Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack
by Sandra Nickel (Author) Oliver Dominguez (Illustrator)
NYPL Best Books of 2020
CSMCL's Best Books of 2020
The delicious true story of an inventive chef and the serendipitous events that led to the creation of the world's favorite snack--nachos!
Ignacio Anaya was born in Mexico in 1895, and like a lot of Ignacios, he was nicknamed Nacho. Young Nacho loved to eat and cook, and when he grew up, he found a job in a restaurant. Eventually he became head waiter at the Victory Club, a popular restaurant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, right across the Rio Grande river from Eagle Pass, Texas.
One afternoon in 1940, during the Victory Club's quiet hours between lunch and dinner, Mamie Finan, a regular customer from the US, walked in with three friends. They wanted a snack--something new, something different. Nacho rushed to the kitchen and improvised with what was on hand: corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño peppers. In that moment, Nacho's Special, the dish that later became known simply as nachos, was born! Word of this delicious new snack spread quickly. Soon restaurants all over Mexico, the United States, and later the world, were serving nachos. Little did Nacho know that his name would one day be a household word around the globe!
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School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 4--Ignacio Anaya (1895-1975) was a skilled home cook and a professional chef, but it was his invention of one of the world's favorite snacks that made him a household name. Born in northern Mexico, Anaya was given the nickname "Nacho." At the age of 23, he found work in a restaurant. When restaurateur Rodolfo de los Santos planned to open a new eatery, the Victory Club, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, he recruited Nacho. It was there in 1940 that Nacho came up with the idea for his signature dish. Once his crunchy, cheesy, spicy creation took off, actors and presidents flocked to Victory Club. The simple but engaging text is well suited to this appealing story and makes this biography a perfect read-aloud for classrooms. Illustrations convey movement and familiarity while depicting a time period that might be unfamiliar to younger readers. Back matter includes a thorough list of sources cited, an afterword, and--best of all--a recipe for the original Nacho's Special. VERDICT A unique biography read-aloud title for younger kids. Recommended for elementary school libraries and classrooms.--Savannah Kitchens, Parnell Memorial Lib., Montevallo, AL
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
This tale of the humble origins of nachos, bolstered by vivid and period-specific illustrations, will whisk young readers away to a different time and place. — Booklist
Nickel tells an engaging origin story of the humble but mighty nacho. — The Horn Book
NYPL Best Books of 2020
JNF014000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Cooking & Food
JNF038070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Mexico
Mexico
Restaurants
Texas
Waiters and waitresses
Snack foods
Restaurateurs
Nachos
Waiters
Appetizers
Anaya, Ignacio
