I Did It My Way

I remember when I first moved to the US.  I didn't know diddly squat about chips and salsa.  Margaritas? Wha?  I'm Canadian and could have told you a lot about beer and Canadian Club Whiskey, but that's about where it ended.

Anyone still with me?  I fear I may have lost everyone at Canadian Club...

Confession: there was this time when I first moved to Southern California and asked one of my friends when Cinco de Mayo was.  


Uh, yeah. A-nee-way.

As long-er time readers and people who follow me on the various social networking locales know, I am now well-versed in the chips, the salsa, the guacamole and, on Friday nights especially, the Don Julio margarita.  Okay any margarita, but particularly the Don Julio.  Just this past Friday night I was heartily greeted by almost all the employees at my favorite Mexican place, causing my friend Kelly to turn and say, 'uh, do you think you might eat here a little too often?'. Um, no?

The blasphemy!

So it was on Cinco de Mayo, and yes I am a week late in posting this, that the Chef and I cut out for a couple hours to support that favorite place of ours: Avila's El Ranchito.  Remember last year's episode when we had to get wristbands just to get in, people were grinding to the DJ right by our table, and the lights blew on the entire block as buzzed people ran for the doors to avoid paying their bills?  Yeah, we weren't risking that one again so we went mid-afternoon before the mob hit.

It was off the chain fun and filled with great food. I did the unthinkable and wore neon shoes. I needed a cab after just one drink so it was a good thing Chris drove.  Oh, and I came home at midnight? Viva la Mexico!

Neon. I'm wearing it. I think I may be wearing more of it soon. 

*I've fallen into a neon time warp and can't get up.*

A close-up of the Moon Shield Bracelet you need to get. The Akha not far behind it.

And the neon and gold one is another fave.

More neon, a gaggle of bracelets and some fringe. 

And seriously? How awesome is this guy? 

Lots of questions posed in this one. Not a lot of answers. Monday's calling and I'm looking for the rewind button.

The Night the Lights Went Out

Last night was quite possibly the most epic Cinco de Mayo yet.  Let's face it, I'm not 21 partying down and barfing in a back alley.  I'm 22 and far too mature for that.  The Chef and I decided to roll over to our favorite Mexican place around 9:30 - let me preface this by saying it is a family owned restaurant.  Key word being family - that's the bulk of the clientele as well.  

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd walk up, be asked to enter via the front door only, then go around front to find a guy hanging onto a palm branch unable to stand begging some girl to come back to his place and continue the party.  Oh it gets better:  there were gobs of people strewn everywhere all wearing wristbands.  I had to get a wristband if I wanted my Don Julio.

Exhibit A 

(taken hours later in the Chef's kitchen that is undergoing significant cleaning)

Even better?  It was a mariachi disco once inside.  Oh who am I kidding?  I heard that music from the parking lot.  As I followed the host, weaving through the crowd toward our table, servers danced on by.  Upon closer examination it appeared the majority of patrons were dancing around.  Unable to contain myself I burst out laughing and collapsed into the booth immediately taking to twitter:

birdgirlc Carrie   Omg our fave Mexican restaurant has turned into a mariachi disco...I just had to get a wristband & a server danced by the table#cincodemayo

Moments later the Chef appears with a big grin on his face.  I holler, 'This place is going OFF.  Who would've thought?'  To which he responds, 'WHAT?!? I can't hear you.' As I peruse the menu the Chef gives me the secret eye signal to look to my left where I found the following:

birdgirlc Carrie   Red alert: couple grinding next to table #holycrap #cincodemayo isn't this a restaurant??

Next thing you know some random guy from another table joins them.  I have to turn away.  I'm officially old.  Wait!  My camera's in my bag! Is it too late to get a video?!  While I attempt to figure out how to work the stupid thing they disco off back to their separate tables before I can get documentation.  Bugger.  We manage to get our drinks, take a few gulps from the plastic cups, ogle the older woman next to our table with the tatted sleeves tossing back shots of tequila, and get our food order in while trying to maintain composure.  As my Shrimp Botana arrives at the table and I proceed to indulge in a homemade tortilla as we revel in the joy of being out with the crazy Cinco de Mayo peeps.  It's fun, it's energetic, it's scary, we're alive...and the place blows a fuse knocking out power for an entire city block. Where's my camera again?

Exhibit B

Drunken Cinco de Mayo revelers attempting the 'drink and dash' 

after the mariachi disco spinner blows a fuse.

Within 5 seconds drunken fools began screaming 'Bin Laden's dead!' as they scattered to exits attempting not to pay their tabs.  Fortunately employees began blocking off exits and handwriting checks.  I was so bummed.  All I wanted was another margarita.

Exhibit C:  Best Cinco de Mayo yet

I have officially lost control of the font and can't get it to behave.  In any event I would love to hear about your Cinco de Mayo's.  And if you don't have a tale of your own, by all means feel free to re-tell mine.  

Have a great weekend everyone...enjoy celebrating your Moms!  I can't wait to see what my cats got me.

Cinco De Mayo...Guacamole!

I'm fresh off of yet another day of Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred - read:  I'm too scared to venture into Level 3 territory.  In an effort other wise known as procrastination I worked late, tidied a few things (walked in circles trying not to think about chocolate) and then made guacamole.  You do realize that the entire time I knew I was avoiding the Shred?  Why do I do this to myself?  I know I want to do it.  I know I feel better after I work out.  So why the delay?  Deep hidden mysteries of the universe yet to be uncovered, I guess.

In other grand news today is, indeed, Cinco de Mayo.  If you follow me on twitter you know I wax on endlessly about Don Julio tequila and the glorious margaritas it produces.  It would have been lovely to pull some simple syrup together and mix up a margarita for the blog, but the Chef is hard at work prepping for opening over at the restaurant and I should not be left alone with Don Julio.  I kid, I kid!  In all honesty there have been several instances where I almost posted my guacamole recipe, but then ate the subject before it could be photographed.  Oops!  Guacamole is one of my favorite things to eat, and I refuse to only enjoy it when out to eat or purchase the mush in the store.  Life's too short and it's too good.  For all you guacamole lovers I swear by this recipe.  Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients

Homemade Guacamole
Ingredients
1 jalapeno pepper  - seeded and minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons chopped tomato
2 tablespoons onions minced
1 large avocado, ripe
1/2 lime

Begin by mincing the jalapeno. I start by chopping it, getting rid of the seeds and then mincing it.  Once complete finely chop the cilantro and then mix jalapeno and cilantro together, sprinkle with salt to get the natural juice out and mash into a paste. I either do this right on the cutting board or using a mortar and pestle.

Before/After to demonstrate just how easily it mashes into paste.

You can also do this with the bottom side of a spoon on your cutting board.

Transfer the paste to your guacamole serving dish.

Next chop tomato making sure to get rid of all seeds and juice.  The last thing you want is watery guacamole.  Not good. I chop my tomato pieces into cubes because I like a chunkier guacamole - the goal is to have a finished product that is not going to turn to mush when you mix it.  Once you've chopped your tomato and minced your onion transfer those to the serving dish as well.

Lightly mix the three ingredients together

From here take the avocado, cut it in half and remove the pit.  Because I do not over mix my guacamole I cut the avocado into cubes from the inside and then scoop them out with a spoon.  Much easier than peeling, cutting and transferring - and lessens the mush factor.

From here all you have to do is gently toss the avocado with the other ingredients, 

squeeze on the lime, lightly mix again and it's ready to be eaten.

Completed Product

I proceeded to eat half of this for dinner with some Tacupeto corn chips which are an unparalleled store bought chip (at least in our opinion).  Hope you guys have a great Cinco de Mayo!  Any plans to celebrate or just keeping close to home for a little soiree?  My crazy neighbors across the street have been Cinco de Mayo'ing for 2 days straight...and they're in their 60's.  I'm almost afraid of what tonight may bring.  Look for me in my sombrero hiding under the bed with Don Julio margarita in hand.

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