1845- Texas became the 28th state. With statehood, a massive influx of settlers began and would continue throughout the 19th century. Settlers included people of Spanish, French, German, Scotch-Irish, Czech and African descent.
1850s- Germans became one of the largest ethnic groups in Texas and established local towns like New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. The Germans brought dishes such as Sauerbraten (beef cutlets marinated in vinegar and served with raisins and gingerbread) and Wienerschnitzel (breaded and fried meat cutlets) with them. Wienerschnitzel would eventually be considered the predecessor of Chicken Fried Steak, a classic Texas favorite.
Czechs settled throughout the central Texas area and established settlements such as West and Moravia. Settlers introduced polka music and the Kolache, a popular pastry filled with fruits or cream cheeses, to the Texas population.
1866- Scholz Garten opened in Austin near the present site of the University of Texas. Established by German immigrant August Scholz, it quickly became a much-loved meeting place of German immigrants looking for old world food and spirits. In 1893, the first University of Texas football team celebrated their victories there, and today, Scholz’s is still a premier meeting place for pre-game gatherings and traditional German fare.
Following the emancipation, barbecue became a staple of Texas cuisine. Freed slaves dug large, open pits where they smoked cuts of cured meats and then frequently sold them. This style of cooking became extremely popular and led to a boom in barbecue eateries around Texas.
1880s- Chili con carne became popular fare on cattle drives and ranches in central Texas. Chili was an easy dish to make and simmer over an open campfire. Believed to have originated in Ensenada, Mexico, the taste for chili was spread by San Antonio’s Mercado district. Today, chili is the official state dish of Texas.
1885- Pharmacist Charles Addleton formulated Dr. Pepper in Waco. Over the years, the drink became one of the most popular throughout Texas, frequently outselling Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
1909- Spoetzl Brewery opened in Shiner, TX, and began brewing Shiner Bock beer. Kosmos Spoetzl, a Bavarian immigrant, was hired by a group of local German farmers hungry for the taste of the dark brews of their homelands. Almost 100 years later, the Shiner beers are still extremely popular throughout Texas and the rest of the United States.
1939- The nacho was invented in Eagle Pass, TX, by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya. Legend has it that a hungry group of local air force officers’ wives came into his restaurant after the kitchen had closed. Needing to whip up a tasty dish in a hurry, Anaya melted cheese on top of some tortilla chips and named it “Especiales de Nacho.” The dish was a hit and was added to the menu.
1950s- Tex-Mex cuisine proliferated in the Southwest, featuring new dishes influenced by both the north and south sides of the border. Traditional Mexican dishes were Americanized with yellow cheeses and new sauces, leaving people with a taste for burritos, chimichangas, and enchiladas.
1970s- Fajitas were introduced to the central Texas area at various restaurants and roadside stands. With roots in Coahuilla, Mexico, Fajitas are believed to be a descendant of the traditional Mexican dish, Carne Guisada.
2006- The so-called “Nouveau Texas” cooking movement is in full swing. Traditional, down-home Texas dishes are frequently enhanced with new, eclectic twists while still being influenced by all the different cultures that built our state. Think “steak strips smothered in chipotle-apricot gravy.”
Many popular folk festivals celebrating the foods of different cultures take place annually throughout the state. Ones in the Austin area include WurstFest German festival in New Braunfels, WestFest Czech festival in West, Fiesta in San Antonio, and Taste of Austin.
1845- Texas became the 28th state. With statehood, a massive influx of settlers began and would continue throughout the 19th century. Settlers included people of Spanish, French, German, Scotch-Irish, Czech and African descent.