guillermo. Armando had Guillermo and his friends try his food and they thought it was too spicy. After making food for his friends regularly, they developed a tolerance for the spices and enjoyed the delicious taste of the Mexican food, which is similar to what happened when my friend Brigitte had me and our friends try authentic Mexican food.

Brigitte came to Wisconsin when she was a teenager and found a whole new type of diet compared to the food in Mexico and Texas. She told me and our friends that her family cooked Mexican food every day in their home. One day when we were all hanging out she decided to make us a meal. I was a little nervous because I can't handle spicy food very well. As she was cooking, I could smell the meat and vegetables which smelt amazing and I was excited to eat it. When I took my first bite it was a little spicy at first, but after awhile I was fine eating the rest of the food on my plate. It was the best food I ever had! There were tacos and somehow they tasted like no other taco I have ever eaten before! We all wanted Brigitte to make us more Mexican food because it was so good.

Brigitte also said when her family doesn't want to cook they go to El Mezcal, which is similar to Armando and his father going to Chipotle when they don't feel like cooking. Mexican food is great and Mexicans love eating it every day. I love Mexican food and I hope to learn how to cook a variety of styles of food. I think it is great to see my friend Brigitte, and Armando, staying true to their culture and bringing it wherever they go.