Augas frescas

A simple option is to make augas frescas. It is a light non-alcoholic drink commonly made with fruit juice, cold water, sugar, and lime juice. Many recipes call for blending the ingredients together usually using fresh fruits and straining the juice; however, if your bar prefers a can of Dole® pineapple juice that will work as well. Making auga frescas from fruit could also be a great way to prime those Vitamix® Drink Machine blenders before a happy hour full of blended margaritas. On the other hand, if a customer would rather use the syrups they have on hand; try this Torani® recipe for Le Mexique which looks remarkably like augas frescas.

Le Mexique, image courtesy of Torani

Le Mexique

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp (3/4 oz) Torani® Mango Syrup
• 1/2 Tbsp (1/4 oz) Torani® Ginger Syrup
• 1 cup (8oz) sparkling water or club soda
• Ice

Instructions:

Combine Torani® and sparkling water in a glass filled with ice. Stir and enjoy!

Horchata

Another form of augas frescas is Horchata. Rather than being made from fruit juice, it is made with rice, cinnamon, and almonds. The recipe for horchata varies by region. It is usually a white drink that has a spice flavor to it. If you don’t feel like making it fresh, as the process can take some time, Dr. Smoothie has a new Horchata Frappe that will hit the spot for your customers who are looking for a Latin-inspired coffee or sweet treat.

Auga de Jamaica

Jamaica, also known as Hibiscus tea, is a deep red drink often seen alongside Horchata at Mexican restaurants. It has a sweet tart flavor created by steeping dried hibiscus calyces or sepal, and sugar in boiling water. The mixture is usually strained before being poured over ice. Auga de Jamaica will be a fun addition to any of the juices or cocktails on your bar’s menu.

Image courtesy of Pixbay

Tacos

This year Cinco de Mayo falls during the work week which means people may be looking for more food than drinks. The recent trend of Taco Tuesdays makes tacos the go to Mexican food choice for many.  With that in mind, the expectations may be high for your customers. Make sure your kitchen has all the Tortilla Server sets to keep those soft tortillas warm and the tortilla fry baskets to keep the hard taco shells coming.  People may migrate to more tacos than usual so this could be the day to make your tacos $1 or less on your happy hour menu. Restaurants could even offer a combo with a specialty drink and tacos.

Churros

Cactus Margarita Glass courtesy of Libbey

A Mexican meal isn’t complete without a special dessert. Try a churro, a long thin fried-dough pastry with a star shape usually covered with sugar.  In some regions it is eaten for breakfast with coffee or hot chocolate, while in others it is a snack at street stands. In restaurants it is often served with chocolate sauce drizzled over it or with sauce on the side for dipping. The Torani® Mexican Chocolate Sauce recipe made with the Sweet Heat syrup for dipping could be a spicy way to end a meal.

Still want margaritas?

Don’t worry, we still have you covered. Houston’s has plenty of margarita mixers to choose from. We also have lime, lemon, and pineapple juices to make your own fresh margaritas. Houston’s even has fun Margarita Cactus Juniper Stem glasses to add flare your tables.

Call your Houston’s sales representative today to see what Cinco de Mayo options we can help you with.

The post Cinco de Mayo: More than Margaritas appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Customers will come in expecting one of the two D’s on a holiday like this: Deals or decorations.  Look into working up some ideas for your bar now.  For instance, this is the time to order your glasses if you plan to make a Mexican Bulldog Margarita that your smaller glasses won’t be able to handle.  The Anchor Weiss Goblet in 32 oz. is perfect for a Mexican Bulldog as it to holds enough margarita and your Mexican beer of choice easily.  Plus the glass is heavy enough that you don’t need to worry about your customers breaking it effortlessly.

If you’re planning for a Mexican themed special, then you can just add a playful little Mexican toothpick flag to it.  It is also a wonderful time to check your chip baskets before all the chips and salsa orders go out. It is time to upgrade from plastic to metal for a longer lasting style.   Look into the Artisan™ baskets by Tablecraft, many of them even have sauce holders for the salsa of your choice.

If your bar is preparing for one of its busiest nights of the year, look into saving your staff some time by preparing margaritas in pitchers.  This helps the bartenders to have a classic and a strawberry margarita prepared in the refrigerator to go.  Anchor Hocking’s Kufra Pitcher with Ice Container you that is a perfect fit for any bar.

Now is the time to order your equipment for Cinco de Mayo so that your service staff is familiar with the any changes for a smooth night all around.  Call your sales representative today for more information on these helpful products and more.

The post Are You Prepared for Cinco de Mayo? appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Paloma

1 T. fresh lime juice
¼ c. fresh grapefruit juice
1 t. sugar
¼ c. light tequila
¼ c. club soda

Directions:

1. Start with a glass with a salted rim.
2. Add all ingredients.
3. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add ice.

Grapefruit Sangria

4 c. grapefruit juice
3 c. Riesling wine
1 ½ c. ginger ale
Sliced fruit

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
2. Serve over ice.

Grapefruit Margarita

1 c. light tequila
1 c. fresh grapefruit juice
1/3 c. fresh lime juice
½ c. Cointreau
1-2 t. agave (optional)

Directions:

1. Salt the rims of 4 margarita glasses and add ice.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher.
3. Pour into ice-filled, salted glasses.

For a fun and fiery twist add a 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce portion (per serving) of Torani® Sweet Heat Syrup to any of the above cocktails.  The spice of the ghost pepper combined with the sweet/tart flavor of grapefruit is sure to delight your taste buds!

The post Grapefruit + Cinco de Mayo = Delicious! appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Behind every perfectly blended margarita is the perfect blender, and the Margarita Madness® by Waring is the obvious choice. Its excellence lies in its simplicity: two speeds operated by a single toggle switch. The heavy-duty 1.5HP motor is powerful enough to withstand commercial performance, up to sixty drinks per day. High-impact stainless steel blades pulverize crushed ice, allowing for three 16-ounce margaritas in just twelve seconds! And if the blade wears out, no need to replace your entire blender; simply remove and replace the blade system.

The Margarita Madness® comes equipped with a 48-ounce copolyester container that is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, a plus when operating in a busy restaurant environment. The polycarbonate motor housing is heavy-duty, easy to clean, and retains its new look even with repeated use.

And holy guacamole, did I mention food prep? From salsa to soup, sauces to—yes—guacamole, this workhorse is a welcome addition to the back-of-the-house as well!
What are you waiting for? Grab one today for the front-of-the-house. Grab another for the back-of-the-house. Cinco de Mayo will be here before you know it, and two of these machines in your restaurant will have your guests enjoying margaritas, salsa, and guacamole in no time…

The Best Margarita

Waring Margarita Madness Blender.  Photo courtesy of Waring.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Margaritaville® Gold Tequila
• 1/4 oz. Triple Sec
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 1/2 oz. orange juice
• 1 oz. Margaritaville® Margarita Mix

Preparation:

1. Combine ingredients in Margaritaville blending jar.
2. Blend and pour into a 12 oz. glass.
3. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the frozen drink.

 Addition tasty recipes for your Cinco de Mayo:

• Guacamole: http://www.bhg.com/recipes/ethnic-food/mexican/how-to-make-guacamole/
• Salsa: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/restaurant-style-salsa-recipe.html

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