What are Tomatillos?

Tomatillo - pronounced [toh-MAH-tee-YO] is a relative of the tomato and member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Although they are often called green tomatoes, they are not the same thing as tomatoes. They are related to tomatoes but a different genus. Tomatillos were first cultivated by the Aztecs. The name "tomatillo" comes from the Aztec "miltomatl," which means "round and plump with paper." (The Aztecs called tomatoes "xitomatl.") Tomatillos are also called husk tomatoes and Mexican tomatoes. In Mexico the fruit is called tomates verdes, tomates de cascara as well as fresadillas. The tomatillo is used when it is still green and is an essential ingredient in salsa verde.It provides that tart flavor in many of the Mexican green sauces you enjoy.

If you'd like to give tomatillos a try, let me know how your recipe turns out. You can also enjoy tomatillos at the Franklin Inn. You'll find them in our green salsa which is great for dipping with chips and atop our chimichangas. The Colorado Green Chile Enchiladas and Grilled Chicken & Green Chile Quesadilla also include this great little Mexican fruit. Ask your server for a side of the green salsa to enjoy with any of your Franklin Inn Favorites.

For a limited time this weekend the Franklin Inn is featuring our Chicken Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce. A creamy sauce blending green tomatillos, a little onion, diced green chiles, and cilantro over our fabulous chicken enchiladas. A classic favorite among Inn patrons.

Tell us your Franklin Inn Story and Win a $30 Gift Certificate

The Franklin Inn is now celebrating 30 years. That's a long time! If the walls could talk - we'd hear some great stories...but they can't...so we need your help.

We are collecting your Franklin Inn memories from these past 30 years: Photographs, anecdotes of good times at the Inn, birthday celebrations, engagement surprises, etc. Email them to me at wendy@franklininn.net or enter them in this blog in the comments section below. You can also drop off your story during your next visit to the Inn. Submit your Franklin Inn Memory by January 31, 2009 and your name will be entered to win a $30 Franklin Inn Gift Card.

Thanks for the memories!
Wendy
wendy@franklininn.net

Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas

Here's some fun info about how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico:

• Making Merry in Mexico
• Christmas in Mexico
• Feliz Navidad in Mexico
• Celebrating Christmas in Mexico
• Traditional Mexican Christmas Recipes
• Recipe for Rosca de Reyes
• A Christmas Kitchen in Mexico
• The Legend of the Poinsettia

Have a Merry Christmas!

The Cibula Family and Staff
Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant

Feliz Janucá - Happy Hanukkah

We'd like to wish our Jewish patrons a wonderful celebration as they begin their Hanukkah observances at sundown this Sunday. I was curious to see how the Festival of Lights is celebrated in Mexico. I couldn't find much. Below is what I did find regarding Hanukkah celebrations in Mexico. Please feel free to comment at the bottom of this blog entry and let us know about your Janucá traditions from Mexico.

Festival of Lights in Spanish is Fiesta de las Luminarias

In Mexico they call the Dreidel game Toma Todo

Recipe for Bunuelos de Hanuka (Hanukkah Fritters)
You have to scroll pretty far. Last I counted, it was the 11th recipe down.

Bimuelo, instead of latkes?
Neat little history and recipe from a man whose grandfather was a Sephardic Jew.

The first verse and chorus of the dreidel song in Spanish:
Yo tengo un dreidel. Lo hice de barro.
Cuando se seca, Juego al dreidel mucho.
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, lo hice de barro.
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, lo jugaré.

(In English: I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay.
When it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay.
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, then dreidel I shall play.)

Hanukkah in Mexico Blog Article

Happy Hanukkah!
Cibula Family and Staff of the Franklin Inn

Holiday Hours

We will be closed to celebrate Christmas
December 24th & 25th

We will also be closed January 1st.
Yes...we are open on New Year's Eve!

Starting with Sunday, January 4th,
we will be closed on Sundays, so that our staff can
relax and enjoy a day with family and friends.

Do we need to start carding the Trick or Treaters?

Don Wolfkill, Rick Morton, and Dean Romagnoli enjoying their favorite Friday night Haunt on Halloween. The photographer, Mark Albright, is not pictured. Thanks for the photos Dean!

Thank You for Voting Us the Best!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The Franklin Inn was voted the best Mexican Restaurant in the 2008 Post Gazette Reader's Choice Poll. Thank you to all of you who voted for us. We look forward to continuing to serve you the freshest homemade Mexican in a friendly and casual atmosphere. To see all the restaurants that won and to view the PG Restaurant Guide, you can visit the Post Gazette here: www.post-gazette.com/restaurantpoll/

Half Way to Cinco Celebration

Wednesday, November 5th is Half way to Cinco de Mayo.
Half Way = Half Off Sauza Hornitos Margaritas

Join us at the Franklin Inn for the half way to Cinco de Mayo Celebration this Wednesday. We'll be featuring half price Sauza Margaritas, half price flights of Sauza Tres Generaciones. There will also be prizes and other surprises. So come on out and celebrate with us. As always your favorite homemade Franklin Inn Menu items will be available.

Win Franklin Inn Gift Cards!

Two upcoming events where you could win Franklin Inn Gift Cards.
*
October 14th & 18th: Pilates for Pink - A Stronger Core to Find a Cure.
The Up Stretch Pilates Studio is conducting "Pilates for Pink" classes benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. No experience necessary for women to take part in classes on October 14 and 18 in a "Pilates for Pink - A Stronger Core to Find a Cure" class at Up Stretch Pilates Studio in Bodies R Us Women's Gym on Rt. 19 in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. Register with your advance donation of $10 or more for each class with a check or money order to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, or bring in your printed email donation receipt from www.bcrfcure.org. A Chinese auction drawing to raise additional awareness and fund research for a cure will be held on October 14th. Tickets are 3 for $5 or 8 for $10. Call 412-983-7818 or email lisa@upstretchpilates.com to register and learn more. More info is available on her blog at for a list of the auction prizes including the Franklin Inn Gift Card.

October 29th: Trunk or Treat at Heritage Church Parking Lot 6pm-7:30.
Bring your family to Heritage Church (at 2262 Rochester Road in Franklin Park - a block south of the Franklin Inn) for a safe and fun evening of trunk or treating. Refreshments will be served at this free event. Prizes for best trunk and costume. You could win cool prizes including a Franklin Inn Gift Card and a Mihelic Shop 'n Save Gift Card. For more info on this event, check out the flyer here for more details or call the church at 412-366-1338.

Mexican Independence Day Celebration

It's Mexican Independence Day!

Aniversario de la Independencia

Similar to our 4th of July, Independence day is celebrated in Mexico on September 15th and 16th. It is their biggest national holiday...much bigger than Cinco de Mayo (hard to believe here in Pittsburgh, I know!). The history of this day goes back to September 16th in 1810, when Father Hidalgo rang the church bells in his church in Dolores and called on the people to take up arms to gain independence from Spain. That same bell is now rung each year. On the night of the 15th, the President of Mexico comes out on the balcony of the National Palace and rings Father Hidalgo's bell. He repeats some of Hidalgo's words, starting with: "Mexicans, Long Live Mexico!" (¡Mexicanos, que Viva México!). The crowds gather in the Main Square, and answer; "¡Viva!", as he waves the flag from the balcony. At the end of the third ¡Viva Mexico! the crowd goes wild waving flags, ringing noisemakers and spraying foam. Then fireworks light up the sky as the crowd cheers. After this, there are fireworks, music and a great fiesta that lasts into the night. This ceremony is repeated in cities and towns all over Mexico. The Governor, or the Municipal President gives the Cry of Dolores. In foreign lands, the Ambassador or Consul does it. Houses are decorated and flags are placed in windows and on cars. The next morning, on September 16th, most cities in Mexico have a big parade. Friends tell me that for some the celebration lasts for a week.

You can find more information regarding this holiday at the following links:
www.mexonline.com/mexican-independence.htm
History.com
Wikipedia