National Nachos Day: 

Celebrated on the 6th of November, the National Nachos Day is observed annually to recognize a snack that became synonymous with entertainment in the US and all around the world!

Twitter Hashtags:

#NationalNachoDay

#NachoDay

Related: Other National Days Celebrated on November:

National Sardines Day

National Cake Day

National French Toast Day

National Electronic Greeting Card Day

Why National Nachos Day?

Originally Nachos are tortilla chips served with salsa, covered in nacho cheese or melted cheese. Well, what’s the big deal? you might ask. Taste it once and you will know why!

The story of nachos goes back to 1943 in the town of Piedra Negras at the Mexican border. The story was narrated by the son of Ignacio Anaya who was also known as ‘Nacho’. Ignacio was the maître d’ at the El Moderno Restaurant in Piedras Negras.

One evening, a band of hungry wives of U.S soldiers, stationed at the Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass, visited the restaurant. They were famished after a long day of shopping and they asked for a snack. The restaurant was about to close and all the kitchen staff had left by then. Ignacio Anayo, the hunger savior entered the scene and made a dish with the ingredients that were available in the kitchen; tortillas, cheese, and jalapeno peppers.

Ignacio cut the tortillas into triangular shapes and topped it with shredded cheese and heated the dish in the oven. Sliced jalapenos were added to complete the dish. The women loved the dish and they named it “Nacho’s special”.

Over the next 20 years, the dish gained popularity in Texas and the southwest. Ignacio Anaya continued to work in the Moderno Restaurant in Piedras Negras where the original recipe is still used. He also opened up his own eatery, in the border town known as Nacho’s restaurant. The name gradually changed from “Nacho’s special” to “Nacho”.

Nacho’s gained widespread popularity as a snack food in the 1970s and 1980s when Frank Liberto sold Nachos at Arlington Stadium. Liberto not only used an ingredient that would increase the shelf life of the nacho’s but also created a cheese sauce that did not require heating to melt it. Liberto also introduced the nachos to Howard Cossel, a sports broadcaster. He praised the dish during a football game and from then the fame and taste of nacho’s spread like wildfire.

Since then Nacho’s have evolved much in terms of the toppings used. Heavily topped nachos are known as super nachos or supreme nachos. Beef, chicken, seafood and various seasonings are commonly used. The toppings reflect the regional flair in the recipe. The origin of nachos is more than just a tale of culinary triumph, it’s the life of a service-minded man, Ignacio Anaya who went the extra mile to serve his customers through his talent and profession. Indeed Nacho’s was as special as his dish! 

How Can We Observe National Nachos Day? 

• It’s Nacho Time, Anytime.

Celebrate this day with a platter of your favorite Nachos. You can have it as a snack, appetizer, or full meal by varying the quantity and toppings.

• Be the Nacho Macho!

Watching a movie, going for the super bowl or going for a party, get nachos and Salsa for your friends and they might start worshipping you. Any occasion calls for a nacho celebration.

• Do It Yourself.

Organize a nacho cookoff with your gang and eat all the nachos for free!

• Make your own Nachos with the seasonings from your homeland.

You can also make the healthier version by loading your nachos with vegetables and using whole grain flour. 

• Let The World Know.

Share the pictures and videos of your nacho day celebration with Hashtags #NationalNachoDay and #NachoDay on social media! 

Interesting Facts On National Nachos Day: 

Here are a few facts on Nachos to add more fun to your National Nachos Day!

• The word Nachos first appeared in English in the book ‘A taste of Texas in 1949.
• Any kind of cheese can be used as Nacho cheese as the FDA doesn’t recognize and specific cheese as Nacho cheese though cheddar is commonly used
• According to general polls, Nachos are the most craved food item by pregnant women.
• A school in Kansas, USA holds the record for the largest plate of nachos that weighed 2,126.89 kg.
• The International Nacho Festival is organized between October 13 and 15 at Piedras Negras. The celebration features the biggest nacho of the world contest.
• In 1954 the original nacho recipe was published in St Anne’s Cookbook.
• In 1959, Cameron Rocha, a LA waitress who used to prepare Nachos in San Antonio brought the dish to the El Cholo restaurant in South California.

History Of National Nachos Day:

The origin and the founder of this day remain unknown.