Thanks to the Tex-Mex legends who gave me their time, including Victor Leál, Joe Alonso, Jorge Cortez, Sonny Falcon, Christy Carrasco, David Garrido, Melissa Guerra, Robert Amaya, the late Mama Ninfa, and the late Matt Martinez Jr. Many thanks to chef Guillermo González Beristáin in Monterrey for his help and hospitality. Thanks to Dr. Jeff Savell and Dr. Davey Griffin of the Meat Science Section of the Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, for teaching me where fajitas come from. Thanks to my wife, Kelly Klaasmeyer, for editing, recipe critiques, sage advice, and babysitting. Thanks to my agent, David McCormick, for making it happen. Thanks to Erin Mayes for design work and for going above and beyond. Thanks to Christina Malach at Random House for taking the reins. Thanks to Catherine Matusow and Katharine Shilcutt for moral support.
Thanks to Margaret Downing and my employers for permission to use the photos, text, recipes, and articles first published by the Houston Press (or houstonpress.com), a Village Voice Media publication.