Vanity: How do you say "nachos" in Mexican?

3/10/08

[gondramB]

I love the cheese nachos I get in Mexican restaurants - its white cheese kind of hot. You can bean or such but I just like the cheese. Its way better than cheddar or Velveeta or any kind other cheese I've tried to melt.

My neighborhood grocery store has been bought out by a Mexican chain catering to immigrants, legal and otherwise that have moved into Gwinnett county Georgia.

I decided to venture into El Mercado Pueblo even though I usually drive 5 times as far to go to Kroger. I figured where else would I get better Mexican cheese for Nachos. I figured I coulds also see how English friendly and how American-hostile they were.

It was staffed with lots of pretty girls that were friendly enough - I never found one who could understand that I was asking for Farmer's cheese that already had Jalapenos in it. But they helped me find Queso Picante that at least looked like what I wanted.

But I couldn't find Nachos. I asked three different people. They didn't seem to understand "nacho." Thank goodness they didn't seem upset or insulted - a good thing because I got caught noticing how low a 20-something girls jeans were riding in back. But they seemed to regard that as a sign of good taste on my part.

So - does anybody know how to say "Nacho" in Mexican. I still want my cheese nachos.

[SIDENET]

Wow, who are they, I mean, who is she?

[normy]

I watched and insulting episode of Anthony Bourdain “No Reservations” where he did a border show. He crossed from Texas to Mexico and back and forth on his bike. He made fun of the local Texans and gushed over the authenticity of the Mexicans. He explained that in the late 1800’s many white Americans were crossing the border to shop and eat. A local shop owner cut up some tortias, put some cheese on it and served it to the tourists. They didn't eat them in Mexico, it was just for the “idiot tourists” (I suppose he wasn't an idiot tourist though).

[savedbygrace]

Oh they understood, alright; they were just dissin’ you by pretending they didn’t. And you didn’t get it.

[Malsua]

So the next morning at breakfast, she tried to order French Toast.

On a business trip to China one of the guys with us wanted french toast. He explained to our server(whose English wasn't very good)that you mix up eggs and milk, dip bread in it, fry it and add cinnamon. Boy was he surprised with what he got. He got DEEP FRIED BREAD, sprinkled with Cinnamon with an egg on top. We still laugh about that one.

[Caramelgal]

He got DEEP FRIED BREAD, sprinkled with Cinnamon with an egg on top.

Actually that sounds kind of good. Was it?

[Malsua]

Actually that sounds kind of good. Was it?

Heh, I don't know. He didn't eat it. He got up, went into the kitchen and showed the cook how to make French Toast.

I've had deep fried bread in England, I just find it greasy. Don't think I've ever seen it here in the US.

[discostu]

Maybe they’re hiring illegal, maybe they’re not. Assumptions are not your friend.

[William Terrell]

Actually, cheddar cheese is is white (or cream colored). They put coloring in it to enhance the perception of richness. Real cheddar tastes better.

[expatguy]

Im sorry but those would be chipotles

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[expatguy]

Here is the best way to do this.

2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese 1/2 cup cream or half and half 1/4 cup diced onions 1/4 cup diced tomatoes 1/8 cup minced jalapenos (the pickled ones are fine)

Melt slowly in a pan - stirring constantly over medium flame.

You can also substitute the Monterrey Jack for 1 cup American and 1 cup Cheddar - this will give you a yellow colored queso dip.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Polybius]

There’s no such thing. Nachos were invented in Texas. And Chimichangas right here in Tucson. And until recently all the Corona sold in America was brewed by Budweiser. Remember these things come Cinco De Mayo so you can celebrate the holiday in the “proper” Mexican way.

And, actually, "Cinco de Mayo" is a minor holiday in Mexico itself. Making a big deal about it is actually an American thing.

Same thing in regards to Hannukah in Israel and St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.

[William Terrell]

Maybe they’re hiring illegal, maybe they’re not.

Uh huh. I'm just absolutely sure that they check the papers of the Mexicans they hire and turn away those who can't prove legality.

[Old Professer]

I guess it’s just nacho day to buy cheese...

[stainlessbanner]

Hey discostu - that’s difference between Mexican and Tex-Mex, no?

[discostu]

They very well might. Most of the legal Mexican immigrants I know have a serious hate on for the illegals, people who went through the trouble to do the paperwork tend to find people who didn’t annoying.

Of course most restaurant people say that Mexicans have pretty much taken over the back of the house in the whole industry. Doesn’t matter what the ethnicity of the cuisine is it’s probably cooked by a Mexican. So really you shouldn’t focus your boycott on Mexican restaurants which are probably owned by legals, but ALL restaurants, if you can’t trust some of them then you shouldn’t trust any of them.

[discostu]

Sort of, Tex-Mex tends to have a lot of very American/ Texan spices and concepts. Chili, Tex-Mex stuff always seems to find a way to add chili. And some nachos actually do use chili, I like them actually turns nachos into a meal (add meat to anything and it becomes a meal).

[discostu]

We like to add holidays in America, more reasons to drink.

[txhurl]

Try Kerrygold’s aged cheddar with the salt rind. Outrageous.
Expensive, but a little goes a long way.

[William Terrell]

I do.

[William Terrell]

Where do you get it? The best supermarket which sells specialty foods here is Kroger. I'll check it out.