Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Americans love a good party. We dress up for Halloween, feast on Thanksgiving and then spend the holiday season darting from office parties to family gatherings. So it's no surprise that May 5 has achieved the same status as St. Patrick's Day.
You don't have to be Irish to enjoy a Guinness on St. Pat's. And you don't have to be Mexican to enjoy a great meal or smooth tequila on Cinco de Mayo. Here are products that can help you prepare a fiesta fantastico:
1. A proper Cinco de Mayo party needs guacamole. Homemade guacamole. Not a "guacamole flavored" dip from the grocery. Make avocado slicing easier with the Avocado Slicer and Pitter from Amco Houseworks, This two-part tool allows cooks to safely remove the pit. The slicer is made with stainless steel and the tool is dishwasher safe. $15 at Williams-Sonoma.com.
2. Tequila, unless you are a frat boy, is not meant to be gulped in shots. Nor is it meant to be poured directly into the mouth while wearing an oversized sombrero. Tequila, like a fine wine or scotch, is meant to be sipped. Sip elegantly with the Riedel Tequila Glass. This glass was designated the Official Tequila Glass by the Consejo Regulador de Tequila. It is 8.25 inches high and has a 6.75 ounce capacity. It is made with clear, lead-free crystal and must be hand washed. Suggested retail price is $48 for a box of four. Available at Target stores or Amazon.com
3. English speakers call it a Mexican Hat Dance but it's known as the Jarabe Tapatio in Mexico. It's a popular symbol of pride and a cool way to invite guests to a Cinco de Mayo party. The Mexican Hat Dance invites are horizontal cards that are about 8.5 inches and come with a red envelope. Pricing is $1.30 each and printing is available for an additional free. Printing starts at $24.90. Available at PartyCat.com or fax order to 512-472-8256.
4. A delicious Mexican meal deserves to be presented on a fabulous, fiesta inspired plate. (Yeah, even if you bought frozen tamales and wimped out of serving chicharron.) Serve up fiesta favorites on the Isabelle de Borchgrave Fiesta Collection. This collection of paper plates and napkins are a colorful collection. The beverage napkins come in a 16-pack and cost $2.99. The snack plate is available in an eight pack and costs $2.99 while the dinner plate is also available in an eight pack and costs $2.99. Available at Target stores.
5. Proper margaritas are about quality, not quantity. Forget those jumbo, gallon-sized drinks seen at chain restaurants because a delicious margarita can be mixed at home. "Margaritas, Mojitos & More," by Jessica Strand, gives recipes on how to mix dozens of drinks including a passion fruit margarita. Published by Chronicle Books, this hardcover book is 120 pages and has 36 color photographs. $16.95 at bookstores such as Barnes & Noble or BN.com.
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