Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo marked the first house warming BBQ. Kate helped prepare a mean meal that was perfect for the occasion, fitting for the 15+ people that would be able to come... and I thank you. Preparations began a couple weeks earlier, with me hunting for ancho chiles. Why? Once discovered at Citarella on the UES, the fine spicy dried poblano peppers were sliced and dropped into a bottle of Sauza gold anejo tequila, to start the infusing process. It's sister infusion would be a fresh ginger and pineapple blend in Sauza silver anejo tequila. Shaken once a day, the bottles would take on the flavor of these additions for the 5th of May. Once mixed with margarita mix, people got to enjoy either the spicy or sweet side of life. Variety was not spared, with Dos Equis Amber and Lager Especial, El Presidente, Sol and Corona Light highlighting the beer selections.

For dinner, Kate helped select apt latin fares from two new cookbooks: Bobby Flay's Boy Gets Grill and the Barbecue! Bible. She tossed hearty chicken drumsticks in a chipotle chile and garlic marinate. I cleaned and seasoned boneless, skinless chicken thighs in a jerk/cinnamon spice blend. To compliment the jerked chicken, I made my first hot sauce! Habenero chiles were sauteed with 2 diced mangoes, finely chopped red onion and then simmered in vinegar, honey and salt and pepper. Once smoothly blended, this added a spicy sweet topping for the jerked chicken. Expecting many, Richie also graciously picked up flank steaks that I rubbed in adobo spices, which flash grilled to a nice medium rare and turned out as tender as ever. Sides included black beans and rice, each garnished with fresh cilantro, corn on the cob, and plenty of chocolate truffles for the sweet tooth.

It was great to have friends together, some that I hadn't seen in a while. It's just too bad that Cinco de Mayo came and went on a Monday, because it held us in check. However, the apartment, the garden, and the trusted charcoal fire proved to work perfectly together to entertain my friends. Can't wait to do it again.