So the Wall Street Journal just fired shots in the queso war between Texas and Arkansas, and people are choosing sides.
Don’t tell Texas, but Arkansas is laying claim to queso https://t.co/LKByPn2plX ?
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 2, 2016
CREDIT: WSJ / TWITTER
This story was quickly picked up by Arkansas Senator, Tom Cotton, who put Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn ?on blast.?
.@SenTedCruz @JohnCornyn…Arkansas cheese dip > Texas cheese dip https://t.co/mGJMBCHCvM
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: SENTOMCOTTON / TWITTER
People immediately dragged Sen. Tom Cotton for calling it “cheese dip.”
CREDIT: LUCASASHBY / TWITTER
This senator might experience a “dip” in his approval ratings. Sorry not sorry.
But “cheese dip” is what it’s called in Arkansas.
It's called 'Cheese Dip', damnit! https://t.co/J1MTIqy2TS
— Jon Austin Sams (@ustinsams) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: USTINSAMS / TWITTER
One could argue referring to “queso” as “cheese dip” would be like if “carnitas tacos” were called “mashed corn discs with dead pig parts.” It just sounds wrong.
Anyway, Arkansas claims that cheese dip was created in by Blackie Donnally, when he figured out how to melt cheese.
CREDIT: NICK ROGERS / VIMEO
There’s more to it than that. Watch the video below for the full story.
Blackie sold his cheese dip at “Mexico Chiquito,” a restaurant he opened in 1935.
CREDIT: MEXICO CHIQUITO / FACEBOOK
There’s even an entire documentary, “In Queso Fever: A Movie About Cheese Dip,” that covers the discovery of Arkansas cheese dip.
CREDIT: NICK ROGERS / VIMEO
And that would be the story of queso, except for proud Texans:
First of all, no. #Queso https://t.co/GTdktA7iDk
— The Interim (@85thLegislature) November 2, 2016
CREDIT: 85thLegislature / Twitter
Texans aren’t going to let Arkansas have “cheese dip” without a fight.
#Arkansas, step away from the #queso. This is #Texas territory. https://t.co/w8L3i3XQ88
— Kait Parker (@WeatherKait) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: WEATHERKAIT / TWITTER
This cheese dip/queso rivalry is up there with the glory days of Texas Longhorns v. Arkansas Razorbacks.
Texas Senator John Cornyn even fired back a response to Sen. Tom Cotton.
Queso, Tom https://t.co/p7MG38Etu9
— JohnCornyn (@JohnCornyn) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: JOHNCORNYN / TWITTER
Ted Cruz hasn’t released an official tweet yet, presumably because he’s busy with official senator work.
CREDIT: THE YOUNG TURKS / YOUTUBE
In the meantime, Texans are voicing their anger via social media.
Sorry, Arkansas, but cheese dip is not queso. @lesbren @guidelive https://t.co/CxOh5BQZTS
— sydney dawson (@syddaws) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: SYDDAWS / TWITTER
I like Arkansas — Little Rock is lovely — but this claim is absurd. Queso is Tex-Mex, through and through. https://t.co/kQWdE0C8nO
— Vikrant P. Reddy (@vpreddy) November 2, 2016
CREDIT: VPREDDY / TWITTER
Even respectable publications, like “Texas Monthly,” weighed in on behalf of queso.
Arkansas tries to lay claim on what it calls "cheese dip." It's spelled Q-U-E-S-O, y'all. https://t.co/kt0hy6shlI
— Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) November 3, 2016
CREDIT: TEXAS MONTHLY / TWITTER
Texas journalists broke their oath to neutrality to rain on cheese dip’s parade.
As a journalist I'm supposed to stay neutral on topics like this, but as a Texan I have to say no. Just no. https://t.co/kkFkrZnYhu via @WSJ
— Lynn Cook (@LynnJCook) November 2, 2016
CREDIT: LYNNJCOOK / TWITTER
Queso is very special to people in Texas. The Tex-Mex staple is what people miss most when they leave:
Texas, I missed you. #queso #whataburger #home
— Maret Montanari (@MAMontanari) October 27, 2016
CREDIT: MAMONTANARI / TWITTER
Texans will blacklist restaurants that don’t serve the warm, velvety treat.
Texans don’t need fancy wine and cheese. They have Mexican martinis and queso.
CREDIT: CASONOWWHAT / INSTAGRAM
There’s even a comedy club in Austin, Texas, called “The Velveeta Room.”
CREDIT: LUCAS MOLANDES / INSTAGRAM
As Texas and Arkansas argue over rights to melted cheese, one author is working to uncover the true origins of queso.
CREDIT: HyperionBooksVideos’s channel / YOUTUBE
According to research from Lisa Fain, author of The Homesick Texan, queso most likely originated in northern Mexico. Lisa, told the Wall Street Journal, that the tasty treat started “as a side dish that mixed chile peppers, onions, seasoning and a small amount of white cheese.” From there, the meal spread to the U.S. faster than pink eye in a daycare.
So let Texas and Arkansas argue over their beloved dishes. The real winner in this is anyone who loves queso… or cheese dip.
CREDIT: TORCHY’S TACOS
And while we’re on the topic, don’t ever bring this abomination to a party.
CREDIT: TOSTITOS / INSTAGRAM
There’s a special circle of hell reserved for people who bring this jar of glop to a party.
