I once saw a video online with the title, “Tequila Suicide,” where an older Swedish man-bunned gentleman is seated at a table with tequila, lime, and salt. He quickly lines the salt on his wrist, SNORTS IT, woofs the shot with an inverted belch, then rubs two limes in his eyeballs before banging his head on an IKEA table while his stoned buddy giggles. It’s seriously why I love the internet. Although we here at the weekly don’t condone Tequila suicides, we do however recommend some of the great ways to celebrate National Tequila Day with more than just sloppy shots and missionary margaritas.
Puesto’s two Irvine locations have a special menu for Tequila Day (sadly no Tequila suicides), with several ways to get down with some 100% blue agave spirits. At a recent pre-party, I sampled my way through the menu which dabbles in inspiration from the highlands of Los Altos to the central-western state of Jalisco. Although everything is stunning with vibrant colors and flavors, my must-gets are the following:
Ceviche Acapulco, which has chompy bits of Baja striped bass, cucumber, serrano, and cilantro on top of a tajin-dipped can of Modello…suggested tequila pairing: Fortaleza Silver.
Each Puesto taco has a cuddly bit of fried Oaxacan cheese which acts like a Barbie camp-site sleeping bag for your taco filling of choice, but chef Katy Smith’s filet mignon taco is a campground in flavor. Plus, you can pretend you’re a giant grizzly bear eating Ken’s legs for extra fun! Pair that with my all-time favorite Tequila, Chinaco Reposado in a fresh-squeezed paloma…so good it sent happy little goosebumps down each arm with every sip.
Finish with pastry chef Jessica Scott’s charred mango cheesecake, which tastes as good as it looks. Each strip of mango is delicately placed on the cake, which goes great with San Matias Extra Añejo neat. Happy Tequila Day!
Puesto has two locations in Irvine at 8577 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine and Park Place at 3311 Michelson Dr. // eatpuesto.com
Greg Nagel has been writing about beer since 2011, is an avid homebrewer of wine, cider, and beer, is a certified Cicerone Beer Server, level 1 WSET in Wine, a podcaster with the Four Brewers Show, and runs a yearly beer festival called Firkfest happening on June 29th in Anaheim!