Jeffrey Pilcher
People often ask, "what is authentic Mexican food?" The burritos and taco shells that many people think of as Mexican were actually created in the United States, while Americanized foods have recently been carried around the world in tin cans and tourist restaurants. By telling the stories of the "Chili Queens" of San Antonio and the inventors of the taco shell, this lecture shows how Mexican American helped to make Mexican food global. It will examine the differing historical perceptions of Mexican food as well as the contemporary struggle between globalization and national sovereignty represented by the clash of fast food and Mexican regional cuisines.