It's easier in the rest of the Southwest because the native americans hate the Spanish, the Spanish hate the native Americans, and everyone hates the white people. In New Mexico, none of them have a clear majority. Nobody lived in Arizona until air conditioning so things are tense. In Colorado the hispanics have been there long enough that whatever bullshit they had to sort out got sorted out a hundred years ago. In Texas, though, white people consider themselves the undisputed kings which means you gotta white up any food so that people won't accuse you of going native. I got some real conflicting feelings about Texas. That said, when white people in California interpret Mexican cuisine you get the sense they're at least trying to make something other, rather than just something lesser.