Chihuahua Sandwich

The Chihuahua Sandwich was popularized by R. A. “Skeet” Noret and his wife, Sarah, at the Sky-Vue Drive In at Lamesa, Texas. The sandwich—no chihuahuas are included—contains chili, cabbage, onions, and pimento cheese in corn tostada shells.
 
An emial, on June 7, 2024, to this website from Kathryn Stephenson Copeland (daughter of a cook at the Sky-Vue Drive In, whose chili recipe was used to make the Chihuahua tortilla recipe) explained:

“My mother was present when Mr Noret (Skeet’s dad, not Skeet) came up with the tortilla concoction and name. Mr Noret (not Skeet) decided on the name after a beautiful lady walked by—someone said ‘Chihuahua!’ as an exclamation of her beauty. Hence, the choice of the name for the Chihuahua tortilla snack bar food.”
   
 
Defazio Family Recipes
CHIHUAHUA SANDWICH
Yield: one
Ingredients:
two corn tostada shells
2 Tbsp. chopped onions
1 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup chili, no beans
1/2 cup pimiento cheese spread
Directions:
Warm chili in a saucepan or microwave. Spread chili on one tostada shell. Top with onions and cabbage. Spread pimiento cheese on the other tostada shell. Put shells together and serve.
from the Sky-Vue Drive In—Lamesa, TX.
 
Cinema Treasures
Sky-Vue Drive-In
Lamesa, TX
South Big Springs Highway, Lamesa, TX 79331
The Sky-Vue Drive-In is open and thriving in the friendly farming community of Lamesa. It is a great 1950s throwback complete with playground, swings and merry-go-round. Not to be missed is the snack bar ( also open to the public) featuring the “Chihuahua” sandwich, which was originally concieved and introduced by R.A. “Skeet” Noret and his wife, Sarah. They also built and ran the theater for many years and remain active in the movie theater business.
 
Cinema Treasures
Stars & Stripes Drive-In
Lubbock, TX
5101 Highway 84, Lubbock, TX 79401
 
This is an 8/14/2003 article about this drive-in.
“Two-Screen Drive-In Theater to Open in Lubbock, Texas.”
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Byline: John Austin
(...)
Smith’s grandfather, Skeet Noret, opened the Sky-Vue Drive-In in Lamesa—pronounced Lameesa by folks in West Texas—in 1948.
 
Although Noret eventually sold the Sky-Vue, the 81-year-old still runs his Lubbock walk-in cinema. His wife helps pop the corn.
 
Smith’s mother, Linda, owns a two-screen indoor theater in Snyder.
 
And the Sky-Vue is thriving: A recent Sunday-night double feature brought in 443 patrons at $4 a head.
 
Smith is using a pair of vintage water-cooled Century projectors from one of his grandfather’s old theaters. He’s also bringing in another heirloom: Though he won’t have fried chicken gizzards like the Sky-Vue, he will feature the famous Chihuahua sandwich.
 
The $2 treat consists of chili, grated cabbage, pimento cheese and a pickled jalapeno between two fried corn tortillas. It’s presently only available at the Sky-Vue.
 
“And some people like onions,” Smith said. “It sounds crazy, but it works: either last summer or last year, they sold over 25,000.”
 
Smith’s great-grandfather concocted the recipe. Smith will have to pay his granddad a royalty on each one, but he figures it’ll be worth it.
 
After all, Noret said, “food” is the one-word answer to what it takes to keep fans flocking to drive-ins.
 
Daily Toreador of Texas Tech (8-5-2003)
Ryan Smith wants to help remind people about the simple pleasures of life, and he is starting in Lubbock by opening the Stars and Stripes Drive-In off Clovis Highway between Quaker and Frankford on August 19.
(...)
And it will also serve the famous Chihuahua Sandwich.
 
Smith’s great grandfather came up with the idea, and it has become a very popular item.
 
The sandwich consists of two tostada shells, chili meat, pimento cheese and cabbage.
 
“It’s odd, but it works,” Smith said. “If you have not tried one, it is worth coming out here just to eat the sandwich.”
 
Lubbock Fun Club—Dining & Food
Stars & Stripes Drive-In Movies
5101 Hwy. 84, 749-SHOW (7827)
You should try the famous chihuahua sandwich (but they have a full menu from sandwiches to pickles!)
 
(EMAIL TO THIS WEBSITE, June 7, 2024)
The Chihuahua was “invented” by Skeet Noret’s dad at the Sky-Vue snack bar in Lamesa, Texas in the 1950s. Not by Skeet and his wife.
 
It was one flat crispy fried tortilla with the ingredients on top, not a sandwich.
 
My mother was present when Mr Noret (Skeet’s dad, not Skeet) came up with the tortilla concoction and name. Mr Noret (not Skeet) decided on the name after a beautiful lady walked by—someone said “Chihuahua!”as an exclamation of her beauty. Hence, the choice of the name for the Chihuahua tortilla snack bar food.
 
Most sincerely,
Kathryn Stephenson Copeland
Daughter of Mary Stephenson who was cook at the SkyVue drive in theatre in Lamesa, Texas, in the 1950s. Her chili recipe was used to make the Chihuahua tortilla recipe.
 
(TRADEMARK)
Word Mark CHIHUAHUA “WHAT A SANDWICH”
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 030. US 046. G & S: Chili sandwich sold for consumption at a movie theatre. FIRST USE: 20020701. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20020701
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 02.03.24 - Women, stylized, including women depicted in caricature form
09.05.05 - Sombreros, cowboy hats (10 gallon hats), other broad-brimmed hats
26.11.02 - Plain single line rectangles; Rectangles (single line)
26.11.12 - Rectangles with bars, bands and lines
26.11.25 - Rectangles with one or more curved sides
26.11.28 - Miscellaneous designs with overall rectangular shape; Rectangular shapes (miscellaneous overall shape)
26.17.09 - Bands, curved; Bars, curved ; Curved line(s), band(s) or bar(s); Lines, curved
26.17.13 - Letters or words underlined and/or overlined by one or more strokes or lines; Overlined words or letters; Underlined words or letters
Serial Number 78340067
Filing Date December 12, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition September 28, 2004
Owner (APPLICANT) Noret, R.A. “Skeet” INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES P.O. Box 1303 Lamesa TEXAS 79331
Prior Registrations 2305605
Description of Mark The lining is a feature of the mark and does not indicate color.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Other Data The likeness (or, “portrait”) in the mark does not identify a living individual.
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date April 7, 2005