What’s Cinco de Mayo without Margaritas?

Did Cinco de Mayo sneak up on you or is it just me? I may be confused about the lapse in time but there is one thing I know: where to be to celebrate. Sofrito Gastro Pub is tucked into the heart Reading and is self-described as, “a Latin Inspired Gastro Pub offering a vibrant Caribbean atmosphere located in a funky turn of the century neighborhood in Reading's Centre Park Historic District.” It’s true. A cozy, tasty, lively, fresh and funky kind of true.

We stumbled on this eatery last April. You can read my short post about it. With Cinco De Mayo on my mind, it made sense that Hector Ruiz, Chef and Owner of Sofrito, was the expert to ask for advice in making the perfect margarita. As it turns out, the ideal margarita is as much the tequila as the shaking and mixing. Hector shared his recipe below.

If you are making plans for the weekend, you’ll want to be sure to add Sofrito to your list of places to nosh. It’s the grand opening weekend of the Cabana Bar. There will be taco and drink specials all weekend. The outdoor murals are beautiful and just thinking about the food is stirring up a taco craving.

For weekend and seasonal fun at home, here is my tasty spin on margaritas: a Strawberry Thyme Margarita and a Spicy Blackberry one. I think you should try all three, but that’s just me talking. (Do it!)

Strawberry Thyme Margarita

1 drinkrecipe: Phoebe Canakis

Ingredients:

• • 2 ounces white tequila

• • 1 ounce Grand Marnier

• • 2 ounces homemade sweet & sour mix or Rose’s Sweetened Lime Syrup

• • 2 ounces strawberry thyme syrup (recipe at phoebespurefood.com)

• • Ice

Directions:

1. 1. Combine all the ingredients in a shaker, cap and shake for 15 seconds.

1. 1. Pour over an ice-filled glass, garnish with a fresh strawberry.

Spicy Blackberry Margarita

1 drinkrecipe: Phoebe Canakis

Ingredients:

• • 8 fresh blackberries

• • 2 teaspoons raw sugar

• • 2 jalapeño rings

• • 1 ounce silver tequila

• • 1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec

• • juice from 1/2 lime

• • Crushed ice

Directions:

1. 1. Muddle the blackberries, raw sugar and jalapeño rings in a cocktail shaker.

1. 1. Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice and crushed ice and shake 15 seconds.

1. 1. Rim a glass with lime juice and salt. Garnish with curled orange peel.

Classic Sofrito Margarita

1 drinkrecipe: Hector Ruiz

Ingredients:

• • 2 ounces 1800 Reposado

• • 1 ounce Grand Marnier

• • 1 1/2 ounces Rose's Sweet Lime Juice

• • 1 ounce fresh orange juice or sour mix with a splash of orange juice

Directions:

1. 1. Fill glass with ice, pour Reposado, Grand Marnier, Rose’s Lime Juice, sour mix and finish with a splash of orange juice.

1. 1. Cap the glass and shake for about 20 seconds. Pour margarita into salted glass garnished with a wedge of lime.

Note: Half the importance of a good margarita is to shake it hard for 17-20 seconds. You shouldn't be able to see through it.