“Authentic” Mexican food = Tex-Mex in many places. This looks like it.
For all the “cheese product” hate in here: it has its place in certain foods. My favorite response I’ve seen to calling it fake with “it isn’t cheese” is “is meatloaf meat?” Same concept. Meatloaf isn’t fake meat. It’s a product made with meat. Just like cheese with emulsifiers added. I think we just have different levels of linguistic classification attachment to different foods. It may not be “a” cheese, but it’s “cheese”. You’re not far off from going after almond/soy/oat milk.
Okay, that’s a reasonable argument. Although meatloaf doesn’t use any chemical additives, it’s traditionally just ground meat, breadcrumbs, and eggs, along with seasonings and spices. And just like the name implies, it doesn’t pretend to be meat, hence the addition of the word “loaf”, which is usually used for bread. It’s a meat product in the same way that American cheese is cheese product.
As for cheese alternatives made from plants, those are not allowed to be called cheese either. They are allowed to wear the names of the cheese varieties they aim to imitate, but it has to be accompanied by the word “style” and never by the word “cheese”, so you get things like “plant-based cheddar style slices” or “dairy-free mozzarella style shreds”.
Breadcrumbs, eggs, seasonings, and spices are all made of chemicals.
Also fair. I won’t pretend I’m following USDA or whatever naming rules (the “uncured” labeling is bullshit - oh we didn’t use straight potassium nitrate - just celery juice which contains the potassium nitrate), just going with the general language trend I see. YMMV
I did conflate cheese that has built in emulsifiers, “american cheese”, with imitation cheese product (likely the plastic wrapped slices melted onto that dish) which also has emulsifiers and has lower fat content and isn’t as nice. That’s on me, my bad.
tongue-in-cheek, not really ragging it but: “oooooo chemicals” like salt? The potassium nitrate in cured/“uncured” meats? Sodium citrate, one of the most common additives to keep cheese emulsified, is often used in sausage making…and apparently blood banks if wikipedia is to be believed. I know there are horrible things put in processed foods, but “chemicals” is not a useful way to distinguish them. I apologize in advance if I’ve read a too-unfavorable slant into your use of the word chemical.
Fair enough, but in reality, it’s not always sodium citrate, as the FDA permits a whole variety of other emulsifying agents to be used:
Monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate (sodium hexametaphosphate), sodium acid pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, calcium citrate, sodium tartrate, and sodium potassium tartrate
I’m not a chemist so I can’t tell you how good are bad those are for your long term health but as far Kraft Singles are concerned, the choice appears to be sodium phosphate, not citrate.
What in Sam hell is that even supposed to be? Like what did it say on the menu?
“Kill me now, I’m in Iowa”
My experience in Iowa is limited to seeing Cage the Elephant at a casino in Council Bluffs.
Saw music
Got laid
Gambled
Drank
It was alright
Iowa
“It’s alright, we guess.”
Not even close. I left that shit hole a decade ago for a reason and it’s only gotten worse. I really feel for my friends and family that are stuck living under COVID Kim.
Cheese is not supposed to look like that…
That’s a melted Kraft Single. At least they removed the plastic first.
Edit: Yes, they’re wrapped in plastic. Please don’t burn it.
Are you sure about that?
The outside plastic at least
I’ve heard it’s cellulose paper, which can be used to roll weed.
I’ve heard that, but can’t and won’t confirm it.
I think you’re thinking of the paper in between slices of cheese, whereas the wrapper referenced is a clear plastic wrapper that goes around each individual slice of Kraft American cheese singles. The cheese is also notoriously plastic-like, as you can see in the picture.
No, I mean the clear outer wrapping. Clear cellulose wrapping papers do exist.
I’ve actually tested this between different brands of wrapped cheese slices (didn’t try rolling a J, just tried burning it).
One of my three tests actually burned like paper would, the other two melted as plastic does.
Honestly, I forget which cheese brand had the clear cellulose wrapping, but it would have actually worked as a clear joint paper.
What in the actual fuck, TIL!
That said, I would never ever ever smoke the clear wrapper even if it burnt like paper. Glad your science was just observational haha
I did use a blank page from the Bible as a rolling paper once. I figured the ink was probably not great for the lungs, and it seemed less, idk, sinful to smoke the blank page instead of Psalms.
I didn’t see the packaging listed on the website outside of a recent recall. As of September 19, 2023, the wrappers are made of plastic. I wouldn’t suggest inhaling fumes from its combustion.
That’s cheez.
That’s not cheese, that’s yellow shrink wrap
“imitation pasteurized processed cheese food”
Most of the more or less authentic Mexican food I’ve had doesn’t actually have much, if any, cheese. That shit ain’t cotija either.
It’s like the recipe went through a game of telephone as it passed each state before reaching Iowa. I’d hate to see what Maine looks like
Yup, I moved to an Iowa town with a lot of hispanic representation and was excited that there was a couple mexican restaurants in my area. The one everyone seems to love isn’t THIS bad but its 100% made for white people “mexican” food. Thankfully, the hole the wall a couple blocks away is authentic.
The hole in the wall places are always the best, I think that’s true for most regional cuisines
Honestly, it could be a thousand Iowa towns, but I think you just described Taco Tico in Fort Dodge. Drive thru runs onto the street often.
Didn’t know there were Taco Tico restaurants outside of Indiana and Kentucky. Taco Tico is basically Taco Bell. They aren’t trying to be authentic Mexican, they are trying to be TexMex.
Lol nope, Perry.
What the fuck
These words were just on my tongue.
The beans and rice bowls look pretty good, although I’ll bet they’re not spicy enough.
The cheese things… I can’t even figure out what’s supposed to be in there.
My guess is pollo fundido. It’s like a chimichanga covered in cheese and creamy sauce.
Those are slices of American Cheese, which is a pasteurized processed cheese food. Not actual cheese.
It makes a nostalgic grilled cheese but whatever is underneath in the pic, it doesn’t deserve that blanket.
American Cheese is processed, however it is real cheese.
https://www.seriouseats.com/whats-really-in-american-cheese
It is also a damn near magic ingredient for anyone that doesn’t have access to pure sodium citrate, and wants a silky smooth cheese sauce that won’t break even when you put it in the fridge and reheat in the microwave. Just make your cheese sauce as normal with whatever cheeses you want. Once you’ve gotten it melted and combined, add a single slice of American cheese. The flavor won’t change in the slightest since American cheese has a fairly mild flavor, but the texture absolutely will change to that perfect nacho cheese sauce texture everyone knows and loves.
That is an interesting use. Thanks.
I will say this, while this does seem like a weird combo, The US has a knack for transforming simple, low-quality ingredients amazingly delicious dishes.
I’d try it prior to hating it. It’s pretty good, regardless of the of cheese.
Doesn’t look very fun at all
…the f*ck is a chimichanga?..
chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito. Its usually a flour tortilla filled with shredded beef, chicken, or pork, along with rice, beans, cheese, and seasonings.
Go eat one they kick ass!
You can swear on Lemmy
Oh shut the front door, for flipping real? What the frick? Why does nobody ever tell me this sh*t? Now I feel like a bleeping idiot.
Pretty good ?
This post is curiously short of details as to where such a feast is found in Iowa. I’ll give you a hint: there is a lot of good Mexican food in Iowa. It is usually in hole-in-the wall restaurants that don’t look like anything, and are owned by Mexican families. My guess is this food is from some sort of “family” restaurant. And the family is not Mexican or South American in ethnicity.
I am no online detective but I would guess this is from a restaurant called El Patron. There are a number of restaurants with that name in Iowa. As an example of one that claims to be “authentic”, checkout this place in Des Moines:
My guess is that this place is owned by a Mexican family. I bet many other dishes they serve look more appetizing. Even with the crappy American cheese, this dish probably tastes better than it looks.
But what do I know? I am neither Mexican nor American. I have never eaten Mexican food in Iowa.
Edit: the logo matches this place in Waterloo. No website. Google reviews are pretty good. Not sure what expectations the residents of Waterloo have for their restaurants of course…
El Patron Family Mexican 301 East 4Th Street Waterloo, IA 50703 +1 319-287-8110
It’s authentically made by a Mexican cook, but that dude fell on his head a lot as a kid.
I want to downvote this, but I won’t.
You should.
After moving from Chicago I was stunned at the lack of Mexicans around here, and the lack of food. After Hurricane Ivan we got workers to move here and now I can get legit Mexican.
At first I thought you said TO Chicago and I was like you can’t throw a stick without hitting a good mex place in Chi town wtf…ohhhhh
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What was ordered?
Google says that’s El Patron in Waterloo Iowa, the menu shows “Pollo Fundido” which says it’s covered in American cheese, so 🤷
Some other things on the menu look pretty good tho.
So OP… got what they ordered?
Can confirm, a restaurant near me serves a Pollo Fundido that looks exactly like this. Honestly it’s pretty good but I have trash taste.
Its Mex-Ameri-trash Fusion!
Triple the price
“Pollo Fundido” translates to “Melted Chicken” in case anyone was wondering.
shudders
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The white people platter
This is utter filth and an insult to the fine people and cuisines of Mexico. Fuck Iowa.
that cheese alone is already an insult to cheese
The hell? You guys are right next to Wisconsin, you should be able to get some real cheese…
When i go to Tennessee, I usually carry Texas Pete or a jalapeno in my purse because all the food tastes like a biscuit.
LMAO! I bought a bottle of Tapatio last time I was in TN so I’d have something.
I had a friend from ND visit and asked me for the patio sauce. The other 3 of us at the table had no idea until he pointed to Tapatio.
Most south east “white” people food suffers from this lol
