February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day

I find it a happy coincidence that today’s holiday is the same week as National Margarita day — because today’s holiday pairs perfectly with the beverage from earlier this week. Today is February 24, and it is time for a salty snack served best with salsa, guac, and/or queso — today is National Tortilla chip day!

The triangle corn chip as we know it today, is attributed to Rebecca Webb Carranza in the 1940s — who saved these tortillas that were rejected from the automated tortilla manufacturing machine from the factory she and her Husband worked at in Los Angeles. These discarded, misshapen tortillas were cut into triangles and fried, and sold them for a dime a bag at the El Zarape Tortilla factory. In 1994, Carranza received the prized Golden Tortilla award for her contributions to the Mexican Food Industry.

The tortilla chip spread, and it spread fast. They began to be manufactured and distributed to local restaurants in Southern California, and Frito-Lay execs caught on quick to this golden crispy boom — making their own delicious concoction of corn and cheese, Doritos, Spanish for “golden little things.” In the mid-1970s, they created a more authentic version — light, airy, slightly unseasoned — which became the biggest brand in the US — Tostitos.

According to CNN, “Although potato chips continue to be the top-selling salted snack in terms of pounds sold, tortilla chips have been increasing in sales at a faster pace than potato chips, according to Tom Dempsey, CEO of the Snack Food Association. Tortillas — not the chips but the round flat breads used to wrap burritos — have been outselling hamburger and hot dog buns at supermarkets and retail food stores since 2010.”

So on this day, listeners, make yourself some Nachos and enjoy a belated margarita from national margarita day.

Happy Holiday everyone, and I’ll see you tomorrow!