bhofack2 via Getty Images Nachos are the ultimate joy-inducing food. They’re the complete package: crunchy tortilla chips, gooey melted cheese and toppings with some bite, all balanced out with creamy-cool factors like sour cream and guacamole (and, since we’re nacho-ing at home, it’s not extra). , the beloved appetizer originated in a northern Mexican town in the early 1940s. A group of United States Army wives stopped by a supper club only to discover it had closed for the evening, but the maître d’, Ignacio Anaya, took heart. He threw together a plate of tortilla chips, shredded cheese and jalapeños, and baked them for a few minutes. Anaya named the dish after his nickname, Nacho.