I lived at the Mexican border in Lukeville, Arizona, when I was a park ranger at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It was 2 miles into Sonoyta, Sonora, but it was 35 miles to the nearest U.S. town (Ajo, Arizona). So I shopped and ate in Mexico a lot. You could eat Mexican, American, or Chinese food in restaurants in town. I ate Mexican when I was there, I didn't often have spicy hot dishes, and there were many meals without chile at all. There were wonderful chicken and beef dishes, fish and fish soup, salads, casseroles, all without chili. Milanesa, a form of chicken-fried steak, was a favorite. In Texas a dish like that comes with gravy, in Mexico it didn't. (At least, in that part of Mexico). The Gulf of California was about 80 miles away and there was wonderful shrimp (I loved shrimp soaked in garlic) and fish available. There are many fancy breads and sweet breads (pan dulce) for breakfast or snacks. Grocery stores carry a large variety of goods, only a portion of it containing chili. And if all else fails, there is the cerveza. . .Negra Modelo is my favorite!

SRS