how the socio-economic status has affected the popularity of Mexican food
In America, Mexican restaurants have gained popularity and serve more than a thousand customers daily. These restaurants make dishes that consist of a balanced diet, and Mexican restaurants in America cater to thousands of consumers. In light of this, approximately 38,000 restaurants have adopted Mexican dishes within the United States hence attracting a vast number of consumers. Also, Latino food stores have contributed to a large customer base. Thus, the ever-evolving cooking techniques associated with Mexican meals, affordable prices, the influx of immigrants from Mexico, and the observance of annual Latino festivals also contribute to the success of Mexican restaurants in America. Briefly, the paper aims at providing an overview of how Mexican cuisine has gradually become appealing to the Americans. It also deduces how the Mexican culture and image propel the popularity of Mexican cuisine. Moreover, it highlights how the socio-economic status has affected the popularity of Mexican food while also linking the popularity of Mexican cuisine to the success of American fast food in foreign countries.
Availability, Fashion-ability, and Variability of Mexican Food
Today, Mexican restaurants have gained popularity due to their different and unique cuisines, and meals served to their consumers. In light of this, Jeffrey Pilcher elaborates on how Mexican cuisine, tacos, enchiladas, and other specialties have appealed to many Americans and other ethnic societies. He quotes, “The international presence of Mexican cuisine has expanded tremendously since the 1960s. Before that time, it was hard to find tacos or enchiladas outside Mexico or its former territory, the South-western United States. Still, Mexican restaurants and processed foods are now available around the world.” (Pilcher 531). Mexican meals came about following the past interactions between different people.
Furthermore, most of the United States’ food restaurant chains and industries produce Latino dishes. It is a significant transformation from the traditional meals that were of American Indian origin and consisted of maize, beans, and squash. Nonetheless, Mexican cuisines were not readily accepted by the American people in the past as they perceived them to be unhealthy. According to Picher, it has taken a significant amount of time for the Americans to embrace Mexican cuisines. “Latino foods were seen as foreign and dangerous by earlier generations, many of whom defined ”American” food narrowly as the product of New England kitchens” (Pilcher 537). Earlier, Mexican foods got considered unhealthy and unfit for human consumption. Spicy meals led to the Mexican denial of food citizenship. However, ethnic exclusion has come to an end with many treasuring Latino meals. Mexican restaurants have become a new trend since they keep innovating modern diets to suit a large number of tourists visiting the United States. They offer fresh vegetables as opposed to the typical canned food available in food stores. People love flavourful delicacies. Latino restaurants have mastered the art of including mole, salsa, and Pico de gallo in their menus. The mixture of the three sauces makes meals very tasty, thus attracting many customers.
Cultural Festivities and Popularity of Mexican Food in the U.S.
Cultural festivities in Mexico have led to Latino foods gaining popularity among Americans. America accommodates cross-cultural displays in its socio-economic activities. According to an article by Lu and Fine, “Ethnic entrepreneurs in American society often carve out an economic niche through business enterprises and cultural events that are open to the general public and showcase ethnic culture.” (Lu and Fine 544). Mexicans often get tied with corn such that every festival conducted in Mexico must include a meal made out of corn. The pattern of corn harvests determines the festivities held in the country. According to one woman from India, corn caters to the spiritual, physical, and economic needs of people hence allowing everyone to live in harmony.
The cultural significance of corn has a significant impact on the success of Mexican restaurants in the United States. Corn is usually incorporated in most dishes served in Mexican ceremonies. Duruz Jean addresses how cultural events expressed through food. “Reflecting on the cultural implications of this particular take on hybrid foods and cooking, the essay traces the history of a Mexican –Asian restaurant on Eight Avenue in Chelsea’s restaurant strip.” (Jean 58). Mexicans celebrate almost everything that happens in their community. For instance, the dead also gets commemorated every year in November, whereby the Catholic Church inspired it. During this period, the locals offer gifts in the form of cocoa, fruits, seeds, and take food items to the graves. Besides, the festival gets marked by the preparation of traditional meals, which include corn, tacos, Burritos, Fajitas, and Tamales. Most of these foods are served in Mexican restaurants in America, thus drawing inspiration from the festivities held in Mexico, gaining popularity among Latinos, Hispaniola, and the general American population.
Socio-economic Status of Immigrants and Popularity of Mexican Food in the U.S.
Notably, the socio-economic status of immigrants affects the popularity of Mexican food in the United States. Most of the immigrants are low-income earners; thus, they prefer eating in Mexican restaurants as they offer affordable and healthy meals altogether. In so doing, they enhance the popularity and lucrativeness of Mexican restaurants in the U.S. Julian Sheryl insists on the affordability and availability of Latino means in the United States. “Many industry watchers tend to lump Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking in one category” (Sheryl 54). The prices of food items in Mexican restaurants do not differ a lot from the menus offering Spanish inspired meals. Several immigrants from Mexico and other parts of the world have little income hence Mexican restaurants, try to adjust their prices to cater to the entire population. Paul Joseph Scanlon, JR. Immigration affects social and economic activities.” That food is necessary for life is universally understood; the knowledge that it is vital to social life as well is universal.” (Scanlon 2). Mexican immigration pattern influences the success of Mexican restaurants. The relatively low prices for Mexican dishes encourage a significant number of people in the United States to dine at Latino food stores. On the other hand, Mexicans prefer consuming healthy diets for fear of obesity and related risks such as heart complications and hypertension. The limited diet plans available for Latinos force them to stick to Mexican restaurants since they provide healthy meals.
The success of American Fast Food
Conventionally, the lucrativeness of American fast food in the rest of the world can be equated to Mexican restaurant success. Americans are known for their fast-food chain culture as it tends to be cheap and their staple food. Hence, the success of American fast-food restaurants in other countries is mainly based on the connection to American culture. More so, the other reason that can be related to the success of American fast food is the socio-economic status of people in other countries. Typically, fast food restaurants in America and other countries tend to be cheap and affordable. Hence, these restaurants gain popularity not only for the cheap meals they offer but also for the exclusive recipes they use to make their food. The American fast food usually is unique such that they use unique methods that cannot be copied hence signifying their origin. Consequently, the success and success of American fast food in other countries can be attributed to American culture and originality.
Conclusion
Consequently, Mexican cuisine is the main contributor to success in Mexican restaurants in the United States since their dishes are representative of their culture. The continued discovery of food varieties by people globally helps do away with the bias initially attached to Latino foods. The quest for cultural conservation inspires the menus of Mexican restaurants in America; thus, Latino restaurants are approximately 38,000 in total across the United States. Similarly, a significant number of immigrants have contributed to the success of these restaurants since they offer healthy and affordable meals. Also, the cultural meaning associated with the Mexican dishes allows the Immigrants, especially from Mexico pay homage to their roots. In sum, the affordability, immigration, culture, and fashionable aspects of food result in the success of Mexican restaurants in the United States.