Afterburners (Jalapeño Shrimp Poppers)

"Afterburners" (also called "jalapeño shrimp poppers") are jalapeño peppers stuffed with shrmp and wrapped with bacon, usually served with a spicy queso dip. "Jalapeño…

Agg Town or Aggtown (Arlington nickname)

Agg Town (or Aggtown) is a hip-hop nickname for the city of Arlington, dating from about 2003. The nickname is confusing -- it has nothing to do with the Texas A&M Aggies. The origin of the…

Aggie (Texas A&M nickname)

"Aggie" is someone at Texas A&M. The nickname seems obvious enough. However, citations are rare before 1906. The Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) used…

Aggie Jokes

When did Aggie jokes start to be told? Texas A&M is a distinguished institution; its students are certainly smart. Why all the jokes? There's a rivalry between the University of Texas and…

Aggie Punch

Aggie Punch is most likely named after the Texas A&M Aggies, although other "agricultural" colleges also use the Aggie nickname. The drink contains tequila, lime juice and…

Akaushi Beef (Akaushi Cattle)

"Akaushi" is Japanese meaning "red cow" or "brown cattle," cited in English print since at least 1926. Akaushi cattle are a Wagyū breed, producing richly marbled and…

Alambres (Mexican Shish Kebab)

Alambres (Spanish for "wires" or "skewers") is a dish that's sometimes called "Mexican Shish Kebab." It's served in fancier Tex-Mex restaurants. Iguana Grill…

Alamo Bowl

The annual Alamo Bowl is a football bowl played between representatives of the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences. The first Alamo Bowl was played in 1993, and it takes place in the Alamodome in San…

Alamo Burger

Many restaurants offer something called an "Alamo Burger." Often, it's simply a hamburger with chili and cheddar cheese. (This "Alamo Burger" can be found at The Sports…

Alamo City (San Antonio nickname)

The Alamo is the popular national landmark in San Antonio. San Antonio itself was called "the Alamo City" by the mid-1800s. In the 1880s, "Alamo City" showed up in book titles.…

Allergy Capital of the World (Austin nickname)

"Allergy Capital of the World" is an unofficial nickname that the city of Austin is not proud of. The term dates from at least the early 1980s and describes the cedar, ragweed, and other…

Alligator Capital of Texas (Anahuac nickname)

Anahuac on the Texas Gulf Coast has held the Texas Gatorfest since 1989, when the town was also declared by the Texas Legislature as the "Alligator Capital of Texas." The Anahuac National…

Amarilloan (inhabitant of Amarillo)

"Amarilloan" is the name of an inhabitant of Amarillo, Texas. The name "Amarilloan" has been cited in print since at least 1907. Wikipedia: Amarillo, TexasAmarillo (English…

Amber Alert

"Amber Alert" is a notification system to law enforcement and the media about a child abduction. "Amber Alert" is named for Amber Hagerman, the 9-year-old who was kidnapped…

Ambrosia

Ambrosia (Greek for "not mortal") is the food of the immortals or "food of the gods." Ambrosia is also the name for a Southern dish that resembles a fruit cup. The origins of…

America’s Team (Dallas Cowboys)

"America's Team" was the title that Bob Ryan of NFL Films said that he coined for its highlight film of the 1978 Dallas Cowboys. (A December 1979 UPI story reported that "no one…

Antonette’s Leap (Mount Bonnell in Austin)

Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Mount BonnellMount Bonnell (pronounced /bəˈnɛl/), also known as Covert Park, is a prominent point alongside Lake Austin in Austin, Texas. It has been a…