Spicy, messy, and mushy. If those are the three words that come to mind when you think of Mexican cooking, you're likely not alone. For many people living north of Mexico, Mexican food has gotten a tainted reputation. We think that it has to be hot, that it must have tons of chili peppers in it, and that everything has to be slopped onto one plate so that the beans, red rice, and tortillas all mush together.