OXFORD – On Saturday, May 7, from 5-7 p.m., the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) of Fort Hill Post #376 will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a special Mexican dinner. Spanish for "fifth of May," this is a holiday usually held on the fifth, however, this dinner will be held on the first Saturday which happens to be this Saturday, the seventh of May, from 5 to 7 p.m., with take-outs only from 4 to 5 p.m. This is not just a dinner, it’s a Mexican “fiesta” and you’re invited to have a delicious, “festivo” meal, listen to Mexican folk and mariachi music, participate in a Mexican basket and quilt raffle, and enjoy very colorful decorations, all while supporting the educational and charitable ALA missions.
In celebration, Unit 376 Auxiliary members will be preparing food that will take your taste buds to sunny Mexico! There will be freshly made tomato salsa known as pico de gallo to nibble on with corn tortilla chips before the dinner. The entrée will be beef and chicken tacos, Mexican rice, and frijoles (beans). An alternate choice of a veggie enchilada made with black beans, sweet corn, and lots of gooey cheese has been added. Food will have just a little mild spice. There will be a -help yourself- taco toppings bar which will include real Mexican hot sauce to please those who like to “feel the burn.” To round out the dinner, there will be (at least) a couple of delicious desserts to drive you loco: Sopapilla cheesecake and Tres Leches cake or torta de tres leches (from Spanish, "three milks cake").
Mexican dinner prices are just $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; children, aged 6 to 12, are $6; and age 5 and under are free! Take-outs: $8.50. “Todos son bienvenidos!” (All are welcome!)
There will be a 50-50 raffle as well as raffle tickets for your choice of three items. Choose from two handmade lap quilts by Carol Birdsall. One is a bright green “Cat Lovers” design and the other is a child’s design in orange with owls and trains. The third item is a basket of cheer! The basket will have an array of colorful items such as garden chimes, Mexican spices, Margarita glasses, food mixes, etc, and a bottle of tequila donated by Ye Olde Shanty.
For fun, bring your camera and take a picture of your amigos with their faces through the holes in the amusing fiesta photo panel. Everyone becomes a Señor and Señorita in colorful garb.
For those 21 and over, there will be a special drink menu with real Mexican beer, tequila, RumChata and Kahlua cocktails. You might decide to finish your dinner with a (spiked) Mexican Café! (Cocktails are not included in the dinner price.)
The Oxford ALA is involved in youth activities such as Empire Girls' State, and a recently established $500 scholarship for a female Oxford Academy graduate. They volunteer at nursing homes, food and clothing banks, and they organize fundraisers like the Memorial Poppy sales, and others. They promote child literacy and education with their Harvest dinner, donate community gift “baskets”, and to the Volunteer Services of the NYS Veterans' Home at Oxford. It is all accomplished with volunteers!
The historic Fort Hill Post #376 is located at 17 S. Washington Avenue. For inquiries, contact Teri Webb-van Almen at 843-4026, email: Events@OxfordNY.com or call the American Legion at 843-8166.