Washeteria (Washateria; Washiteria)
The "washeteria" (wash + cafeteria) is often spelled ""washateria" or even "washiteria" (with the dirty word in the middle). The washeteria is popular in the…
“Bevo. It’s what’s for dinner.” (anti-UT Longhorn slogan)
The University of Texas Longhorns have a mascot named "Bevo." In 1992, the Cattleman's Beef Board ran a series of promotions with the slogan: "Beef. It's what's for…
Real. East Texas. Living. (Longview slogan)
"Real. East Texas. Living." was voted (in 2007) the official slogan of the city of Longview in East Texas. A marketing company had chosen the slogan "pure and simple," but it…
Green Chili Burrito “Saddle Style”
The green chili burrito "saddle style" is a specialty of Yuma, Arizona's Mexican restaurants. The "saddle style" is similar to what's called a "wet burrito"…
Fried Green Tomatoes (Green Tomatoes Fried)
The dish of "fried green tomatoes" (also called "green tomatoes fried" in the 19th century) is known through the South. The dish was popularized by Fannie Flagg's 1991…
“Tougher than a two-dollar steak”
The columnist Molly Ivins described Ann Richards as "tougher than a two-dollar steak." The steak phrase is an old one and not confined to Texas. The price of the steak has varied through…
Texas Hibachi
"Hibachi" is a Japanese word that literally means "fire bowl." The "Texas hibachi" is a large-sized hibachi grill, usually a 55-gallon drum set on its side and with a…
“Native foreign food” (Waverly Root on “Tex-Mex”)
Tex-Mex cuisine is often said to be mostly Texas, with very little authentic Mexican foodways. The food author Waverly Root wrote in his book Eating in America (1976) an often-quoted statement…
“It always rains at the end of a long dry spell” (weather joke)
Some parts of Texas don't get much rain. "It always rains at the end of a long dry spell" is a Texas weather joke from at least 1909. 5 March 1909, Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram,…
Fry Sauce (French Fry Sauce; French Fries Sauce)
Fry sauce (sauce for french fries) is a popular state dish or Utah, but is now served in Oregon and other Western states. A simple recipe is one part ketchup and two parts mayonnaise. The Arctic…
Fried Pickles (Fried Dill Pickles; French Fried Pickle Slices)
Fried pickles are served throughout the South (and, now, in many northern cities as well). The exact origin of "fried pickles," however, is unknown. It is claimed in the Wikipedia (below)…
Loose-Meat Sandwich
The "loose-meat sandwich" is usually identified with the Maid-Rite restaurant chain (since 1926) in Iowa. However, a "loose meat sandwich" was advertised for sale in a…
Frickles (fried pickles)
Fried pickles have long been popular in Texas and many parts of the South, but are now served all across the United States. "Frickles" is a new name often used for "fried…
Okratini (Okra + Martini)
Okra is a popular Southern food, but is it popular enough to be served with cocktails? The seldom-served "Okratini" (okra + martini) is simply the usual martini cocktail (gin and…
“72 hours later, you’re hungry again” (joke about eating deli food)
The old line about Chinese food is that it isn't filling: "A few hours later, you're hungry again." New York's Jewish delis are known for their overstuffed sandwiches,…
Wet Burrito (Burrito Enchilada Style)
A "wet burrito" is the same as a "burrito enchilada style." A burrito is prepared, and then it is smothered with red (or green) chili sauce and often melted cheese. The origin…
Sorority Sauce (ranch dressing)
"Sorority sauce" has been a slang nickname for "ketchup" since at least World War II. Since about 2006, ranch dressing has been called "sorority sauce" at Texas Tech…
Mello Roll or Mell-O-Roll (“Up your hole with a Mello Roll!”)
Mello rolls (also sometimes spelled "mello-rolls" or "mell-o-rolls," perhaps like "jell-o") were ice cream treats, somewhat like ice cream cones. They were popular in…
“At GM, you form a committee on snakes, then hire a consultant…” (Ross Perot)
Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot did not like the practices at General Motors, the company that bought Perot's Electronic Data Systems. GM, Perot said, bogs things down with a committee system.…
“You can tell who’s winnin’ by who’s whinin’” (Ross Perot)
"You can tell who's winnin' by who's whinin'" is said to be a quote by Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot. The quote isn't on many websites, but one website (below)…