The Drive-Thru Queso Ree Drummond Can't Stop Thinking About
If you're familiar with Food Network star Ree Drummond, then you know the country-loving chef has no problem sharing her favorite comfort foods and family-friendly dishes. Not only is she known for showcasing her heartiest feel-good recipes via Food Network, such as meatball subs and carrot cake French toast, but the celebrity chef has publicly declared her unwavering dedication to certain foods.
Drummond fans may already be aware that she openly loves cheese but in a 2019 interview with Today, the star chef stated "I never met a cheese I didn't like," claiming to love cheddar and goat cheese among other popular varieties. She even went so far as to dedicate an entire episode of her popular Food Network show, "The Pioneer Woman" to four different ways of using cheese, showcasing eight varieties on screen.
Drummond's deep love for cheese has led her to perfect her own versions of rich dishes like macaroni and cheese (via The Pioneer Woman), and predictably, more than one variety of queso. Beyond the five different queso dip recipes listed on her website, Drummond has recently developed a love for one particular queso that surprisingly, isn't made in her own kitchen.
The Pioneer Woman's appreciation for queso has no bounds
According to American Express Essentials, the first known recipe for queso didn't appear until the late 1800s, but its believed to have been a part of Mexican food culture for many years prior. With Texas and Mexico sharing a border, certain culturally rich dishes became an integral component of the southern American diet. While "queso" technically means cheese in Spanish, Undeniably Dairy states nowadays, "queso" equates to "chili con queso" or cheese with chillis, and in present-day America, there's a lot of variation when it comes to this melted, flavorful dip of choice.
While there is one food Ree Drummond refuses to order out, queso is another story. In a 2015 interview with Delish, the down-to-earth chef talks about a restaurant near her daughter's college called Fuego Tortilla Grill, and apparently, the establishment offers an out-of-this-world queso dip. Drummond even admits to eating it cold, claiming "It's the best queso I ever had." While the celebrity chef may not have been able to figure out Fuego's secret recipe, she's not the only one singing its praises. Reviewers on Tripadvisor agree to the deliciousness of Fuego's queso, but it's not the only variety Drummond enjoys.
Ree Drummond loves more than one queso in Texas
Fuego Tortilla Grill has four locations in Texas, and its new one has recently opened in San Antonio. MYSA claims the restaurant is not only popular for its roasted poblano queso but its unique array of tacos. One titled "Good Golly Miss Holly" features macaroni and cheese and Cheetos. Even with all of these one-of-a-kind offerings, Drummond appreciates more than the queso at Fuego's Tortilla Grill.
A year after her interview with Delish, Drummond uncovered a new favorite queso found at another popular Mexican chain in Texas known as Torchy's Tacos. In a blog post, the Pioneer Woman admitted to having an equal love for the queso at both popular Texas-based establishments since both varieties are quite different from one another. Torchy's Taco's "green chile queso" not only has green chiles, but includes Cotija cheese, its signature Diablo sauce, guacamole, and cilantro. Fuego Tortilla Grill's queso features roasted poblano peppers and pepper jack cheese. When it comes to queso, the add-in options are endless. If you don't have time to make your own homemade chili con queso, if you're in Texas, you can try one or both of Drummond's favorites and compare their popular flavors for yourself.