Three R’s (Riding, Roping, Rodeo; also with ‘Rangling, ‘Rastling, Roundups, Ranching)
The traditional "three r's" are "reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic." In Texas, the "three r's" might be "riding, roping, and rodeo." There…
Three Sisters or Twisted Sisters or 100-Mile Loop (RR335, RR336, RR337)
Texas Hill Country Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 have long been called the "100-mile loop" by motorcycle drivers. That wasn't exciting enough for T-shirts and newspaper articles,…
Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, Squash (Three Sisters Soup; Three Sisters Stew)
The Native American "three sisters" are the spirits of corn (maize), beans, and squash. The "three sisters" term dates to the 19th century and was probably first applied by the…
Tighthouse (Tight House)
"Tighthouse" (or "tight house") is a Texas prison term that can mean something less than an official lockdown (or "lock down"). In rehab programs for female inmates,…
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…
Tortilla Soup or Sopa de Tortilla (Aztec Soup or Sopa Azteca)
Tortilla Soup (Sopa de Tortilla) is often called Aztec Soup (Sopa Azteca) in Mexico. Tortilla soup is one of the most popular soups in Texas; El Mirador in San Antonio is famous for its Sopa Azteca…
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…
Tosc-Mex or Tusc-Mex (Tuscany, Italy + Tex-Mex cuisine)
What would a restaurant serving Italian + Tex-Mex cuisine be like? The restaurant Matilda opened in New York City in late 2007, offering a mix of Tuscany (Toscana) and Mexico that it called…
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…