Dear Mexican, Why the Yellow Cheese on Tex-Mex Food?

Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 12.10.07 | 11:47 AM ET

Anyone who’s traveled much in Mexico knows you just don’t see much yellow cheese on authentic Mexican food. You’re far more likely to encounter a lighter white cheese. So why are so many Tex-Mex and California-Mex dishes north of the border—heck, throughout the world—smothered in yellow cheese? Gustavo Arellano, who writes the terrific Ask a Mexican column, explains.