Chalupa Burger
"Chalupa Burger" is a specialty of Big'Z Burger Joint (established 2006) in San Antonio. The combination of chalupa and hamburger attempts to imitate the success that San Antonio…
Champagne of the South (sweet tea)
"Champagne of the South" or "Southern Champagne" is another name for sweet tea. It's iced tea that's very, very sweet and is a favorite from Georgia to Texas. RC Cola…
Champagne Unit (Texas Air National Guard nickname)
The Texas Air National Guard 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, at Ellington Field in Houston, was dubbed the "champagne unit" because its members -- the sons of Texas elite -- would likely…
Champurrado
Champurrado is a thick, hot Mexican drink, usually consisting of masa harina (hominy flour), piloncillo (or brown sugar or molasses), milk, and Mexican chocolate. Champurrado is a bit stronger and…
Charlie Taylor (butter substitute)
"Charlie Taylor" (or "Charley Taylor") is the name of a butter substitute made by cowboy cooks. The name may have been taken from the Charlie Taylor of Charlie, Texas, but the…
Charm of the Texas Coast (Rockport-Fulton nickname)
"Charm of the Texas Coast" is the nickname of Rockport-Fulton, about thirty miles northeast of Corpus Christi. The Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce has a Volunteer Charmer Program in…
Charro Beans (Frijoles Charros; Frijoles a la Charra; Cowboy Beans)
"Charro beans" (also known in Spanish as frijoles charros and frijoles a la charra) are sometimes translated as "cowboy beans." The dish comes from Guadalajara, Mexico and…
Cheater Ribs
Texas barbecuing is usually done with lots of smoke over lots of time, "low and slow." However, not everyone has lots of time! Canadian barbecue champion Ron Shewchuk published the recipe…
Checkpoint to the Stars (Sierra Blanca border patrol checkpoint nickname)
The border patrol checkpoint at Sierra Blanca, Texas, has been dubbed "checkpoint to the stars" because of the many stars that have been arrested there. People such as singer/songwriter…
Cheese Fries (Chili Cheese Fries; Jalapeño Cheese Fries)
The origin of "cheese fries" (cheese added to french fries) is in dispute. The dish is claimed by both Philadelphia and Chicago, dating from the early 1980s. Hostess distributed frozen…
Cheeseburger
Texas has an alleged "Home of the Hamburger" (Athens) and the Cheeseburger Capital of Texas (Friona), but where and when was the cheeseburger invented? There is no doubt that cheese was…
Cheeseburger Capital of Texas (Friona nickname)
Friona in West Texas was declared the "Cheeseburger Capital of Texas" by the legislature in 2007. Tiny Friona had been home to a Cheeseburger Cook-Off and Festival since only 2006 when it…
Chess Pie
Chess pie has been widely served throughout the South since about the time of the Civil War. The place of origin is a mystery. It is sometimes claimed that this was originally called "cheese…
Chevon (goat meat)
"Chevon" is a modern word meaning "goat meat," taken from the French word for goat (chèvre ). The new term (pronounced like shav'on) won a 1922 contest by the Sheep and…
Chicharrones (pork cracklings)
Chicharrones are pork cracklings (deep-fried pork skins). They are usually eaten as snacks and are popular in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Glossary - Mexican food recipes, cooking…
Chicken and Dumplings (Slickers)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Chicken and dumplingsChicken and Dumplings is a popular soul food dish commonly found in the United States that is made by combining the two ingredients in its…
Chicken Bingo (Chicken Poop Bingo; Chicken Shit Bingo)
"Chicken bingo" (also called "chicken poop bingo" or "chicken shit bingo") is a game where a chicken is let loose on a checkerboard and poops in a square. A holder of…
Chicken Chili
In 1977, the Texas legislature made "chili" the official state dish. Chile con carne was intended; one legislator even asked other legislators if they had ever heard of "chicken…
Chicken Cone (ACL Fest food from Hudson’s on the Bend)
The first Austin City Limits Music Festival began in 2002 -- in Austin, Texas, of course. The Austin restaurant Hudson's on the Bend began serving "chicken cones" -- a similar…
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:…