"Walking Taco" (Taco-in-a-Bag; Frito Pie; Petro's from Knoxville, TN)

Thu Nov 29 15:30:58 UTC 2007

Down memory lane . . . . Frito Pie was a relentless staple at the public school lunchroom (in eastern Texas) when I was a schoolboy the mid-1950s. (Barry's early datings of the term, as I recall, were from the late-1940s). Perhaps uncharacteristically for the concoction so-called, the lunchroom ladies oven-baked it (Fritos and all) in massive pans, and served it with a (redundant) chunk of cornbread.

--Charlie
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---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:42:59 -0800
>From: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>
>Never heard of a "frito pie," but Petro's Chili & Chips is still going strong: http://www.petros.com/1.22/html/history1.htm.
>
>  Good thing they changed the name early on from "Petroleum Belly."
>
>  JL
>
>Barry Popik <bapopik at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender: American Dialect Society
>Poster: Barry Popik
>Subject: "Walking Taco" (Taco-in-a-Bag; Frito Pie; Petro's from Knoxville,
>TN)
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>WALKING TACO--10,600 Google hits
>WALKING TACOS--910 Google hits
>TACO-IN-A-BAG--549 Google hits
>...
>"Frito Pie" is not in the Dictionary of American Regional English.
>"Walking Taco" is a Midwest variation of the Texas "Frito Pie."
>"Walking Taco" has a decent number of Google hits and should
>definitely be in the next volume of DARE; maybe "Frito Pie" will be
>added when old DARE volumes are revised. Just a suggestion for DARE. I
>don't care either way, I don't get paid anything.
>...
>Supposedly, the whole "portable frito pie" thing started with
>"Petro's" at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jon
>Lighter (Univ. of Tennessee-based editor of the Historical Dictionary
>of American Slang) is in Knoxville, as is ADS-Ler Bethany Dumas.
>Anything for Knoxville!
>...
>Robb Walsh's "The Tex-Mex Cookbook" has "Frito Pie" (New Mexico also
>claims this dish; I wrote about it last year), but no discussion of
>the "Walking Taco." The blog "Homesick Texan" (below) was also
>unfamiliar with "Walking Taco."
>...
>We had a busload of school children recently at the Texas/Southwest
>Food Museum, and they all loved the Frito-Lay exhibit and the Frito
>Pie/Walking Taco/Taco-in-a-Bag. Just what a food museum should be all
>about...Remind me to kill myself.
>...
>...
>...
>http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/walking_taco_taco_in_a_bag_petros/
>...
>Entry from November 28, 2007
>Walking Taco (Taco-in-a-Bag; Petro's)
>"Walking Taco" or "Taco-in-a-Bag" are not really tacos, but are
>Midwest names for the Texas dish called "Frito pie." A bag of Frito's
>corn chips is opened and topped with various ingredients, such as
>cheese, beans, tomatoes, onions, ground beef, guacamole, and salsa.
>
>The "walking frito pie" began in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the 1982
>World's Fair. Petro's Chili & Chips (now a restaurant chain)
>established a booth at the Fair; the Fair's theme was "energy," and
>the product was originally named "Petroleum Belly." The "walking taco"
>quickly became popular at other fairs in Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and
>Illinois in the 1980s and 1990s.
>
>
>Wikipedia: Frito pie
>Frito pie (also known as "Frito Chili Pie," "Frito Boat", "Chili Frito
>Casserole" or, in the Midwest, a "Walking Taco") is a corn chip and
>chili con carne dish of disputed origin, popular in the South Western
>United States.
>
>A basic Frito pie typically consists of a small single-serving bag of
>Fritos corn chips, with a cup of chili poured over the top, usually
>finished up with grated cheese or onions and jalapeños and sour cream.
>Because there are so many Fritos compared to the amount of chili, only
>part of the Fritos will get saturated by the chili, and most will stay
>at least partly crunchy.
>
>In the Midwestern United States, there is a variation called a
>"walking taco". Along with Fritos, Nacho Cheese Doritos are commonly
>used as the chip base, and the meal is almost always eaten "in the
>bag". Another difference between a walking taco and a Frito pie is
>that walking tacos rarely have chili in them, using seasoned beef or
>pork instead. After the meat goes in the bag, it is finished with
>cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, or any taco-friendly
>topping the eater wishes. Walking tacos are popular in the Midwest at
>sports venues, fundraisers, open houses, and more recently, the Iowa
>State Fair.
>
>The History of Petro's
>In 1982 Knoxville, Tennessee hosted a World's Fair emphasizing Energy.
>In keeping with the energy theme of the Fair, Petro's Chili & Chips
>was originally named "Petroleum Belly", then shortened to "Petro
>Belly", then abbreviated to "Petro." A delicious blend of tex-mex
>flavors, Petro's is the only southwestern fast-food concept of its
>kind. Originally served in a Frito bag with chili and toppings, the
>Petro was an instant hit with fairgoers. Initially the labels
>"Regular," "Premium," and "Super Premium" were used to describe the
>sizes of the Petros, also in keeping with the energy theme.
>
>Petro's Menu
>The Petro(R)
>Each made-to-order Petro(R) is made with Fritos(R) corn chips covered
>with your choice of one of our world- famous specialty chilis
>(Original, Chicken or Veggie) and grated cheeses,
>chopped tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream. Add optional black
>olives, jalapeños or home-style salsa for extra zest! Small, Medium,
>& Large
>
>Cooks.com
>WALKING TACO
>1 can refried beans
>1 (8 oz.) sour cream
>1 (8 oz.) jar salsa
>1 can black olives
>8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese
>1/2 fresh lemon
>Dash Tabasco sauce
>1/2 tsp. Worcestershire
>1 tsp. mayonnaise
>Bag of tortilla chips
>
>Clean out avocado. Add lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire and
>mayonnaise. Set aside. On large plate, layer refried beans, sour
>cream, avocado mixture and salsa. Top with cheese and sliced black
>olives. Tortilla chips for dipping.
>
>3 December 1987, Chicago (IL) Sun-Times, pg. 10:
>The 90 recipes for such down-to-earth dishes as buffalo burgers,
>pepper-corn muffins, chili-peanut popcorn, walking taco casserole and
>grilled fajitas.
>
>22 June 1988, Columbus (OH) Evening Dispatch, pg. F1, col. 1:
>The 15 home-style recipes, from Walking Taco dip to Crumb Cake, are
>easy to prepare.
>("Benziger Family Favorites" Recipe Book, Glen Ellen Winery, Glen
>Ellen, CA—ed.)
>
>27 March 1991, Chicago (IL) Daily Herald, "Thursday Menus," section 5,
>pg. 1, col. 1:
>St. Peter Lutheran School, Arlington Heights: Walking taco, Mexi rice,
>chilled mixed fruit, assorted cookies, milk.
>
>21 August 1996, Richwood (OH) Gazette, pg. 1, col. 3:
>Fair Board members said to be on the lookout for the "walking taco"
>representing a new addition to the normal food fare.
>(Richwood Independent Fair—ed.)
>
>20 August 1997, Elyria (OH) Chronicle Telegram, pg. C8, col. 1:
>Feel like something from the southwest? How about walking tacos—sort
>of like nachos with meat.
>(At Lorain County Fair—ed.)
>
>Google Groups: alt.callahans
>Newsgroups: alt.callahans
>From: Geillis
>Date: 1997/10/16
>Subject: Re: Comfort/Nostalgia Foods (was Re: Smart Women )
>
>CJB wrote:
>> :->>
>> :->> > Frito Pies!!!!!
>> :->>
>> :->> I may regret this in a later life, but…
>> :->> what is a Frito Pie?
>> :->
>> :->Fair food! Yum! Take a little bag of Fritos, slit it down the side,
>> add
>> :->chili w/beans, chopped onions, and grated cheddar, eat with a
>> plastic
>> :->spoon.
>> :->
>> add a little sour cream, guacamole and salsa and you have a Walking
>> Taco. Yummie!!!
>
>30 May 2000, Chicago (IL) Daily Herald, "Making concessions at the
>concession stand" by Deb Di Sandro, section 3, pg. 3, col. 6:
>Susie took the cover off the crock pot. "And this is for walking taco."
>
>"Walking taco," I laughed.
>
>"No laugh! Best seller."
>
>All Recipes
>recipe reviews for:
>Taco in a Bag
>"This flavorful taco treat is a perfect snack to enjoy while mobile.
>Picnics and block parties are perfect venues for Taco in a Bag."
>
>Reviewed: Mar. 10, 2003
>In Iowa we call these Walking Tacos and they can be found at festivals
>and outdoor events. Fun, easy and good!
>
>Reviewed: Jan. 20, 2004
>In Texas, these are called "Frito Pie"...so popular that they serve it
>on the school menu for lunch. To make it even quicker, use canned
>chili (with or without beans, your choice) in place of the taco meat,
>and top with shredded cheddar cheese. Heat and eat! Can't get much
>easier than that!
>
>Reviewed: Feb. 4, 2005
>This idea originated at and was first served at the 1982 Worlds Fair
>in Knoxville, TN. It's called a "Petro" and is still served at Petro
>restaurants all over the area. I am proud to have eaten one of the
>first ever served the week the fair opened. You can make them
>yourself, but as they say, "Ain't nothin' like the real thing baby"!
>Thanks for the memories....
>
>May 2005, Food Management, "Introducing the Walking Taco" by Joanna Lefebvre:
>Looking for yet another portable meal idea? Chefs at the Delta Center
>in Salt Lake City, UT serve "walking tacos" to fans on the go. First
>they break up the chips inside a bag of Doritos.
>
>Then they slit the side of the bag, mix in spicy meat, shredded
>cheese, lettuce, chopped tomatoes ...
>
>Quiet Life
>Oct. 26, 2005
>Walkin', Yes, in deedie, I'm walkin'
>Have you ever heard of Walking Tacos?
>
>Last Saturday I had the job of serving Walking Tacos at the tournament
>concession stand. It was a great job. All I had to do was scoop
>flavored meat into a snack size bag of Fritos.
>(...)
>Large bag of Fritos
>1 lb. Hamburger Meat (ground beef...drives my husband batty that I
>call it hamburger meat :o)
>1 package taco seasoning
>1 small container mild salsa
>shredded cheese
>shredded lettuce
>sour cream
>
>Braise the beef, add the seasoning mix and water, add about 1/4 to 1/3
>C. salsa,
>Heat through.
>Crumble Fritos. Not too small. Not too big.
>Put in the bottom of the bowl (about 1/3 cup)
>(...)(Comments—ed.)
>Oct. 27, 2005 - Petros
>Posted by jdoriot1
>Cool! Here in TN we call them "Petros"....they were introduced here as
>"petros" at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville. I think the theme of
>the fair then was "Energy Expo". So "petro" was an appropriate name!
>We too eat ours in big bowls...not the tiny bags! LOL!!
>Jenny
>http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gusdoriot
>
>Slashfood
>Super Bowl Snacks: "Walking Taco"
>Posted Jan 31st 2006 8:45AM by Stefania Butler
>
>Walking Taco
>Note: There is some debate over the origin of the name (thanks,
>commenters!). Walking Taco is the name of the recipe given to me.
>
>2 cans of refried beans combined with 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
>1 tub of guacamole (e.g. the kind where you mix the salsa in, or make your own)
>1 pint of sour cream
>2 4 oz. cans diced green chiles (or use one can of jalapeños and one
>can of green chiles if you want it spicy)
>2 4 oz. can of sliced black olives (or a combination of green and black olives)
>4 green onions thinly sliced
>2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
>2/3 pounds of sharp cheddar grated
>
>Divide bean mixture between two plates. Spread guacamole over both
>plates of beans. Layer remaining ingredients between the two plates.
>Top both with cheese. Serve cold or at room temp with Fritos Scoops.
>
>Homesick Texan: Chocolate Frito Pie (January 2007)
>Eric said…
>I've enjoyed reading your site, and being a Texan by proxy (marriage),
>I have a great appreciation for all things from the state and visit
>regularly. This post made me think about another use for Fritos, which
>could take the whole dish a little more lowbrow. Possibly a sweet
>version of the "walking taco"? The "walking taco" is traditionally a
>single-serve bag of Fritos, opened, and topped with some chili, cheese
>and onions and served with a fork. Mexican chocolate instead? Sounds
>good to me. Thanks!
>9:05 AM
>(...)
>Homesick Texan said…
>Eric—Thanks! I've never heard Frito pie called a walking taco, but it
>makes sense to me.
>11:29 AM
>(...)
>Mona said…
>Frito pie! I'm from the Midwest, and like one of the other posters
>noted, we call those "walking tacos" here. I remember in grade school,
>"walking taco" days were the best days to buy lunch. You got a bag of
>Fritos and then the lunch ladies set out a whole bunch of different
>toppings. Some kids would dump the whole thing out into a plate, but I
>always ate mine in the bag. It was more adventurous that way.
>2:10 PM
>
>Chevy SSR Fanatic Forums
>04-17-2007, 09:20 PM
>Petro's!!!
>I will not visit Knoxville without making a stop at a Petro's.
>
>Petro's started at the 1982 Knoxville World's Fair. They took a bag of
>Fritos, turned it on it's side, cut the bag open and then added chili
>and all the fixings. Now they are in the malls and even some free
>standing restaurants. It's one of my favorites and we replicate it
>about once a month here at home.
>
>(Trademark)
>Word Mark PETRO'S
>Goods and Services IC 042. US 100. G & S: Providing Fast Food
>Services, Featuring a Bag Containing Corn Chips, Chili and Assorted
>Toppings Such as Sour Cream, Tomato, Green Onion and/or Cheese. FIRST
>USE: 19820419. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19820419
>Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
>Serial Number 73370115
>Filing Date June 17, 1982
>Current Filing Basis 1A
>Original Filing Basis 1A
>Published for Opposition October 4, 1983
>Registration Number 1262715
>Registration Date December 27, 1983
>Owner (REGISTRANT) Petro's, Inc. CORPORATION WASHINGTON 1813 S. Rainer
>Pl. Kennewick WASHINGTON 99336
>(LAST LISTED OWNER) SCANDINAVIA SHOP & MORE, INC. CORPORATION
>TENNESSEE EAST 1040 DESMET SPOKANE WASHINGTON 99202
>Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
>Attorney of Record ROBERT E. PITTS
>Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
>Register PRINCIPAL
>Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20040211.
>Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20040211
>Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
>
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