macayode_admin, Author at Macayo's Mexican Food

5 Seasonal Summer Fruits for Your Summer Fiesta

Summer is almost here, and you know what that means! Lazy days poolside, bonfires, and barbecues with friends. However, it also means that seasonal summer fruit is about to be in heavy abundance.

Buying and enjoying fruit when it’s in-season comes with a number of benefits. For starters, in-season fruit is juicier, more flavorful, and fresher than at any other time during the year because it doesn’t have to be transported a long distance to your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Furthermore, fruit is also much more affordable when it’s in-season!

Here are five great fruits that’ll be in-season this summer, along with some seasonal summer fruit recipes for enjoying them!

Papayas

A papaya is a tropical fruit that’s jam-packed with Vitamin C and totally delicious, and it can be enjoyed in many ways. They’re commonly used in Mexican recipes, such as in a fiesta salad. However, they can also be eaten raw or used to make a tropical smoothie. We recommend cutting them in half, scooping out the seeds and spritzing with lemon juice for a fun kick.

Peaches

Peaches are the perfect summer fruit; soft, juicy, and succulent, they’re very refreshing and light. This makes them a wonderful ingredient for a freshly made smoothie. Simply blend together two cups of milk, two peaches, a quarter cup of orange juice, and ice for a yummy smoothie that’ll cool you off on the hottest of days.

Tomatillos

Tomatillos are always in season during the summer, and can be found at many stores and markets in Arizona. Tomatillos can be enjoyed on their own raw (just be sure to wash them first), but we think the best way to eat a tomatillo is in a homemade salsa – check out our recipe!

Apricots

When you’re craving something sweet this summer, you can’t go wrong with fresh apricots. These soft, sweet, and juicy fruits are the perfect healthy snack. One fun recipe you can try with apricots is to slice them up, sprinkle them with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, and bake them in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes. They’re like cinnamon apples, only even sweeter and more appropriate for summer.

Cucumbers

Looking for something a little less sweet? The cucumber is a perfect choice. You can enjoy cucumbers raw (just slice them into small pieces), on a sandwich, or in a salad. You can’t beat the crispiness of a fresh cucumber, especially in a bed of lettuce with ranch dressing, croutons, and some sliced tomato. You can even sautee them in olive oil to soften them up and smother with cheese and stewed tomatoes as a healthy side dish for your next Mexican-inspired meal.

Now that you’ve got some ideas for using these unique summer fruits, all that’s left to do is try them in our favorite recipes!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today is the day! It is the 5th of May and finally, one of our favorite days of the year has arrived, and who better to celebrate it with than YOU, our family? All day today, each Macayo’s location will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with live music, DJ’s, drink specials and of course, the biggest fiesta in town. Although each of your favorite locations will be keeping the party alive, one of our biggest fiestas will take place at Macayo’s Depot Cantina in Tempe, where the following entertainment will be rockin’ all evening long!

Remember – we’ve got your favorite Mexican cuisine, the best drink specials in town! At each Macayo’s location, enjoy the following specials:

$4 Dos XX
$6 Beer & Shot Special (Dos XX & Shot of 1800 Reposado Tequila)
$8.49 Original Margarita
$7.99 1800 Margarita
$8.99 Beerita

We can’t imagine spending #CincoDeMacayo with anyone else but our family. Come by and join us as the fiesta heats up, and be sure to use ‪#CincoDeMacayo in all of your social posts!

Countdown to Cinco Day 5: Fun & Games

You’ve got the food, the decor, the perfect tablescape and of course, the perfect margarita bar, but one thing both adults and kids love that you need to make sure you have at your party? Games! As we share ideas for the perfect Cinco de Mayo fiesta, we come to a conclusion with a couple game ideas for both kids and adults alike.

Cinco de Mayo Piñata

We mentioned hanging up a few piñatas around to set a fun, festive mood, but why not filling one (or a few)?! You can have family piñatas, complete with fillings like candy, tickets, small prizes, or small toys; you can have piñatas only adults will like (think small bottles of tequila or scratchable lottery tickets, if you wish!), and of course, be sure to have a piñata or two just for the kids, filled with lots of candy and chiclets! The ideas for filling your piñatas are endless – just have fun with them, and make sure your blindfolds aren’t see-through!

Pin the Tail on the Donkey – it never gets old!
This one is also from birthday parties past – but it’s fun for everyone! This old-fashioned game is hilarious for kids of all ages, and even more hilarious for adults (especially near the end of the party)! Have you ever tried to pin the tail on the donkey after a margarita or two?

We’d love to hear your ideas for Cinco de Mayo games! We enjoyed these two, and we loved celebrating with family and friends.

We would love to celebrate with YOU, because you’re family, too! Be sure to stop by any Macayo’s location for festivities on Cinco de Mayo! We’ll have the biggest party yet, and we want to see you there! Be sure to use #CincodeMacayo with all of your photos and social posts!

Countdown to Cinco Day 4: Deck the Halls

Naturally, your Cinco de Mayo fiesta isn’t complete without the right decorations! Instead of spending loads on pre-made decor, there are a few very simple, very easy ideas you can put into place that will make your party bright and beautiful. We spent a little extra time doing these things the day before the party, but we promise they don’t take a lot of time! We want you having fun as soon as the party starts!

A simple crepe paper banner

Get out your office supplies and start cutting! To make the crepe paper strings below, fold a few feet of crepe paper together, then cut out squares in the bottom corners and a small triangle in the bottom middle (see photos). Think of cutting up folded triangles of paper as a kid to make snowflakes – it’s the same, simple idea. For more dimension and for easy confetti, get out your hole punch and punch a few holes in the folded crepe paper, as well!

Hang up a piñata!

Yes, having a piñata at your party may seem like just a game for kids, but it’s something the whole family can enjoy, and it adds a bit of fun to your decor. Choose multiple piñatas (you don’t have to fill them all) and hang them in trees, from strings carried across the porch, or simply from the ceiling. They are great conversation pieces, and of course, make a great game when the time is right!

Chalkboard signs

Another simple item to DIY, chalkboard signs are fun to have around. You can fill them with festive sayings, menus or even contests. You can get ideas from our new line of festive t-shirts, even! We love how simple these are to make – as well as what great conversation starters they can be.

For more fun, be sure to stop by Macayo’s on Cinco de Mayo for the biggest fiesta of all! We’ll have drink specials, live music and parties at all of our locations!

Countdown to Cinco Day 3: Cinco de Mayo Beverages

As we countdown to Cinco with ideas for the best Cinco de Mayo fiesta ever, we can’t forget drinks! We have shared a lot about the perfect margarita, the history of tequila, and even about a few tequila drinks we love, but we’ve got a few extra pieces of advice for you to keep in mind for a Cinco de Mayo party. The first? Celebrate with us! From May 1 – 5, we’ll have drink specials at all Macayo’s locations – and we’d love to see you! Today, as you celebrate with friends and family up until (and on!) the big day, keep these drink ideas in mind and your fiesta guests will thank you.

Use the finest, freshest ingredients

Using time-tested ingredients will make your margarita incomparable. Fresh-squeezed lime, original tequila and sweet agave nectar creates a beautiful, summery margarita. Frozen margaritas are a favorite of many, but a margarita on the rocks is simpler to make for large groups – and plus, you can enjoy the taste of fresh ingredients even more with a margarita on the rocks.

Share an array of tequilas

For those who love tequila on the rocks, an array of unique tequilas is a good thing to keep on hand. Many people have different preferences, and it’s good to know the basic differences between tequilas. See below:

Tequila Reposado: Aged in barrels for a new months, but no longer than a year. Slight golden tint; smooth taste.
Tequila Añejo: Aged in oak barrels for at least a year. Golden tequila, very smooth for sipping on the rocks.
Tequila Extra Añejo: Generally aged for more than three years. Has a beautiful mahogany color, high alcohol content. Great on its own.
Tequila Blanco: Generally unaged, used most often in classic or fruity margaritas.
Tequila Joven: Tequila similar to blanco but found with other flavors, such as extra sugar or caramel.

There are many non-alcoholic beverages to keep on hand for your fiesta, as well – especially for the little ones and those who don’t like to to drink. A few ideas include:

Horchata
Mexican hot chocolate
Aqua Fresca
Fresh-squeezed citrus juices, such as grapefruit, lemon and lime – which pair well together!

Check out our guide to non-alcoholic beverages for your Cinco de Mayo party!

Be sure to stop by your closest Macayo’s for the perfect Cinco margarita – and share any photos you take with #CincodeMacayo! From May 1 to 5, we’ll have the following drink specials at every location:

$4.00 Dos XX Drafts
$6.00 Beer & Shot Special (Dos XX Draft & Shot of 1800 Reposado Tequila)
$8.49 Original Margarita
$7.99 1800 Margarita
$8.99 Beerita

Can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Countdown to Cinco Day 2: Choosing Good Food

As Cinco de Mayo comes closer and closer, we’re counting down the days (and hours!) by giving you ideas for a fun, family-filled Cinco de Mayo fiesta. We began with a few simple ideas for creating the perfect table, which provides the centerpiece for conversation, good times and of course – food! Obviously, we have a deep love of fresh, quality food here at Macayo’s, and we love sharing that with you. Every week we share simple, fresh Mexican recipes, and today, we’re picking out a few of our favorites to help you have the perfect Cinco de Mayo party. Take a look below at a few Macayo’s favorites (which we will gladly provide for your fiesta!) and the ways in which we set them up for every party goer to enjoy.

Easy favorites

A few of our easy favorites are taquitos and tacos (Carne Asada, Fajita Chicken, and Pork Carnitas, of course!) Guests love these items because not only are they simple to eat but pair flavorfully with any type of salsa, fresh guacamole and cheese. We also love how easy these items are to serve. We paired them on a tiered silver platter that’s accessible for everyone – including the younger guests! The key here is to think of foods that many guests will enjoy, and that are flavorful and easy to enjoy.

Everyone’s favorite: nachos

Have you ever met anyone that wasn’t a fan of nachos? They’re delicious, simple to make and full of lots of flavor. The key is to use fresh ingredients that are cut, chopped and put together very soon before party guests begin enjoying the dish. You want hot, crispy nachos with fresh, vibrant cilantro and melted cheese. Don’t overthink your fiesta menu! Nachos may seem a little messy for a fiesta, but keep in mind that they are a favorite!

Traditional desserts, with a twist

One of the best things about sopapillas is that they can be enjoyed with many different toppings. Like all of our dishes, we kept these simple, using jam and confectioner’s sugar. You can set these up for guests to enjoy with toppings such as honey, maple syrup or other types of preserves – the delicious options are endless! For any dessert you choose to serve, don’t think within the box. Branch out with different toppings and let your guests customize how they choose to do so!

The key to perfect fiesta food is to keep everything fresh and ready to be eaten as soon as each item is done. We like to keep fresh cut limes and fresh cilantro on hand for our Mexican favorites – just as we do in our restaurants! What are your favorite fiesta foods to serve each Cinco de Mayo? Share with us – and be sure to give us a call to help with all of your Cinco de Mayo fixin’s!

Countdown to Cinco Day 1: Set the Table

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and though we’ve laid out a few unique, non-traditional cocktail and party ideas for you to start, we’re counting down the days till the big fiesta with a guide to the perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration!

Today, we’re taking a look at an often forgotten, underestimated party feature: the table. Although the table seems like it’s the last thing you would think of as you plan your fiesta, your tablescape can provide beautiful inspiration for the rest of the party, from mood, to decor, to the menu. The table is the centerpiece of conversation; it’s the place where people gather around, sit, laugh, drink and make conversation. Cinco de Mayo is about coming together and celebrating freedom, and your tablescape can reflect that.

Mix up colors and patterns

Our first idea is a simple one: keep your fiesta colors bright, and don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit. We think beautiful, printed napkins paired with other bright linens is an easy, beautiful place to start your tablescape. We twisted it up a bit and layered over clean, white plates. Don’t underestimate the power of white plates! Simple touches such as pretty patterns and fun colors provide enough pop and look great contrasted with a clean, white plate.

Add some natural touches

Not everything needs to be glam, glam, glam – sometimes, the simple, natural touch of greenery or colorful plants sets a clean, welcoming foundation. We potted a few blooming, 4-inch cacti from the local nursery into a few cans we had around, and the colors worked out magically!

A pretty place for food

The best part of your tablescape is the food, right? It’s the part that everyone loves, so why not make it pretty? We chose simple platters that complimented the traditional theme of our fiesta, and let the food speak for itself in terms of color and flavor.

We’d love to hear your tablescape ideas, and we’d also love for you to be a part of our Cinco de Mayo celebration! Our #CincodeMacayo celebrations start May 1! Staying at home for the big day? Be sure to check out our catering options to make your party even more enjoyable!

Throwing a Cinco de Mayo Party? Don’t Forget the Games!

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, many people find themselves planning to hold a huge fiesta with family and friends. If you’re thinking of throwing a Cinco de Mayo Phoenix fiesta this year, then you’re probably spending a lot of time focusing on the food and drinks you’ll be serving up. But what about providing your guests with some fun, Cinco do Mayo games and activities to celebrate the holiday? These three games are easy to set up, and range from kid-friendly to adults-only.

Chili Pepper Guessing Game

This one is probably best suited for adults — especially if you’re going to be serving up hot peppers that children aren’t likely to enjoy. Basically, the way this game works is that you set up a table with samples of a bunch of different peppers. None of the peppers will be labeled, and you can even blindfold players before they complete their tastings to make the game even harder.

With each tasting, players of the game will try to guess what specific type of pepper they’re eating. You can use anything from basic red and green peppers to more complex types such as jalepeño and chile peppers. If you want to really throw your guests for a loop, consider adding ghost peppers into the mix!

Bust Out the Piñata

What kind of Cinco de Mayo party is complete without busting open a piñata full of goodies? You can keep this simple and make it kid-friendly by filling up a piñata with candies, crayons, and other fun toys. However, if you’re hosting an adult party, then you might want to consider making it a little more fun by filling the piñata with some little liquor bottles.

This is an especially fun idea if you’ve set up a margarita bar at your party; your guests can use their liquor bottles from the piñata to spruce up their beverages!

The Limbo! (Kid-Friendly)

Finally, if you’re looking for an activity that’s a blast for adults and children alike, then consider doing the limbo! All you need for this game is a broom and maybe some fun music. Take turns having guests limbo underneath the broom as you lower it, making the game more challenging as you go. For children, you can make this a little easier by having them crawl under the limbo broom instead.

The game ends when only one player is left standing; the rest of the players are disqualified when they fail to limbo underneath the broom without touching it.

Holding a successful Cinco de Mayo party takes a lot of planning and foresight, especially when it comes to incorporating some fun game and activity ideas. However, by keeping these Cinco de Mayo fiesta ideas in mind as you plan for the big day, you’ll be sure to have plenty of fun activities for your guests to partake in without having to spend a lot of money in the process at the same time.

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and we’re celebrating big time over here at Macayo’s! Come on by to celebrate this holiday with us – we’d love to see you!

Beyond the Margarita: Best Tequila Cocktails to Try at Your Next Fiesta

Looking to plan a fiesta in the near future? If so, then whether it be a Cinco de Mayo party catered by Macayo’s or just a fiesta for the sake of having fun with friends, the fact remains that you’ll want to have some great tequila recipes on-hand for your guests. Of course, there’s a old faithful standby: the margarita. However, if you’re looking to shake (or stir) things up a little, then you might want to check out some other tequila-based cocktail recipes that are sure to please the more diverse taste buds in your crowd.

Veracruzana

If you’re looking for something a little more tropical than your traditional margarita, you’re going to love this fruity and refreshing cocktail. For the veracruzana, you’ll need:

two parts tequila reposado
one part agave nectar
one part fresh-squeezed lime juice
four chunks of fresh pineapple
two fresh basil leaves

Start by muddling the pineapple and basil leaves together in a shaker. Then, top off with the tequila, agave nectar, and lime juice along with ice. Shake thoroughly before straining the mixture into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh pineapple and a basil leaf, if desired.

Black Diamond

Looking to serve up something classy? This beautiful drink is light, fruity, and so pretty when poured into a martini glass. To create this cocktail, you’re going to need:

two ounces of tequila
half an ounce of agave nectar
half an ounce of fresh lime juice
black salt (for the rim, if desired)

The nice thing about this cocktail is that it’s super easy and quick to make. Simply rim the martini glass with the pretty black salt, then add the remaining ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into the glass and garnish with a lime wedge. Yum!

El Diablo

If you’re a fan of ginger ale, this tequila-based beverage is perfect for you. This drink not only looks pretty (especially when garnished with a lime or lemon wedge), but it’s also refreshing. All you need to create one of these cocktails is:

an ounce and half of tequila blanco
an ounce of fresh lime juice
half an ounce of ginger syrup
ginger ale
a lime wheel for garnish

Start by mixing the tequila blanco, the lime juice, and the ginger syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Then, strain into a cocktail glass. Add a splash of the ginger ale on top and garnish with a fresh lime or lemon wedge. Enjoy!

Tequila On-the-Rocks

Of course, for those who aren’t big fans of cocktails, something on-the-rocks may be a little more desirable. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure that you have some quality tequila on-hand that’s suitable for drinking on the rocks. Generally, tequila that’s been aged in oak barrels for at least a year are the best for drinking on the rocks, so you don’t want to use the same tequila you’re making your cocktails with for these beverages.

Mix things up at your next fiesta by giving some or all of these tequila recipes a try. Your guests will love them!

Creating Fun Decorations for Your Summer Fiestas

Regardless of whether you’re skilled when it comes to arts and crafts or not, the good news is that there are plenty of fun fiesta crafts you and your loved ones can partake in with great results. And you don’t need to necessarily go out and buy a bunch of expensive materials, either. Read on to explore a few fun fiesta ideas for creating banners and other decorations yourself.

Paper Fiesta Banner

These days, paper letter banners are very popular for celebrating all kinds of special occasions. You can make a fun banner that spells out the letters “F-I-E-S-T-A” and hang it as a centerpiece for your special event. The nice thing about this craft is that you can mix it up to incorporate the colors and designs you want, and it’s easy enough that just about anybody can do it!

Start with several pieces of paper in varying colors (green, white, and red are common for fiestas, as they’re the colors of the Mexican flag). On each piece of paper, trace or draw a letter from the word “fiesta.” Then, using a hole punch, cut two holes in the top corners of each piece of paper. Then, run a piece of string through each of the holes to create the banner and hang it from wherever you like!

Papel Picado Banners

If you’re looking for some fun banners that you can hang up all around your fiesta space, you can get really creative with some tissue paper or papel picado banners. The nice thing about these is that, like the paper banner described above, these are very easy to customize. Not to mention, you don’t need a whole lot of different materials to make these.

All you need are a bunch of different sheets of tissue paper (like the ones you buy to gift wrap a present). Then, fold up each sheet like you would an accordion. Then, using a hole punch, put several holes throughout the folded up tissue paper. Run string through each of the holes to create a fun decoration. If you string enough of these together, they can create a lovely banner.

Burlap Banners

Finally, there’s the option of using burlap to create a fun banner. You can buy a roll of burlap at your local craft store for just a few dollars. From there, simply cut out a piece of burlap that’s long enough to create your banner. Then, using paint, you can paint the word “fiesta,” along with some other fun symbols or shapes, onto the burlap. Allow to dry for at least 30 minutes before hanging up in your desired location.

The possibilities for creating fiesta banners are truly endless, but these are just a few ideas to try out when it comes to decorating for your next fiesta. Need your fiesta complete with traditional Mexican cuisine but don’t want to do all the work after making these great decorations? Contact your nearest Macayo’s and try out our great party platters!