Letter: Response to last week’s letter “Since when do Fritos make anything Mexican?”

December 10th, 2009 | By J. Pablo Silva Associate Professor of History | Section: Opinion

I was delighted to see in the last issue of the S & B that some Grinnell students had taken the time to list some of their favorite Latin American foods. As the current chair of Latin American Studies I can only applaud their effort to broaden the culinary culture of our community in such a thoughtful and respectful way.

I must admit, however, that I was a little disappointed that their list did not include my own personal favorite Mexican food: the original Caesar Salad. Created in a Tijuana restaurant in the 1920s by the famed Mexican chef Cesar Cardini, it has since become a standard menu item in restaurants throughout the Western world. As a result, it must be considered one of Mexico’s great cultural exports, even if its ubiquity leads some to forget its true provenance.

I highly recommend it to any of you that have not tried it. If you fear that its strong Mexican flavors might prove too much, perhaps you might soften its sharper edges with an addition of corn chips. Bon appétit.