Big Enchilada; Full Enchilada; Whole Enchilada
John Ehrlichman popularized "the big enchilada" when Watergate tapes were released from 1973. Ehrlichman's conversation with President Richard Nixon had meant that U.S. Attorney…
Quesadilla
Quesadillas are an important part of Tex-Mex cuisine. A quesadilla is a turnover with filling, such as beans, cheese, rice, and beef or chicken. The Gebhardt Chili Powder Company of San Antonio has…
Cowboy Capital of the World (Bandera)
Bandera, Texas has called itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World" since the 1950s, and the term has recently been trademarked. The historic town is known for its many dude ranches.…
Harlem Big Apple Club Plaque Removed (2006)
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food…
Machaca (Machacado con heuvo)
"Machaca" is Mexican dried meat or "beef jerky." "Machacado con heuvo" is when the dish is served with eggs. The names are Mexican, but the dishes are popular in Texas…
Texas Spaghetti (or Mexican Spaghetti)
What is Texas spaghetti? Some recipes call for ham and some newer ones include chicken. "Texas spaghetti" is probably another name for "Mexican spaghetti," a dish served since…
“Gentleman from Odessa (TX)”
"Gentleman from Odessa" is a euphemism. Supposedly, there are no gentlemen in Odessa, TX. Naturally, "Son of a Bitch Stew" is sometimes called "Gentleman from Odessa."…
Manske Rolls
Manske rolls (a trademarked name) are big cinnamon rolls, filled with sugar and butter. The San Marcos company has been around since the 1940s. Manske rolls were a favorite of Lyndon B. Johnson.…
“Brooklyn-Style” Pizza
For Halloween 2006, the Domino's pizza chain began offering its "Brooklyn-style" pizzas. The 6-slice pizzas (Brooklyn usually offers eight-slice pizzas) feature thin crusts. The…
Mexican Combination Plate
Miguel Martinez supposedly invented the "Mexican combination plate" at his Dallas "El Fenix" restaurant, some time in the 1920s or 1930s. A combination plate might feature…
Lu Ann Platter & “Good Food From Good People” & “Tastes Like Texas, Feels Like Home” (Luby’s)
Luby's Cafeterias began in 1947 (although trademark records indicate a 1941 date). The famed "Lu Ann" platter (trademarked in the 1970s) features one entree and two sides. The…
Chicken Fried Chicken (CFC)
First, there was chicken-fried steak. Then came "chicken-fried chicken," or CFC. It's the same idea, but with chicken instead of steak. Texas CookingChicken Fried Chicken with Cream…
“If a man can’t curse his friends, whom can he curse?” (Sam Houston)
"If a man can't curse his freinds, whom can he curse?" is allegedly a typical Texan sentiment from Sam Houston. August 1869, Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, South-Western…
Puffy Tacos
Puffy tacos are a San Antonio specialty, tacos that fluff up. A puffy taco is even the mascot of a San Antonio minor league baseball team. It's said that the "puffy taco" was…
The Greatest City in the World
New York City has long been called by many "the greatest city in the world." The television show "The Late Show with David Letterman" broadcasts from the Ed Sullivan Theater, at…
Texas Mickey
A "Texas Mickey" is a large bottle of liquor sold in Canada. A "mickey" is a smaller liquor bottle. The term "mickey" is cited from 1914, and "Texas mickey"…
Swiss Enchiladas
Swiss enchiladas are enchiladas with cream and cheese (usually American or Jack cheese and not Swiss cheese). They're called "Swiss" because Mexicans associated milk, cream, and…
Jalapeño (State Pepper)
Jalapeño peppers are from the Mexico, but they are an important part of Tex-Mex cuisine. Jalapeños are cited by that name in English from at least 1929. The Texas legislature named the jalapeño…
“Gun control means a steady aim”
"Gun control means a steady aim" is a phrase that's been used in Texas and many other western states. A Nebraska senator used the phrase in 1980. Free Market Fairy TalesAnd even in…
“Hotter Than a Stolen Tamale;” “Hotter Than a Fur Coat in Marfa”
There are many ways a Texan can say that "it's hot." "Hot tamales" are hot. Something stolen is "hot." So what could be "hotter than a stolen tamale"?…