Valentine's Day in Mexico Celebrates Friendship & Love

"La amistad es lluvia de flores preciosas"
"Friendship is like a shower of precious flowers"
Aztec Poem (Source: Inside Mexico)

Bring your lover or your friend to the Franklin Inn and celebrate Valentines Day Mexican-Style. February 14th is celebrated in Mexico as the Día de San Valentin, or more commonly: El Día del Amor y la Amistad, the "day of love and friendship." People commonly give flowers, candies and balloons to their romantic interest, but it's also a day to show appreciation for friends. It's a time for people to show appreciation to the people they care about.

Bring your sweetie or your pal to the Franklin Inn for great food and some good conversation, because according to a Mexican Proverb, "Conversation is food for the soul."

For more about the origins of Saint Valentine's Day check out www.history.com.

What is a Relleno?

Relleno means to stuff. Chile Relleno is a Mexican dish that originated in the city of Puebla, consisting of a roasted fresh pepper (the poblano pepper is named after the city of Puebla).

At the Franklin Inn our Chiles Rellenos are popular. Mild chile peppers are stuffed with Jack and Colby cheeses, batter dipped and deep fried, and topped with a sweet tomato and onion sauce.

This weekend our cooks will kick it up a notch with our Special Feature: Diablo Relleno. Fresh poblano peppers stuffed with spicy chorizo and potato and topped with melted Monterrey Jack Cheese and salsa.

If you are a vegetarian or can't make it to the Inn this weekend, you can order our Chile Rellenos any night of the week, but if you like spicy chorizo, join us this weekend for the Diablo Relleno.

If you have your own twist on a relleno, let us know how you make your version.

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.