“Chile Today, Hot Tamale” (or “Chili Today, Hot Tamale”)
What's the food forecast? "Chili ( or 'chile' or 'chilly' ) today, hot tamale." The joke has been cited in print since 1926, when it was published in the New York…
Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas are skirt steaks. Many people have insisted that there is no such thing as a "chicken fajita," but the term continues to be widely used. The Tex-Mex Cookbookby Robb WalshNew York:…
Ostionera (Ostioneria)
An "ostionera" or "ostioneria" ia a Mexican oyster bar. The term became popular in the Houston area in the 1990s. H TexasOstioneria 7 Mares 4602 Irvington (713) 692-7776. Have a…
“A bird’s nest on the ground” (East Texas saying)
"A bird's next on the ground" is an East Texas saying. Finding a nest on the ground is lucky -- you don't have to climb a tree to find the eggs. The following is a…
Fritoque
Fritoque (pronounced "free-toke-ay," not "free-tokie" as sometimes cited) was a popular San Antonio recipe that included chili con carne, cheese, onions, and corn chips…
Michelada (“my cold beer”)
The Michelada ("my cold beer" is the best translation) is cold beer with lime juice, chile pepper, and a few other extras. The Mexican drink became popular from August 2001, when an NPR…
“If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas”
"If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas" was a proverb of Don Meredith (1938-2010), an SMU and Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Monday Night Football…
“Stick a fork in him (he’s done)”
"Stick a fork in him" means "he's done." It's a barbecue term; the piece of meat is cooked and you can stick a fork in it and take it off the grill. The term is used…
“Turn out the lights. The party’s over”
"The Party's Over" is a 1967 song from music legend Willie Nelson. Former SMU and Dallas Cowboys quarterback and former Monday Night Football announcer "Dandy" Don Meredith…
Russian Dressing
Russian Dressing is served in a
Blue Santa
"Blue Santas" are police officers who play Santa Claus for Christmas. The program started in 1976 with the San Antonio Police Department, but other Texas cities also have their own…
“Why the hell not?” (2006 Kinky Friedman campaign slogan for governor)
"Why the hell not?" was Texas author/musician/humorist Kinky Friedman's 2006 campaign slogan in the race for Governor of Texas. He finished fourth. The "Why the hell not?"…
“Give a Texan an enema, and you can bury him in a matchbox”
Some people think that Texans are full of it. Hence, this saying: "Give a Texan an enema, and you can buy him in a matchbox." There's a lengthy discussion of this saying at the last…
“I wish it would rain—not for me cuz I’ve seen it, but for my 7-year-old”
Texas has many heat jokes. "I wish it would rain -- not so much for me, because I've seen it, but for my seven-year-old" is an old joke that dates from at least the 1940s. Google…
“If God didn’t want us to eat meat, he wouldn’t have invented steak sauce”
Texans love barbecue. "If God didn't want us to eat meat, he wouldn't have invented steak sauce" is Texan talk from at least the 1990s. Retrograde.com Posted: 10/16/06 06:58AM…
“If it doesn’t say ‘Texas,’ it’s not Texas Roadhouse” (restaurant slogan)
The slogan of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant since 2001 is: "If it doesn't say 'Texas,' it's not Texas Roadhouse." The irony is that the restaurant chain began in 1993…
Taco Salad
A taco salad consists of taco ingredients placed in what is often an edible tortilla shell bowl. Wikipedia: Taco SaladThe taco salad is a Mexican inspired dish whereby the classic taco taste is…
Taco
The taco is the quintessential Mexican sandwich. It's a major part of Tex-Mex cuisine and is first cited in English (1901) in a book about Mexico City. Wikipedia: TacoA taco is a traditional…
“Just Like You Like It” (Whataburger slogan)
Whataburger (a fast food chain) got its start in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Texas. "Just Like You Like It" has been the Whataburger slogan since 2001. Wikipedia: WhataburgerWhataburger is a…