Your one-stop shop for all things Latin/Hispanic/Mexican
From the always-popular section Mexicans: How can anyone not like us? comes one of the world’s smartest name ever, spotted somewhere in Mexico, home of some of the most surreal (i.e. wondrous stuff I’ve ever seen.)
Are you still not sure Mexico is the funnest place on Earth? Check out some of the following:
… and/or just do me a favor and keep clicking on this blog every now and then will ya? I guarantee tons of diversión.
Not content with having desecrated tacos, quesadillas and the like, Taco Bell has its eyes on destroying yet another one of this blogger’s favorite things: Alcoholic beverages.
Turns out the ubiquitous American “food” chain is launching Jalapeño Noir, a new red wine to pair with your Cheesy Chalupa, because… WHY THE HELL NOT?
Fortunately for this blogger, this thing is only being released in Canada and is tied to Taco Bell Canada’s introduction of the new Toasted Cheesy Chalupa [don’t ask.] Per an unnecessarily long press release: “The new chalupa variation features six-month aged sharp cheddar cheese toasted onto the iconic chalupa shell to create a crispy blanket of flavour and texture” which should pair well with “notes of wild strawberry, cherry and beetroot in this silky limited-edition red wine.”
OK, pinche 2020, make it stop now!
I’m going to need some help here… Anybody?
If you have been paying attention, you’ll know by now that Latinos understand things better if they come in the form of music, whether it is to inform us about the perils of coronavirus; to let us know how great things would be under Bernie Sanders or how disappointed my people are with Donald Trump.
And so in keeping with the tradition, the Biden campaign has released the Todos con Biden salsa, a 3:30 minute long Spanish-language song with some “inspirational” words to help pitch the message of abuelito Joe among my people (i.e. The Latinos). Performed by Ander DeFrank (aka El Negro que Canta) the song kicks off by telling us that a Biden presidency will restore the nation by doing several things, including extending access to education and put an end to detention centers at the border, among many others.
For the monolingual, the chorus goes kind of like this…
Biden, Biden is the safe road
Let’s walk together, hand in hand
All for one, one and for all
Biden, Biden
Biden is a serious, honest and trustworthy man…
You get the drill. Now WATCH (if you can endure the 3-plus minutes of this thing; I’m off to make myself a drink.)
Spanish food conglomerate Frit Ravich might want to learn how to use mexicanismos when marketing their “Mexican-flavored” snacks.
According to the packaging of these Mexican-flavored sunflower seeds, the taste of these babies will leave you shaking your maracas and playing your guitar while feeling … well, a bit stupid. You know? Because Mexicans!
Hat tip: Ñam Ñam Barcelona
2020 strikes again.
Domino’s Pizza decided it was a good idea to launch a “chicken-taco pizza,” a hideous combination of grilled chicken, cheese, onions, tomatoes, green peppers and –what else?– taco seasoning.
“We’re excited to add even more options to our lineup of delicious specialty pizzas,” said Art D’Elia, Domino’s executive vicepresident, apparently with a straight face, in a press release.
As the pizza chain explains, “the flavors are based on foods that –unlike pizza– typically don’t deliver well. For example, if you order tacos, there’s a chance they’ll be soggy by the time they arrive at your door. Same with burgers.” Tsssssss….
I can’t, really I just literally can’t.
No, it’s not a glitch in the matrix. Yes, this is real life.
Say hello to our NEW Chicken Taco & Cheeseburger Specialty Pizzas! Finally, a 🌮 & 🍔 designed to be delivered. pic.twitter.com/tS7ZEtp0MI
— Domino’s Pizza (@dominos) August 24, 2020
Remember the Goya Foods brouhaha and how the entire Trump family went bananas promoting Goya beans even in the White House?
Well, the whole thing has become a golden opportunity for the Latinos for Trump crowd, who are sooooo excited they’re even using their furry friends to peddle the stuff.
Listen: I don’t care if the entire Trump family –and their supporters– stuff themselves to death on Goya beans and adobo, but as the great @darth would say: THIS DOG IS INNOCENT!!!!
Photo via: Latinos for Trump
And just because 2020 couldn’t punish us enough, Lay’s has decided to turn two iconic Mexican dishes into … snacks in a bag. Yes, my friends, I might have been too busy blogging about bad translations in Mexico to focus on what’s really important: Yet, another chapter in the desecration of Mexican food on this side of the border.
Sources close to this sad situation, tell me Lay’s “Wavy Carnitas Street Taco” have been inspired by El Torito restaurant in Los Angeles, while Lay’s “Chile Relleno” took their inspiration from Cocina Azul in Albuquerque.
Now if y’all excuse me; it’s only 9:30 a.m. but I think I’ll go have a María Sangrienta.
Photo via: BestFoods
Remember that nonsensical trend of putting “eñes” where they don’t belong just to make something look –and sound– more authentically “Latino?”
Well, it looks like salsa makers and Hispanic journalists organizations are not alone in this thing. The latest to jump on the nonsensical “eñe wagon” (or should I say “wagoñ?”) is The Hispanic Star, a non-for-profit organization that seeks to “raise awareness of the contributions of the Hispanic community to the United States.”
According to its latest mailer, the Hispanic Star wants us to SAVE THE DATE and celebrate the 2020 Hipanic Heritage… Mñnth [SIC] which I believe it’s nonsense English for the word “month”.
I get it. As we approach the dreaded Hispanic Heritage Month, corporations, politicians and NGOs want to sound all cute and Latin in order to properly pander to my people, but how about learning first to put the “eñe” where it DOES belong? Like in “jalapeño?” for example?
Oh, and don’t get me started on #ItsPoblanoNotPoblaño
Ah… Mexico! Land of beautiful landscapes, beaches, mountains and … incompetent people running the government.
In the latest example of the train wreck the current administration is, the Website to promote tourism to Mexico (Visitmexico.com) has been translated into English or, rather, into what the Tourism Office thinks it’s the English language.
Not only an automatic translator was use to turn Guerrero into Warrier, but you can find other jewels including: Progress, Yucatán; Coal Village, State of Mexico and Four Ciénagas, Coahuila.
There are also other more cryptic ones, like “Juniper” or “Jumpsuit” to describe places I cannot even begin to imagine.
JFC! Can this administration get something right for once?
Via: Animal.mx
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
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.”
Am I the only one who doesn’t care about Trader Joe’s having “Trader Jose’s” on every Latino food product? There’s bigger fish to fry. https://t.co/R82YgNFuCO
— Mexican Rug Dealer (@DealinRugs) July 20, 2020
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
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?
If it’s Goya, it has to be good.
Si es Goya, tiene que ser bueno. pic.twitter.com/9tjVrfmo9z— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 15, 2020
Make Chiva-Cola Great Again @IvankaTrump pic.twitter.com/kLUh7S1nzf
— Don Rob ⚽️🐐 (@DonTical_Futbol) July 15, 2020
Esta @IvankaTrump ya trae su @CartaBlancaMx bien fría, sabe qué pedo! pic.twitter.com/Bs9G1TrUk5
— Dιєgσ Agυιrre (@OyeDieguito) July 15, 2020
— Mexican Judge (@laloalcaraz) July 15, 2020
I have an idea for Ivanka’s next promotion pic.twitter.com/yOfoFkRvBk
— Jacob Unruh (@JacobUnruh333) July 15, 2020
New wall proposal: pic.twitter.com/kYR7Bykzrj
— Pichon García (@donpichongarcia) July 16, 2020
The Narcissist’s Unqualified Daughter pic.twitter.com/vqadYMTcpk
— ElElegante101 (@skolanach) July 15, 2020
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
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
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