Celebrate Cinco de Mayo San Diego-Style

Living so close to the Mexican border, San Diegans tend to think Cinco de Mayo is our own special holiday. Why celebrate Cinco de Mayo with our neighbors to the south? Not for independence, as many unknowingly assume, but to honor the Mexican Army’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla. In the country of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a voluntary holiday and is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla. Here, we use Cinco de Mayo as a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride with food, drink, music and a time to be with friends and family. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

• FOOD: You have to eat Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo, and in San Diego County we are blessed with so many delicious choices. Las Olas has two coastal locations, in Cardiff and Carlsbad, and they pay homage to the sea. Try the Puerto Nuevo-style lobster, their mixed seafood sauté or their version of surf and turf—carne asada taco and fish taco. Casa de Bandini moved to Carlsbad after a long successful location at Old Town and continues to serve traditional specialties like arroz con pollo, mole poblano and carne asada tampiquena. Fidel’s Little Mexico provides a festive atmosphere with strolling mariachis and has been serving rare-to-find tasty dishes for over 50 years. Karina’s, in Encinitas and other county locations, specializes in Mexican seafood cuisine, and delicious choices include a number of seafood ceviches, grilled seafood platters (including lobster), and whole fried red snapper. And, finally, Porkyland in La Jolla is the place you want to cater for a large group or to take home and indulge. Try their four cheese enchilada lasagna, chicken adobo quesadillas and mouth-watering carnitas. And they deliver too.

• COOK: Still working on your New Year’s resolution to slim down? Then go to in La Jolla and take the A Slimmer Cinco de Mayo cooking class on April 30, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Cost is $65 per person and, of course, includes eating the food you make. The class features Jesus Gonzalez, former Creative Chef for Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door spas. Gonzalez comes from Mexico City and spent the last 15 years specializing in spa cuisine and will show you how to prepare delicious low-calorie, low-fat and authentic Mexican food in this hands-on class. You’ll make ahi tuna ceviche, creamy corn soup, shrimp enchiladas with mole, roasted baby vegetables and sweet Mayan hot chocolate.

• LAUGH: The San Diego Jewish Comedy Series Presents Dos Mensches on Cinco De Mayo, starting at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails and 7:30 p.m. for the show, which features Mark Schiff and Avi Liberman. Mark Schiff has had both HBO and Showtime specials, appeared many times on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman. Avi Liberman has performed on CBS's Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Last Comic Standing. The show is being presented at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla.  lfjcc.org

• MUSIC: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo reggae-style at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, with three of San Diego’s best—Sunny Rude, Jet West and J.A.M. Kwest. Be prepared for a live show with amazing energy, great talent and a flowing party vibe. The show starts at 9 p.m. Cost is $8 per person. The Bar Leucadian, in Leucadia of course, treats you to a variety of local and national acts, with regular drink specials. On Cinco de Mayo, music begins at 9:30 p.m. with D.J. Fishfonics and D.J. Who.

• FIESTA: Celebrate at the Solana Beach Cinco de Mayo free community fiesta. Activities include a live mariachi band, Ballet Folklorico dancers, artistic creation station, Mexican food, game booths, fun jump, piñatas, crafts and more! No alcohol, smoking or pets are permitted. Beer and liquor ambassadors will be giving away discount coupons, promo items and T-shirts. Entertainment lineup includes: Tinku Troubadour Duo, noon to 8 p.m.; mariachis, 1 to 9 p.m.; Ballet Folklorico dancers, 5 to 9 p.m. The fiesta is at La Colonia Park, 715 Valley Ave., Solana Beach, cityofsolanabeach.org.

• DRINK: in La Jolla will be the site for FM 94/9 "The Most Interesting Cinco de Mayo!" Tommy will be broadcasting live from 3 to 8 p.m., so be sure to swing by and enjoy $3 cervezas, house margaritas and tequila shots, two street tacos for $1 (from 3 to 6 p.m. only), Lucha Libres, prizes and more. Live music on the outdoor patio bar from the Tailchasers from 4 to 9 p.m. and dancing Cuervo Girls rounds out the fun, which lasts until 2 a.m. Or eat and drink at Cinco de Mayo Chef & Brewers Dinner in La Jolla on May 7, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., along with senior chef Alberto Lucatero. Lastly, El Callejon is more than just a restaurant, it’s a Tequila Museum, with over 1,000 bottles at its Encinitas location; they make smacking good margaritas. Join their party from May 5, 2 p.m. through May 6, 1 p.m. Different tequila companies will come by every hour with their female demonstrators offering tastings and giveaways.