British baker's criticism of Mexican 'ugly' bread triggers social media outrage

"In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known figure in international baking circles, said Mexicans "don't really have much of a bread culture," adding that "They make sandwiches on these white, ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.""

"Social media was soon flooded with memes, reaction videos, and passionate defenses of Mexican bread. Users took to social media to praise everyday staples - from the crusty bolillos used for tortas to the iconic conchas found in neighborhood bakeries. In many cases, these simple street foods act as a uniting factor across social groups and classes, and often cut to the core of the country's cultural identity."

"While wheat bread was introduced to Mexico during the colonial period, the classic food staple evolved into a distinct national tradition, blending European techniques with local tastes and ingredients. Today, small neighborhood bakeries remain central to daily life in cities and towns, serving as social hubs as well as food sources."

A British baker in Mexico City criticized Mexican bread, calling domestic rolls 'white, ugly' and industrially made, and saying Mexicans 'don't really have much of a bread culture.' Social media erupted with memes, videos, and defenses of staples like bolillos and conchas, framing bread as a unifying element across classes and central to cultural identity. The episode sparked a national debate over food identity and the influence of foreigners amid an influx of U.S. expatriates and tourists. Historical context notes wheat bread's colonial origins and its evolution into a national tradition, with neighborhood bakeries serving as daily social hubs.

Read at Boston Herald