Strudel (State Pastry)
Germans have given much to Texas, and the strudel pastry is one such food. In 2003, the Texas legislature declared the strudel and the sopaipilla to both be official state pastries (with the law…
Sopaipilla (Sopapilla)
The sopaipilla (or "sopapilla") was declared in 2003 (with the law expiring in 2005) the official state pastry of Texas, along with the strudel. Yes, there are two official state…
Tamal (Tamale)
The tamal (or tamale) is an ancient (pre-Columbian) Mexican food that's popular throughout the southwestern United States. Texas Tamale CompanyTexas Tamale Seasonal SpecialsChristmas Tamale…
Gringo
"Gringo" is a term used for when an American goes to Mexico. There's a myth that the term comes from the Mexican-American War in the 1840s, when soldiers were singing "Green…
Texas Bowl
The first Texas Bowl was held in Houston's Reliant Stadium on December 28, 2006. The football bowl features representatives of the Big 12 and Big East Conferences. "Texas Bowl" was…
Chiltepin (State Native Pepper)
The chiltepin is the official state native pepper. The Texas legislature named the jalapeño official state pepper in 1995, so the chiltepin was distinguished as the official state…
Pan de Campo (State Bread)
"Pan de campo" (also known as "cowboy bread" or "camp bread") was declared the official bread of the state of Texas by the Texas legislature in 2005. The south Texas…
Chocolate Chip Muffin (State Muffin?)
The chocolate chip muffin is (perhaps) the official state muffin of Texas according to the Wikipedia, but the Texas state legislature passed no such law. Chocolate chip muffins became nationally…
Tortilla Chips and Salsa (State Snack)
"Tortilla chips and salsa" is the official state snack of Texas. Yes, there is an official state snack of Texas! The combination is an obvious one, but it became popular with commercial…
Storyfest Capital of Texas (George West)
The city of George West (near Corpus Christi) holds an annual Storyfest since the 1980s and was named by the Texas Lesiglature in 1995 as the "Storyfest Capital of Texas." A Texas State…
Birding Capital of East Texas (Mineola nickname)
Mineola (near Dallas) was declared the "Birding Capital of East Texas" by the Texas Legislature in 2003. The Mineola Nature Preserve is a new park that the town hopes will attract…
Rodeo Capital of Texas (Mesquite nickname)
Mesquite (near Dallas) has been home to Mesquite Championship Rodeo since 1958. In 1993, the Texas Legislature named Mesquite the "Rodeo Capital of Texas." Mesquite Championship Rodeo…
Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas (Commerce nickname)
The city of Commerce was declared by the Texas Legislature the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas" in 1999. "Bo-dark" (as it's called) is a tree. Commerce holds an annual…
Hippo Capital of Texas (Hutto nickname)
Hippo Capital of Texas? Hippos, in Texas??? Hutto High School had to have a mascot, and it came up with the Hutto Hippo. In 2003, the Texas Legislature declared the city of Hutto the "Hippo…
Square Dance Capital of the World (McAllen nickname)
McAllen in south Texas has hosted the Texas Square Dance Jamboree since 1987, and McAllen promotes itself as the "Square Dance Capital of the World." The Texas Legislature hasn't…
Vetch Capital of the World (Cooper nickname)
Cooper (near Paris, Texas) is known as the "Vetch Capital of the World." Vetch is a bean that perhaps parakeets like. Cooper's slogan is not popular. Handbook of Texas OnlineCOOPER,…
Alligator Capital of Texas (Anahuac nickname)
Anahuac on the Texas Gulf Coast has held the Texas Gatorfest since 1989, when the town was also declared by the Texas Legislature as the "Alligator Capital of Texas." The Anahuac National…
Brown Santa
"Brown Santa" is a program by the Travis County Sheriff's Office (and Williamson County) to distribute Christmas toys. It started a little later than San Antonio's Blue Santa…
Outdoor Capital of Texas (Buda nickname)
How can there be an "Outdoor Capital of Texas"? Isn't Texas all about the outdoors? It's all about business. Buda opened the stores Texas Outdoor Zone (in 2003) and the huge…
Bed and Breakfast Capital of Texas (Jefferson nickname)
The city of Jefferson in Marion County was designated by the Texas Legislature in 1997 as the "Bed and Breakfast Capital of (East) Texas." The small town of under 3,000 people has about…