InsideHook and Tequila Avion Mexican Christmas

By Kunal

December 16, 2016 9:00 am

Listen, we’ve got nothing against tradition.

But there’s something to be said for shaking things up once in awhile.

Take Christmas dinner, for example: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, repeat. On the heels of its virtual twin, Thanksgiving, no less.

The perfect opportunity for a little culinary disruption, if you ask us.

Thus we bring you El Feast Navidad, a guide to injecting some south-of-the-border swagger into your holiday potlatch in partnership with our friends at Tequila Avión.

Read on for a menu’s worth of dishes care of Michelin-starred NYC chef Cosme Aguilar, plus a bevy of tasty tequila cocktails to fill everyone’s glasses.

Because let’s be honest: that eggnog could use a little disruption as well.

CASA ENRIQUE • LONG ISLAND CITY, NY

Chef Aguilar grew up in Chiapas, Mexico, inspired by his mother’s passion for cooking. Upon emigrating to the U.S. in 1998, he began his culinary career as a porter in a French restaurant before graduating to the kitchen and spending the next decade studying French cuisine.

Combining that expertise with his family’s traditional Mexican recipes, Aguilar opened Casa Enrique in Long Island City in 2012 — and thanks to rave reviews and a coveted Michelin star, they’re still packing ‘em in nightly for what many regard as the best Mexican food in NYC.

“NUNCA DEJES ALGO QUE PUEDES HACER HOY PARA MAÑANA”

Never leave what you can do today for tomorrow.

TEQUILA AVIÓN MANAGER • ATLANTA, GA

A Houston native who now calls Atlanta home, the aptly named Barriere previously oversaw the award-winning beverage program at One Flew South at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Under her creative direction, One Flew South was hailed as one of the world’s best airport bars by Esquire, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. It was also named “Best Airport Bar in the World” at Tales of the Cocktail in 2014.