Oye Como Va

Cinco de Mayo Shredded Chicken Lettuce Tacos

Cinco de Mayo is a very under celebrated event in New York, which is not so strange because even though there are so many immigrants from Puebla here, (although I hear many have left) where the 1862 battle took place, and the holiday is a celebration of that won battle with France, in the states its a pretty ambiguous holiday.  A ragtag team of 2000, poorly armed Mexicans, lead by a Texas born general fought 6000 French troops and won!  Now, like St Patrick's day, it's just another excuse to drink and eat tacos.  They say it's turned into a celebration of Mexican culture but I've seen no evidence of that.  I think it should be turned into an appreciation day for the US Mexican labor force that has kept the city going in these tough times.  I can't say enough about the work ethic and dedication these folks have to their cause, which is usually to unselfishly support their families in Mexico, who would die without their ongoing contributions.  Sacrificing their own livelihoods here and now by living in close quarters, working ungodly hours with horrid commutes but somehow remaining good people.  Doing the jobs no know wants to do for much less money and no benefits so they can send $100 a week to a sister or mother.  We could really learn something from thinking like a hungry immigrant.    

I rushed home from work and whipped up these light but satisfying shredded chicken lettuce tacos and then packed a couple for lunch boxes. 

What Have I Got To Do To Make You Love Me?

Cinco de Mayo after work Nacho Bar

I felt that I single-handedly held up Cinco de Mayo in New York this year.   No festivities in my path at all.  Usually they put up sombreros in the staff cafeteria and do a very Brooklyn version of a taco bar, including sweet tasting weird beef chunks, jarred salsa and a sour cream avocado thing they call guacamole and to be honest, I usually love all of it.  What's not to love about food especially when someone is trying to be festive.  I love a good food effort, even if it's way off.   Because someone thought about it and tried to make it special. To me that's pretty cool.

I didn't have much time either after I raced home but wanted to feel some celebration in my stomach, so I whipped up some guacamole and some fresh tomatillo salsa.  With my already made tomato hot sauce I put out a Nacho Bar spread.  One platter was just cheese and jalapenos and the other was with seasoned ground beef.  The idea was to take a few nachos to your plate and add whatever condiments you desired.  It was missing a fresh Pico de gallo but I didn't have the goods.

Nachos are like pizza, everyone has their favorite ways of eating them.  Minimalist or loaded.  I like both.  P doesn't like anything to make his chip soggy, so I omitted the beans even though I would have loved a side of sauced up mashed pinto beans with cheese.