Cinco de Mayo is almost here—shop these 5 last-minute buys for your party
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Cinco de Mayo is Friday, May 5, 2023, and it's coming up fast! If you're putting together a last-minute party there are a few things that you can still get that will lend fun and authentic touches.
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Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, and the celebration of any victory often centers around food and drink.
Whether you're hosting a crowd or whipping up an authentic Mexican feast, there are a few things that can help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with delicious food and beverages. From fresh tortillas made with a traditional press to guacamole handmade with a mortar and pestle, commemorate the occasion with gustatory gusto.
1. Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla Press
Don't be intimidated: Making your own tortillas is actually a breeze—and it will take your homemade tacos and fajitas up a few notches. All you need is a good tortilla press (and masa harina for traditional corn tortillas).
We love the Victoria 8-inch cast iron tortilla press because its heavy build resulted in consistently thin and flat tortillas during our tests. It only took about 10 seconds to craft each tortilla with professional flair.
If you're ready to upgrade your Cinco de Mayo party, this is a must-buy.
2. ENdeas Two-sided Reversible Tortilla Warmer
If you're going to the trouble of making your own tortillas, you certainly want to keep them as warm and fresh as possible. Our favorite tortilla warmer—yes, we tested them—is the ENdeas Two-sided Reversible Tortilla Warmer.
This pouch-style warmer surprised us during testing. Not only did it keep the tortillas hot for over an hour, but it also kept them from becoming dry or soggy along the way. The 12-inch pouch can hold any size tortilla you're serving, and the colorful design is in keeping with the celebratory vibe.
3. Mortar and pestle for guacamole
A mortar and pestle large enough to make and serve things like guacamole and hummus is a must for gatherings. It's also good to have on hand for any kind of traditional cooking, because grinding spices by hand can extract more complex flavors than a food processor or blender.
Our favorite is the Frieling Cilio Goliath mortar and pestle because its weight and design allowed for things like peppercorns and garlic to pulverize quickly and easily during our tests.
Plus, it's attractive enough to serve up the finished guacamole to guests.
4. Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker
Margaritas may be more of an Americanized way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but if you're going to make frozen drinks you might as well do it right. When we tested the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, we were pleasantly surprised at the additional enjoyment this specialized machine brought to our margarita-making experience.
What sets the Margaritaville apart from your everyday blender is the way it handles ice. Rather than pulverizing ice cubes into tiny pieces, the long, super sharp blade churns the ice, shaving it into an almost snow cone-like consistency.
We even pit the Margaritaville against a powerful Vitamix blender to see if there really was a difference. It turns out that the shaved ice approach melts much more slowly than pulverized ice, resulting in a more consistently awesome drinking experience.
5. Hand-blown Margarita Glasses
Speaking of margaritas, not just any glass will do when you're serving up this popular cocktail. Having the right glasses lends a touch of fancy to the party.
Whether your margaritas are frozen or shaken, these hand-blown margarita glasses with beautiful teal rims make serving the beverages as eye-catching as they are delicious.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 5 gadgets for a traditional Cinco de Mayo party to shop right now
