Posted on Mon, May 10, 2010
Gracias Amigos!! Thanks for coming out and joining us this year for Cinco de Mayo. The whole day was just plain fun, from start to finish.
On a day like Cinco de Mayo, you might see a little bit of just about everything. There were people dancing on the seats and dancing in the streets, and we just kept doing what we love to do, and that is serve you the freshest homemade tortillas, the best tableside salsa, and the highest quality and most delicious Mexican food you can find anywhere in Tucson. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
As we looked back over the photos taken of all of our friends that night, we realized that the General made a surprise visit. Can you spot Pancho Villa in the picture? LOL
Thanks to everyone for making our Cinco de Mayo party a blast! And a special thanks to our amigas who brought their own mustache and sombreros out to the party!
If you have a favorite photo from Cinco de Mayo, or any other night at Guadalajara Grill Tucson, you can post it to our Facebook page, or email it to us at info@ggrill.com.
Posted on Sun, May 02, 2010
Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. (Our delicious mole sauce is a recipe that originates in Puebla!)
Althought the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.
Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt.
On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.
The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III.
Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indiscriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.
In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.
In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities. We celebrate Mexican culture and food year round at Guadalajara Grill, because we think every day is a great day to celebrate!
Stop in and help us celebrate 5 de Mayo, at lunch, happy hour or dinner.
Salud!