Mexican

 

For many ex-pat Americans, the food most lamented in its absence is Mexican food.  As comedian Greg Proops has noted, Mexican people have found little incentive to 'leave this land of sun and flavour' and move to the UK.  Indeed, were it not for the imperial proclivities of the British, we would probably not even have the erstwhile curry as a staple of the British menu.  For it is Indian cuisine in the UK that occupies the niche enjoyed in America by Mexican food.

 

Online websites now offer a service, just search your loaction, for example Leeds Takeaway, and then search for your area to find nearby takeawys. Sites like this offer their customers a chance to find their local takeaways and order online, and depending on where they live they may even get a free delivery service. There are loads of sites like this making it even easier to obtain fastfood like mexican food, or Indian and chinese food, or even your everyday kebabs.

 

Much of what is now America, namely the southwest region, used to be part of Mexico, and is still basically home to Latino Americans who have, via their migration throughout the United States, introduced their cuisine to virtually every region.

 

Mexican food, like so many other cuisines of the world, is basically simple food that can be readily acquired and prepared by the average working family.  As such, it is generally cheap, easy to make, and, crucially, tasty.  For without the flavour, food gets quite boring, and that can be dangerous to  morale.  Key ingredients in the preparation of Mexican food are beans, chiles, tortillas (Mexican flat bread), tomatoes and peppers.  Various animal products like meat and eggs play a big role as well.

 

Mexican food has its various fast-food analogues.  Some of the most well-known are Taco Bell, Taco Johns, and Taco Time and are to Mexican food what McDonald's is to the barbecue.  Nevertheless, these establishments are staples of the late-night crowds.  Indeed, Taco Bell is currently marketing its “fourthmeal” strategy to attract those leaving the bars and clubs long after the sun has set.  And many is the American a long, long way from home, who will, somewhat forlornly, find themselves ordering a kebab at three o'clock in the morning in Anywhere, UK, vainly, silently (okay, maybe not) wishing for just a little bit of that sunshine and flavour that is Mexican food.