SOUTHERN MARYLAND — The results are in, and Southern Maryland appears to have a clear favorite when it comes to the cold, creamy dip known as white sauce.
After The BayNet asked readers whether they had heard of white sauce, tried it, enjoyed it and preferred it over queso, the responses showed that the regional sauce is far from a mystery for most poll participants.
In fact, about 95% of respondents said they had heard of white sauce, and about 94% of those who answered the question about trying it said they had tasted it.
But knowing white sauce and liking it are two different things — so The BayNet also asked readers whether they actually enjoy it.
The answer was overwhelmingly yes.
What Is White Sauce?
Despite the name — and its frequent appearance at Mexican restaurants — white sauce is not white queso.
Sometimes called white salsa, salsa blanca or Virginia white sauce, it is a cold, creamy dip that became particularly associated with Mexican restaurants in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region.
Recipes vary from restaurant to restaurant, but traditional versions generally use a mayonnaise-style base flavored with seasonings that can include garlic, oregano, cumin and red pepper. Some versions lean sweet, while others are tangier or have more heat.
The sauce is typically served cold alongside tortilla chips and salsa. That is one of the easiest ways to distinguish it from queso, which is cheese-based and generally served warm.
As The BayNet previously reported, the Southern Foodways Alliance has traced much of the sauce’s popularity to El Toro, a now-closed Norfolk restaurant that served an early version in the 1970s. The sauce eventually became a regional staple in parts of Virginia and spread into neighboring areas, including Southern Maryland.
Readers Know Their White Sauce
The BayNet’s poll suggests white sauce is well known among the readers who participated.
Approximately 95% said they had heard of white sauce, compared with just 5% who said they had not.
Familiarity translated into experience, too. Among respondents who answered whether they had tried white sauce, about 94% said yes, while about 6% said no.
And those who tried it tended to be fans.
When asked whether they enjoy white sauce, about 88% said yes, while about 12% said no.
So, at least among The BayNet readers who participated in the poll, Team White Sauce won that round decisively.
But White Sauce vs. Queso Is A Much Closer Fight
The most divided question came when readers had to choose between white sauce and one of its biggest rivals: queso.
Among those who answered the question, about 60% said they prefer white sauce over queso, while about 40% said they do not.
That makes the white sauce-versus-queso question considerably more competitive than simply asking whether readers enjoy white sauce.
In other words, plenty of people may like white sauce without being willing to give up a warm bowl of queso for it.
The Results At A Glance
Heard of white sauce: 95% yes, 5% no
Tried white sauce: 94% yes, 6% no
Enjoy white sauce: 88% yes, 12% no
Prefer white sauce over queso: 60% yes, 40% no
Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number and are based on responses to each individual poll question.
Southern Maryland’s White Sauce Debate Isn’t Over
The results reinforce something The BayNet discovered while researching white sauce in Southern Maryland: the dip’s popularity can be surprisingly local.
In the original story, The BayNet found restaurants serving the sauce in communities including Charlotte Hall, Callaway, Huntingtown, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Lusby and Mechanicsville. At the same time, restaurants contacted in Charles County did not report currently serving the traditional cold white sauce.
That makes the poll results particularly interesting. Even though the sauce is not available everywhere in the region, the vast majority of participating readers already knew what it was — and most said they enjoyed it.
The bigger disagreement comes down to the question that may be harder to settle:
When the chips hit the table, are you reaching for white sauce or queso?
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