OLDIES FROM WOODY
1946: It all started with Woody & Victoria, two high school sweethearts who shared a passion and commitment to using fresh, quality ingredients in their signature, family recipes.
2016: Decades later, the commitment remains the same. Woody’s original recipes are still used to prepare our delicious, handcrafted Mexican food daily.
Celebrate Woody’s legacy and enjoy one of his original creations, still loved and requested by guests to this day!
One of the items Woody featured on his menus for year, the Flauta de Mexico. They’re just like taquitos…but for some reason even better! Two shredded chicken flautas topped with shredded lettuce, sour cream and guacamole. Served with rice and refried beans. We’re going crazy over these! You should too!
Macayo’s LIVE Salsa Challenge!
IT’S BACK! Tonight is the night! Round 2 of our annual Macayo’s Salsa Challenge is a LIVE Salsa Contest held at our Macayo’s Depot Cantina location! Congrats and good luck to the following participants who will be competing tonight:
- Cristi, Hopper’s Hoppin’ Habanero Salsa
- Darlene, Tropical Tequila Sunrise Salsa
- Greg, Pineapple Salsa Verde
- Sommer, Confetti Corn & Avocado Salsa
- Steve, Macias Homemade Salsa
Not only do these contestants get to participate in the LIVE salsa contest, but they have also won FREE admission for themselves and a guest to our Cuervo Tequila Dinner in support of the Arizona Hemophilia Association.
PRIZES:
- 1st place: Macayo’s for a year! And get to compete with us at this year’s My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge on March 5th and 6th
- 2nd place: $100 Macayo gift card
- 3rd place: $50 Macayo gift card
Sherbet Victoria, YUM!
A delicious new cocktail, inspired by our original founder Woody Johnson!
WHERE IT CAME FROM
As many of you may know, we are currently featuring a special menu at all Arizona locations. Our Oldies from Woody menu features some of Woody Johnson’s original creations, still loved and requested by guests today! While putting this special menu together, our team had an amazing time going through old menus and recipe books. As we did, we noticed that Woody almost always had Fruit Cocktail and Sherbet on his menus in the dessert section. Then, we came across a menu from the early 60’s where he took his Sherbet to the next level with the Sherbet Victoria, an ode to his high school sweetheart Victoria. The Sherbet Victoria was a unique item as he added an orange liqueur and cinnamon.
In the spirit of honoring Woody’s way and his innovative spirit, we have created today’s version of the Sherbet Victoria! A delicious new cocktail combining:
- Orange Sherbet
- Platinum X Vodka
- Solerno Blood Orange liqueur
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Freshly squeezed orange juice
- Vanilla
We are so excited about this delicious cocktail! Reminds us of a creamsicle and truly brings you back to your childhood! Come try it with us today!
Arizona Cocktail Week!
Who’s ready for Arizona Cocktail Week this month?! This year it runs from Saturday, February 13th to Sunday, February 21st and we are very excited to announce our participation at our Scottsdale & Central locations!
Macayo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina, 11107 N. Scottsdale Road, 85254
- AZCW’s Paint the Town Red, $10 Cocktail & Small Bite
- Enjoy our NEW! Mole Manhattan and your choice of a Rolled Taco or Roasted Albondigas
- February 13th through February 21st
- 1st Annual Top Shelf Tequila & Margarita Tasting, Official Cocktail Week event!
- Sunday, February 21st
- Festivities will run from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, guests can come as they wish!
- Tasting is $40 a person, includes:
- 9 Top Shelf Tequila Samples
- 9 Handcrafted Cocktail Samples
- Passed Chef Inspired Appetizers and Small Bites
- Live entertainment
- Fun tequila education
- Games and giveaways!
- This Tequila & Margarita Tasting will be an afternoon to remember! An afternoon full of amazing tequila, fun tequila education, delicious Chef Inspired menu items and plenty of fun! Help us close our Arizona Cocktail Week with a bang this year!
- Sunday, February 21st
Macayo’s on Central, 4001 N. Central Ave, 85012
- Cuervo Tradicional Tequlia Dinner, Official Cocktail Week event!
- Tuesday, February 16th at 6:00 pm
- Enjoy a four course Chef Inspired menu complete with Cuervo Tradicional tequlia pairings with every course!
- Tickets are $40 a person
- Proceeds from this Tequila Dinner will be donated to the Arizona Hemophilia Association!
- Guest will also receive a ticket to the 32nd Annual My Nana’s Salsa Challenge on March 5th & 6th!
- Click here to buy tickets!
We hope you’ll join us for some of the fun!
Fortaleza Tequila Dinner, Featuring Chef Eric Justice
Join us at our Scottsdale & Shea location on Wednesday, February 3rd at 5:30 pm, and enjoy a five course Chef Inspired menu complete with Fortaleza tequila pairings with every course!
This will be the first of our 2016 Tequila Dinner series and we are so excited to launch the year with a special host! Eric Justice, our consultant Celebrity Chef, will be traveling from Texas to help us host this event!
Call (480) 596-1181 or email social@macayo.com to book your reservations! Space is limited, the last dinner Eric hosted with us completely sold out!
Top-shelf, small batch tequila, fun tequila education and delicious food make for the perfect night! Don’t miss your chance!
Vince Marotta from Arizona Sports 98.7FM visits Macayo’s Scottsdale Test Kitchen
Celebrating 70 years this year, you can bet 2016 is going to be a big year for us! We have a lot planned for this year and are so excited to share it with you all! We are fortunate to have teamed up with Arizona Sports, who is going to help us cover it all for you! The fun has just begun! Vince recently came by our test-kitchen at our Scottsdale & Shea location to see what all the fuss was about. Check out his experience!
Vince Marotta from Arizona Sports 98.7FM visits Macayo’s Scott…
Vince Marotta from Arizona Sports recently came by our test-kitchen at our Scottsdale & Shea location to see what all the fuss was about. Check out his experience!
Posted by Macayo's Mexican Restaurants on Monday, January 25, 2016
Oldies from Woody, Celebrating Our Original Founder’s Legacy!
OLDIES FROM WOODY
1946: It all started with Woody & Victoria, two high school sweethearts who shared a passion and commitment to using fresh, quality ingredients in their signature, family recipes.
2016: Decades later, the commitment remains the same. Woody’s original recipes are still used to prepare our delicious, handcrafted Mexican food daily.
Celebrate Woody’s legacy and enjoy one of his original creations, still loved and requested by guests to this day!
CHEF INSPIRED, FROM OUR TEST-KITCHEN
Culinary Evolution: Woody Johnson was an incredible innovator, who loved to work with different chefs and was always searching for new items. The journey we have started at our Scottsdale location is truly in the honor of his dream and innovation. A modern take on traditional, Mexican dishes from our work with world-traveled chefs.
Check out the full menu here! Oldies and Chef Inspired Menu
Our Favorite Recipes to Try in 2016
The new year is always a time for positive change and improvement—and we believe that should ring true in every aspect of your life, right down to the food you eat. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of some of our favorite recipes from the past year of blog posts. Add these to recipes to try in 2016 to your list and you’re sure to have a few new favorites!
Poblano Chimichanga
A deep-fried poblano chimi is topped with delicious red enchilada sauce, baja sauce, Jack cheese, and tomatoes. Garnished with the lettuce, tomatoes, and blue tortilla strips, this beautiful dish tastes just as good as it looks. Recipe.
Green Chili Pork Burro
This yummy green chili pork burro recipe is a must-try for 2016. Loaded with delicious sour cream, stew, and black beans—and topped with Jack cheese, this recipe is sure to please. It’s pretty filling, too, so be sure to bring your appetite! Recipe.
Shrimp and Chorizo Taquitos
When you’re in the mood for a flavorful dish that’ll leave you full and satisfied, you can’t go wrong with these shrimp and chorizo taquitos. When it comes to Mexican shrimp recipes, it really doesn’t get any yummier (or easier) than this one. You can even serve this dish up with a variety of side sauces, cheeses, and other add-ons so everybody at your dinner table can customize their own dish. Recipe.
Green Chile Pork Stew
The flavors of this dish marry together so well, you’ll wonder why you never thought of this combination before! The tangy salsa and the kick of spice from the poblano chiles perfectly complement the flavor of the braised pork, creating a taste that’s truly out of this world. The next time you’re looking for a Mexican dinner recipe that’s simple yet incredibly flavorful, be sure to keep green chile pork stew in mind. Recipe.
Traditional Mexican Grilled Corn
Sometimes, you just need a side dish that’s simple to make but still loaded with flavor. This grilled corn recipe is that side dish. Bursting with the flavor of fresh cotija cheese, chile pequin, and lime juice, this is sure to be a new favorite go-to side dish for Mexican dinner nights. Recipe.
Watermelon Jalepeño Margarita
Of course, what Mexican dish would be complete without a margarita? This light and refreshing beverage comes with a spicy kick and packs quite the punch! Don’t knock it until you try it. Recipe.
The Ultimate Frozen Margarita
If that last margarita recipe was a little too “out there” for you, this frozen margarita recipe will be right up your alley. Nothing is more refreshing than a frozen beverage, especially in the midst of a hot, sweaty summer day. Perfect for enjoying poolside or out on the patio! Recipe.
Hopefully, this post has given you some fun new ideas to work into your weeknight or weekend dinner rotation. Of course, if you don’t feel like cooking, remember that you’re always welcome to stop by and order any of these dishes for yourself right here at Macayo’s! We hope to see you soon!
New Year’s Eve in Mexico
In the United States, most people celebrate New Year’s Eve at parties with their loved ones, where they count down when the ball drops and eat lots of delicious food. However, not all countries share the same New Year’s Eve traditions as we do. In fact, New Year’s Eve in Mexico is a very different scene than it is here in the States.
Food Traditions
Where cheese and sausage plates are the norm here in America, Mexico has its own unique food traditions. For example, there’s the Mexican pan dulce that’s typically served just before midnight. When the cake is baked, the baker randomly inserts a lucky coin into the batter. The person who ends up with the coin in his or her cake slice is said to be the person with the most luck in the new year.
Some other traditional food and drinks you’ll often find on New Year’s Eve in Mexico include ponche (a fruit punch with rum), egg nog, and tamales.
Color Significance
In Mexico, the colors red and yellow are said to symbolize love and financial prosperity, respectively. On New Year’s Eve, then, many superstitious people will wear either red or yellow underwear in order to bring good luck upon themselves in those areas next year.
New Year’s Games
There are all kinds of fun games that are often played at New Year’s Eve parties across Mexico. For starters, there’s the piñata, which is customarily stuffed with candies for children to break into. Some will also play a game where everybody takes a piece of paper and writes down a list of the best and worst things that happened to them in the past year. At midnight, everybody throws their lists into a fire, which is meant to symbolize a new beginning and the removal of negative energy.
Other Rituals
There are a lot of superstitions held on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Mexico. In addition to the colored underwear superstition mentioned above, many people also celebrate the new year by eating 12 grapes—one for each second after the new year begins. Each grape is believed to bring good luck for one month into the new year.
Aside from these unique traditions and rituals, it should be noted that New Year’s Eve is not as widely celebrated in Mexico as it tends to be in the United States. Rather than throwing large parties and gatherings, most families stay home and ring in the new year together. Of course, this doesn’t apply to everybody in Mexico. Some restaurants and other businesses will host larger gatherings, and some cities have dedicated street festivals to celebrate the new year as well.
These are just a few of the interesting and unique ways in which Mexico tends to celebrate the closing of one year and the beginning of a new one. If you ever get a chance to spend a New Year’s Eve in Mexico, you should certainly take advantage of it and partake in some of these traditions!
Mexican Chocolate Dessert Recipes
When a chocolate craving hits, it’s not something you can easily ignore. Your appetite simply won’t be satisfied until you’ve eaten some kind of chocolate dessert. But if a candy bar or a simple chocolate cake recipe just won’t hit the spot, the good news is that we’ve got some yummy and surprisingly simple Mexican chocolate dessert recipes for you to try!
Mexican Hot Chocolate
What’s better than a mug of hot chocolate, especially on a chilly night? This Mexican hot chocolate recipe will leave you wondering why you ever bought pre-packaged hot cocoa. With some simple ingredients, such as milk, cocoa powder, and chile powder, you can create a delicious and creamy mug of hot cocoa in no time. It’s as easy as combining the ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. You can even add cornstarch for added thickness, if desired.
Churros With Chocolate Peppermint Syrup
Think the only way to get churros is to head out to your local Macayo’s location or wait for a fair to roll into town? Think again! With a little bit of sugar, flour, vegetable oil, and cinnamon, you can make your very own crispy and delicious churros at home. This particular recipe features churros paired with a delectable chocolate peppermint syrup that’s made with a little sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup, chocolate chips, and peppermint extract. Perfect for dipping or drizzling!
Mexican Chocolate Guinness Cake
Love chocolate cake? Love Guinness beer? This recipe allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds with a sampling of both flavors! This bundt chocolate Guinness cake is perfect for serving up at your next gathering and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. A small amount of Mexican chocolate and a cup of Guinness go a long way in developing the unique and delicious flavors of this recipe. With a bit of whipping cream, cream cheese, and powdered sugar, you can even create a homemade frosting to top this cake off and really wow your guests.
Salted Mexican Chocolate Chile Caramels
Even if you’ve had salted caramels in the past, you simply haven’t lived until you’ve enjoyed Mexican chocolate salted caramels. Trust us on this one! But wait; there’s no reason to rush out to your local Mexican grocery store to grab some of these for yourself. You might already have the basic ingredients on-hand to make these in the comfort of your own home. With a mixture of bittersweet and Mexican chocolate, dried red chiles, sugar, and heavy cream, you’ll be well on your way to creating these little squares of deliciousness. Just be sure to make these for a crowd; otherwise, you might find yourself finishing off an entire dish in one night. They’re that good.
These are just a few ideas for Mexican chocolate desserts to try out for yourself the next time you’re in the mood for something sweet with a little bit of a kick! From simple hot chocolate to salted Mexican chocolate chile caramels and everything in between, you really can’t go wrong with any of these unique and easy recipes.