My girlfriend likes the cheesy gordita crunch, so we get carryout sometimes. Otherwise I drive past Taco Bell to a taco truck or a storefront Mexican joint.
One time between jobs I was working at a convenience store with a Taco Bell attached. They don’t actually cook anything. All of their ingredients come prepackaged and are either warmed in a heating tray or kept in bins until an order comes in. They had pictograms to show how to make a taco. They didn’t hire the best help in the world.
Taco Bell was, and is many American’s first introduction to “mexican food”. Even in my California town we got a TB in 1967, but not a actual sit down Mexican restaurant until 6 years later. And so it goes to this day throughout those remaining counties.
I worked at Taco Bell for a couple of years while in college. The food was not bad. I got a free meal on every shift. However, it would be a stretch to call it “Mexican Food”. What I got out of it was a great respect for people doing such jobs, especially late shifts, for many years of their lives.
Starting at the age of 13, I worked two summers picking tobacco in North Carolina. It was a humbling and very educational experience for the “smartest kid in the class”. Used to be a lot of people had to do field work as part of growing up. Now they zap each other in online games instead.
It’s much harder to paint poor and immigrant people with the same broad brush after you have worked side-by-side with them.
My boss constantly says that the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Tucson is Taco Bell. She supports this with the assertion that somewhere in Mexico right now, there is an abuela making a Mexican pizza. Of course, she might be speaking with her tongue in her cheek.
I appreciate this series on Mexican food and am looking forward to a comparable one about Mexican song and dance, which strike me as some of the most joyous ever composed. (I won’t say choreographed, because that would imply a certain formulaic element quite at odds with the freedom of expression I’ve seen in fiestas and guelaguetzas.)
sevaar777 8 months ago
TB is to authentic Mexican food like Mickey D’s is to 100% pure ground American beef (actually, it’s ‘lean beef trimmings’ AKA ‘pink slime’).
cdward 8 months ago
Does it qualify as food?
scote1379 Premium Member 8 months ago
Given a choice I’ll go for the Taco cart !
SofaKing 8 months ago
My girlfriend likes the cheesy gordita crunch, so we get carryout sometimes. Otherwise I drive past Taco Bell to a taco truck or a storefront Mexican joint.
Bruce1253 8 months ago
One time between jobs I was working at a convenience store with a Taco Bell attached. They don’t actually cook anything. All of their ingredients come prepackaged and are either warmed in a heating tray or kept in bins until an order comes in. They had pictograms to show how to make a taco. They didn’t hire the best help in the world.
RadioDial Premium Member 8 months ago
Taco Bell was, and is many American’s first introduction to “mexican food”. Even in my California town we got a TB in 1967, but not a actual sit down Mexican restaurant until 6 years later. And so it goes to this day throughout those remaining counties.
mistercatworks 8 months ago
I worked at Taco Bell for a couple of years while in college. The food was not bad. I got a free meal on every shift. However, it would be a stretch to call it “Mexican Food”. What I got out of it was a great respect for people doing such jobs, especially late shifts, for many years of their lives.
Starting at the age of 13, I worked two summers picking tobacco in North Carolina. It was a humbling and very educational experience for the “smartest kid in the class”. Used to be a lot of people had to do field work as part of growing up. Now they zap each other in online games instead.
It’s much harder to paint poor and immigrant people with the same broad brush after you have worked side-by-side with them.
Carthago delenda est 8 months ago
My boss constantly says that the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Tucson is Taco Bell. She supports this with the assertion that somewhere in Mexico right now, there is an abuela making a Mexican pizza. Of course, she might be speaking with her tongue in her cheek.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 8 months ago
I appreciate this series on Mexican food and am looking forward to a comparable one about Mexican song and dance, which strike me as some of the most joyous ever composed. (I won’t say choreographed, because that would imply a certain formulaic element quite at odds with the freedom of expression I’ve seen in fiestas and guelaguetzas.)