Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Mexican food goes mild

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SALT LAKE CITY – Everybody in Utah has a favorite Mexican restaurant. Except maybe the transplants from California. There’s one guy who used to work here who famously sneered that Utahn’s favorite spice is sugar … and they even put it in their Mexican food.

I asked another Californian about her favorite Mexican place, and she said none here in Utah. But when I asked this taco snob about her favorite place in California, she said they’ve all gone downhill or closed since the pandemic.

You’d think the most authentic Mexican restaurants would be in Mexico City. But that’s not necessarily the case anymore because of weak-stomached American tourists. The New York Times reports that some taco shops in Mexico City are lowering the heat to accommodate the visitors.

At Taqueria Los Amigos, they’ve taken the Serrano peppers out of the pico, leaving just the tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Locals accidentally get the pico and they’re like, “Ew … Why is there a salad in my mouth? What are you doing?” Which is actually, “Que estas haciendo?”

Props to my 8^th grade Spanish teacher there.

But if you can’t count on Mexico City for authentic Mexican food, then where do you turn? My California burrito snob says the only correct answer is Street Tacos. Which are great, but like you, I still love my favorite Mexican joint.

And if they add sugar? Well … this is Utah.

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X.

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