Party Snack · Fried Cheese Sticks

Tequeños

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A Venezuelan birthday party without a tray of tequeños is considered incomplete, and the diaspora has carried them to Miami, Madrid and Bogotá.

Tequeños are strips of slightly sweet wheat dough wrapped around a stick of soft white cheese and deep-fried until golden and crackling. They're sold by the dozen at street stalls, festivals, and late-night food carts, often with a dipping sauce such as guasacaca or salsa rosada.

Why it's made this way: Most origin stories point to the town of Los Teques near Caracas in the early 20th century; their finger-food format made them a natural fit for parties and street vending.