I know a lot of the U.S. celebrates Cinco de Mayo. But down here in Texas it's not as much celebration as it is reason to drink copious amounts of tequila, eat our special brand of Tex-Mex cooking and throw a party.
Hmmm...let's see...great tequila, wonderful Tex-Mex food...even a curmudgeon like me will attend a party like that. The folks at Tequila Herradura must've known it when they invited us to a tequila tasting celebration at the Christopher Martin Gallery in Dallas.
I was all, "Hell Yeah!" and Charlotte was all, "Use your inside voice, please."
**hell yeah**
So we went.
We taste-tested the Herradura tequilas - Silver, Aṅejo and Reposado - and watched professional mixologists whip up special drinks while servers tempted us with rustic guacamole, ceviche and marinated chicken tostadas. It was hard to decide which we liked best, but the tequilas were all exceptional.
Yeah we partied like it was 1862 (the year of the real Cinco de Mayo). And please do the memory of my Texas History-teaching mother a big favor by not confusing Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day (it's not). It's the Mexican celebration of defeating the French at the Battle of Puebla.
All the more reason to raise a glass.
When I drink tequila, my default setting is usually the classic Margarita. The folks at Herradura know how to mix a tasty Margarita, but my favorite drink of the evening was the unexpected Jalisco Gimlet.
It's not as sweet or tart as the Margarita - I found it to be a delightfully fresh drink, with notes of celery, cilantro, lime and jalapeno. The flavors combine with the tequila to give it just the right amount of heat and spice, without the citrusy aftertaste. In a word: DELICIOUS.
If you'd like to surprise your Cinco de Mayo party guests with something a little out of the ordinary, give the Jalisco Gimlet a try. It's not as easy to make as a Margarita, but your guests will say your party is a nacho above the rest.
INGREDIENTS
Pinch of fresh cilantro
2 slices of fresh jalapeño
5 slices of fresh celery
1/2 oz Green Chartreuse
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 dashes of Fee Brothers Celery Bitters
2 oz Tequila Herradura Blanco
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Muddle fresh cilantro, jalapeño, celery and simple syrup together. Add ice, Green Chartreuse, bitters, Tequila Herradura and lime juice. Shake and double strain into a martini glass or over ice. Garnish with a slice of jalapeño speared with a fresh cilantro leaf.
Related
How to Make Strawbery/Jalapeno Tequila
Hanging Out in the Texas Hill Country
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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