ABC Nightline Correspondent Eats Something Bizarre: Mexican Food

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Rebecca Aguilar

An interesting thing happened when I was watching Nightline a few days ago.  I was intrigued when correspondent, John Berman started his report on The Travel Channels “Bizarre Foods” host, Andrew Zimmern, but I was quickly disappointed when it was obvious the correspondent needed a good course in “Mexican Food 101.”

Zimmern is known for eating bugs, bats, rats, snakes, and much more.  Your stomach turns when you watch him chomp down on fried tarantulas or the genitals of a cow.  Berman covered all that in his story and then had to end it with his “reporter involvement.” 

abcnews.go.com/Nightline

I expected Berman to eat something really nasty—a rat or maybe a bat.  The suspense was on.  Berman appeared ready to eat something gross as he stared at some kind of soup.  Suddenly, Berman tells us he is going to eat “menudo” and “tongue tacos.”  What?  That’s his idea of bizarre foods.  That’s like me saying “spam” and “bologna” are bizarre.  What rock has he been under? 

Berman’s coverage is a perfect example how mainstream media is still out of touch with the Latino community.  Here’s just a few of the comments I got from reporters, non-journalists, Latinos and even non-Latinos when I posted the Nightline photos on my Facebook page. 

R.H. wrote “another example of how mainstream media doesn’t get mainstream America. 

J.D. wrote “Lengua tacos are great. That’s not strange at all. That’s normal in South Texas” 

A.W. wrote “Wasn’t there someone in the newsroom who could have pointed this out to the reporter before he embarrassed himself and offended others on national television? Once again… not enough diversity in the newsroom” 

A.A. wrote “Menudo and tacos de lengua are two of my favorites….and I agree, that’s not really bizarre. Live bugs and naughty bits are bizarre foods.” 

A.W. nailed it with his comment. There is a huge need for diversity in newsrooms around the country. Wasn’t there a Latino at Nightline that could have told Berman there is nothing bizarre about eating menudo and tongue? I’m guessing no, because Berman would have realized it’s no big deal. 

Next time I’m in New York City I plan to ask Berman out to have a good Mexican lunch. Do you think he’ll think I’m bizarre if I ask for “cilantro and onions?” 

Link to show: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/bizarre-foods-eater-andrew-zimmern/story?id=11251833&page=1 

Rebecca Aguilar is NAHJ At-Large Officer, and  Emmy award winning reporter with 29 years of journalism experience.  Aguilar also sits on the SPJ Digital Media Committee.  She currently works as a freelance multimedia reporter based in Dallas, Texas.

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  • Patricia Garcia

    Isn’t Ms. Aguilar’s assertion that rat or bat — which may be a delicacy in some places — is nasty as out of touch with the cultures that regularly eat these foods as out of touch as American media is with Latino foods?

    If we want to be a part of the solution, shouldn’t we be as accepting and open of other cultures, indigenous or otherwise, as everybody else?

  • Patricia Garcia

    Isn’t Ms. Aguilar’s assertion that rat or bat — which may be a delicacy in some places — is nasty as out of touch with the cultures that regularly eat these foods as out of touch as American media is with Latino foods?

    If we want to be a part of the solution, shouldn’t we be as accepting and open of other cultures, indigenous or otherwise, as everybody else?

  • http://www.tazadechocolate.blogspot.com Clementina

    I hope Mr. Berman has learned a valuable lesson: that all that “bizarre” fare some cannot bear to look at, much less eat, tastes surprisingly good. Leave it to Mexicans to make a fabulous feast from of a sow’s ear . . . or from patas (feet) . . . or tripas (intestines) . . . or sesos (brains) . . .
    Seeing that regional Mexican food is downright “fashionable” nowadays, it is a just a matter of time when intrepid foodies will be be lining up for a taste of marinated pig’s feet with chile piquin just the way my mother-in-law used to make. I will savor the moment.
    Clementina
    “A Little Cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate

  • http://www.tazadechocolate.blogspot.com Clementina

    I hope Mr. Berman has learned a valuable lesson: that all that “bizarre” fare some cannot bear to look at, much less eat, tastes surprisingly good. Leave it to Mexicans to make a fabulous feast from of a sow’s ear . . . or from patas (feet) . . . or tripas (intestines) . . . or sesos (brains) . . .
    Seeing that regional Mexican food is downright “fashionable” nowadays, it is a just a matter of time when intrepid foodies will be be lining up for a taste of marinated pig’s feet with chile piquin just the way my mother-in-law used to make. I will savor the moment.
    Clementina
    “A Little Cup of Mexican Hot Chocolate

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  • Lupe

    Respectable people eat menudo. My abuela ate menudo! Maybe even John Berman’s abuela should eat menudo too.

  • Lupe

    Respectable people eat menudo. My abuela ate menudo! Maybe even John Berman’s abuela should eat menudo too.

  • Castillomedia

    Patricia I think you missed the point. The comment about rats and bats is meant to be funny and attention grabbing. It was not meant to overlook the Indians or Africans that eat those foods. The point of the article, as I understand it, is the need for US media to integrate more Hispanics in the newsrooms. After all they are the fastest growing population segment in the US.

  • Rebecca Aguilar

    @Patricia You have a good point. But last I looked they were not selling dishes made of bats and rats in any African or Indian restaurants in any major cities I have visited in the U.S. Menudo and tongue tacos are mainstream Mexican. You will find them on the menu in restaurants in Texas, and a lot of other places. Thanks for your comment.

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    [...] raguilar Buzz: An interesting thing happened when I was watching Nightline a few days ago. I was intrigued when correspondent, John Berman started his report on The Travel Channels “Bizarre Foods” host, Andrew Zimmern, … [...]

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