Drinking Straw Effect (oil drilling term)
The "drinking straw effect" in oil drilling can occur, for example, in the Gulf of Mexico, where American and Mexican companies both drill. If someone has an extra long "drinking…
Drive-In
The Pig Stand "drive-in" opened in 1921 in Dallas and soon became a popular restaurant chain. The Pig Stand featured "car hops" who brought meals to customers waiting in their…
Dubliner (Dublin Dr Pepper cocktail)
The Dubliner cocktail was created by Haddingtons restaurant (Austin, TX) in 2011. The name "Dubliner" refers to Dublin Dr Pepper, the original recipe Dr Pepper with cane sugar, bottled in…
Dulce de Leche
Dulce de leche (Spanish for "sweet milk") is a product of 19th-century Argentina that quickly became popular throughout all of Latin America. The caramel-like taste can be found in…
Eagle Capital of Texas (Rains County)
Rains County was designated the Eagle Capital of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1995. There is an annual Eagle Festival. Rains County is an important nesting and feeding area for bald eagles and…
Eagle Passan (inhabitant of Eagle Pass)
"Eagle Passan” is the name of an inhabitant of Eagle Pass, Texas. The name “Eagle Passan” has been cited in print since at least 1951. Wikipedia: Eagle Pass, TexasEagle Pass is a city in…
East Jesus (any remote town, but often associated with Texas)
"East Jesus" is a made-up name for an isolated place -- usually in America and often in Texas ("East Jesus, Texas"). "East Jesus" is cited in print from at least 1950,…
Eighth Wonder of the World (Houston Astrodome)
The Astrodome in Houston, Texas, was completed in 1965 and was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” There are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Astrodome was called a "wonder…
El Centavo (J. C. Penney nickname)
J. C. Penney is a department store chain headquartered in Plano, Texas. According to the book Dancing with the Devil: Society and Cultural Poetics in Mexican-American South Texas (1994) by José…
El Chuco or Chucotown (El Paso nickname)
El Paso is infrequently called "El Chuco" or "Chuco Town"/"Chucotown." The term comes from the word "pachuco," a Mexican Spanish Caló dialect word of…
El Pasoan (inhabitant of El Paso)
"El Pasoan" is the name of an inhabitant of El Paso, Texas. The name "El Pasoan" has been cited in print since at least 1886. Wikipedia: DemonymEl Paso → El Pasoan Wikipedia:…
Elephant Ears (pastry)
"Elephant ears" are sugary, fried dough pastries that are popular at state fairs. In Mexican bakeries, the same pastries are called orejas (ears). Other names for elephant ears include…
Elginite (inhabitant of Elgin)
"Elginite” is the name of an inhabitant of Elgin, Texas. The name “Elginite” has been cited in print since at least 1887. Wikipedia: Elgin, TexasElgin ( /ˈɛlɡɨn/) is a city in…
Ellis Island of the West (Galveston nickname)
Galveston became an alternative to Ellis Island (the immigration center in New York City), and it took in many immigrants from about 1900 until the start of World War I. The immigration of Jews to…
Empanada
The empanada (turnover) is more familiar in Cuban and South American cuisines that in Mexican cookery. However, the empanada does appear in some Tex-Mex restaurants -- not filled with meat, but…
Enchilada
Enchiladas are a popular part of the Tex-Mex cuisine. Enchiladas in Texas are usually rolled, but New Mexico usually serves stacked enchiladas. Wikipedia: EnchiladaAn enchilada is a traditional…
Enchilada Red (color of San Antonio Public Library, Central branch)
The San Antonio Express-News held a contest to name the color of the new San Antonio Public Library building (Central branch). In 1995, the entry "enchilada red" won. Some people love the…
Enchilada Soup (Chicken Enchilada Soup)
"Enchilada soup" is a recent addition to the Tex-Mex cuisine. The soup is not known in Mexico, where "tortilla soup" is popular. In 1995, the restaurant chain Chili's…
Energy Capital of the World (Houston nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Houston, TexasHouston (pronounced /ˈhjuːstən/) is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As…
Enfrijolada
"Enfrijoladas" are tortillas dipped in bean sauce, a recipe from Oaxaca, Mexico. Robb Walsh and David Garrido included enfrijoladas in their Nuevo Tex-Mex cookbook (1998). An…