"Mexican Cookery for American Homes" published by Gebhardt Chili Powder Company, San Antonio, 1923. The first Tex-Mex cookbook containing recipes by Willie Gebhardt, the inventor of Chili Powder.

Soft cover, 5" x 6.3/4"; 32 pages, the address of Gerhardt's Company, San Antonio is ink written on front cover and 1st page, a little soiling and wear, very good condition.

William (Willie) Fredrick Gebhardt (1875-1956) was business entrepreneur, cook, inventor of chili powder.

In 1883 Gebhardt’s parents immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in the German town of New Braunfels, Texas, in 1885. In 1892, Willie opened a cafe in the back of a saloon. He owned the cafe for four years. During this time, he developed what became his famous chili powder, which was first called “Tampico Dust,” and he flavored his stew with the spice.

During the 1800s it was difficult to keep chilies fresh during the winter months. Although popular, chili was a seasonal food and only served from late spring through summer. Willie Gerhardt discovered if he dried the chilies and ground them into powder the potency of the chilies would remain fresh. He continued to experiment with the chilies and came up with a method for grinding and mixing them to transform them into what is now known as chili powder, or as he called it "Tampico dust." Willie would package the chili powder and sell it around town. In 1896 Willie registered his trademark chili and changed the name to Gebhardt's Eagle Brand Chili Powder. He also opened an establishment in San Antonio to manufacture the chili powder. The Powder was a huge success, however, the market for chili did not go beyond Texas because few Americans living outside of the state knew how to cook with chili powder.

"In order to get Americans to embrace chili powder a cookbook entitled "Mexican Cooking" was created. This cookbook was one of the first Tex-Mex cookbooks. By the time Gebhardt received his butchers license in 1908 the name of the company had changed to Gebhardt's Chili Powder Company. Tamales as well as canned chili con carne were added to the items sold by the company.

As the Gebhardt company grew more cookbooks were created, and advertising for it was everywhere including radio commercials, and newspapers and magazines. The slogans for the ads included sayings like "Gebhardt's. If you think its just a great chili, you might be missing something." Willie Gebhardt died in 1956 at the age of 81. By this time he had been retired from the business for 20 years. The company was acquired by a Chicago based company in 1960 and that company was acquired by another. In 1984 the company was renamed Gebhardt Mexican Foods Company and sales increased in places like California, Arizona, and Oregon. Some products can be found in Texas stores like H.E.B. and today chili powder is one of the most common seasonings found in American homes." [Joscelynn Garcia]

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) --------- $12.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-7 weeks) --- $32.50
World: Priority (c 2-8 weeks) ---- $45.50