No, Sellers Bros., Jalapeños are not Mexican Squash

Posted on August 4, 2020 by


I’m not entirely sure why, but a Texas supermarket chain decided to jalapeñosplain what a chile jalapeño is by calling it “Fresh Mexican Squash.”

Really? After all these years in the USA I can safely say that both, Mexicans and non-Mexicans have a pretty clear idea of what a jalapeño is: a medium-sized chili pepper pod, which is widely used in Mexican and TexMex dishes (and even drinks!). If anything, a “Mexican squash” –at least for this blogger– would be nothing but delicious calabacitas my grandma used to prepare with ham, corn and sour cream when I was growing up in Mexico.

So, don’t try so hard, Sellers Bros: A jalapeño is a jalapeño is a jalapeño.

Photo via Reddit

Posted in Awkard homages, Food, Marketing & Advertising, Mexico, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pro-Trump Super PAC Thinks this Ad Is in Spanish

Posted on August 2, 2020 by

A Spanish-language pro-Trump TV ad running airing in Florida, has been highly criticized by democrats for its intent on “dividing Black and Latino communities over Joe Biden’s possible pick of a Black running mate.” What many have yet to see is that the Spanish copy in this thing is… a train wreck, with prepositions missing and made up words (Unidoes, Populacion, etc.)

I get it. I’m pretty sure the people behind the spot, namely the Committee to Defend the President, had a hard time finding an actual Spanish speaker to proofread their disastrous copy, but had they turned to Google Translate, I’m sure it would have done a much better job.

Posted in 2020 U.S. Presidential Campaign, Language, Politics, Spanish, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

COVID Taco Joint Serves Everything but Bat Tacos 🦠

Posted on July 28, 2020 by

Filing under “Mexicans: How Can Anyone Not Like Us?”

Photo via Reddit

Posted in Awkard homages, Food, Latin America, Marketing & Advertising, Mexico, Tacos, Why I Love Mexico | Leave a comment

No, Trader Joe’s; I Don’t think Trader José Is Racist 🙄

Posted on July 21, 2020 by

In the latest sign that fighting racism in America is not really going to the heart of the problem, Trader Joe’s this week said it will be removing names such as Trader José’s, Arabian Joe’s and Trader Ming’s that critics say are racist and “perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”

The scrutiny comes after a group of young people created a Change.org petition demanding the company to “remove racist branding and packaging from its stores.” At press time, said petition had a little over 3,400 signatures, which is really not that much, considering we’re like 50 million Hispanics around. Said critics insists that Trader Joe’s labeling “belies a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”

But based on the reactions of many Latinos on Twitter and other platforms, it seems that the so-called stereotype bothers more people who are actually not Latinos lol. Or, in other words, as my pal @DealinRugs said: “There’s bigger fish to fry.”

I don’t know man, I’m way more offended by many of your large corporations’ take on Mexican food, even if they’re not called Juan or José… (Yes, I’m looking at you, Pinche Quesarito).

Via: NPR

 

Posted in Food, Language, Marketing & Advertising, Racism, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ivanka Trump Poses with Can of Goya Beans. Hilarity Ensues

Posted on July 15, 2020 by

To own the libs, you know?

When it comes to Latino foods and the Trump presidential family, you can expect only the worst: From a ridiculous Taco Bowl post to celebrate Cinco de Mayo to the president’s daughter –and presidential adviser– posing with a can of Goya black beans (Yes, Goya. Black. Beans) to… own the libs you know?

Ivanka’s post posted Tuesday night was a response to boycott calls of the Goya brand after its chief executive officer, Robert Unanue, praised President Trump at a White House event, saying that “we’re all truly blessed” to have him as a leader.

Here’s the original post by the presidential adviser followed by some of the best responses on Twitter.

Make Chiva-Cola Great Again

Now, that’s Better!

Jodiendo Mexicanos

Like Daughter, Like Father

Who did this?

All Beans Matter

Ouch

New Wall Proposal

Ivanka in a nutshell

 

Posted in 2020 U.S. Presidential Campaign, Awkard homages, Food, Marketing & Advertising, Stupid propositions | 1 Comment

This Book Wants you to Find Frida the Same Way you Find Waldo

Posted on July 6, 2020 by

What better way to celebrate Frida Kahlo’s upcoming birthday than… by making a book to find her as we go about finding Waldo?

Publisher Laurence King is busy promoting Find Frida, a new book by Catherine Ingram (illustrated by Laura Callaghan) which promises to immerse the reader in the colourful world of Frida Kahlo using “twelve intricately drawn scenes, each detailing a key aspect of her life – from her eccentric teenaged years and infatuation with Diego Rivera, to her dynamic arrival as an international artist, her incredible studio and house in Mexico and her deep love of Mexican culture.” All of this for only $17.99 a copy.

I’m not sure she would be thrilled about the idea, but then again, who cares? Communist-loving Frida has proven to be a money-making machine for many non-communist companies that this might also be a hit.

On your mark… Get Set… Find Frida!

Images by: Laura Callaghan

Posted in Awkard homages, Education, Language, Latin America, Latin celebrities, Marketing & Advertising, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Here’s a Mariachi Singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

Posted on July 2, 2020 by

mariachiChances are this blogger will be terribly busy sleeping working on Saturday, July 4, but wanted to let y’all know, I’m all up for diversity. So, without further ado, please enjoy this rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by one of many of the awesome mariachi bands found in Chicago.

HAPPY CUATRO DE CINCOU DE JULIO!

Posted in 2016 presidential campaign, Awkard homages, Immigration, Latin America, Mexico, Music | Leave a comment

The ‘Veggie Taco Plush Set’ Guarantees your Child Will Never Know what Real Tacos Look Like

Posted on June 29, 2020 by

Speaking of culturally-relevant things… there’s a Veggie Taco Plush Set, which for “only” $49 promises to educate your child on the goodness that naturally comes with tacos, including some packets of questionable salsa; slices of avocado and even some cilantro to sprinkle here and there.

According to the description on the Kidrobot webside, the Victorio Veggie Taco Plush set,  “zips open to reveal the whole happy musical gang including backup singers Celia, Sylvia, and Sam Cilantro, Alejandro & Abigail Avocado on the strings, the Tambourine Tomato Twins, the hottest drummer in Yummy World Larry the Hot Sauce Packet and of course the infamous Bean Brothers on the horns.”

Okay, pues. Happy playing kids!

Hat tip: Gonzalo Jimenez

Posted in Awkard homages, Education, Marketing & Advertising, Pinches Hipsters, Stupid propositions, Tacos | Leave a comment

Disney Wants you to Plunk Down $30 for Minnie Mouse Concha Ears Made in China

Posted on June 28, 2020 by

I don’t know about you, but when I think of Disney, I think of a ton of things before thinking Mexican sweet bread. But the house of Mickey Mouse is proudly peddling the $30 Minnie Mouse Concha Ears, which can be found –where else?– inside the Mexico Pavillion at Plaza de los Amigos.

The Concha Ears are apparently very popular among little Mexicans, because of the whole be-proud-of-where-you-come-from-thing. Alas, on closer inspection, these so-called conchas have been assembled in China –as pretty much anything we consume these days.

Way to crush my people’s concha dreams, Disney!

Via: Shop Disney

Posted in Awkard homages, California, Fashion, Marketing & Advertising, Mexico, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

This London Chef Wants you to Put Pineapple Ketchup on Cornflake-crumbed Tacos

Posted on June 24, 2020 by

The lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Thomasina Miers’ children. That is why the co-founder of Wahaca, London’s weirdly-named Mexican eatery, has concocted a recipe for tacos that are… well… sure to please Londoners.

We’re talking about Thomasina’s cornflake-crumb fish tacos with a “tangy tropical ketchup,” which apparently is a mix of pineapple and cayenne pepper. For children you know?

The train wreck recipe includes tossing cabbage, onion and coriander on these things and then sprinkle with sea salt and a bit of lime. Thomasina suggests we eat them at once with a cold beer.

Ok, I’ll do the beer and toss out all the rest. Thanks.

Via: The Guardian

Posted in Awkard homages, Food, Guacala, Marketing & Advertising, Mexico, Stupid propositions, Tacos | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are you a Hispanic in California? Do the Social Distance Thing Using your ‘Cajas de Verduras’

Posted on June 16, 2020 by

Ventura County explaining how much distance is needed to maintain social distancing. English = Skis; Spanish =3 crates of produce, because –as everyone knows– whites ski, while Hispanics do the “picking thing.”

Hat tip: Ray Estrada

Posted in Education, Marketing & Advertising, Racism, Spanish | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mexican Luchadores Ask Hispanics to Pleeeease Wear a Mask

Posted on June 10, 2020 by

El que se quita la máscara, pierde la lucha.

As every Mexican knows, in any good Lucha Libre match, the one who loses their mask pretty much loses the fight.

With this premise in mind, advertising agency d’expósito & Partners has launched “Lucha vs. El Virus,” a PSA campaign aiming to engage Hispanics to protect themselves against COVID-19 and comply with public health practices during the pandemic, which has severely hit the Latino community in the U.S.

“We played with the double meaning of the Spanish word lucha,” Paco Olavarrieta, CCO at d expósito & Partners, told ADWEEK. “On one hand, lucha means to fight or to struggle and is used figuratively to express that one is working hard or continuing in the fight. On the other hand, lucha is embedded in the name lucha libre, where luchadores wear masks to hide their true identity.”

A Spanish-language PSA has been running on Univision, Telemundo and CNN en Español, while an accented English version of the video just got picked up by NBC and CNN.

The same spot is also available in an accented English version, which you can watch below:

Via: ADWEEK

Posted in Education, Marketing & Advertising, Mexico, Spanish, Television, Univision | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sushiro Introduces ‘Sushi Tacos,’ and they Look as Awful as they Sound

Posted on May 26, 2020 by

Japanese conveyor-belt sushi chain Sushiro is apparently so fond of Mexican food that is launching its own “Sushi tacos,” a so-called “fusion food” that combines, well, sushi with what they think is a taco.

According to local media, Sushiro’s sushi tacos are priced at 170 yen (about US$1.60 each), and ordered via a touch panel at your seat, just like any other item on the Sushiro menu. And if you think said taco looks hideous in the picture above, wait until you see it in real life.

¡Dios mío!

Fortunately, these things, are only available in Japan –and this blogger certainly hopes it will stay this way.

Posted in Awkard homages, Food, Guacala, Marketing & Advertising, Stupid propositions, Tacos | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Tired of Boring Rosé? How about a Luchador Cabernet?

Posted on May 23, 2020 by

I’m not sure about this

Still stuck at home with plenty of time to try novelty beverages? How about playing Lotería while you sip some local wine?

Using the tagline “This is not your abuela’s wine,” a California winery is peddling what seems to be a Lotería-themed set of wines, including a Luchador Cabernet Sauvignon and a La Diablita Red Blend. Most products use a catchy phrase, reminding us that –despite the pandemic– there are things that will never be cancelled, like playing with fire or… wearing a luchador mask.

I have no idea what they taste like and it seems to me it will not be easy to give them a try, as they’re apparently only available in Northern California. But I must say that when it comes to “Latin-themed wine,” I’m pretty skeptical… But who knows, perhaps any of you out there have tried it and care to comment?

Via: 55 Cartas on Facebook

Posted in Awkard homages, Language, Latin America, Marketing & Advertising, Stupid propositions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

When English Translations and Mexico City Collide

Posted on May 22, 2020 by

Find me a better English translation for “Soy el más verga.” I’ll wait

Speaking of my homecountry –and awesome translations– I give you this CDMX pesero, whose owner has earned a spot on this blog for being exactly what he claims to be: The More Dick –presumably “El más verga.” Go ahead and find me a better translation. I’ll wait.

Image via Reddit

Posted in Language, Latin America, Mexico, Spanish, Why I Love Mexico | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment