LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — If you're from Arkansas, you've probably tried the cheesy staple found in most Tex-Mex restaurants across the country, with roots here in the Natural State— though some Texans are pushing back on that claim.
So we're setting the record straight on the origin of the gooey, golden goodness of cheese dip!
Arkansas is known for the beautiful outdoors, the home of the Razorbacks, and the delicious snack we lovingly call "cheese dip", a creamy concoction that's part of the Natural State's food culture.
Believe it or not, there's actually controversy over whether cheese dip truly originated in Arkansas. Some Texans claim The Lone Star state served it first, so, who's right?
For the "scoop" on cheese dip, we turned to Kat Robinson, (https://www.facebook.com/TieDyeTravels/), an Arkansas food historian and author, and the history of Mexico Chiquito, on its website. (https://www.mexicochiquitotogo.com/).
Cheese dip as we know it today is the creation of Blackie and Margaret Donnelly, founders of the Mexico Chiquito restaurants in the 1930s.
Since the duo were both Texans, some people assumed that cheese dip must have started there.
In fact, according to Kat Robinson, who has 17 years of research on Arkansas foods under her belt, the Donnelly’s had a home in Hot Springs as early as 1935, and the couple would serve their cheese dip when entertaining guests.
“In 1935, a couple by the name of Blackie and Margaret Donnelly lived down in Hot Springs, and they used to have a restaurant there called 'Little Mexico'. But they also had dinner parties, and it's at one of these dinner parties where they introduced this dip that they came up with, which was created with cheese and spices, and they called it cheese dip," she explained.
Mexico Chiquito's website also explains the Donnelly’s history and origin of the delicious dip.
Robinson added that the Texas version of cheese dip is referred to as “queso”, which is the Spanish word for cheese.
The Texas dip is simply that, melted cheese, and far different from the cheese dip the Donnelly’s served to guests in Arkansas.
"Cheese dip, as we know it in Arkansas, starts off with a roux that's flour and butter, then incorporated together in a skillet. Then you add your ingredients, your milk, your cheese, your spices, and you build upon that. That's cheese dip,” Robinson declared.
So, we can verify that yes, the authentic cheese dip is, in fact, an Arkansas culinary creation. Take that Texas! It should be pointed out, however, that the origins of queso go all the way back to Mexico.
One other note to verify is that Arkansas is also home to the "World Cheese Dip Championship" each Fall. It would have been held this weekend at Dickey-Stephens park but has been postponed until next spring.