Look Out, No-Bean Chili: This Man Wants To Make Tacos Texas' Official State Food

Hi name is Mando Rayo, and he's evidently unafraid to mess with Texas, or specifically, Texas's beloved (no-bean) chili.

“Whether you grew up here in Texas or you got here as soon as you could, you’re eating tacos. In Texas, people eat tacos on a weekly basis,” Rayo writes on his change.org petition, which is seeking to replace chili con carne with tacos as the Lone Star State's official food. “Hell, tacos were here before Texas was Texas!”

Chili has been the official food of Texas since 1977, when the state legislature deemed it so: “WHEREAS, One cannot be a true son or daughter of this state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, unadulterated Texas chili" the resolution began.

Rayo, the author of Tacos of Texas, writes at tacojournalism.com, and is considered by many an expert on the beloved foodstuff.

As of Friday afternoon, Rayo's change.org petition had garnered 877 signatures, many of them no doubt moved by this call to action:

So step aside chili, tacos are here to stay. I invite you, along with the Texas Taco Council (yeah, that's a thing!) to sign this petition and let's make tacos the national food of Texas y'all!

Rayo has been planning the assault on chili for a while, and earlier this month told Texas Standard that tacos are no trend:

"It's more than just this new trendy food that you just take a bite and it's great," he said. "Once you know the history, the culture and where it comes from, then that taco is gonna taste 200 times better."

To hammer home his belief in the taco's superiority over chili, Rayo said, "You can make anything into a taco, even a chili."

What's your take on this debate? Chili con carne, or tacos? Let us know in the comments section.

— Main image courtesy mandorayocollective.com