Front Burner: Why Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo
One of my pals loves Mexican food and culture so much that she decorated her kitchen with chili peppers and often suggested we catch up over margaritas and Mexican cuisine.
Before she and her husband moved away from Roanoke, I always looked forward to their annual Cinco de Mayo potluck, which fell on or about the date that is the holiday’s namesake, May 5.
We visited, we drank homemade margaritas and we gorged on the huge spread, which ranged from authentic (fresh pico de gallo, enchiladas, tostadas) to decidedly inauthentic but still-so-good (jalapeno poppers, queso dip made with Velveeta, chocolate-banana “dessert burritos”).
I never thought to ask the hosts if they knew the history behind this Mexican holiday, or whether anyone else at the party knew. I was certainly ignorant myself.
Because Cinco de Mayo falls exactly one week from today, I set out to educate myself. I started with an oldie but goodie, the Encyclopedia Britannica (a 1987 edition, but 19th-century Mexican history hasn’t really changed since then), then talked to Enrique Lamadrid, chairman of the department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of New Mexico.
What I learned left me thoroughly surprised.
Continue reading this story by clicking here.
See recipes for Chiles en Nogada and Pozole by clicking here.
Moses Nucamendi of Alejandro’s Mexican Grill also recommended a recipe for Tinga Poblana, or shredded pork Puebla Style. To see that recipe, click here. In fact, this entire site, “Mexico in my Kitchen,” features wonderful recipes accompanied by beautiful photos. If you love Mexican food, check out several of their entries.
Finally, check out this recipe for a savory Mexican sandwich called Pambazos, which was also recommended by Moses.
April 28, 2010 - 8:19 AM
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I’ve always found it amusing how Americans celebrate certain events and holidays more than the host countries where these events are said to have originated…like Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s day…since they are not generally big deals in Mexico or Ireland, respectively. I guess we just like to party, and look for any reason to host one!
I love any excuse for a party, especially one with margaritas!
I chuckled at this because one time I asked the server at our local Mexican restaurant what the purpose of Cinco de Mayo was and told me he didn’t know. After I jokingly gave him a hard time about that he mentioned something about independence and that it wasn’t a big deal. Apparently he was correct!
Mr Nucamendi’s comment about being surprised about American’s celebrating it so heartily, made me think of an interview I saw years ago of Bono from U2. He said the first time they did a concert in America on St Patrick’s day, they were a little stunned by the celebration here. Apparently it’s not that big a deal in Ireland.O. J. is right, we just like any excuse for a party.
OJ, I think that a big part of the reason for ethnic heritage celebrations is just that – to embrace one of the groups that have helped shape America, even if you don’t belong to that group. CdM, StPDay, Oktoberfest, lots of them if you think about it. Yes, reasons to celebrate just for the heck of it…
Lindsey, Good article but weak margurita recipe. With the help of Jackie Boyd, a fine Realtor and former bartender, I have developed what is perhaps the best margurita north of Mexico:
Juice of one good orange (the best use for a box of band fruit)
Juice of half of a lime
Splash of lemon juice
Splash of Rose’s Lime Juice
2 oz good tequila
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Orange, Lime or Lemon Zest
Shake w/ice and pour in a salt rimmed glass
This is alot of work to juice everything, but the fresh juice is what makes it wonderful. Using a little bit of alot of ingredients gives it a depth and complexity that is wonderful.
Thanks, John. That looks like a wonderful margarita recipe. I kept the one in the paper simple because the food recipes were fairly labor intensive. And I’ve tried the recipe that was in the paper and it’s good, especially if you are making big batches for a party.
If you are looking for a cool idea for a Cinco de Mayo party or a great guacamole recipe visit my most recent post:
http://zisforzest.com/2010/05/04/guacamole/
Happy pre Cinco de Mayo!
John, Jackie’s MY realtor and she’s fabulous.
Lindsey, can you post (repost?) your maragarita recipe here in the blog? It wasn’t online and I am in Texas and would love a “simple” margarita!John’s recipe does sound good and may have to try it when we get to my cousin’s place in Arizona.
Sure, Kathy. The Mambo Margarita recipe is:
12 oz. frozen limeade concentrate
12 oz. tequila
12 oz. lemon-lime soda
12 oz. Corona beer
Pour ingredients into a pitcher. Mix gently with a spoon. Serve over ice in salt-rimmed glasses. Do NOT put in a blender (too much carbonation!) Makes 1 1/2 quarts.
Source: “The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love” by Jill Conner Browne.
Thanks, Lindsey! I never would have guessed it would include a Corona!