Mexican Food

Do you remember when and where you first ate real Mexican food? And by that I mean Mexican, not some sub-genre, like Tex-Mex. Or even worse, some quasi-Mexican restaurant somewhere far away, in Europe or somewhere else…

But first, let’s clarify what the difference is. Just briefly.
Tex-Mex is a Texas-based fusion of American and Mexican cuisines, characterized by heavy use of yellow cheddar cheese, ground beef, cumin, and wheat flour tortillas. In contrast, traditional Mexican cuisine relies on white, fresh cheeses (queso fresco), corn tortillas, pork/chicken, and fresh herbs, offering a wider variety of regional flavors. While both share a common origin, Tex-Mex evolved from the Tejano culture in Texas, adapting ingredients to suit American tastes.
For those interested, there are a lot of discussions and debates online about both methods of preparation.
Source: https://www.fix.com/
https://www.fix.com/blog/a-guide-to-authentic-mexican-food/

But my purpose here is to describe my own experience, so as not to get lost in the details.
So, my first time. I know where and when. A small taquería on a side street somewhere in Ciudad Juarez.
A taco stand or taquería is a food stall, food cart or restaurant that specializes in tacos and other Mexican dishes. The food is typically prepared quickly and tends to be inexpensive. A taco is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a small hand-sized corn tortilla topped with a filling. The tortilla is then folded around the filling and eaten by hand. The tortilla is supposed to be light and crisp. It should dissolve the minute it hits the tongue.
It was back in February 1982. I can still see it today, no tables or chairs, just a bar counter.
And so I sit at the counter, order a portion of tacos, and watch them being prepared. The chef diced the roast beef, placed it on the tortilla, and added the sauce. Then he asked me if I wanted onions. Of course I did. He scraped a fresh avocado with a teaspoon and spread it on the taco. He offered me as a side dish some green chilies and a carrot in a small wooden bowl. I tried the taco. Fresh, tasty and hot. I thought, wow green chilies, but OK, green ones aren’t as hot as red ones. And I took a bite. What a mistake, hotter than red ones maybe. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a few locals watching me. I thought, you’re not going to have fun at my expense. I ate another chili and pretended like it was nothing.
It’s true that I love hot food, but sometimes it’s just too much…

Later, of course, I had the opportunity to eat Mexican food several times. Most of the time in Texas. I once spent ten days in Dallas, TX. There was a small taqueria across the street from the hotel. Metal tables without tablecloths and plastic chairs. A small, overweight waitress asked me with a big smile what I wanted. When I ordered my food, she brought me a Corona beer with some corn chips and red salsa. She just pushed that lime wedge into the beer bottle with her fingers. But the food was great. When I came back the next night, she said hello my friend. Oops!

Sometime later, in Austin, TX, on a Saturday morning, I was sitting at a large table with a large Mexican family around it. They recommended me Huevos Rancheros. Southern hospitality. They were loud and chatty. They told me that they come to town on Saturdays to shop and party.
So in conclusion. If you have the chance and if you like spicy food, go to an authentic Mexican restaurant sometime. If you can find one. Not like the one in my hometown, when I mentioned that what they offer is not exactly Mexican food. It was pretty bland and not spicy at all. And they tell me that their customers don’t eat it otherwise. Okay, then don’t call it Mexican.