A new book by OC Weekly Editor and food critic, and frequent KPFK guest host, Gustavo Arellano, explores the history of it came to be that Mexican food is now as American as pizza. Arellano, whose nationally acclaimed syndicated column Ask a Mexican! was the basis of his earlier book, expresses his exhaustive research of Mexican food in the US, in his signature humorous style. ‘Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America’ is a story of the chili queens of San Antonio and the tamale Kings of Chicago, of the Mexican origins of chocolate and vanilla, of the the invention of tacos, taco frying machines, and the rise of Taco Bell. Ultimately, it is an exploration of the unquenchable national thirst for tacos and burritos, or at least “gringo-ized” versions of foods that may only remotely resemble their Mexican counterparts. Even though the great American past time of vilifying immigrants continues unabated, how is it that Mexican food, representing the culture of the most dominant and most deported immigrant community, continues to be consumed with such gusto?

Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar interviewed Gustavo Arellano on April 25, 2012 about Taco USA.

Watch a video of the interview here:

Visit www.gustavoarellano.net for more information.

Martina Steiner recorded this interview.