Tits-for-Tots (strip club “pole tax”)

"Tits for tots" (a pun on "tit-for-tat") was the nickname pf a proposed 2004 Texas strip club tax that would, supposedly, have raised revenue for the education of Texas…

Tlacoyo

Tlacoyos are antojitos (appetizers or snacks) that are popular in Mexico, but have been cited in restaurants in the United States since only the 1990s. "Tlacoyo" is from the Nahuatl words…

Tlayuda or Clayuda (Oaxacan “Mexican pizza”)

Tlayuda (also spelled "clayuda") is a specialty of Oaxaca, Mexico. Tlayuda/clayuda refers to a large corn tortilla, but it also refers to that same tortilla when topped with beans,…

Tobacco Onions

"Tobacco onions" were created by celebrity chef Dean Fearing at The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas, in the 1980s. Red and yellow onions are floured, sprinkled with paprika and…

Top of Texas (Pampa slogan)

The city of Pampa is the second-largest in the Texas Panhandle, located at the top of Texas. In 1937, Pampa hosted a "Top of Texas Fiesta" (or "Top o' Texas Fiesta"). Pampa…

Tornado Alley

Texas is in the "Tornado Alley" that includes several states. The weather term dates from at least 1948. Wikipedia: Tornado AlleyTornado Alley is a colloquial term most often used in…

Tortilla

The tortilla (frm the Spanish word "torta") is used a a wrap for many Tex-Mex foods, such as burritos. The corn tortilla is the traditional one, but there are now flour and wheat…

Tortilla Chip

Tortilla chips are are small, crispy fried wedges of corn tortillas. In 2003, Texas declared "tortilla chips and salsa" to be the official state snack. The snack is often (but not always)…

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…

Tortilla Curtain & Cactus Curtain

After World War II, Winston Churchill declared that an "iron curtain" had descended upon Eastern Europe. Later, there would be a Berlin Wall. The purpose of the iron curtain and the…

Torture All Kids Severely (“TAKS” backronym)

TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) is a standardized test that replaced other tests in 2003. TAKS has been given the backronymic (back acronym) nickname "Torture All Kids…

Tostada (Tostado)

"Tostada" (or the less-used "tostado") is simply Spanish for "toasted." By the 1930s, tostadas (fried tortillas) were advertised as "original Mexican corn…

Tostada Burger

"Tostada Burger" is a specialty at Chris Madrids (established 1977) in San Antonio. The combination of tostada and hamburger includes refried beans, crushed corn chips and cheddar cheese…

Totchos (tater tots + nachos)

"Tochos" (from the words "tater tots" and "nachos") were popularized by the Oaks Bottom Public House (Portland, OR) in 2006. The tortilla chips in nachos are replaced…

Totopo

A totopo is a flat, round corn product similar to a tortilla. In the United States, however, it's a brand name for a triangular tortilla corn chip. The Mexican totopos and the American totopos…

Toughest Town in Texas (Luling slogan)

Many towns in Texas claimed to be the roughest and the toughest in all Texas. For many reasons, the slogan "Toughest Town in Texas" stuck the most to Luling. The slogan is historical and…

Town Without a Frown (Happy slogan)

Yes, there is a town called Happy, Texas. It's slogan is "The Town Without a Frown." Of course! Handbook of Texas OnlineHAPPY, TEXAS. Happy, on U.S. Highway 87 in northern Swisher…

Toxic City (Texas City nickname)

Texas City and its surrounding region in Galveston County is home to many petrochemical plants. By at least 1990, Texas City acquired the unattractive nickname of "Toxic City." The…