Years ago I remember asking one of my college classmates from Mexico City if she enjoyed Tostada's back home. I described them to her, just in case the particular dish was known by a different name down there...that and because she was giving me this "I don't know what you're talking about" look. After a bit she went and dismissed the idea of this dish being authentic Mexican food and said it sounded it like a Tex-Mex creation. I remember feeling rather annoyed with that at the time, her dismissive attitude really bugged me, like it didn't matter because it wasn't "really Mexican".
But then as I browsing through WordPress, trying to come up with ideas/possibilities for making my own photoblog I ran across one person's blog, a woman living in Mexico City. I scrolled through her posts and what did I see?! Someone serving a tostada at one of the local market places!!! I am vindicated!
Behold, the tostada.