In its native region of South Texas, the perfectly cooked butterfly and marinated skirt steak is often garnished with pico de gallo; a concoction of onions, tomatoes, green chilies, serrano peppers and cilantro. However, we do not call this Mexican dish skirt steak. Instead, we call it fajitas. Authentic Tex-Mex fajitas are strips of steak thrown on a pit and mesquite-grilled, later to be rolled up in homemade flour tortillas and served with a sides of refried beans and rice. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the true origin of the fajita and oftentimes confuse the word “fajita” with any sort of mockery meat simply flavored with onions, peppers, and Mexican spices.
HISTORY
The Vaqueros (ranch hands) along the Texas-Mexico border…show more content… The population in South Texas is primarily Hispanic (Recio, Sweeten 141). Chefs from all over the world have traveled to McAllen, Texas for fajita festivals and cook-offs. The festivals that occur each year bring the community together. Over time, “the valley,” as it is affectionately called, is gradually becoming a thriving and growing economy. The Mexican food and culture is so dominant in the South Texas border town that people who are of different ethnicities will often identify as Hispanic because of the strong cultural connection that they have been exposed to. In the Tex-Mex world, second generation Hispanics grow up speaking a mixture of both English and Spanish, or “Spanglish”. This language is a beautiful mix, but it is considered “improper” Spanish. With this mixed language we are embedded in a Tex-Mex culture intertwined and influenced through good music, traditions, and recipes passed down from our abuelas (grandmothers). The recipes follow the heart and the herbs and spices encompass the Mexican way of life while we embark on an old but familiar…show more content… In the McAllen-Rio Grande Valley area you will find taco stands left and right where fajita tacos are less than five dollars. A low price for Mexican tacos is usually an indicator that the food is authentic. While this sounds a bit bazaar, it could not be any truer. Fajitas are high in protein with iron and vitamins and, if cooked properly, have less fat than your traditional American cheeseburger. Essentially, fajita plates and tacos are well balanced meals. Some of the best tacos in the Rio Grande Valley are on five-mile line in Mission, Texas. Five mile tacos are delicious and inexpensive. Breakfast tacos, better known as the “Q taco,” are served in many convenience stores in McAllen, Texas. This signature breakfast taco is served with scrambled fluffy eggs with melted cheese and potatoes with refried beans smothered smoothly over a flour tortilla. We also have delicious barbacoa tacos that derive from the head of a cow, primarily the cheeks. Barbacoa cooking smells like south of the border, rich in a plethora of Mexican herbs and spices. A more commonly known city in Texas is San Antonio. In this thriving large city you can also get a taste of the Tex-Mex experience In “An insider’s guide to dining in San Antonio,” Jones describes how the people of San Antonio eat their tacos, often times garnishing it with hot