What Do Pregnant Women Crave?

Story suggestion by: Jen T. Email us a story.

What is the #1 food item is that women crave while pregnant? 

You guessed it, nachos!  According to these 40 Interesting Facts, it's true, women crave nachos more than anything else.

But before all you pregnant women decide to raid your local 7-11 and pack your minivan full of pounds of chips and gallons of nacho cheese, you may want to read this warning. 

“Women may want to think twice about ordering those nachos the next time they’re out. A new study from Harvard University has found that eating a lot of corn tortillas during pregnancy could be linked to an increased risk of birth defects.”

Source: http://www.pregnancy-info.net/in_the_news111.html

We report, you decide.

How Many Nachos Would It Take To…

Story suggestion by: Chris F. Email us a story.

Have you ever wondered how many orders of Taco Bell nachos it would take to fulfill your daily recommended amount of Vitamin C? Well we have, and thanks to the Taco Bell Nutrition Calculator over at www.yum.com, we have your answer.

What do you think it is?

Click here to find out.

Only a True Nacho Cheese Lover Would Go This Far

Story suggestion by: Mitch S.  Email us a story.

You may be surprised to learn that I'm not the owner of this license plate, nor are any of the other authors here at ILoveNachoCheese.com. 

In fact, no one in California has snatched up this gem of a plate!  When I visited the Department of Motor Vehicles site in California, I was shocked to find that to this date, no nacho lover out there has purchased this personalized license plate.

Now that you all know, will someone grab it up before I do?  Whether I get it or not, this is possibly the BEST personalized plate I've ever seen (if you've seen one cooler, let us know)

Should Fondue be Considered Nacho Cheese?

I'm going to pose a question that has come up during some casual conversations with friends of mine.

Can fondue be considered nacho cheese? 

I argue no and here's why...

To me, nacho cheese in its simplest form is not an elegant food that the "aristocrats" of society would proclaim to enjoy.  Fondue is the opposite.  Going further, the history of nachos dates back to 1943.  You can read the full story here, but to make a long story short, it wasn't until 1977 when nachos were brought to Arlington Stadium in Texas that the popularity of nacho cheese exploded.  Can you see people eating fondue at a ball-game?  Heck no!

My point is this...Fondue is not nacho cheese, it's melted "wannabe" nacho cheese at best.

Post your comments, do you agree with me or disagree?

Beavis and Butthead Were Nacho Lovers

If you were at least 14 years old between the years 1993 and 1997 then you definitely remember Beavis and Butthead.  These two high school students loved to watch music videos, hang out at the mall, try to "score with chicks", and most importantly eat nachos.

Nachos were actually eaten by Beavis and Butthead so much that a t-shirt was made and sold to fans all over.  But wait...

You can actually still purchase this t-shirt from Amazon.  Unfortunately they only have XX-Large... but then again if we think of who is actually going to buy this shirt, it makes sense.

Fact or Fiction: Is Nacho Cheese Bad for You?

The public perception is that all nacho cheese is bad for you.  Determined to uncover the truth in the matter, I felt inclined to investigate the nutritional data for three readily available nacho cheese products found at my local Safeway grocery store. 

Specifically, I wanted to directly compare the sauce-type nacho cheese with grated cheese that comes from a bag (as seen in the picture).

Here's the three products I compared:

• Frito Lay (sauce cheese in a jar)
• Tostitos (sauce cheese in a jar)
• Kraft Mexican Cheese (regular grated style cheese in a bag)

The results of my nutritional analysis may surprise you...

Frenchos? I'll take the Zero

If there's any nacho out there that could be classified as doltish, this is it. Just as it was declared earlier that fondue is not nacho cheese, this little recipe is in no way, shape, or form nachos. Lest anyone think that by melting a dab o' fromage on a tortilla chip automatically constitutes a nacho, they are sadly mistaken. Nachos should never have to be "plated" or "presented." Nachos are to be prepared by grabbing a handful of chips, thowing them into a bowl, and smothering it with molten hot nacho cheese. 

This recipe is a disgrace and an insult to all nacho lovers. Now excuse me while I slice a cube of Reblochon and pair it elegantly with a bold glass of 2003 Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne.

What Could Have Made Cinco de Mayo Better?

It's been 10 days since Cindo de Mayo and I can't help but reflect on that days events.  The day was filled with laughter, beer, friends, and of course, nachos.  But what could I have done better?  What could have enhanced my overall Cinco de Mayo experience?

The answer rests in the Heated Nacho Tray.  Gizmodo.com tempted me to with this powered nacho accessory, yet I still didn't buy one. 

I must have had a momentary lapse of intelligence.  What could be better than having beer after beer, all the while knowing the my nacho cheese would be kept at a perfectly delicious temperature?

So check it out, the Heated Nacho Tray is a winner in my book and is a must-have accessory for every nacho lover.

We Heart Taco Licking

Sarah and No Name from Alice @ 97.3 generously invited us to their Cinco de Mayo (Thizzo de Mayo) broadcast to judge their "Battle of the Bay Taco Licking Contest." And although nacho cheese wasn't involved, we graciously accepted the challenge.

The contest consisted of two teams of three: The North Bay vs. The East Bay. It was a hardfought battle, but after all the tongues were tired and all the tacos were licked, the North Bay team was crowned the victors.

Overall, the entire event was great to be part of. Hooman was sporting an ILoveNachoCheese.com shirt, we got to hang out with the morning crew again, and we were able to meet some interesting loyal listeners. Even recently engaged Andrew "The Bachelor" Firestone showed up to drink and be merry!

Click here to see pictures from the event.

Inside the Mind of a Nacho Cheese Hero

Earlier this month, Dane Boedigheimer of Gagfilms.com sent us a custom commercial titled "The Nacho Newsreel" that he produced specifically for us. But before The Nacho Newsreel, he created "Nacho Blasters," a hilarious breakfast cereal commerciall spoof.

We wanted to find out more about this nacho cheese champion and find out what makes him tick and the inspiration behind these notable nacho cheese flicks.

To read the interview, click here.

Fight Over Nachos: Reloaded

We recently wrote a post about a fight that broke out between two girls at Revere High School over nachos. While police never elaborated on the circumstances, only to disclose that they were both arrested for assault and battery, there have been a few stories written about the scuffle.

One in particular, written by Susie of "Everyone loves a Boston girl," was particularly interesting since it was from the female perspective. Susie's post titled, "I too would fight for nachos," suggests:

"We should create a list of rules from now on? Everyone must agree on the toppings on nachos before entering the restaurant. Always order the larger size. Only take one spoonful of salsa, one spoonful of guacamole, and one spoonful of sour cream. Don't eat all of the nachos that are smothered and cheese and leave the bare ones."

Brilliant, Susie. We couldn't agree with you more. If you think about it, your instruction should really be nacho common sense... but then again, so should mindful one-for-one car merging during traffic. But it only takes one halfwit to stir up roadrage, or in this case, a nacho brawl.

[SOURCE: Everyone loves a Boston girl]

Emo: Life is Painful, Go Eat Nachos

The word Emo is short for "emotional". It represents a type of music, personality, and fashion. Typically Emos are very sad and angry. They like to have their hair in front of their face (to hide their tears?). Emos like to wear old and beat up clothes (to conform to non-conformity?). Usually they are very shy and introverted (ashamed of their stupid hair?). Emos also listen to music with themes of confusion, depression, and loneliness (ashamed of their stupid hair?).

So what do Emos do to help hold back the tears and avoid their dark eyeliner from running? No, they don’t use waterproof eyeliner. They EAT NACHOS!

There are two pieces of evidence that help us make this conclusion:

Ding! Your Nachos are Done (Redux)

Last month, we posted a story on a patent for a microwavable nacho box. Shortly after, the inventor, Kim Y. Edomwonyi contacted us. During a quick conversation, we learned that Kim currently lives in the midwest in a small town in the southeastern tip of Iowa. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Kim never intend to stay but it's "comfortable, with no traffic, less stress, and safer" than the big city.

But what inspired Kim to become an inventor? And furthermore, what was the inspiration behind the microwavable nacho box? We were able to conduct a quick interview with Kim to find out the answers to these questions.

To read the entire interview, click here.

n. na·cho (nä'chō')

Story suggestion by: Shara M. Email us a story.

Ever wonder about the word "nacho" and what its origin may be? Adriana P. Orr, former U.S. library researcher for the Oxford English Dictionary, wrote an article back in 1999 that tackled that very question. She recalls a day back in September of 1988 when a slip of paper with the word "nacho" was given to her from one of the editors. It was her job to research its etymology.

Was it back in 1978 when it appeared in an issue of the Tucson (Arizona) Magazine? Was it in 1969 when it was published in Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary? Or does it go back even further? Ultimately, Adriana's search took her as far back as 1949 when she found a quote in a book titled A Taste of Texas:

"Sometime later he returned carrying a large dish of Nachos Especiales. 'These Nachos,' said Pedro, 'will help El Capitan - he will soon forget his troubles for nachos make one romantic.''

However fascinating this magical quote was, she was never able to conclusively find the true origin.

Know Thy Enemy

Everyone loves nacho cheese, right? Wrong! We live in a crazy mixed up world where there are actually people out there trying to spread propaganda against the beauty that is nacho cheese. We have found one such individual and feel an obligation to the nacho cheese community to identify the enemy.

In an article entitled, "Behold the Evils of Cheese" posted on Visionary Darkness, a cheese-hater going by the alias Killing Joke entertains the notion that cheese is an evil force that's taking over America. Don't let this writer's name full you. He is anything but joking. Make no mistake, Killing Joke is on a mission to rid the world of this wonderfully delicious gooey elixir.

Click here to read an excerpt from the article.

Eat Nachos, Lose Weight

Story suggestion by: Mitch S. Email us a story.

Considering the diet industry is big business and pulls in billions of dollars each year, it's not surprising that there are so many out there. From Atkins, to The Zone, to South Beach, choosing the right diet and sticking with it is something many people struggle with each day. Needless to say, being a nacho lover doesn't really help the cause.

Or does it?

The Watley Review posted a parody article about a research study that proposed the effectiveness of the Tourette's diet, also known as the "nacho diet." (Is it just me, or does anyone else have a strong urge to cuss right now?) The study, funded by Frito-Lay's, was conducted over a two-year period and is the first to document a positive affect on the American physique by a snack food.

Participants consumed one serving of nachos in place of breakfast and lunch, had a normal dinner, and were allowed snacks consisting of fruit. Participants lost up to 8 pounds in two weeks! And while The Watley Review may be a parody site, and this "diet" may not be a good idea to actually undertake, we believe in a perfect world, the "nacho diet" would be A-Okay!

Nacho Sighting at GDC2007

GDC2007 has come and gone. Overall, it was a decent show...albeit, one without nachos conveniently available in the convention center. However, in response to this post, Michael Fahey over at the gaming mega-blog Kotaku generously wrote us with this report.

According to Fahey, Telltale Games held a small party to promote their upcoming Sam and Max game. The shindig was held at a little speakeasy in a Union Square alleyway and was home to many drunk members of the press as well as Steve Purcell, the creator of Sam and Max.

But the big news of the night was that they were serving up nachos. Fahey described them as being "slightly thicker than your normal variety, with some of them bordering on the chewy side for some odd reason." He added that, "while the other finger foods were down at the other end of the darkened bar, the nachos sat alone upon a pedestal, piled high...piled proudly." He admitted to spending a fair amount of time standing next to the pedestal, scooping up copious amounts of goodness onto the slightly sweet chips before eventually breaking down, grabbing a plate, and shoveling a large chunk out of the diminishing pile and carrying them over to a table where his Kotaku cohorts and friends waited.

We salute you, Michael Fahey, for keepin' it real and being a proud nacho cheese lover!

Nachos Bring Families Together

I'm sure we can all agree that nachos, on a personal level, can turn a bad day into a good one. But do nachos have the power to reach more than just the individual? Can nachos bring people together? Richard Tait believes just that. In an article he's written for ModernMom titled "Minutes to Memories: The Science of Nachos", Richard shares his experience and explains how nachos have "transform an often stress-filled moment -- making dinner -- into a family sport."

First of all. Dude, Richard, seriously... I appreciate the article and everything, but ModernMom? In your defense, I guess the ModernDad Web site pales in comparison.

Aaanywho! Richard confesses that "eight years ago, if you told [him] happiness could be found in a messy mound of nachos, [he] would have smiled politely and looked for the nearest exit. Bliss in a pile of tortilla chips, melted cheese, sour cream, tomatoes and onions? Unlikely." But now, every Sunday night, Nacho Night, he and his family make nachos, laugh, talk, and connect.

Conclusion: Let's send some nachos to Iraq.

Dolls Love Nachos Too

If Barbie was real, what would one of her favorite foods be?

One doll-house accessory manufacturer believes the answer is nachos and we agree 100%!  To back up their claim, this company has even designed a miniature nacho cheese set!

To any of you nacho cheese lovers that have children who play with dolls, this is a must have accessory! 

By the looks of her waist, Barbie is dying of starvation.  Please help Barbie live by feeding her a nice plate of nachos!

Via eBay

How Much Is Too Much?

Everybody loves nachos. And everyone has their particular preference when it comes to nacho cheese. Some prefer their chips to have hot nacho cheese sauce poured on top, while others prefer to grate cheese directly on their chips and bake their nachos until the cheese has a nice crispy edge. But what about nacho toppings? There are definitely many ways to top nachos. The question was raised yesterday during lunch:

Can there ever be too much topped on a nacho?

The short answer is, "YES."

But to understand why, there involves some explanation. First of all, let it be known that I lean a bit to the right when it comes to nachos. I like my chips and nacho cheese and that's about it. If I had to top it with something, I may throw a few jalapeno peppers on there. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed nachos with other various toppings. A dollop or guacamole, a spoon full of sour cream, some chopped tomato, ground beef and bean chili, olives...the list goes on.

Honestly, all of those toppings are perfectly acceptable. The problem arises when you combine too many ingredients. At that point it was determined that the nachos will loose their integrity. In the end, it was agreed that two toppings is ideal, three toppings is pushing it, and if you put four or more toppings on your nacho you're better off just making yourself a taco.