Derby Day/Cinco de Mayo

[jav308]

So, the Kentucky Derby happens to fall on Cinco de Mayo this year. Having a Mexican food loving boyfriend from Louisville, I decided to have a Derby party with "Mexi-tucky" themed food.

I have some ideas already, such as a 7-layer dip with beer cheese, country ham quesadillas, barbecue pork or chicken tacos with blue cheese cole slaw, etc. For drinks, I was planning on doing mint juleps and margaritas, though I may just stick with mint juleps because doing both will get expensive.

Anyone else have ideas? Clearly, authenticity isn't a huge concern of mine, it's more about fun and delicious party snacks. No dietary restrictions, though budget is a factor.

[Emme]

jalapeno jack cheese straws
huevos del diablo (mexican style deviled eggs with chili pepper, cumin, oregano, tomatoes and onions
chicken and pimento cheese enchiladas
bourbon pecan flan
Or churros with a bourbon salted caramel dipping sauce

[iL Divo]

boy you seem like you have it together already, love the chicken taco's with blue cheese cole slaw.

sure you've seen this

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/490882

have a blast of a party, lucky you, sounds like mucho fun time.

[LaLa]

what about a mexican style of spoonbread?

[Berheenia]

We always go to a Derby party and everyone brings something- I was thinking of ham balls if I can find a zesty recipe but maybe I should do guacamole if its also cinco de mayo.

[jsat]

Great post, I am having the same party!

[gingershelley]

What a great idea - and yummy sounding foods Jav308! I may just have to throw a similar party and steal some of your ideas...

Like mamachef's fried chicken legs too, and the mint margarita's...

Mexican deviled eggs come to mind too, and a strawberry/rhubarb salsa for the tacos.

[rochfood]

Don't they make some kind of crazy (not in a bad way..) stew/soup in Kentucky ?
Obviously this may make one think of Tex Mex chili

[mamachef]

You're thinking of Burgoo, I'm pretty sure. Which could indeed be modified with South-of-the-border spices.

[mamachef]

Fried chicken drummies, with cumin and chili powder in the flour you roll them in, and either a salsa or a spicy chorizo gravy for dipping.

[katecm]

I think these are brilliant. Hot Brown-style nachos? How about mint margaritas, since everything else is so cleverly blended? For dessert, make a tres leches cake with bourbon instead of rum in the milk portion.

[jav308]

I love mint margarita & bourbon tres leches cake ideas!

[Emme]

i was gonna suggest blending the mojitos to make them *like* margaritas... mojitaritas!

[Bacardi1]

Thanks for the heads up that these two great events will coincide this year.

One year I made "Kentucky Burgoo" for Derby Day, but usually I just pop out & bring home some KFC - lol!!! And for Cinco de Mayo, I always make a mini-Mexican feast (since it's just the 2 of us).

Guess it will be Margheritas & a Mexican feast for Derby Day this year.