It’s Halfway to Cinco, Time for $5 Avion Margaritas and $3 XX Ambar Drafts at Tin Lizzy’s through Nov. 5

Halfway there, y’all. Gracias to Tin Lizzy’s Cantinas for looking forward and noticing Cinco de Mayo, May 5, is a mere six months out. Fabulous reason to float Cinco de Mayo drink specials -- $5 Avion margaritas and $3 XX Ambar drafts -- all day, every day through Saturday, Nov. 5. When excitement builds a case of the munchies, squeal for November’s featured taco, “The Stuffed Pig,” plump with seasoned pork, grilled onions, apple cinnamon chutney, blue cheese crumbles and chipotle mayo. As Tin Lizzy’s sees it, when you’re halfway to Cinco, the treats don’t end on Halloween night.

Appetizing Aperture: Tin Lizzy's Margarit-O

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina introduced Senor Mojito to Senorita Margarita, and they hit it off so well a Margarit-O was born. The hybrid mixes the best of both cocktails: 1800 Silver, Agavero orange liqueur, house-made mint simple syrup and sour mix. Join the family for $8 a glass, $29 for a pitcher.

Loosen Those Ties, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina Opens in Downtown Atlanta

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina is open in The Mall at Peachtree Center, just a quick salsa away from the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia World Congress Center, convention hotels, marts and offices. Now downtown visitors can easily enjoy FlexMex favorites at the 10th location of Atlanta’s hometown cantina, and the extensive margarita list gives the starched shirt set an incentive to loosen up a bit. A menu boasting shareable dips, signature tacos, salads and sensational cast-iron skillets, as well as multiple TVs for sports viewing, keep everyone happy. The over-21 crowd will find clever cocktails and more than 30 beer selections to temper the heat of summer’s city streets. Tin Lizzy’s downtown is open daily for lunch, dinner and late-night dining. For information, call 404-671-9450 or visit the downtown cantina’s Facebook page.   

Sail into Tin Lizzy’s Parrothead Patio Parties May 28 for Chances to Win Tickets to the Jimmy Buffett Sold-Out Concert

“If life gives you limes, make margaritas,” advises Jimmy Buffett. Change your latitude and attitude to match his outlook on life at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina’s Parrothead patio parties on Thursday, May 28. “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and these patio parties cruise from 5-8 p.m. at Tin Lizzy’s Emory Point, Perimeter and Buckhead locations. Tin Lizzy’s offers a house full of margaritas including Top of the House, Fall Off the House, Beach House, Skinny House, Desert Pear, Chipotle Pineapple, Thai and a whole grove of fruity ‘ritas including grapefruit, pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, mango and sangria. Don’t spill your ‘rita of choice as you sway away to live music and jump on chances to win prizes and tickets to the sold-out Jimmy Buffett concert on June 2 at Gwinnett Arena. Parrothead attire is encouraged. “Come Monday,” you’ll be glad you went and besides, you must be present to win.  

HOBNOB Touts Annual Tacos & Tequilas Event Through May 15

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern knows how to fold ‘em -- and hold those prized bottles of top-shelf-quality tequila right above your glass. The Midtown restaurant's annual Tacos & Tequilas event takes off where Cinco de Mayo celebrations cut the party short, carrying novel margaritas and tacos from now through May 15. Detour from your usual taco folds to tortillas hugging carne asada, lettuce, pico de gallo, fresh avocado and salsa verde; pulled pork topped with coleslaw and pickled onion; and blackened fish bearing black bean corn salsa, lettuce and chipotle ranch dressing. Blueberries are antioxidant gems, all the more reason to try HOBNOB’s roasted blueberries and fresh basil margarita incorporating Herradura Silver, Cointreau and fresh lime juice along with the aforementioned roasted blueberries and basil. The smoked jalapeño margarita lights your fire with Tanteo Jalapeño tequila, Mezcal Amarás, fresh lime juice and sour mix. Southern states meet south of the border in the White Lightening margarita that swaps American Born Moonshine for traditional tequila along with Cointreau, fresh lime juice and sour mix. HOBNOB goes easy on your pesos -- tacos run $4 to $5. Make reservations online or call 404-968-2288.

What's New on Pinterest: Low-Cal Libations

Photo by Jeremy Adamo

Online shopping, boutique browsing and catalog flipping reveal swimsuit season arriving faster than Peter Cottontail. If that thought has you craving alcohol, our Low-Cal Libations board reveals skinny margaritas and paleo cocktails to keep you calm, cool and drinking on the lighter side.

Raise a Glass to National Margarita Day on February 22

Restricting your margarita intake to the summer months is like denying yourself a tropical vacation when you need it most. That's why National Margarita Day falls on Saturday, February 22. Looking for the right place to celebrate? Tin Lizzy’s Cantina serves seven house margaritas, from skinny to “Fall Off the House” strong, as well as five specialty blends -- watermelon basil, pomegranate cilantro, Mexi-mule, Texas or the Thai with 1800 Coconut tequila. Simply Buckhead magazine (May/June 2013) picked the St. Rita at Hearth Pizza Tavern as the epitome of summer in a glass. St. Rita wears tequila blanco, St. Germain and fresh lime juice. By the way, Hearth Pizza Tavern serves up the St. Rita and other margaritas for $5 each on Thursdays, adding another day of margarita mania to your week! A margarita bonbon from Chocolate South’s Cocktail Hour Collection works inside the box and out. This lime ganache treat, complete with margarita Himalayan salt, has all of the fabulous flavors of a margarita without the glass. Chocolates and cocktails all in one bite? That's a pairing we can get behind!

Survive the Holidays with $6 Emperor's Margaritas at RA Sushi in November

Throughout November, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant is offering its top-shelf Emperor's Margaritas for only $6 each instead of the usual $9.This isn't your every day margarita, it's filled with premium spirits fit for royalty! With all the family visiting and the holiday craziness this month, perhaps this cocktail can help calm the nerves from the kids yelling and the in-laws critiquing. Try them in flavors such as traditional, mango, cucumber or strawberry. By the way, this concoction is part of RA Sushi's revamped cocktail menu featuring upgraded spirits, fresh fruit juices, natural mixers, craft beers and more wine choices.

Appetizing Aperture

Watermelons are rolling into RA Sushi Bar Restaurant for their refreshing cocktail and entrée pairing ($18). Watermelon kiwi shrimp piles shrimp atop layers of watermelon, kiwi, orange slices and lychee ($10). For the ultimate match try the watermelon margarita, an exotic fusion of Patron Silver tequila and Cointreau orange liqueur with fresh watermelon, lime juice and just a dash of Grand Marnier ($8).

What's New on Pinterest: Beachy Bites

Make this Memorial Day one to remember with flavorful foods that will leave everyone feeling stress-free and satisfied.  Celebrate those who have served while serving up summer-style foods from our Beachy Bites Pinterest board. Watermelon krispie treats, margarita cookies and tomato salad will keep everyone refreshingly full while kicking off vacation season!

Margaritapalooza

 

The only thing I like better than a good margarita is a whole day devoted to drinking them! And amigos, that day is this Sunday! In the off chance that you need a suggestion for sipping, we've got you covered:

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland is offering a special Cinco de Mayo menu featuring four different entrées. Pozole rojo is a chile-braised pork and hominy stew garnished with cilantro, cabbage, radish and queso anejo. Chiles rellenos burst open with Oaxaca cheese, roasted tomato salsa, crema and refried black beans. Taquitos de pollo boast shredded chicken and are joined by jalapeño slaw, queso anejo, crema and salsa verde. Their own classic Huachinango a la Veracruzana, a.k.a. snapper Veracruz, tops pan-roasted snapper with tomatoes, olives, capers and jalapeños and comes with saffron rice.

Communitas Hospitality restaurants -- Gilbert's Cafe & Bar,Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern and 10th & Piedmont -- have all gone hook, line and cinco for fish tacos and are wrapping up tilapia, cilantro, red onion, lettuce and chipotle mayo for $3 each. Add a $5 margarita for that Baja feel.

Party in or out at The Original El Taco in Virginia-Highland. The cantina celebrates the "hola!" weekend long with $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots, $12 buckets of Dos Equis, $12 El Jimador margaritas and $7 Dos Equis lager drafts in 22-ounce souvenir cups. For margarita connoisseurs, El Taco mixes up Reales margaritas with Partida Blanco Tequila and O'rangville Grand Fine Orange Liqueur along with house-made sour, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. The La Rosalita starts with El Jimador Reposado and adds fresh grapefruit and lime juices plus sweet agave nectar. Pick up Cinco-To-Go packs for a fiesta at your casa. Each pack feeds eight to 10 hungry gringos, and you'll find mucho more info here.

Ban the basic margarita for the holiday and try out a novel rendition (see more on our Pinterest board). Cactus pear juice tempers the tequila in Bantam + Biddy's cactus pear margarita. For a cinco de-tini celebration, Ecco strains a potion of Herradura Blanco Tequila, lime juice and a squeeze of blood orange juice into a chilled martini glass. Hearth Pizza Tavernoffers two on-the-rocks versions: a spicy jalapeño margarita with Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila and the St. Rita, a nectar of St. Germain and Tequila Blanco. Say "Sensei Ole!" at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant in Midtown to order their high-power Asian-Tex-Mex-fusion margarita featuring Don Julio 70^th Anniversary Tequila, Canton Ginger Liqueur and Cointreau. Margaritas are hot stuff at Seven Lamps where a sous vide margarita mellows a mix of Reposado Tequila, lime zest and juice, agave nectar and cayenne in a sous vide for 48 hours, and "Going Back to Cali" blends jalapeño-infused tequila, Shrub & Co. grapefruit shrub and SweetWater IPA in a sea salt-rimmed glass. Visit Uncle Julio's for the restaurant's signature drink, the Swirl, layering a chilling blend of frozen margarita with homemade frozen sangria.  

Salud!

Uncle Julio's Reveals New Drink Menu The Night Before Fat Tuesday

No need to wait for Cinco de Mayo!  Uncle Julio’s is here to satisfy your taste for tequila just in time for Mardi Gras with a few new additions to their beverage lineup. On Monday, February 20, Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food will introduce new cocktails ($8.50-$9.95) like the Patron-Cosmo Rita, (Patron Silver, Julio’s fresh lemon/lime sour and splash of cranberry juice) and the oh so tropical, Mango Passion Rita (1800 Reposado, peach schnapps and a fresh mango-passion fruit blend).  Margaritas not your thing?  Uncle Julio’s has you covered with their take on the classic mojito.  Their Cuervo Gold-laced Mexican mojito will bring a fiesta to your mouth by using tequila instead of rum.  And for those out there watching their waistlines, the Patron Skinny Margarita (120 calories) and the Julio’s Skinny Guava-Rita (130 calories) allow you to sip guilt-free.  You can sample these drinks at either the Buckhead or Sandy Springs location.

Almost Margarita Time!

I'd be hard pressed to come up with a day or time that's not right for a margarita, but hot July nights certainly beg for one, don't you think? My friend Katie sent me the following message and I just had to trust her on this. If you make it, let me know. Or better yet, call me and let me taste!!

"This is the BEST MARGARITA YOU WILL EVER HAVE…. Is at a restaurant called Lonesome Dove in Fort Worth, TX. Recipe below – I think we should try to make it one night. "

Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita
1- 1/2 oz Milagro Tequila
½ oz Cointreau
Fresh lime juice
2 slices fresh jalapenos
1 slice peeled cucumber
½ oz simple syrup
Muddle jalapenos and cucumber with simple syrup. Add ice, tequila, cointreau and lime juice. Shake and serve in cocktail glass.

Eclipse di Luna Celebrates Administrative Professionals Day

Put down the files and have some fun! Administrative professionals can take a lunch break on Wednesday, April 22 and head over to Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead or Dunwoody for two free tapas. Hold off on taking that last phone call before lunch—the special is available only until 2 p.m.! Take a breather and kick back on the patio…perhaps honor the day with a margarita or glass of sangria.