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Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge 2011

I was beyond excited when I found out about the Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge a couple of months ago.  I love live for Mexican food, I love tacos, I love Cinco de Mayo, and to wrap it all up into a giant ball of taco crawl in downtown Manchester was unbelievable to me.  You KNOW me and you know I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and you know I could not stand to be there without my camera. I even lugged around my enormous heaviest lens for the occasion. Because that’s what it needed. And I will do what needs to be done for the taco. Oh yes.

downtown Manchester NH restaurants participate in the first Hippo de Mayo Taco Tour

Consuelo's Tacqueria | Manchester NH | Hippo de Mayo 2011

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Firefly American Bistro & Bar | Manchester NH | Hippo de Mayo 2011

Below is the Black Brimmer. I forgot to get a shot of the outside.  It was our first stop and I got a little carried away with the excitement. Yes, I’m a dork but few things light a fire in me quite like Mexican food.  The place was wrapped up in Dos Equis flags like a ball of yarn. LOVED IT.

Here I am below, the hubby got a shot of me at one of my favorite places of the night.  It was madness inside Consuelo’s, but the owner was standing there with such a big grin on his face. He looked overwhelmed and tired, but he smiled and said, “I’m so happy! I’m so busy!!”  He was adorable.

Consuelo's Tacqueria | Manchester NH | Hippo de Mayo 2011

Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge 2011, Manchester NH

Dave was excited about the fish taco at Ignite, so we ventured down that way.

Ignite | Hippo de Mayo Taco Challenge 2011

Lala’s had a yummy dessert taco called a “Transylvanian taco.” LOL. We got one each of blueberry and cherry. It was the longest line I waited in all night as the crowds had pretty much reached a fever pitch by that time.

Lala's Hungarian Pastry | Hippo de Mayo 2011

Below is Z Food and Drink’s taco. They had just run out of duck so it was filled with fried avocado. Woohoo! 🙂  I forgot to get a shot of the outside of the restaurant, so here is the little lonely taco pic.

Z Food & Drink | Hippo de Mayo 2011

Republic had an awesome taco, and they were really organized with their system. FALAFEL!

Republic | Hippo de Mayo 2011

All in all, it was a fantastic evening. There were certainly many lessons to be learned for next year’s event, but for the first time out it was great and I was so pleased to see so many thousands of people come out in the spirit of the taco!  I know I had a great time and I look forward to spending future years downtown for Cinco de Mayo!

Click to view the 2012 Taco Tour! 

correspondence:

48 miles ave

Goffstown NH 03045