Cinco de Mayo!

Well, our five days of Cinco de Mayo is being condensed to one .... We ended up having five days of non-stop work here.

As promised though, a Beyond the Bubbly post: Cinco De Mayo Edition!



Cinco de Mayo ....

This time of year, bar banners and tortilla chip sales hail the coming of summer in the US. Cinco de Mayo is actually the anniversary of a great battle between Mexico and the French in 1882. The "Batalla de Puebla" was not won by Mexico nor was it a battle of independence. Mexican independence occured in 1810. The 1850s and 1860s were a tense time in Latin America as the Monroe Doctrine and heavy debts from independence sparked conflicts between the Americas and Europe. Batalla de Puebla became a symbol of Mexican unity against European power.

As America's population expanded to include more and more Latin Americans, Cinco de Mayo came to be a day of cultural celebration. And as with all food and beverage based holidays, soon caught the attention of America's marketing machines. And voila, er, excuse me, presto, an American holiday was born.



Here are a couple ways to celebrate your inner chicano/chincana ....

Tacos, Tostadas, Tequila, Oh my ....!

Amp up the taco station at your dinner or party by offering delectable mains like halibut or pork and pineapple. Our friends over at Whole Foods Markets have more great suggestions that will take your menu from mild to hot!

Tequila!
Hosting a Tequila Tasting party is a great way to celebrate the Mexican liquor. Like all alcohol, tequila has a long history and spectrum of tastes. Tequila, made from the now-popular agave plant, has a history that is deeply intertwined with the history of Mexico. From its earliest appearance in the Jalisco culture, to its more modern appearance in the 17th century thanks to the introduction of a distillation process from the Spanish, tequila has grown and changed with Mexico.

You can research the fine tequilas out there and do a tasting like that - Or just ask friends to bring a different bottle each and pass it all along. Remember to sip, not shoot! Limes and water are good for clearing the palate!

Sangria ...
While not totally a traditional Mexican drink, Sangria has become associated with Cinco de Mayo in America and acts as a lovely accompaniment to any taco, tostada, or chili meal! Sangrias can be made with a red or white wine base and can contain a variety of fruit slices that soak up the wine while releasing their own juices in to the mix.

To dress up your sangria, we suggest adding some sorbet! Our Sangria sorbet can be added to a white sangria to provide a beautiful color contrast in the glass and an extra kick in the sip! The Rose sorbet compliments most red sangrias perfectly.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Salud!