Mexicatessen (Mexican + Delicatessen)

“Mexicatessen” appears in the names of several restaurants, an obvious blend of the words “Mexican” and “delicatessen.” Houston’s famous Herrera’s Mexicatessen served Tex-mex from 1957 until it closed at the end of 2006. Several restaurants named “Mexicatessen” exist in California.
 
A “Mexicatessen” is more a Tex-Mex restaurant than a German delicatessen, but this depends on the establishment.
     
 
Google Books
Mexican Americans
by Joan W. Moore and Harry Pachon
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
1976
Pg. 124:
... or in Los Angeles, perhaps at a “Mexicatessen.” These words may amuse the Anglo but they are a source of deep embarrassment to many Mexican Americans, especially in their relationship with educated Mexican nationals.
 
Google Books
Famous All Over Town
by Danny Santiago
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster
1983
Pg. 106:
I was just going to turn back when by some miracle I saw them at the Mexicatessen.
         
2 December 1998, Fresno (CA) Bee, pg. E1:
Watch Sara Escobar as she stands inside the Mexicatessen, the Fulton Street eatery she’s owned and operated for the past 22 years, and plucks precise gobs of dough from a large bowl for her handmade tortillas. 
   
Houston (TX) Chronicle
25 February 2002, Houston (TX) Chronicle, section A, pg. 23:
Benito R. Herrera, a sixth-generation Texan who traced his roots to one of the state’s earliest families, died Wednesday. He was 88.
 
Herrera was a direct descendant of Jose Francisco Ruiz, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
 
Although he was originally from San Antonio, Herrera worked for GeoSource here for 30 years. In 1956, he founded Mexicatessen Restaurant on Crosstimbers in northwest Houston.
   
Houston (TX) Press
Landmark Fajitas
What you order at Herrera’s Mexicatessen depends on how you feel about bacon
By Robb Walsh
Published: November 25, 2004
(...)
At lunchtime, the old-fashioned Tex-Mex fare at Herrera’s Mexicatessen draws a crowd of Houston firemen, cops and UPS drivers. To their credit, the Herrera family, which owns the place, doesn’t engage in any silly debates about authenticity. The slogan on the menu reads, “Serving fine Tex-Mex food since 1957.” 
 
Google Books
Kiss Me Like a Stranger
My Search for Love and Art
by Gene Wilder
New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press
2005
Pg. 106 (July 1967):
I flew with Jo to El Paso, Texas, and took the bus to Juarez, passing the same gigantic sign, MEXICATESSEN, as we crossed into Mexico.
 
Google Books
Lost and Found in Translation:
Contemporary Ethnic Writing and the Politics of Language Diversity
by Martha J. Cutter
Chapel Hill, NC: UNC Press
2005
Pp. 28-29:
Moraga and Delgado codeswtich in their texts—that is, they move from Spanish to English—but they also create a third dialect that creatively fuses Mexican Spanish and English and includes such terms as “mexicatessen” and “los slow ones.”
     
Google Groups: houston.eats
Newsgroups: houston.eats
From: Dave Garrett

Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 00:31:49 -0600
Local: Sun, Jan 30 2005 1:31 am
Subject: Felix’s closing
     
I haven’t been to Felix’s in quite a while, but I guess it’s now or never for those who want a last plate of enchiladas. With Leo’s gone as well, are there any other Tex-Mex restaurants left in town that date back to the 1950s besides Mexicatessen?
     
Houston (TX) Press
We asked Randy Evans, executive chef of Brennan’s of Houston, to answer some burning questions
By Robb Walsh
Published: February 1, 2007
(...)
I used to eat at Mexicatessen on Crosstimbers until it closed at the end of 2006. They had the best chili con carne with tamales and beef enchiladas—1950’s Tex-Mex.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark DELI-MEXICATESSEN
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 030. US 046. G & S: SPANISH-STYLE RICE, SAUCES, PEPPERS, TORTILLAS, BURRITOS, TAMALES, ENCHILADAS AND TACOS. FIRST USE: 19760427. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19760427
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73087898
Filing Date May 20, 1976
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 1057865
Registration Date February 1, 1977
Owner (REGISTRANT) S & W Fine Foods, Inc. d.b.a. Pinata Foods UNKNOWN San Mateo CALIFORNIA
(LAST LISTED OWNER) S & W FINE FOODS, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE , DOING BUSINESS AS PINATA FOODS 1730 S. EL CAMINO REAL SAN MATEO, CALIF. 94402
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date June 28, 1983
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark MEXICATESSEN
Goods and Services IC 030. US 046. G & S: Alimentary Paste, Bagels, Bakery desserts, Bakery goods, Bakery Products, Barbecue sauce, Bases for making milk shakes, Bean paste, Biscuits, Bonbons, Bread, Bread Sticks, Breadcrumbs, Breakfast cereals, Bubble Gum, Buns, Burritos, Cake mixes, Cakes, Candy, Candy Bars, Candy Cake, Decorations, Candy coated apples, Candy coated Popcorn, Candy decoration for cake, candy mints, Caramel popcorn, Caramels, Catsup, Cereal based snack food, Chalupas, Cheese flavor puffed corn snacks, Cheese flavor snacks, Cheese balls, Cheeses sauce, Cheesecake, Chewing gum, Chili powders, Chili sauce, Chili seasonings, Chimichanga, Chocolate, Chocolate chips, Chocolate covered nuts, Chocolate fondue, Chocolate food beverages not being dairy-based or vegetable based, Chocolate mousse, Chocolate powder, Chocolate Syrup, Chocolate topping, Chocolate truffle, Chocolate-based filings for cakes and pies, Chocolate-based ready-to-eat food bars, Cinnamon, Cinnamon rolls, Cloves, Cocoa, Cocoa mixes, Cocoa-based ingredients in confectionery products, coffee, coffee beans, Coffee substitute, Coffee-based beverages containing milk, Cones for ice cream, Confectionery chips for baking, Cookies, Corn chips, Corn curls, Corn flakes, Corn meal, Corn syrup, Cracker and cheese combinations, Crackers, Crepes, Croissants, Custard-base filling for cakes and pie, Custards, Dessert mousse, Dessert souffles, Dough, Doughnuts, Dulce de leche, Edible cake decorations, Edible decorations for cakes, Empanadas, Enchiladas, Extracts used as flavorings, Fajitas, Farina, Fish dumplings, Fish sandwiches, Flavored and sweetened gelatin, Flavored Ices, Flavored additives for non nutritional purposes, Flavoring syrup, Flour, Flour-based chips, Food additives for non nutriotional purposes for use as a flaring ingredient or filler, Food flavorings, Food package combinations, Food starch, Freezable liquid for use in making frozen confections. Fritters, Frosting mixes, Frostings, Frozen confections, Frozen custards, Frozen yogurt, Fruit Ice, Fruit pies, Grain-based chips, Grain-based food beverages, Granola, Granola-based snack bars, Gravies, Gravy, Gravy mixes, Ham glazed, Hamburger sandwiches, Herb tea, Herbal food beverages, Herbal infussions, Herbal tea, Honey, Hot chocolate, Hot dog sandwiches, Hot sauce, Ice, Ice cream, Ice cream drinks, Ice cream substitute, Ice cubes, Ice milk, Iced tea, Icing, Ketchup, Lasagna, Macaroni, Malt for food purposes, Maple Syrup, Marinades, Marshmallows, Marzipan, Meals consisting primarily of pasta or rice, Meat pies, Meat tenderizers, Microwave popcorn, Milkshakes, Minced garlic, Mincemeat pies, Mix for making combinated noodle and sauce dish, Mixes for bakery goods, molasses, Muesli, Muffins, Mustard, Nachos, Natural sweetener, Non-medicated lonzeges, Noodles, Oatmeal, Pancake mixes, pancake syrup, Pancakes, Parafaits, Pasta, Pasta salad, Pasta Shells, Paties, Pastries, Peanut butter confectionery chips, Pepper, Picante sauce, Pickled ginger, Pies, Pimiento used as a condiment, Pizza, Pizza crust, Pizza dough, Pizza sauce, Pot pies, Powdered garlic, Pretzels, Processed cereals, Processed gingseng used an herb, spice or flavoring, Porcessed grains, processed Herbs, Processed Oats, Processed popcorn, Processed semolina, Processed unpopped popcorn, Processed wheat, Propolis for food purposes, Puddings, Puffed corn snacks, Quesadillas, Rice, Rice cakes, Rice salad, Rice-based snack foods, Rolled oats, Rolls, Royal Jelly, Salsa, Salt, Sandwiches, Sauces, Seasoned coating for meat, fish, poultry, Seasonings, Shakes, Sherbet, Snack mix, Sopapillas, Sorbet, Spaghetti, Spaghetti sauce, Spices, Stuffing mixes, Sugar, Sugar substitute, Sweet meats, Taco chips, Taco seasoning, Taco shells, Tacos, Tamales, Tapioca, Tarts, Tea, Tea for infussion. Tea-based beverages with fruit flavoring, Thickening agents for use in cooking, Tisanes, Tomate sauce, Topping syrup, Tortilla chips, Tortilla Shells, Tortillas, Vanilla, Vanilla beans, Vegetable concentrate used for seasoning, Vinegar, Wafers, Waffles, Wheat germ, Wheat-based snacks foods, Wine vinegar, Yeast, Yerba mate. FIRST USE: 20010801. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20010801
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 78075501
Filing Date July 24, 2001
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition March 8, 2005
Registration Number 3059378
Registration Date February 14, 2006
Owner (REGISTRANT) TAMALES IMPERIAL COMPANY CORPORATION TEXAS 2543 GESSNER ROAD HOUSTON TEXAS 77080
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE