Tips on Tuesday: "Up-cyling" Your Take-Out

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of the holiday, we're "up-cycling" one of our previous tips about leftovers! Sometimes, being Earth-friendly can put you in a tricky situation -- you feel that you may sound pretentious, look funny, seem picky (maybe I'm just being a little self-conscious about sounding like that, too); but, at Lupita's, we just want you to have options -- including, Earth-friendly options. As many of you have your favorite places to eat out (like, Lupita's), you have a gist about the portion sizes and knowing in advance that you may need a "to-go" box at the end. Given that it is Earth Day, a more Earth-friendly way of going about this is to bring your own Tupperware. Not only does this help the planet, but your left overs will be easier to pack for lunch the next day and taste better when you reheat them.  And, on a popular note, it is a growing trend with consumers. If you're looking for a little backup for this, or think it looks silly, here is a blog about how one woman joined Team Tupperware. However, if you forget, we have everything you need to take your tasty meal home.

Tips on Tuesday #4: Add Some Hop to Your Easter Cocktail

Easter marks the beginning of spring cookouts and a time to get a bit creative with your drinks and garnishes. In celebration of the holiday, we wanted to give you a fun decorating tip for your Easter cocktails. 

Instead of a lime or cherry, use an Easter candy, like a Peep or marshmallow bunny, as your garnish for festive touch! Just snip a little space to rest the candy on the rim. The nice thing about peeps is that they don't disintegrate in your drink ans stay looking nice... But to be safe, don't set your peep too deep in your drink a or you'll have a silly duck wading in your margarita! 

Tips on Tuesday #3: Seasoning with Spirit

Growing up, my grandmother, Mama Rosa (as many of you knew her), would tell me "the flavor is in the hands." This meant that even with the same exact recipe, no two people could make the dish the same. Once I started cooking myself, I found this to be true and that there would be certain recipes, seasonings, and dishes that I would get along with better than others. This made cooking transform from chore to an activity where I could feel a bit like an artist expressing myself because cooking was now an activity I was really engaged with. Moreover, this is why I think cooking shows can be so interesting to watch - because they are actively cooking!

Mama Rosa keeping a close eye on the kitchen.

All this brings me to this week’s Tuesday Tip: Season as you cook!

So often, it's easy (and a little boring) to just put the seasoning on the food and just watch it sizzle on the skillet. However, just as cooking is expected to bring all the flavors together, heat can also make those flavors steam up and disappear before your eyes. By seasoning at the various points of the cooking process instead of all at once, the flavors will remain just as strong as when you first started. It is also totally fair game - and even encouraged - to taste as you go! 

Tips on Tuesday #2: Rekindling the Fire - Tastefully Reheat your Leftovers

Tips on Tuesday: The time of the week, where your wait staff give you tips on how to take home a little of the magic that makes Lupita’s so good!

This week, Lupita’s brings you a tip on how to reheat your take out! Lupita’s loves to offer plentiful portions on our dishes. So, sometimes, when you come in, you get a box either to save enough room for dessert or because you just ended up with a little to much of a good thing. However you end up with leftovers, you now have a box full of a delicious-something to take to work for lunch the next day or a nice midnight snack.

First: Store your food correctly! Proper food storage is key to keeping your food tasting good the next day. You want to get the food as cold as possible as soon as possible. Be sure your fridge is 40 °F or below and the freezer at 10 °F or below.

 #LupitasProTip : Bring your own containers for a more eco-friendly and secure way to store your leftovers!

Depending on the food, reheating can make foods too soggy or too dry.

To make foods more moist, try reheating with a damp paper towel or sprinkling some water in your microwave friendly container. This makes the food steam as it reheats preventing it from being too dry.

For foods that get soggy, skillet or toaster oven reheating is best. Using medium heat, bring the food up to 165 °F. Skillet heating is nice for foods like rice and quesadillas. Toaster oven work nice for all other foods.

With minimal effort, you can get your Lupita's leftovers to taste nice even after you've left the restaurant. For more info on the safe handling of foods visit the USDA Website for the best advice on the proper temperature and storage of food products. 

Free Yoloritas for our 17th Anniversay!

It's our 17 YEAR ANNIVERSARY for our Colfax location! Come celebrate 17 wonderful years on Colfax with us by enjoying FREE Yolo Pomegranate Margarita (with purchase of any combination plate or house specialty) TODAY (April 1st) ONLY! Limit one per customer.