Seven ways to
have the ultimate
Mexican staycation
Together with Old El Paso, we’re giving you all the tips you need to create a Mexican-inspired escape for you and the family
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Written by Time Out
Time Out
Seven ways
to spice up your Fajita Friday Fiesta
Old El Paso to transport you and your family to colourful Mexico. Our Fajita Friday Fiesta series will help bring the family together with everything from lively cook-alongs to craft workshops. On top of that, we’re rustling up delicious recipes and giving away Mexican summer prize packs.
Want to get the party started right now? Here, we’ve put together a guide to more Mexican-themed activities to do at home, from arty tours and great films to desserts. Enjoy them alongside your Old El Paso feast; for more inspiration on taking your dinner to the next level, check out these recipes.
Watch the latest Fajita Friday Fiesta, curated by Old El Paso
and Time Out.
2 Take a virtual tour of Frida Kahlo’s home
Normally, queues for the dazzling Mexico City home of world-famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo snake around the block. So why don’t you skip ‘em while you can and do a 360-degree virtual tour instead? You and the family can explore her brilliantly blue villa, known as the Casa Azul, and marvel at her best-known artworks in the adjacent Frida Kahlo Museum, including ‘Long Live Life’ and ‘Portrait of My Father’.
3 Watch Mexico on screen
There are some fantastic family friendly animated films about Mexican culture to watch on your Fajita Friday Fiesta. You can’t go wrong with ‘Coco’ (2017) – a Pixar film that follows the story of 12-year-old music-loving Miguel, who accidentally finds himself transported to the Land of the Dead. It has been praised for its sensitive and positive portrayal of Mexican traditions and culture (and it’s incredibly heart-warming, too!). Another family favourite is ‘The Book of Life’ (2014), Jorge Gutirrez’s charming animated fantasy-adventure drawing on Mexican folklore.
And, if you’re inspired by your Fajita Friday feast and want to delve further into Mexican cuisine, be sure to check out the third episode of Netflix series ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’, in which chef and author Samin Nosrat visits the Yucatán region of Mexico to learn about acidity in cooking.
Looking for something to watch after the kids go to bed? Mexico boasts a rich cinematic history. We asked Phil de Semylen, Time Out’s Global Film Editor, for his suggestion.
‘Roma’ (2018)
‘The story of an indigenous maid’s impact on a well-to-do family, Alfonso Cuarón’s sparkling black-and-white drama is based on the writer-director’s own boyhood in Mexico City. Its ten Oscar nominations tell of a movie that’s practically perfect in every way.’
6 Learn some traditional Mexican folk dance
Get your dancing shoes on: things are about to
get lively. London-based Mexican folklore dance company Zapata teaches the art of zapateado;
a Spanish dance which evolved into a Mexican tradition of dance characterised by fast,
rhythmic footwork. Check out their videos on
their Facebook page, and learn more about
their online classes.
1 Create some traditional Mexican crafts
Papel Picado is the colourful art of intricate Mexican party bunting. They’re used to celebrate everything from weddings and birthdays to the Mexican festival of Day of the Dead – but we reckon a Fajita Friday is cause enough to create your own. Get some inspo from London-based boutique Milagros. They’re also going to be running a Mexican paper skeleton-making workshop at our Fajita Friday Fiesta on Friday August 7.
7 Sip on a Mezcal cocktail (or mocktail)
Tequila’s smoky sibling has become a favourite at bars
across London in the past few years. Create your own cocktail at home or, if you want to go super-fancy, buy a bottle of
Hacha’s Mezcal Mirror Margarita. Kids need not miss out on the fun: you’ll find recipes online for drinks like horchata
(a silky rice drink made with cinnamon).
7 Spice things up with some authentic hot sauce
To help spice up your family feast, Old El Paso
has launched a online game known as the
Fajita Friday Spinna. Here’s how it works: you prep the ingredients for your fajitas and gather around the table. The first player spins the Spinna. When the wheels stops, they’ll be given a challenge to complete. The more chillies on the task the more difficult the challenge, so you could be doing anything from building a fajita in ten seconds to stealing a bite from the player to your right. Good luck!
Bring the vibrancy of Mexico to your summer with Old El Paso’s recipes and tips for family fiestas at home
Discover more
5 Order some Mexican treats for dessert
There’s more to Mexican cuisine than spicy savoury delights. Mexico is home to plenty of traditional sweet treats and pastries, known as ‘pan dulce’. Some are eaten at special occasions in the year, whereas others, like the popular shell-shaped ‘conchas’ are enjoyed year-round. Order some from London-based online bakery Sweet Nibble.
J
ust because your passport is gathering dust, doesn’t mean you can’t experience vibrant cultures from across the globe from the safety of home. We’ve teamed up with the folks at
Paid for by
Written by
Time Out
4 Spin the Fajita Friday Spinna
To help spice up your family feast, Old El Paso has launched an online game known as the Fajita Friday Spinna. Here’s how it works: you prep the ingredients for your fajitas and gather around the table. The first player spins the Spinna. When the wheels stops, they’ll be given a challenge to complete. The more chillies on the task the more difficult the challenge, so you could be doing anything from building a fajita in ten seconds to stealing a bite from the player to your right. Good luck!