British Mexican food

"Take On the Takeaway" was on last night when I turned the TV on. They were doing burritos, and I watched with sick fascination and horror as they made pico de gallo with no chiles, cooked plain white rice, and worst of all, put Worcestershire sauce in the beef!  And don't even get me started on the way they pronounced "guacamole"!

If you're curious, here's the Michelin-starred chef's version of burritos:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/tv_and_radio/takeaway_recipe4.shtml

I was so outraged that I had to go make burritos for dinner, with chiles in the salsa, proper Spanish rice, and NO Worcestershire sauce. And they were yummy. 

Oh no.....

You know, I wonder if the Mexicans feel the same way when they see how Americans have adapted their cuisine to our tastes?  Its like when people go to Italy and they expect find American Italian food, its just not the same!

We are so used to American Mexican food (TexMex or whatever), that British Mexican seems horrific.

I have no prob with American Mexican or Italian, its what I'm used to and I like it!

The "guacamole" pronunciation set my teeth on edge and I found myself yelling at the TV every time he did it. With this and the 'cuck' guy from Kitchen Criminals, it makes me wonder where BBC2 is getting these announcers from. I was stunned when she won when she didn't even put all the ingredients inside the tortilla. It wasn't a fair fight.

British Mexican food is pretty terrible but I don't really see why so many people are surprised that it's not easy to find here or that people aren't very knowledgeable about it.  I imagine the popularity of Mexican food in the US has a lot to do with it's geographical proximity, and cultural exposure due to immigration.  There's no reason why Mexican food would be particularly prevalent or well known in the UK.

I totally agree on the American Italian food thing though.  My dad is Italian and all his family live there and the food in Italy and the "Italian" food in the US is worlds apart.  I'm a real snob about Italian food though, it's crap here too.   

The TV chefs never do Mexican food right. Except for Gino D'Acampo in that series where he went to Mexico.

How did they pronounce guacamole out of interest?

How did they pronounce guacamole out of interest? 

I second that question.    Given the way the waitress at Pizza Hut mispronounced jalapeno when I was there a few weeks ago, I'm dreading to think..... 

I second that question.    Given the way the waitress at Pizza Hut mispronounced jalapeno when I was there a few weeks ago, I'm dreading to think..... 

Ja-la-pee-no?

I've heard it pronounced like that before.  I also like fa-jee-ta.

nat-choes is my personal favourite! or as my ex's mother used to say "nashos" !!!

How did they pronounce guacamole out of interest?

"Guac" rhyming with "quack", and "mole" as in the small burrowing animal.

*tongue firmly in cheek*
I have very low expectations for Mexican food in the UK, but that doesn't stop me from making fun of it.  I'm a Mexican food snob and proud of it!

Ja-la-pee-no?

You got it. 

"Guac" rhyming with "quack", and "mole" as in the small burrowing animal.

You're kidding?   No, I believe it!      

"Guac" rhyming with "quack", and "mole" as in the small burrowing animal.

I thought that might be it ... I've heard people say that before, also shortened just to "gwak" 

  I'm a real snob about Italian food though, it's crap here too.   

You are going to the wrong places!!! There is such a huge Italian population in the UK, so there is a huge number and variety of Italian restaraunts.  Shop around, but there are some REALLY good places out there.

Vicky

You are going to the wrong places!!! There is such a huge Italian population in the UK, so there is a huge number and variety of Italian restaraunts.  Shop around, but there are some REALLY good places out there.

Too true.  Our local Italian restaurant (right on the street where we live!! ) is owned & operated by an Italian.

You are going to the wrong places!!! There is such a huge Italian population in the UK, so there is a huge number and variety of Italian restaraunts.  Shop around, but there are some REALLY good places out there.

Vicky

I live in Inverness so we only have a few (pretty rubbish) places here, when I lived in Edinburgh I suppose there were a few good places but we're pretty starved for it up here.  I'm sure there are decent places out there but I don't seem to have much luck finding them, i'll stick with my dads stuff until I do  

Ah, fair enough.

Vicky