Diecisiete de Mayo

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

Disappointed that you missed out on all the Cinco de Mayo fun last week?
No worries, El Ranchero has got you covered.
The Rural Retreat restaurant, located at 6891 W. Lee Highway, will be having a delayed celebration of the Mexican holiday on Saturday.
Call it Diecisiete de Mayo.
Although the restaurant pushed back its fiesta 12 days in order to have time to prepare a full-day, Saturday extravaganza, El Ranchero will be honoring the holiday with time-honored customs.
“We will be trying to stick to the traditional Cinco de Mayo, as we’re an authentic Mexican restaurant,” said Linda Dillow, El Ranchero’s manager.
Dillow said the restaurant’s staff will have a table set up in the entryway detailing the traditions behind the celebration.
The date is commemorated not as a “Mexican Independence Day,” but in recognition of a victory by Mexican soldiers against French forces on May 5, 1862, in the Battle of Puebla.
Saturday’s party will begin at noon and will continue until the restaurant’s normal closing time at 9 p.m. All events will be held indoors and Dillow said there will be no charge beyond normal food and drink prices to take part in the festivities.
The restaurant will also be having a number of special deals, including new and unique dishes, Dillow added.
This is the second year the restaurant will have a Cinco de Mayo event and Dillow said she expects it to continue as an annual celebration at El Ranchero.
“The guys just really celebrate with the customers,” she said.
Like last year’s event, the party on Saturday will be geared toward families and children.
Dillow said the defending champion of the hot tamale eating contest also is expected back this weekend to try for a second straight title.
“We’ll have a lot of special activities,” she said.
For any additional questions about Saturday’s event call El Ranchero at (276) 686-8639.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .