As the debate rages on about whether illegal immigrants do our country more harm or good, one question rarely gets asked; with so many Mexicans living in the U.S., legally or not, why is it so hard to find good, authentic Mexican food?

Author Dagoberto Gilb, who often contemplates Chicano culture, laments the proliferation of lousy, pseudo south-of-the-border-inspired fast food that is no more representative of true Mexican cuisine than the Olive Garden is authentically Italian.