Cinco de Mayo to-go

7 hot Houston restaurants help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home

Drivers for Fajitas A Go-Go are dressing up for Cinco.

Photo by Sharon Haynes

Houston restaurants have reopened for dine-in service, but not everyone feels ready to eat in the company of strangers. On the other hand, celebrating Cinco de Mayo with either Mexican or Tex-Mex and margaritas is a beloved local tradition that deserves to be observed.

In that spirit, we’ve rounded up some of the city’s most-appealing Cinco de Mayo festivities, almost all of which are geared towards celebrating at home. Luchador masks and margaritas seem to be this year’s dominant themes, but sitting down for an enhanced take on Taco Tuesday is a sufficient reason to celebrate.

Alicia’s Mexican Grille
The suburban Tex-Mex favorite celebrates Cinco at all five of its Houston-area locations with street tacos and margaritas. Get an individual pack of four tacos (chicken or pork, $10.95; beef, $12.95) or a family pack of 16 (chicken or pork, $40; beef, $48) that comes with toppings and street corn. Add a margarita pack with El Jimador Reposda tequila ($50) or Avion Reposda tequila ($70). Available through May 10.

Cuchara
The restaurant’s lucha libre wrestling match has been cancelled, but diners will still find $2 tacos and $13 “margarita and a half” made with Espolon tequila. Mariachis will serenade both those who dine-in and those who prefer to practice social distancing by eating in their cares. Chef-owner Ana Beaven also promises “lots of cool lucha libre-themed stuff” available via raffle or for purchase.

El Big Bad
The downtown taco and tequila bar has been celebrating Cinco since Friday with dine-in service — we recommend its upstairs patio — as well as food and drinks to-go. Get a quart of margarita mix to-go for $18 or a version with a 375ml bottle of tequila for $50. Fajitas, enchiladas, and more are also available to-go.

El Patio
Nothing says Cinco quite like this Briargrove restaurant’s signature blue margaritas — which are available as single, quart ($15, regularly $25), or gallon ($55, regularly $90) — or upgrade to Patron barrel select reposado frozens (quart, $25; gallon, $90). Food options include party packs with 40 street tacos ($120.75), 4-pounds of beef and chicken fajitas ($140.75), or 12 enchiladas (cheese, $48; beef or chicken, $52). Free delivery within 5 miles.

Fajitas a Go-Go
Pre-ordering from the Rice Village-area Tex-Mex to-go spot comes with a bonus — the restaurant’s drivers will be wearing luchador masks. Reach the $45 delivery minimum with meals like a fajitas family pack for four ($58); add a liter of margarita mix for $15.

Hugo’s
The restaurant’s Cinco de Mayo for two pack comes with a margarita kit, appetizers (guacamole and seafood cocktail), tacos (choice of beef, chicken, or pork), and tres leches. The $95 meal also includes access to a Zoom party (6:30 - 8 pm) that will feature cocktail and cooking demonstrations, live music, and more. Order online and pickup between 11 am and 6 pm.

Ninfa’s
Both the Navigation and Uptown locations will feature fajitas packs with special shrimp add-ons (grilled, $4; bacon-wrapped, $5). In addition to the classic Ninfarita (half gallon, $50; gallon, $95), customers may opt for any of four new to-go cocktails: guava paloma, mango habanero margarita, skinny margarita, and spicy margarita.

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no cap

Chef-backed nonprofit will train the next generation of Houston hospitality

Courtesy of Culinary Careers Program

Aaron Bludorn has been involved with Culinary Careers Program for many years.

A culinary training program founded by one of America’s most prominent celebrity chefs is coming to Houston. Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP) will launch in Houston with a sold out dinner this Wednesday, September 16.

Founded by multiple time James Beard Award winner Marcus Samuelsson, Culinary Careers Program is a national workforce development nonprofit that partners with public schools to provide under-resourced students with the skills they need to succeed in jobs in the hospitality industry.

The nonprofit provides education, job training, apprenticeships, scholarships, and career opportunities that both help students find good jobs and supply restaurants with well-trained, highly-motivated employees.

To date, Culinary Careers Program has reached close to 400,000 students across the United States and awarded $79 million in college scholarships.

Houston chef and restaurateur Aaron Bludorn became involved with C•CAP when he served as executive chef of Cafe Boulud in New York City. He’s leading the charge to bring the program to Houston by hosting a sold out fundraiser at Bar Bludorn this Wednesday in collaboration with chef Nick Wong (Agnes and Sherman) and Leonard Botello IV (Truth BBQ).

“It’s so important that C•CAP comes to Houston. I think it’s very similar to, if we’re going to get good at soccer in the United States we need to focus on youth soccer and getting kids interested early,” Bludorn tells CultureMap.

“For Houston to continue to become a major culinary city in the United States, it’s important to focus on the next generation of chefs. C•CAP gives that opportunity to high school students to have on the job training while still being in school.”

As the owner of a growing group of restaurants, Bludorn recognizes that businesses need a steady stream of people. C•CAP participants arrive with basic skills that allow them to get up to speed more quickly than other applicants.

“It provides chefs with young talented cooks that have been vetted and given proper training. You’re not taking a guess on someone,” Bludorn says.

Botello IV’s participation shows that C•CAP is adapting to Texas. Students will have the opportunity to work at Truth BBQ, a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient that Texas Monthly ranks as the state’s 10th best barbecue joint.

“There will be opportunities to become a chef or a general manager, but also to learn barbecue and get your foot in the door at a place like Truth and become a pitmaster. That on-the-job training is the most valuable,” Bludorn says.

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