Cinco De Mayo or a good excuse to eat homemade Tamales!!

Having spent some of my childhood in Southwest Detroit, I was lucky to experience Mexican food the way Mom makes it. There really is nothing like a tortilla pressed out by hand and tossed with care onto a hot griddle. It only takes moments from side to side and slathered with beans then into your mouth. Glorious.Thank you so much Mrs. de Santos for always making me feel like one of the family! 

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and although it attributed to civil war history, its truly more an American opportunity to honor and celebrate the vast riches we have incorporated from Mexico.....such as film;

"Como agua para chocolate" (1992) - Having just fallen in love, gotten married and having a baby when reading the novel, Like water for Chocolate was just the over the top ultra dramatic love story to hit home. The film manages to capture the tone and structure of the novel, carrying the audience in sweeping abandoned from one gorgeous scene of passion, food and magic to another. A beautiful work both on paper and screen.  

"Y tu mama tambien" (2001) - While first watching yet another road trip coming of age discovery film, it was not all that impressive. Yet, thinking about it later and even repeating certain elements to others that watched.....it turns out this is a pretty good film. It is obvious from the onset that Diego Luna would be heading for a fabulous career. 

"El Laberinto del Fauno" (2006)- Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" is captivating and horrifying. A true nightmare style film, taking science fiction and fairy tale horror to a cerebral level. Much acknowlegdement must go to Guillermo Navarro, who won the Oscar for Cinematography on this film. Don't watch it alone! 

Get ready, start gathering the ingredients, get your films in order and don't forget your Skinny Girl Margarita's!! lol 

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!