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Five days of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year, so local restaurants and bars are celebrating from Friday through Tuesday
Tahoe.com
Horacio Cuevas serves up a Tahoe margarita and an organic margarita at Los Altos.
How to find the perfect margarita
Find yourself a margarita expert and ask questions. If you find yourself in Truckee, stop by Los Altos (11367 Deerfield Drive, in the SaveMart shopping center), sit down at the bar, and talk to Horacio Cuevas, who has been serving up delicious margaritas at the Truckee establishment for 30 years (when he’s not working his other job as chief electrician for the lifts at Northstar).
According to Cuevas, the perfect margarita “has to have good balance — the right amount of tequila, the right amount of triple sec or Cointreau — so it’s not too sweet, not too sour, and doesn’t taste too strong.”
But the perfect taste for one may be all wrong for someone else, so feel free to explain what you’re looking for and let your bartender make you a custom margarita. Just don’t ask for it blended!
According to Cuevas, a good margarita should always be served on the rocks, with salt, and you should drink it directly from the glass (no straw needed). That way you’ll experience the entire range of flavors the margarita has to offer, from the initial salty sip, to any unique flavored liqueurs used as a floater, to the true margarita taste that you get deeper into the drink.
Want to continue your margarita education? Head on down to Los Altos and try one of Cuevas’ signature margaritas: The Crimson Tide Margarita (Cuervo 1800 Silver, Cointreau, margarita mix with a floater of red wine for color and a unique flavor), the Damiano (served Baja style with Damiano liqueur and Herradura Silver tequila), the Cucaracha (aka “the cockroach”: Patron café tequila, Cazadores Blanco and whole coffee beans), the Tahoe Margarita (as blue as the lake itself: Hornitas tequila with Disaronno and Blue Curaçao), the Organic Margarita (100% organic tequila, lime juice and agave nectar), or the 1940s Margarita (made with no margarita mix, just Herradura Silver and fresh-squeezed lime juice, the way margaritas were originally made).
Want something a little less sweet? Ask Cuevas for a “tequila completo” (made with his house-made mix). Trust us, you’ll be happy you did.
According to Cuevas, the perfect margarita “has to have good balance — the right amount of tequila, the right amount of triple sec or Cointreau — so it’s not too sweet, not too sour, and doesn’t taste too strong.”
But the perfect taste for one may be all wrong for someone else, so feel free to explain what you’re looking for and let your bartender make you a custom margarita. Just don’t ask for it blended!
According to Cuevas, a good margarita should always be served on the rocks, with salt, and you should drink it directly from the glass (no straw needed). That way you’ll experience the entire range of flavors the margarita has to offer, from the initial salty sip, to any unique flavored liqueurs used as a floater, to the true margarita taste that you get deeper into the drink.
Want to continue your margarita education? Head on down to Los Altos and try one of Cuevas’ signature margaritas: The Crimson Tide Margarita (Cuervo 1800 Silver, Cointreau, margarita mix with a floater of red wine for color and a unique flavor), the Damiano (served Baja style with Damiano liqueur and Herradura Silver tequila), the Cucaracha (aka “the cockroach”: Patron café tequila, Cazadores Blanco and whole coffee beans), the Tahoe Margarita (as blue as the lake itself: Hornitas tequila with Disaronno and Blue Curaçao), the Organic Margarita (100% organic tequila, lime juice and agave nectar), or the 1940s Margarita (made with no margarita mix, just Herradura Silver and fresh-squeezed lime juice, the way margaritas were originally made).
Want something a little less sweet? Ask Cuevas for a “tequila completo” (made with his house-made mix). Trust us, you’ll be happy you did.
Why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day celebration, like the Fourth of July is for Americans. In fact it is not even a federal holiday in Mexico, but instead marks the anniversary of the initial victory of Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
And much like how Saint Patrick's Day is a bigger holiday in Boston than in Dublin, Ireland, Cinco de Mayo is often a bigger deal north of the border than in Mexico proper.
Wherever you choose to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, remember that you’re celebrating freedom and liberty, two ideals both Mexicans and Americans have fought to protect.
Five days of Cinco de Mayo fiestas:
Friday, May 1
Hacienda de la Sierra (931 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) will begin its Cinco de Mayo celebrations by featuring live music with a Latin flair right after happy hour. Come celebrate with Paul Covarelli. For information call (775) 831-8300.
Caliente (8791 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach) also will begin its Cinco de Mayo celebrations tonight with an extended happy hour, food and drink specials from 4 to 10 p.m. and a contest to Guess How Many Beans are in the Jar. Win a dinner for four, with the winner drawn on May 5. Call (530) 546-1000 for details.
Saturday, May 2
Caliente’s celebrations continue with a Jalapeno eating contest at 4 p.m. and of course more specials, including kids under 10 years eat free with adults, and $10 Corona buckets all day long. There will be a grand prize for the top two contenders in the jalapeno eating contest.
Los Altos (11367 Deerfield Drive, Truckee, in the SaveMart shopping center) gets started early with their Cinco de Mayo celebration with special prices on their legendary fajitas.
The Blue Agave (425 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) always has a huge “Cinco de Funo” party. This year’s celebration starts on Saturday with Pancho Villa Day, with sombreros and mustaches provided and tequila and margarita specials all day. Call (530) 583-8113 for more information.
Sunday, May 3
Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center in Reno will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Sunday, May 3. Watch the tigers, mountain lions, wolves, cheetahs, bears and other carnivores pounce on piñatas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center is located at Highway 395 North, right on Red Rock, 11.5 miles, right on Deerlodge to 1265. The cost of admission is $6 for children and seniors and $8 for adults. Children 2 and under are free. For information go to www.animalark.org or call (775) 970-3111.
Cinco de Mayo week at the Hacienda de la Sierra in Incline Village is not all about the “adults.” On Sunday, May 3, it's all about the kids! Coloring contests, clowns, balloons, piñatas, a magic show and all kinds of fun and games start at 4:30 p.m. under the circus tent on the patio. Don't miss out on the family fun at the Hacienda. Call (775) 831-8300 for details.
El Toro Bravo in Truckee likes to celebrate its greatest asset at their Cinco de Mayo celebrations — their amazing outdoor patio featuring a full bar and plenty of seating (with heat lamps for when it gets chilly). So on Sunday, May 3, El Toro will be throwing a Tres de Mayo patio opening party from noon to 8 p.m. complete with live DJ and happy hour food and drink specials all day long. Expect to find $3 house margaritas, $15 pitchers, $3 well drinks and $3 imported beers, as well as cheap nachos and swag giveaways from the bar. And on May 5, they’ll do it all again for those still in a festive mood on a Tuesday. For information call (530) 587-3557.
Caliente brings back its famous Chihuahua races in the parking lot starting at 3 p.m., with prizes for top three finishers. They will also feature hot ‘Chihuahua’ dogs and other specials all day and night including Bloody Marias for $3 all day, and $4.75 Chupacabras all night.
Los Altos will feature the perfect combination — a free order of nachos with every pitcher of margaritas ordered — for a special weekend happy hour deal in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Call (530) 587-7872 for details.
Monday, May 4
Caliente holds a Chupacabra drinking contest at 5 p.m. with a grand prize to the Chupacabra King or Queen. Also expect happy hour food and drink specials from 4-8 p.m. in the bar.
Tuesday, May 5
Join Incline High School's Mi Cultura Club for Cinco de Mayo from 5:30 - 9 p.m., on the Incline High School patio. Authentic Mexican food, traditional dance performances, Mexican piñatas and games, bounce house, raffle and more.
The Hacienda de la Sierra will host its huge Cinco de Mayo bash on Tuesday, May 5, featuring live music with The Blues Monsters under the patio tent. For 23 years, the Hacienda de la Sierra in Incline, has been rockin' the lake during the first week in May. This year is sure to continue on the tradition of non-stop fun. The new 2009 T-Shirts are in and going fast. The Blues Monsters are booked and ready to shake the patio. The Corona is chillin' and the tequila is stocked. New this year will be the Bustin' of the Adult Piñata. Take a swing and you won't believe the “goodies” that fly out. The doors will open at 4 p.m. For information call (775) 831-8300.
Caliente kicks up the celebrations with a tortilla tossing contest at 4 p.m. Prizes for the straightest, longest and most accurate toss. Tortilla catching contest with sombreros to follow. Food and drink specials and live music from 7 to 10 p.m. with Trio Bossano. For information call (530) 546-1000.
La Bamba in Truckee (11760 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) plans to get Cinco de Mayo customers in a festive mood with a sweet deal — half-price dinners all evening long. Call (530) 587-3516 for details.
The Tahoe Biltmore (Highway 28, Crystal Bay) will offer drink specials all day long for Cinco de Mayo. They will offer $2 Coronitas, $2.25 Corona Cheladas, $4.50 Anejo Tequila shots and $ 2 blended Margaritas. Call (775) 831-0660.
Cinco de Mayo falls on the Bar of America’s (10042 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) normal Tuesday evening “Happy Hour All Night” promotion, meaning select drinks (including a special house margarita) will be a couple of dollars off the regular prices, and all appetizers, pizzas and salads on the bar menu are half-off from 3 p.m. until close. Call (530) 587-2626.
On Tuesday, May 5, doors open at Jake's On The Lake (780 N. Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City's Boatworks Mall) at 4:30 p.m. featuring very affordable discounts all night in the Cafe Bar on Margarita Especials, Bohemia Beer, and savory homemade Mexican cuisine including carnitas, white corn tortilla chips and guacamole, tamales and fresh fish tacos. Jake's lakefront full bar also carries many fine blanco, reposado, and anejo tequilas. For more information please call (530) 583-0188 or visit www.jakestahoe.com
The River Ranch Lodge (Corner of Highway 89 and Alpine Meadows Road) will get in on the Cinco de Mayo action from 4 p.m. until close with a party in the bar featuring complimentary appetizers of taquitos and sopes as well as specially priced Dos Equis draft beer, margaritas, and a carnitas platter. Call (530) or see www.riverranchlodge.com.
Los Altos (11367 Deerfield Drive, Truckee, in the SaveMart shopping center) will kick their Cinco de Mayo celebration into high gear on Tuesday with $1.50 steak and chicken tacos in the bar, free nachos with every pitcher of margaritas, shot specials, and special fajita prices all day long. Call (530) 587-7872 for details.
Casa Baeza (10004 Bridge Street, Truckee) is practically giving away beer — all bottles, imports and domestics, are just $2 — all day on May 5. Get there at 11:30 a.m. for lunch and see if you can get through the entire beer selection by the time they close down the bar. Call (530) 587-2161 for more information.
Pete ‘N Peter’s (395 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) will have tequila and corona specials all night. Call (530) 583-2400 for details.
FiftyFifty Brewing Company (11197 Brockway Road, Truckee) has a bunch of specials to celebrate Cinco de Mayo including $4 margaritas, $4 sangria, $3 pints of Manifesto, Red Agave Rye and Blonde #2 ale, $2 shots of tequila, and $2.50 fish tacos. Call (530) 587-BEER for more information.
The Blue Agave continues its “Cinco de Funo” celebration with The Big Enchilada on Tuesday including live music, drink specials and fun. Call (530) 583-8113 for more information.
The Pastime Club (10096 Donner Pass Road, Truckee) will be serving up their Cinco de Mayo specialty, the Donner Lake Margarita, all night long for only $2. Add to that $4 well margaritas, DJ Nomad spinning all night, and potentially a mariachi band stopping by, and you’ll definitely want to stop by this Truckee bar. Call (530) 582-9219 for more information.
Lakeside (850 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) has a great outdoor deck to get Cinco de Mayo revelers in the right mood. Special prices on buckets of Corona on that deck won’t hurt either. Call (530) 583-2000 if you need to know more.
Squaw Valley USA and Monster Energy are gearing up for “Monster de Mayo,” the craziest Cinco de Mayo party in ski country. Monster Energy’s snow sport athletes invite everyone to join them for skiing, riding, mountaintop swimming, hot tub soaking, and jamming out to live DJ beats at Monster de Mayo, on Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday, May 5) at Squaw Valley USA. Beginning at 11 a.m., fiesta-loving skiers and riders can head to the Lagoon & Spa at High Camp, el. 8200’ for Monster de Mayo autograph signings, drink specials, delicious Mexican eats, and a live DJ by the pool. Entry to Monster de Mayo is free to all skiers and snowboarders. From 3 to 4 p.m., fiesta-goers can get their skis, boards, or bikini tops signed by snow sport heroes. The Monster de Mayo autograph signing features Monster skiers TJ Schiller, Colby West, Kristi Leskinen, Peter Olenick, Corey Vanular, and Jossi Wells, and Monster snowboarders Nate Holland, Andy Finch and Marc Frank Montoya. More information on Monster de Mayo is available on www.monsterenergy.com and or by calling (530) 583-6985.
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