Those who are interested in the cuisine of Mexico are often interested its origins: Mexican food history. Mexican food today has been so Americanized much of it has little to do with the fine culinary traditions that fueled the country for centuries. Much of modern Mexican cuisine began after Cortez conquered the country for Spain in the 1500s. The regional ingredients of Mexico, like maize, peppers, chocolate, and tomatoes, spread around the world and influenced global cuisine, while European foods helped create a new cuisine in Mexico.