In Los Restaurantes I combined photographs taken in the kitchen of the restaurant A Southern Season with photographs taken on Mariachi Night at The Monterey Restaurant.  I began with the idea of separating the workers behind the scene in southern style restaurants from those who work both in the kitchen and up front in Mexican restaurants, but I found that it is the juxtaposition that interests me.  While high-end restaurants keep the cultural mix of their new work force out of sight, an explosion of Mexican restaurants has made these workers part of the fun of dining out.  On any night of the week, you can find a spot where “gringos” mix with “hispanos” at tables loaded with salsa, tortillas, tacos, and tamales, listening to the strains of Norteno music or even a live mariachi band.

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