Cinco Tips for Making your Cinco de Mayo at Home Party a Success!
Guest Post by Rayme Rossello, owner of Comida at Stanley Marketplace
Though Cinco de Mayo isn’t celebrated widely in Mexico, the date of the historic battle provides Denver with one of our most-celebrated unofficial holidays and a reason to remember and revel in Colorado’s deep connection with Mexico.
Rayme Rossello, owner of Comida at Stanley Marketplace, the vibrant Mexican-soul-food spot, is not only an expert on making and serving great Mexican food and drinks, she’s a consummate hostess with numerous Cinco de Mayo parties under her belt and offers the following tips for the ultimate home Cinco celebration:
Cinco Tips for Making your Cinco de Mayo at Home Party a Success! (Read to the end for a BONUS tip!)
1: Keep it small… but mighty. Invite just a small group of your favorite people. There are plenty of places you can be a part of a big group or crowd these days as the world starts opening back up, but we think keeping the group small and with your favorites is the best start to a great celebration.
2: Have an activity: A blind tequila tasting is fun! Tequila has so much flavor and nuance and the difference between brands can be startling. Ask friends to bring a bottle of tequila priced under $50, put it in a brown bag, and then line up the tasting glasses and let everyone taste through the tequilas without knowing which one is which. You’ll be amazed and surprised that the least expensive might end being the group favorite.
3: Pre batch your margaritas in a big pitcher. That way you can actually spend time with family and friends instead of making each margarita individually. Set up a garnish station so guests can make their own, and don’t forget fresh juices and sparkling water for those who aren’t drinking.
4: You can slave all day in the kitchen cooking up fun food for the party, but to really save time swing by and see us at Comida to grab some house made chips along with a quart of fresh made guacamole, salsa and queso fundido the day before – or even the morning of your party! Great food takes time, so save yours for having more time relaxing (or preparing the rest of dinner) before everyone arrives…
5: Surprise ingredient: you can top tacos with more than just salsa. Try this recipe from Chef Sandra Banchs at Comida for Passionfruit Aioli, plus a spicy Jalapeño Slaw and Slaw Vinaigrette – all three can make a fantastic garnish/topping for just about any taco, burrito or quesadilla – or even just as a side on its own.
Passionfruit Aioli, Jalapeño Slaw, and Vinaigrette from Executive Chef Sandra Banchs
Passion Fruit Aioli:
- 2 c. mayonnaise
- 1 c. passion fruit concentrate (you can use fresh or canned – either is fine!)
- ¼ c. coconut milk
Fold all ingredients together with a whisk. Can be used as a delicious, tropical garnish or topping for just about any kind of taco.
Slaw Vinaigrette
- 1 c. orange juice
- ½ c. lime juice
- ½ cup of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 teaspoons of salt
Whisk all ingredients together. Shake well before pouring over slaw. *Oil will separate from juices.
Jalapeño Slaw
- 2 c. green cabbage
- 1 c. red cabbage
- ½ c. jicama – thinly sliced
- ¼ c. jalapeños – thinly sliced length wise
- ¼ c. mandarin oranges
Slice all cabbages thinly. Make sure to rinse red cabbage with very cold water to prevent it from dying the slaw purple. Fold all ingredients together until blend looks uniform. Shake vinaigrette and then add to slaw to taste.
BONUS TIP: Don’t forget decorations to really set the mood! When it comes to a Cinco de Mayo party, the brighter and bolder the colors, the better (think hot pink, citrus orange, lime green and vibrant blue). You can easily buy or make giant tissue paper blooms, streamers, and small paper flags to hang around your party area and give it an instant party feel.
