Today is International Day of the Nacho
Rejoice! For today is International Day of the Nacho. FACTS, and not to be confused with National Nacho Day (November 6th). No, no. TODAY we celebrate Ignacio Anaya. As legend has it, in 1943 on the outskirts of Mexico City near a temporary American military base (during World War II), a group of military spouses were ravenous. They approached cantina after cantina only to be turned away by darkened windows and locked doors. Leering down the street, the group found promise in a vibrant, pulsating restaurant — The Old victory Club. Ignacio Anaya, proprietor, greeted the group with disappointment; the dinner rush had just concluded and he was locking up because all the establishment’s provisions had been consumed. He delivered the news with sad regret. Ever the hospitality statesman, Ignacio seated his guests and escaped to the kitchen. Staring at empty cupboards, barren refrigerators and a pile of dishes, Ignacio was puzzled as his imagination was sent spinning. And then…GENIUS. Tortillas. Check. Cheese. Check. Jalapenos. Triple check. Ignacio got to work. He reverently sliced his leftover fresh tortillas into perfect triangles and then crisped them in a nearby pan of turbulently popping frying oil. Ignacio next retrieved the chips from their oily bath and drained them, liberally dusting them with margarita salt. He then tossed the chips onto a baking sheet and got to work shredding the cheese remnants hiding in the walk-in. Ignacio showered the chips with the blissful orange cheese shreds and studded the mound with fresh jalapeno slices. Into the oven it went and out came a crispy, savory, oooowey-goooowey worldwide sensation. As Ignacio approached the gobsmacked hungry table of patrons, he figured he needed a name for the ad-hoc hit he was about to present. So he named it after himself — Nacho — his nickname. He served his Nachos to instant acclaim and worldwide sensation. WE haven’t been the same since. So what do you think? Let’s do our part today to honor Ignacio Anaya’s mighty contribution to the culinary All-Star Foodie Hall of Fame. Hungry?
