Queso and I are currently in a serious relationship. We have been for a long time. But it is hard to be in a true relationship when your significant other changes identity just by crossing state lines. I thought I knew Queso. For 18 long years growing up in Austin, Texas, Queso was always just Queso to me. Queso was a creamy cheese product with some ingredients to make it spicy. This all changed when I moved up to Fayetteville, Arkansas this year. Queso changed and it wasn't for the better. Queso had a new name, a bland taste, and lacked the spice it once had. Queso changed to "cheese dip" and that wasn't okay with me.
The identity crisis for my Tex-Mex snack of choice must be resolved, not only for my sake but for the sake of my fine snack companion. First, let's start with the naming; Queso and Cheese Dip. Queso sounds exotic, foreign, unique and spicy. While cheese dip sounds unappetizing, dull, flavorless, and honestly another version of fondue. If you sat down at a restaurant and all that was on the menu was queso or cheese dip, what would you choose? Bias aside, queso sounds like a much better option to me. It screams appetizing, eat me, and delicious.
Next, we will take a look at their respective appearance and taste. Queso is beautiful. I mean just look at the sweet Torchy's image above, enough said. While cheese dip is exactly how it sounds, cheesy, dippy and that is about it. For goodness sake, cheese dip comes in a jar... A JAR. If that's not bad I don't know what is.
Also, we can't forget how queso can be flawlessly mixed with any other variety of Mexican food staples, like guacamole, green chilies or pico de gallo, and still be absolutely delicious. While cheese dip is just one mass of melted cheese, no spice or flavor included. I mean just look at Torchy's green chile queso if you don't believe me on this. It looks just as delectable as it tastes.
If this didn't convince you why queso should be the one and only name for my snack companion, then look at American culture. Everyone knows the best queso (cheese dip for my friends up north) is from Texas and in Texas, we call it queso. For goodness sake, trust the Texans. They were their own country at one point.
As far as I am concerned Queso should always be called Queso. So enough with the restaurants who claim to serve Mexican food, but still call queso 'cheese dip' on the menu. Or entire states in the US who call this savory snack 'cheese dip'. Let us unite to stop Queso's identity crisis. If not for me, do it for the queso.
