Dallas is one of the major metropolitan cultural centers in the great state of Texas. It is known for being the home of the famous Dallas Cowboys NFL football team as well as many other entertainment and cultural aspects. One of the more popular features that is enjoyed by most of the residents and tourists who visit the city and stay in a hotel Dallas is the food genre known as Tex-Mex. This popular regional cuisine combines American Hispanic flavors with traditional recipes and dishes from Mexico, as well as some standard American fare to create this dynamic and flavorful food.
The term Tex-Mex is frequently accepted to be synonymous with the more broad reference of Southwestern food. This is associated with the more rustic and sometimes traditional foods of the southwestern states and the foods generally share similar names and ingredients they do sometimes vary by state and or region. Fajitas, chili rellenos and various steak and pork based dishes are common to Tex-Mex and Southwestern foods. Many of the dishes associated with genre originated in Texas and the state stands out as an authentic quality source.
Some of the standard dishes that are associated with Tex-Mex cuisine are chili con carne, which can vary from mildly spicy to incredibly hot. It frequently contains chili peppers and is more often spicy than mild. Garlic, onions and cumin are also typical to the ingredients and spice list. Of course beans and meat are necessary ingredients to this staple dish. Chile con queso, which means chili with cheese, is another Tex-Mex dish and should not be confused with the soup dish. This is generally served as an appetizer and is more of a cheese dip spiced with peppers and eaten with tortilla chips. It is a popular and common feature on most Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurant menus. Chile con queso originated in Texas though it is frequently served throughout the southwest and all the way north to Alaska.