So...lonely...

No one asks me questions anymore. I will answer anything. Is anyone curious about anything anymore?

Hangin out...On the street...Same old thing...

Melissa submits:
I was watching "That 70s Show" the other night, and Eric and his dad were at a Bears/Packers game. Eric sat in Nachos. My question is, did they serve Nachos at Bears games in 1979???Thank you so much for your help!!

Response:
First off, thanks for bringing me out of hibernation. People seem to think the nacho expert doesn't need friends. Well, I get lonely too! Anyway, enough self pity. To answer your question..yes, they had nachos at Bear's games in 1979. Would "That 70's Show" lie?! Some other facts about "That 70's Show" that you may be interested in...Some working titles of the show were "Reeling in the Years", and "Teenage Wasteland". They ended up not using these titles due to legal issues since both of those were titles of songs by "The Who". I, personally, would have preferred one of the old titles since it seems to go beyond the 70's. Okay, enough rambling. Basically, if you don't know if they actually had nachos at football games back then you should just be happy that you never knew a time without nachos. Peace, and nachos for all.

Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Jeff Goldstein submitted...

"Dear Nacho Expert,

Two vendors are offering nachos at this year's taste of Chicago. Which one is better?

Thanks."

This is not a bad question at all. First off, I want to say that there should be more nacho vendors. With all of the food there, no one should have to go far to get some nachos, and after seeing the vendors, there are many that could offer nachos. Unless that is a hypothetical situation, in which case I'm a little upset that you got me so worked up. Anyway, this seems like a simple question, but there is not such a simple answer. The right answer is, getting both is the best option. Every nacho dish has its own unique ins and outs. There are different aspects that can bring you closer to nacho bliss. If you want to get as close to true happiness as you can, then you must have both kinds. If you have to choose one, then is sucks to be you. That being said, it's pretty damn hard to have a nacho dish that doesn't offer something. If you truely have to decide on one, assess your criteria: crispiness, toppings, quantity, expected aftermath, etc. Expected aftermath is pretty important at a place like The Taste. You're outdoors with only some portapotties. It all depends on the other aspects and what you're willing to risk. This may seem like a somewhat vague answer to your question, but analysis needs to be done. I still say go with both. Nachos are very much like sexual partners: two is almost always better than one.

Layer Suggestion...

Jessica Submitted...
Hi Nacho Expert.
I recently stumbled upon your site. I agree - Nachos Rule!
You need to be introduced to layered nachos. This is when you lay out one layer of chips, then cover with freshly shredded cheddar (preferrable vermont cabot extra charp cheddar), then add another layer of chips, then top with more cheese. Of course, you could add more than just cheese within the layers. Layering alleviates a common problem I have encountered in restaurants - a pile of cheese and toppings over a pile of chips, leaving one with many dry chips in the center of the nacho plate. This is very, very bad. Also, nachos must be broiled in the oven at low heat to melt the cheese and retain the crispiness of the chip....
That's enough nacho theory for one day. Just wanted to say that I love the idea for a website dedicated to nachos. Nachos rule.
Have you seen the beavis and butthead T-shirts that say nachos rule on the front and have a picture of beavis and butthead chomping on nachos on the back?

..with liberty and nachos for all.

Jessica
(from San Francisco, CA.... originally from the heartland, Iowa)

Response:
First off, thank you for the email. It gets lonely being the nacho expert. To answer the one question in there, yes, I've seen the Beavis and Butthead shirt. Beavis and Butthead are awesome. How can someone not be awesome who thinks that nachos rule?! The only other thing I can say is...great nacho suggestion...I think I'm in love...

Just what ARE your qualifications?

Submitted by Danthol:
Okay, Mr Nacho expert, what exactly are your qualifications? I mean, c'mon you haven't even had the spicy variety of the "El Ranchero" chips. Before you give any more nacho "Advice" (and I use the term lightly) you need to give us your qualifications! Being on the nachosrule.com payroll, you should take your job very seriously! I'm sure Rusty Wyatt would have preferred a straight answer about nacho creator Ignacio Anaya. Concerned in Arizona, Danthol

Response:
Ah yes, the man wants credentials. Now please keep in mind that the "Nacho Expert" is more than just an expert on nachos. I know things about many topics. So how can I prove it? Well, currently, I can tell you that I am officially a college graduate and I possess CSTE and GEQAFTRW certifications. I have also searched the globe for other certifications that would do me justice. I will explain some of them here...

I checked into Mensa. They wanted me to take an IQ test to prove my worth. I decided that paying people to take a test and then continuing to pay them to be a member is not a smart thing to do. Therefore, I am a self-proclaimed, certified genius for figuring this out, being satisfied with my level of intelligence, and not wasting my money.

I also checked into being a food critic. The problem with this is that food critics are generally negative, hence the word "critic". I like different foods, and just because I don't like something, it doesn't mean it's wrong for someone else to like it. Therefore, I have become a self-proclaimed "Certified Food Admirer".

Now what about various graduate level education programs: MBA, PHD, MD, etc? Well, these are all good for getting a certain job, and they sometimes will allow you to make more money. Will I get one of these titles? Probably some day. Do I think someone's expertise can be defined by these titles? Absolutely not. I have found that the amount learned in classes at school pales in comparison with what you can learn elsewhere in real life.

Then I began to explore my sanity. To begin I had to ask myself, "what is the definition of insanity?". To me, it seems that insanity is seeing the world in an entirely different way than the majority of people. People are shunned, ignored, or have even been killed for seeing things differently. I try to explore all options. Someone shows me the accepted theories for why something is the way it is, and I want to hear other, far fetched theories. As far as I'm concerned anything is possible, and nothing is true (kudos to you if you see the paradox there). Therefore, I would also define myself as certifiable.

As you can see from how long this response is, I do take my job very seriously. I have also tried the spicy version of "El Ranchero" chips. I just prefer to use the regular chips in the green bag and to spice it up myself. I have given you my qualifications as the nacho expert. I don't know if the qualifications will satisfy you are not. Giving advice is not the same as giving THE answers. I can tell you what I think the answer is, but each reader needs to analyze what they are told and decide if they agree or not. I appreciate your concern, and I hope this provides a learning experience to all who read it...if they decide they want to learn from it.

The Nacho Expert

It's all about the thickness...

Jason Bell asks:
"Dear Nacho Expert:

I am trying to find a nacho chip that is thick, and will not get soggy due to toppings like beans, cheese, etc. Do you know of any chips that might work?

Thanks for your help!!"


Answer:
Hi Jason. Thanks for the question. And it is a good one. I always hate when I can no longer lift up a chip with the glorious toppings. We need a chip that can keep it up even under the greatest pressure. One kind of chip that I have grown to like is "El Ranchero" tortilla chips. They are very natural. None of those scary ingredients that you find in some of the other processed garbage that we eat nowadays. If you are looking for them in the store, they come in a green and clear bag. There is also a spicy variety in a red and clear bag. I haven't tried the spicy ones yet though. I hope this helps you on your search to get it up and keep it up. Enjoy those nachos!

How did he think of that?!

Rusty Wyatt asks:
"How did Ignacio Anaya come up with the idea of makeing nachos?"


Answer:
Thanks for the post, Rusty. Well, some ladies came in and asked him for something good and fast to eat. Being a guy, first Ignacio decided not to give them the first thing that came to his mind, then he put together the best thing that he could think of to woo these ladies that wouldn't get him smacked. Unfortunately for him, they were all there waiting for their husbands. What happened after that isn't really known. We just know that we all love nachos today...And I'm guessing that he definitely got the chicks, married or not.

A Cheesy Question

This question was submitted by ABabyGirl4Life:"I have a question, what is the best type of cheese to use on nachos?"


Answer:Here is my simple answer. Nacho cheese!!! Seriously though, cheddar is always a winner. If you want to add something to give it a little kick on top of the Cheddar, try Gruyere. I have to warn you though, it is quite expensive. Basically, any cheese that brings you closer to the ultimate nacho platter is the best cheese. This can be different for every person. I wish you luck on your cheesy journey.