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Ted Cruz Really Believes in the Power of Queso

The Texas senator provides a "powerful family bond as you and your kids pour into nachos covered in queso”

Queso from Torchy’s Tacos
Queso from Torchy’s Tacos
Torchy’s Tacos/Facebook
Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

Queso is great, there is no question about that. Texas senator Ted Cruz shared his deep thoughts on the cheesy dip with the Dallas Morning News this week. It was right before the Senate’s cheese-off between Dallas queso and Arkansas cheese dip, where Republican senators actually voted on their favorite.

Cruz and fellow Lone Star colleague John Cornyn offered up Dallas-based Tex Mex chain Uncle Julio’s queso against cheese dip straight from Arkansas senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton. Before the competition, Cruz said about queso:

"It just tastes good. It speaks to the soul. Good queso relaxes you. Look, cheese dip can be served on a Ritz cracker, or with one of those tiny Vienna sausages. Queso is made to be scooped up with tortilla chips, dribbling down your chin, and onto your shirt. One is a visceral, emotional, powerful family bond as you and your kids pour into nachos covered in queso. The other is party favors at an afternoon tea.”

It turns out, the Senate prefers cheese dip over queso. Recently, a Little Rock restaurant, Heights Taco & Tamale Co., claimed that it created queso.