Let me preface this post by saying that I, for some reason even I don’t understand, have a slight obsession with anything Spanish. Maybe it’s because Spanish is the only language I have an intermediate grasp of, but I think it’s more than that. Spanish and Latin American food is, by far, my favorite.
The same goes for Spanish drinks. I’m a sucker for flavored mojitos, spiced rum with anything, or a good margarita. The Spanish and Latin American cultures share a passionate, expressive, and loving spirit. Spanish food and drink is intricately linked with spending time with those you care about, and when it’s sold with the right attitude and style, I’ll drink it up anywhere from here to Tierra del Fuego.
Last Friday, my roommate took me to Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Pete. I was already excited because I knew it was a Mexican cantina-inspired venue. We, of course, ordered margaritas. We got what we asked for, and then some.
The Red Mesa margarita comes in a pint glass, overflowing with that precious elixir of life, tequila. It was tall, sweet, and very strong. Speaking of which, let me take a second to talk about the bartenders. This particular night, there were three exceptional-looking men working the bar, and making very tasty beverages at that.
Now, I don’t want to knock the beautiful women bartenders who work hard for their money in this town, but at the same time, I was pleasantly surprised by the all-male cast shaking, not stirring, their cocktails behind the bar. They were fun to talk to, attentive, and, most importantly, made great drinks.
After the first margarita had us all caught up on our girl talk, we ordered another and decided to go dance. There was a live band playing all night, and the music was great for the venue. They covered everything from Sublime to Disney songs. My personal favorite was a reggae-pop cover of “I Wanna Be Like You,” King Louie’s upbeat theme from the Jungle Book.
Their song choices at Red Mesa Cantina were unexpected but seemingly enjoyed by all. And really, all ages were there. My roommate’s mom, brought her date to meet us for a drink before they ended their night. She, who is 20 years our senior, but no less a fabulous single lady, loved sitting with her date, daughter and me a table out in the open air, enjoying a good band and a great drink on a Friday night.
I think everything about the Red Mesa Cantina expresses that part of the Spanish culture and mentality that I love: dancing, talking, listening to music, laughing, and having a good drink at the end of the week. It really helped me to remember not to take everything so seriously.
