We recently had a birthday party for our two-year old daughter.  At that age, the party is just as much about the adults as the kids. Two year olds are a little young to really get what's going on and their parents have to be on hand anyway, so why not make it fun for the adults too???  Ok, ok....I'll use any excuse to have a handmade margarita and some great food!

I wanted to do something unique, creative and delicious all at once, so I decided to have a "Do-It-Yourself Tamale Bar" for the adults. I've done "Do-It-Yourself Taco Bars" and "Do-It-Yourself Martini Bars" in the past, and they've always been a hit. My guests love getting to fix their food exactly the way they want it, and I love the casual, fun & social elements of Do-It-Yourself Cuisine!!

Living in San Diego, we are spoiled spoiled spoiled by easy access to the best mexican food. I've found that the best Mexican food oftentimes comes from hole-in-wall taco shops. I'll admit I take full advantage of this, expecially when entertaining a crowd.  

I ordered carnitas and chicken from my local taco shop and easily assembled the rest of the tamale bar myself.  Next, I made cornbread using a recipe that promised it to be "extra moist". I found inexpensive plastic, large martini glasses for serving (presentation is everything). I had my guests first take a martini glass, then put a scoop of cornbread on the bottom. Next, they selected their main ingredient - chicken, carnitas (pork) or vegetarian. My vegetarian option was a saute of zucchini, corn, tomato and pepper jack cheese - DELICIOUS!!!!. Then my guests were free to choose any topping they wanted - salsa (pico de gallo, roasted chipotle or mild), guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese.

Bon Appetit! Or should I say, !Buen apetito!