Ya don't have to apologize to me Marilyn, LOL...I've never been to Texas Roadhouse. I didn't even know it was an Indiana based chain. (I need to get out more...LOL) There is one is Lafayette, a city near us.

When I visited a friend in Texas (quite a few years ago) she took me to a Mexican restaurant and let me tell you it was the best eat'n I ever had. Sooo good and sooo hot. I was impressed with a place in Dallas that was called the Beer Barn. Ya didn't even have to get out of your car, just drive through the barn and order your beer. That was great.

Now Marilyn, why would I take offense to that? LOL, such a silly lady you are! :D

Trust me, restaurants can call their Mexican food anything they want to, I will find it. LOL. Growing up in Southern CA I am no stranger to authentic Mexican food. Plus my first husband was Mexican and his Mother taught me the ways to cook authentic tamales, refried beans (gross), and tacos. (Why do you think I have such a weight problem? LOL) :p

Then moving here to AR my hubby and I go into Mexican food places that most Americans wouldn't dream of setting foot into, LOL. But, him and I both love our spicy foods.

When we went to Mexico they don't even really consider "cheese dips" or "chili con queso" a food item. It's more of an American thing. I was pretty surprised to find this out. They do more like a queso (cheese) that is thick and gooey then you grab it wtih flour tortillas and add some peppers and eat away. But the entire "dip" thing they laugh at and are foregin to.

Seems restaurants change authentic Mexican quisene (sp) to satisfy most americans. They have found that most Americans wouldn't really like the "authentic" stuff. Go figure??

Our neighbors down the road, I believe the hubby is from Venezuela (sp) and his wife is from Mexico. They often bring up their homemade tamales to us and we scarf them down. I truly appreciate them because I know what a pain in the rear they are to make. They make a couple different kind and one type they do I can actually barely eat because they are too HOT. I like spicy food but even I have my limits, hahahaha :D

And the sweet tea thing cracks me up. I found all that out my moving to AR. (south) Honestly I do prefer my tea sweetened but don't hardly get it because the calories and tea wires me like a drug. :eek: But it surely tastes good!

I'm not a fan of unsweetened tea at all, yuck. :confused:

I'd want beef tenderloin stir-fry over rice with raspberry pie for desert and a strawberry margarita.
YUMMMM

We know exactly the type places you are referring to. We frequent them from time to time as well. However, there are about as many Americans in them as Mexicans around here. American's, we refer to them as Anglo's, are a minority in this part of the world. Many of my "Mexican" friends have been Americans as many generations as I have.

Also, being in sales and taking guys out to lunch all the time, I have to take them where they want to go, and some of the places are not where I would choose. It's difficult to stay on a diet when you eat at a place where everything runs together and is covered with cheese.

They actually have some of the "authentic" stuff on the menu around here, but very, very few of the Anglo's touch the stuff. How can you eat bar-b-qued cow intestine, or brains :eek: . How gross is that?? But when you are truly poor, you eat anything you can, and learn to like and consider it a delicacy.

Oh well, enough about differences in Mexican food, bottom line, most of it is incredibly good, and no matter how healthy we try to eat, or what you call it, it will always be part of our diet. YUM!!!

Well ladies, first of all, sorry it took me so long to get back with you on the burger - shrimp thing. I've been experimenting and......yep, the burger STILL tastes like burger!!!!!! I guess if I want shrimp and steak, I gotta BUY shrimp and steak - burger ain't gonna do it for me.

Happy Friday all!

lol Here even shrimp doesn't taste like shrimp :( . I can't wait to go see hubby's family in New England so I can get real seafood :cool: