Cinco de Mayo Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurants
“It’s definitely a big, fun party,” says Hugo Nunez, co-owner of Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant. “But it’s not Cinco de Drinko,” he adds with a hearty laugh. “It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, either. We love our culture and love to share our history, so we try to teach customers what it’s about.”
Nunez is, of course, referring to Cinco de Mayo, a festive cultural holiday that, much like St. Patrick’s Day, is completely misunderstood. For the record, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over 6,000 French troops at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 and does not, actually, have anything to do with tequila, tacos, or Mexican music.
That said, let’s face it: Tequila, tacos, and Mexican music make any moment a celebration and few places do it better than Mi Pueblo. The restaurant has become known for its Cinco de Mayo celebrations with a variety of off erings, from carnival games and climbing walls to specialty cocktails and live entertainment, all of which appeal to everyone: singles, families, adults, kids, your neighbor, your grandma, Joe from Accounting, you name it.
Of course, Mi Pueblo doesn’t need a day in May to showcase its Mexican roots. All year long you can enjoy its unparalleled tequila selection; tacos made with house-made tortillas and brimming with spices, chilies, and fresh cilantro; and the incredible Mariachi Tampa band, which has performed at the restaurant for the past 14 years.
Just like Cinco de Mayo, many don’t quite know the history of mariachi. In fact, mariachi doesn’t quite know the roots of mariachi, as it has been attributed to everything from music played at a wedding to the wood used to make the dance platform. At its simplest definition, it’s just a very distinctive style of music that started in the 18th century and has evolved over time. What most of us consider to be true mariachi, with gentlemen (or ladies) wearing charros and sombreros and playing trumpets and violins, didn’t develop until the 20th century.
Though its roots may be slightly fuzzy, what’s perfectly clear today is that mariachi makes an event special and Mariachi Tampa is a group you most certainly don’t want to miss.
“These guys have been with me a long time,” says Hugo. “I’m from Mexico, I grew up there. I know good mariachi and these guys are it.”
Mi Pueblo turns 20 years old this December, which any Sarasotan knows is an extraordinarily long time for a local restaurant. Hugo credits the success to the eff ort he and his business partner, Boni Caro, have put into making Mi Pueblo feel like an authentic experience.
“Since day one, we’ve worked the floor and the kitchen. We spend a lot of time on daily operations and always try to improve everything. We don’t hand off the responsibility to anyone else. We like to be hands-on,” Hugo says proudly. “It’s important that we honor our heritage. We do what Mexico does.”
