Sometimes you want to eat Mexican food with your friends on a Wednesday. Sometimes you want to have a themed dinner party. Sometimes you want both.
food, booze, friends, fire
Luckily my friend Suzannah just moved into a house that has a deck, a grill, and some not-so-tacky tiki torches (which she may or may not have bought for just this occasion).
-
dips on dips, complete with candlelight
After requesting that each invitee bring a Mexican-esque dish or snack (and their own booze of course), we met up around 7:30 on Wednesday night.
A Mexican deck hangout – I promise there were more people here
I brought my aforementioned posole over in the slow cooker. Suzannah planned to make The Londoner’s carnitas but she was too lazy and/or it was too stormy to get to the store the night before. We’d been worried that those two dishes together might be too much pork (if there is such a thing), but seeing as she didn’t have the full day needed to slow cook the carnitas, she grilled flank steak tacos instead. With a side of feta-mole (aka guacamole with feta), also inspired by The Londoner.
Feta+Mole, Suz could be a food stylist
-
Flank steak for tacos, perfectly cooked. Marinated in olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried Serrano chili peppers, salt and pepper. I asked.
We really wanted somebody to make the Mexican street food elote, having been inspired by the appetizer at Calavela in downtown Raleigh (still sad about the name change, not sad about their empanadas). Kathryn found a Mexican corn dip recipe inspired by elote on Pinterest.
The rest of the snacks were the usual tortilla chips and salsa, pico de gallo, queso from a jar, and a veggie tray (cue the Doritos commercial that was pulled for bashing the vegetable tray girl at the Super Bowl party). There was also lots of very non-Mexican beer.
Kristin feeling pensive mid-conversation
We hung out on the deck, I made a couple Caipiroskas (thanks dad, now I’m addicted), had some beers, and talked about our worst misunderstandings of song lyrics (you listen to the chorus of this song and tell me it doesn’t sound incredible dirty!). I got to see long-lost Sarah and discuss the nightmare that is her future: law school. And of course we culminated the night with an ice bucket challenge by Suzannah (although I still say you can do it and not video it and post it to Facebook, but whatever). All in all, a successful Mexican Dinner Party and fun weeknight event.
Are we really doing this? Now? Okay, yes apparently we are.
The festivities were worth the touch of a headache I had the next morning and I think we set a fun precedent for future casually themed dinner parties.
Charles loves chips and he’s so attractive when he eats them
My pick for the next dinner party? Asian! (Everyone gasp in surprise). Can you imagine how big a curry I would have to make for that many people?! Yeah, I’m up for the challenge.
Suz with James, who explained to me posole could be wrapped in a tortilla to create a Mexican sloppy joe. We just met but he must be a genius.
Feast your eyes on my theme-appropriate tank (and my too-long maxi skirt)
In other related Mexican news, Charlie and I just booked our tickets to the actual Mexico: Guanajuato for my friend’s wedding, Huatulco for the beach, and Oaxaca for Día de los Muertos! I’m so pumped!
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bo-makorking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!