The story goes, at least the one we are recounting here, is that in 1943 a group of ladies arrived at a restaurant after it was closed for service.

The maître d’hôtel, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, not wanting to disappoint his guests worked with what he had – tortillas and cheese.

He cut the tortillas into triangles, covered them in cheese, heated them to melt the cheese and added jalapeños to the top and served ten.

In response to being asked what they were called, he answered “Nacho’s especiales” Over time they have simply become known as nachos.

A modified version of the dish is made with cheese sauce and prepared tortilla chips, the kind you commonly get at the cinema. these are known as ball park nachos, because they were served at the ball park.

Ignacio Anaya died in 1975, but in his honour a bronze plaque was erected Piedras Negras, the city where Ignacio invented this modern day snack.

October 21st is the International Day of the Nacho and the International Nacho Festival is held between October 13th and 15th.

There are many variants of this dish now – which is your favourite? Do you prefer them with beef chilli, refried beans or guacamole?