Queso is a simple, flavorful, ultra-creamy delight, and though its roots are in the more sophisticated Mexican queso fundido, queso has bloomed into its own gastronomic feature.

Queso, at its most basic, is made with a block of processed cheese. It is served with tortilla chips and can be topped with any number of nacho-like toppings.

Queso fundido is made with fresh cheeses, melted until stretchy and creamy, topped with ingredients like chorizo, mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and served with fresh tortillas.

There are many variations of queso fundido, but no exact history. However, it could not have been made until after Spanish colonizers brought milk with them in the 1500s.

According to The New Yorker, the earliest mentions of queso are from an 1896 recipe for chiles verdes con queso. It was likely popularized by the Original Mexican Restaurant.

These two culinary traditions have melted together over the years. More traditional queso fundido can be found in the U.S., and queso can be found in Mexico.