Ignacio Anaya

Ignacio Anaya García (15 August 1895 – 9 November 1975) was a Mexican executive chef[1][2] and restaurateur,[2] who invented the popular snack nachos.[1][2][3]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Anaya and the second or maternal family name is García.
Ignacio Anaya
Born
Ignacio Anaya García

15 August 1895 (1895-08-15)
San Carlos, Manuel Benavides, Chihuahua, Mexico
DiedNovember 9, 1975(1975-11-09) (aged 80)
Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico
OccupationChef, restaurateur
Known forInventor of nachos
Spouse(s)Marie Antoinette Salinas
Children9

His nickname was Nacho, derived from the Spanish Ignacio, the Spanish version of Ignatius.[4]

Life and career

Born Ignacio Anaya Garcia in San Carlos, Manuel Benavides, Chihuahua, Mexico[2] on 15 August 1895,[5] he worked at the Victory Club restaurant in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, and later owned his own restaurant, Nacho's Restaurant, in Piedras Negras.[2][6] Anaya created nachos at the Victory Club in 1940 when Mamie Finan, a regular customer, asked if Anaya could bring her and three other women a different snack than usual.[2] Anaya went to the kitchen and spotted freshly fried pieces of corn tortillas.[1][2] In a moment of culinary inspiration, he added melted cheese and pickled jalapeño strips.[1][2] After tasting the snack Anaya created, Finan asked what it was called.[1][2] Anaya responded, "Well, I guess we can just call them Nacho's Special."[2][1] The dish was so popular, the owner of the Victory Club, Roberto de los Santos, put Nacho's Special on the menu.[2] When the Victory Club closed in 1961, Anaya opened his own restaurant, Nacho's,[2].

Anaya married Marie Antoinette Salinas, with whom he had 9 children.[7]

Death and legacy

Anaya died on 9 November 1975,[5] leaving a son Ignacio Anaya, Jr who went into banking,[8] and 5 other surviving children.[7] Posthumously, he was honored with a bronze plaque in Piedras Negras.[9] To celebrate Anaya's invention, the city of Piedras Negras holds a three-day Nacho Fest every year around October 21, the International Day of the Nacho.[2]

Smithsonian Magazine ranked nachos as a sports stadium favorite in 1976, following the invention of a processed cheese sauce by Frank Liberto.[9] Howard Cosell added to the popularity of nachos during a September 4, 1978 NFL by weaving "nachos" into his commentary.[10] Although the original nachos contained only three ingredients, nachos can now be found with a wide variety of toppings, reflecting the enduring popularity of Anaya's contribution.[11][12]

On 15 August 2019, Google honored Anaya with a Doodle celebrating what would have been his 124th birthday.[13][14]

References
  1. LaRoche, Clarence J. (May 23, 1954). "Nacho's? Natch!". San Antonio Express and News.
  2. Nickel, Sandra and Oliver Dominguez (2020). Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack. New York: Lee and Low. ISBN 9781620143698.
  3. Andrew F. Smith (March 2009). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford University Press. pp. 209–10. ISBN 978-0195387094.
  4. "Nach derivation". latina.com. Retrieved 19 August 2019. Nacho is a nickname for Ignacio, the Spanish form of Ignatius.
  5. Berrueto, Gonazález (1999). "Anaya Garcia, Ignacio". Diccionario biográfico de Coahuila. Gobierno del Estado. ISBN 9789687568287.
  6. Salter, Bill (June 15, 1969). "'Nacho' Inventor Hasn't Profited". San Antonio Express and News.
  7. Jiménez 2008.
  8. Ellerbee 2005, p. 74.
  9. Andrew, Scott (15 August 2019). "Thursday's Google Doodle honors the man who invented nachos". CNN. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  10. Munsey; Suppes. "Arlington Stadium". Ballparks.com. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  11. "History". Originators of Concession Nachos. Ricos Products Co., Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  12. Sokolov, Raymond (2006-02-06). "The Search for the Perfect Nacho". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  13. Young, Sarah (15 August 2019). "Ignacio Anaya García: Google Doodle honours the man who invented nachos". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  14. Brett Molina (15 August 2019). "Chips and cheese: Google's latest doodle honors Ignacio Anaya García, the inventor of nachos". USA Today. Retrieved 16 August 2019.

Sources
  • Berrueto González, Arturo (1999). "Anaya Garcia, Ignacio". Diccionario biográfico de Coahuila. Gobierno del Estado. ISBN 9789687568287.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Browning-Blas, Kristen (May 11, 2005). "Ellerbee's looking forward to next bite". Denver Post. Retrieved April 4, 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nickel, Sandra and Oliver Dominguez (2020). Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack. New York: Lee and Low. ISBN 9781620143698.
  • Ellerbee, Linda (2005). Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 9780399152689.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • "Ignacio Anaya García's 124th Birthday". Google.com. 15 August 2019.
  • Herrera-Sobek, Maria, ed. (2012). "Nachos". Celebrating Latino Folklore: An Encyclopedia of Cultural Traditions. ABC-CLIO. p. 825. ISBN 9780313343407.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Jiménez, José Luis (2008-11-01). "Honran a don Ignacio Anaya en universidad". ZÓCALO.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Orr, Adriana P. (July 1999). "Nachos, anyone?". OED News. Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Walsh, Robb (2004). The Tex-Mex Cookbook: A History in Recipes and Photos. Broadway Books. ISBN 9780767914888.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
  • "Everyone Knows His Name…". Hispanic Link Weekly Report. Hispanic Link News Service Incorporated. 2006. p. 2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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