International Day of the Nacho, October 21st

While technically National Nacho Day is November 6th (I saw you checking your calendar when you saw the title), International Day of the Nacho is October 21.

A Brief History of International Day of the Nacho

The story goes that in 1943 just over the border from Eagle Pass, Texas a few military wives of soldiers stationed at Fort Duncan were shopping in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. Looking for a place to eat, they arrived at the Liberty Club but found it closed.

They were in luck, however, because the matre d'hotel on staff was Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya. Going back into the kitchen, he used some random ingredients he had to create a new snack he called "Nacho's especiales."

Word traveled and the apostrophe "s" was dropped, with Nacho modifying and taking his special snack to the Moderno Restaurant, which still uses his recipe. Eventually his name was dropped and they became "special nachos," Anaya opened his own restaurant and the original recipe was printed in 1954 in St. Anne's Cookbook where it became popular.

The International Day of the Nacho came in 1975 after Anaya passed. In his honor, a bronze plaque was erected in Piedras Negras and the day declared. His son, Ignaciao Anaya, Jr. served as a judge in the annual nacho competition until his death in 2010.

Original "Nacho's Especiales" Recipe

• Take tortillas, cut them into triangles, and fry them
• Add shredded cheddar cheese to the top
• Quickly heat
• Add sliced pickled jalapeno peppers
• Serve immediately

Sources

"Nachos, Anyone?" Oxford English Dictionary, 2010 via WaybackMachine
"The Legend Of Nacho's Appetizer" Sun Sentinel, 2002