J. Joe Heimer
Eng-121-012
Food Essay
2-29-11
Shredded Beef Burritos
The first time I ever had a shredded beef burrito was in the summer of 1978. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was seven years old and I had just moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona from northern Illinois. Shortly after moving, we went to a restaurant called Taco Hacienda. I had never heard of Mexican food, nor had I ever tried it. I do not remember what I ordered on my first trip, but I do remember what my father ordered. He ordered the mighty shredded beef burrito. I remember saying, wow, that looks awesome! So, my mom gave a small portion of my father’s burrito to me. I was in ecstasy. Ever since that evening in the summer of 78, I have had an infatuation with shredded beef. I can honestly say that I have never gone more than a few weeks without a shredded beef burrito. In all actuality, it has somewhat become a family tradition to eat this great meal. I eat it for special occasions and often it is made for holidays.
There are many different ways to make shredded beef burritos. I prefer the very simple method of using a slow cooker. First you have to get a few pounds of beef. I usually get what is on sale from the local grocery store. You can use a roast or any other cut of meat. My personal favorites are top round and seven bone roast. I place the beef in the slow cooker and then I add one small jar of a Mexican style salsa or picante sauce. Next I add one small can of petite diced green chilies. I set the cooker on low for about eight hours or on high for about 5 hours. After it is done I shred the meat. This usually is not difficult because it pretty much falls apart all on its own. You then can make your burritos any way you want to. Although I prefer them with refried beans and cheese, it is up to the individual to make what suits their own taste buds. As a matter of fact, as far as I am concerned it does not matter if you even put them on burrito (tortilla) shells. You can use corn shells, hard shells, bread, or even eat this great beef as an appetizer with crackers. Although I call them burritos, it is really just shredded beef, and you can also use chicken or pork to get virtually the same outcome. To me it is all Mexican food.
I feel it is very ironic that many Americans call this food we eat Mexican food. A majority of restaurants and fast foods establishments, who clam to serve Mexican food, serve anything but that. In all actuality it is tex-mex style food. Traditional Mexican cuisine typically contains corn, rice, beans, squash, and peppers. The main spices in their food are Chile powder, oregano, cilantro, epazote, cinnamon, and cocoa. All the regions of Mexico have very different styles of food. Although our Mexican style gets it roots from Mexico that is about it. Actually it would be very unlikely to be served cheese on a traditional Mexican meal. You may come across a dish that has goat cheese in the recipe, but most likely not cheddar or jack.
The tex-mex style of food we traditionally eat here in the states gets its roots from American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States. It was originally made by Mexican-Americans influenced by their traditional foods of Mexico. The Oxford English Dictionary supplies the first-known uses in print of "Tex-Mex" in reference to food, from a 1963 article in the New York Times Magazine. Our style of Mexican food is rather new, and it is more often enjoyed in the southern and western states than in northern states. When your favorite restaurant wants you to eat their food and tells you to go south of the border, just remember that American style Mexican food is nothing like that of Mexico.
Ever since I was a young boy in Arizona I have had a passion and love for burritos. I have eaten virtually every kind imaginable. I often eat chicken, pork, breakfast and beef burritos. I usually add a variation of rice, beans, or veggies to these and I almost always add cheese. I call anything I put on a tortilla shell a burrito. I really do not know if this is factually correct, but I my eyes it is. Of all the types and styles that can be made, I believe nothing compares to the shredded beef burrito. It is without a doubt my favorite food and I plan on eating them for a long time to come. I really do not care who makes them or how they are made, any time I eat one I am a happy person and in my eyes that is what matters to me.
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