Cinco de Mayo coming up - seeking some ideas


 

Brett-EDH

TVWBB Olympian
yeah, i know this might not be a "thing" by you but here in CA it's another reason to eat and drink and enjoy some sun.

so, wife and i are hosting a retirement party for my wife's co-worker and we are doing a 6th of May party instead of Cinco de Mayo (i only have so much time in life to cook).

the dinner theme is Mexican food, and my working menu is black bean taquitos as an app, carne asada, pollo asado, rice, black beans 2-3 salsas, guac and maybe a Cesar salad (Cesar salad was invented in MX).

seeking some input to freshen/liven up the menu to add something, maybe another app? or something that our guests will enjoy (70% female, 2 vegetarians, total headcount is around 9-12 adults).

so, any suggestions or ideas? add some shrimp skewers? do a nachos plate as an app?

so far everything is vegetarian friendly sans the steak and chicken and one guest asked me to grill some Beyond burger they'll supply as their main.

drinks will be blended frozen margs, a few beers on hand (this is a mixed drinks crowd from what I understand).
 
An all time favorite for me


Last time I made them, I can't find the first time I made them


If I could find that thread, I had a PDF of the ingredients needed

Found it

 
I think my only possible contribution (as a pasty white Midwestern Yankee) might be to suggest making your own refried beans. I started do this several years ago, and it does make a significant contribution.

Edit: even tinned pintos work awfully well.
 
I think my only possible contribution (as a pasty white Midwestern Yankee) might be to suggest making your own refried beans. I started do this several years ago, and it does make a significant contribution.

Edit: even tinned pintos work awfully well.
black beans only. we need to keep our friends, not choke them out ;)

i do make mine from scratch, with dried beans.
 
I like the small corn street tacos for gatherings like this. If it's buffet style serving these and only having small plates force people to start small and go for seconds and thirds.

Cilantro lime rice along with a traditional mexican fried rice adds variety.

Ceviche is a favorite for me.

Big pitchers of ice water with lemon and lime.


Edit. Grilled onions and bell peppers and maybe some small flour tortillas too. I prefer corn yet many like flour.

Some blue corn tortilla chips are also tasty.
 
Last edited:
Brett, do you think that black beans are less “bountiful”? I have thought that from time to time. my wife doesn’t enjoy them as much as I but, I don’t have to stand behind me.🤢
per my prep method, yes. and black beans have more protein per cupful.

degass and soak method:

boil 3x the water of your beans
clean and pick through the beans to ensure no rocks
place dried and cleaned beans into a vessel large enough to hold the beans plus 3x the water
pour boiled water over the dry beans
cover the beans and boiled water with a plate or lid
let soak for 90 minutes
after 90 minutes, drain black bean water and rinse and agitate the beans 3 times

after rinsed/cleaned three times then begin your prep/cook method.

i do have a recipe if you'd like.

wedo find black beans to be less "productive" when cooked fully and using this presoak and rinse method.
 
I like the small corn street tacos for gatherings like this. If it's buffet style serving these and only having small plates force people to start small and go for seconds and thirds.

Cilantro lime rice along with a traditional mexican fried rice adds variety.

Ceviche is a favorite for me.

Big pitchers of ice water with lemon and lime.


Edit. Grilled onions and bell peppers and maybe some small flour tortillas too. I prefer corn yet many like flour.

Some blue corn tortilla chips are also tasty.
i am thinking regular sized corn tortillas as the street can be small and food falls off them.

thinking i'll have pitchers of water as described. it's a dinner call time, 530P start.

thinking of white onions and cilantro with lime wedges on the side. trying to stay authentic with corn tortillas, can add flour tortillas too, all stashed in a tortilla warmer once heated on the grill.

maybe some cheese garnish? cotija and or mex shredded blend?

you thinking TJs blue corn tortillas? maybe make a bean dip or 5/7 layer dip as app?

again, trying to stay authentic taco party but with elevated food selection(s).

all good ideas above, TY. i think i have 4 chafing dishes that i can employ:

Kirkland-Signature-5Qt-Stainless-Steel-Round-Chafing-Dish-Costco-3.jpg
 
I haven't had TJs blue corn chips in a while, but yeah, and if you mix the blue with white or yellow in a bowl it elevates the look of the chips.

For corn tortillas, these from Costco are tasty. A bit on the rustic side. Your probably right on the street tacos being too small for dinner portions.

20230424_174050.jpg
 
I haven't had TJs blue corn chips in a while, but yeah, and if you mix the blue with white or yellow in a bowl it elevates the look of the chips.

For corn tortillas, these from Costco are tasty. A bit on the rustic side. Your probably right on the street tacos being too small for dinner portions.

View attachment 69603
I just bought these yesterday for the first time. I bought them because they looked rustic and traditional. Hahahahahha. Going to do a sample run on the black bean taquitos in these.
 
Folks that have been suggesting beans for Cinco de Mayo may want to reel it in just a tad. Otherwise you might be stuck with Stinko de Mayo with all the gas instead.
It’s an outdoor shindig. And it’s mostly ladies. And we all know ladies don’t ….
 
Love me the Rubio's Shrimp Trio plate. And yes it's on sale on Tuesday's. I got a feeling that's were I'll be tomorrow afternoon. 😄
 

 

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