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Ranchburger (ranch house)

A "ranchburger" might be a hamburger served with ranch dressing. In the housing industry, a "ranchburger" is a ranch-style home that seems "cookie-cutter," like…

Swankienda (swanky + hacienda)

"Swankienda" (portmanteau of the words "swanky" and "hacienda") was coined by Houston Chronicle "Big City Beat" columnist Maxine Mesinger (1925-2001),…

French Fried Onion Rings

French fried onion rings are said to have been invented at Texas' Pig Stand restaurants (the first "drive ins") in the 1920s. However, "French fried onions" are cited from…

Texas Rose (onion appetizer)

Texas Rose is an onion appetizer offered (since 2000) at the Lonestar Steakhouse restaurant franchise. The appetizer is similar to the Bloomin' Onion that Outback Steakhouse has served since…

Texas Rose (cocktail)

Texas Rose is a nice name for a cocktail. The ingredients differ, however. Orange juice seems to be an ingredient in all variations of the Texas Rose cocktail. The most popular other ingredients…

Home of Hilton’s First Hotel (Cisco slogan)

Conrad Hilton bought the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919. It was the start of what would become the famous Hilton Hotels chain. Cisco calls itself "Home of Hilton's First…

Sometimes Islands (Lake Travis)

The "Sometimes Islands" are in the middle of Lake Travis (near Austin). When the water level of the lake goes down, the Sometimes Islands appear. When the water level goes up, the…

Texas Leica

"Texas Leica" refers to a camera with a big rangefinder. Most often, a Fuji camera is called a "Texas Leica." Texas means "big" and Leica means "best" in…

Tres Leches (three milks cake)

Tres leches ("three milks") is a cake that most probably originated in Nicaragua. In recent years, the cake has been served in Tex-Mex restaurants. Wikipedia: Tres leches cakeA Tres…

Mexi-Skins (potato skins)

"Mexi-Skins" is a Tex-Mex dish of potato skins with cheese and perhaps jalapeños or salsa or sour cream added. Various recipes differ. The exact origin of the dish is unknown, but it was…

Texas Peach Cobbler

Many southern states can serve peach cobbler (something like a peach pie), but Texas peach cobbler contains Texas peaches. "Cobbler" was known in the United States from at least the early…

Empanada

The empanada (turnover) is more familiar in Cuban and South American cuisines that in Mexican cookery. However, the empanada does appear in some Tex-Mex restaurants -- not filled with meat, but…

Transportation

Whenever (W subway line)

The W train has been called the "Whenever" train because service has not been frequent. The W train has received the poorest grades of any subway line and also has another unfortunate…

Texas Tough (Texas criminal justice)

"Texas tough" can apply to any number of things, from boxers to automobiles to HEB pansies. In 2000, the Justice Policy Institute (a George Soros-backed think-tank) issued a report on…

Austintatious (Austin-tatious)

Austin is the capital of Texas; perhaps some people feel that it's "ostentatious." The term "Austintatious" (or "Austin-tatious" or sometimes spelled…

Bum Steer

A "steer" is a piece of advice (cited from at least 1899, probably from Texas). Not long after that, a "bum steer" came to mean a bad piece of advice. "Bum rap" is a…

Calf Slobber (Calf Slobbers)

Calf slobber (also "calf slobbers") is that white stuff found in a calf's mouth. It became the nickname for meringue that tops pies or egg custards. A foamy head of beer is also…

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch”

"Meanwhile, back at the ranch..." was written on a card in an old silent western film. It was an indication to the movie audience that the film's scene would be re-directed to back…