What book has the first known English appearance of the word 'nachos'?

A Taste of Texas has the first known English appearance of the word “nachos.”

The cookbook dates to 1949, several years after Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya is said to have created the dish in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Its appearance helped document the snack’s name in English while nachos were spreading through the border region and the American Southwest.

The dish’s earlier origin story is usually dated to 1943. Anaya reportedly served fried tortilla pieces with melted cheese and jalapeño slices to customers at the Victory Club. He called the creation “Nacho’s Special,” after his nickname; over time, the possessive and “Special” were dropped.

“First known” is an important qualification. It means that A Taste of Texas is the earliest English appearance currently identified by the cited historical record, not necessarily the first time anyone ever wrote or said the word in English. Later cookbooks and restaurant menus helped make “nachos” familiar across the United States.