I LOVE nachos. They should include: flour chips, seasoned ground beef, maybe some refried beans as a bottom layer, black olives, jalapeno slices, tiny tomato chunks..... lots of cheese. Must have dips/add-ons: Salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. I make my “instant” version by keeping small baggies of seasoned ground beef in the freezer, enough for one plate/one meal for one (me)… then thaw the meat, assemble in a layer or two on a plate, and one minute or so in the microwave.... Not ideal, but certainly acceptable, and better than NOT having nachos!
I don’t care for odd versions, though, such as “Italian nachos” at Old Chicago, or along that line.
I love Nachos, too; but this story sounds a lot like the story of the creation of the Caesar Salad:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_salad#History
Flour chips would be another dish.
Olives do not go on Mexican food
I put a layer of refried beans on the side of a dinner plate, then top with homemade seasoned ground beef (garlic powder, salt, red pepper, small can chopped green chilies, and cumin), topped with grated cheddar cheese, microwaved to melt the cheese, then sprinkled with chopped tomatoes, diced onions, cilantro, and sour cream. Tortilla chips on the side. We use the chips to scoop up the other ingredients. That way, there are no soggy chips.
Of course, if my husband just wants a snack, I sprinkle tortilla chips with shredded cheese, melt it in the oven, then top with jalapenos.
Not ground beef. Machaca!