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This episode of TOT features a 2024 interview with Laura Rice on the Texas Standard.
The holiday is celebrated more in the U.S. than south of the border.
Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day – that’s in September. The holiday coming up on Sunday is the celebration of Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla against the French in the mid-1800s.
But really, it isn’t actually a national Mexican holiday. It’s more so celebrated in the U.S. than across the border, and that is due in large part to FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy. Nearly a century ago, the policy hoped to strike better relations with Latin American countries.
Tacos of Texas podcast host Mando Rayo joined the Standard to give us a few do’s and don’ts of celebrating Cinco de Mayo responsibly. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.
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The full transcript of this episode of Tacos of Texas is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
Mando Rayo: Hey, this is Mando Rayo from the Tacos of Texas. We’re busy cooking up season seis, but in the meantime, here’s a segment from my interview on the Texas Standard. You can hear me every month talking about tacos and taco culture and get ready for a seis premiering on August 2026. The Tacos Of Texas is produced by Identity Productions in partnership with KUT and KUTX Studios. Listen on KUT.org. Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Laura Rice: This is The Texas Standard, I’m Laura Rice. Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, that’s in September. The holiday coming up on Sunday is the celebration of Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla against the French in the mid 1800s. But really, it isn’t actually a national Mexican holiday. It’s more so celebrated in the U.S. Than across the border. And that is due in large part to FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy nearly a century ago. The policy hoped to strike better relations with Latin American countries. And in the spirit of being a good neighbor, Tacos of Texas podcast host Mondo Rayo is here to give us a few do’s and don’ts of celebrating Cinco de Mayo responsibly. Mondo, great to have you join us once again. Hey, Laura.
Mando Rayo : Great to be back.
Laura Rice: So what is the first don’t that you have for us?
Mando Rayo: I guess we can start with that, right? Yeah. So how about this? Don’t put on those stereotypes, fake mustache and some petals and then post them on your socials. Trust me, you’re gonna regret it.
Laura Rice: Yeah, so what instead? How to decorate, what to wear if you want to get festive?
Mando Rayo: Oh sure, I mean, wear whatever you wear on a normal day. You don’t really have to dress up. But what I would say is do take your lady friend or your partner on long walks to your favorite taqueria. And I will say like, you know, Taco Nazo in Houston or Ultimo Taco in Brownsville. Trust me, it’s gonna be a great date night.
Laura Rice: Love it. It says, avoid the stereotypes, first don’t. What about the next don’t on your list?
Mando Rayo: Ah, don’t put peas in your guacamole. The New York Times already did it. And people always try to Americanize those Mexican recipes. So I would say stay away from that, but do drink some good quality tequila or mezcal. Make sure you tip your mighty a cheese and enjoy some ballet folklorico
Laura Rice: What is even the purpose of pea? Is it not gonna make it taste better? Are they trying to make it healthier? Avocados are great. Yeah, okay. They just think, it’s green. No one will notice. We will notice, don’t put peas in there. Okay, what is the final don’t we should know?
Mando Rayo [00:02:56] Yes. Don’t show up drunk, shaking maracas, and get all Karen on everybody. Especially when you don’t get your way or what you want, or you want an extra margarita. Eat that to the professional Karens. Come on, people.
Laura Rice [00:03:14] All right, so the second do was enjoy some tequila, but there’s a caveat to that, which is do it responsibly, yes?
Mando Rayo: Exactly, exactly. And I’m going to say this is my final do, which is, you know what, not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear aprons. So do go support your local taqueria, your local taquero and taqueria, your waiters, your bartenders and cleaning staff and, you know, give them a very hefty tip.
Laura Rice: I love that. So do you expect these places to be to be busier on Cinco de Mayo? I mean, that that’s helped to be when you go out.
Mando Rayo [00:03:53] Even though it’s not celebrated, I mean, it’s more like this American celebration, if you will, for maybe consuming lots of margaritas and chips and salsa. So I think you’re going to see a lot of heavy rotation in Mexican and Tex-Mex places. You know, just take it easy, enjoy it and be plentiful with your pockets.
Laura Rice [00:04:18] I love that. Okay, I gotta ask a bonus question here. Well, I’ve got Shimano because we usually talk tacos. We don’t talk as much about what you drink alongside them. What’s your favorite go-to? Is it a is it a margarita? Is it Corona? What’s the go-tow in your?
Mando Rayo: You know the thing for me with tacos, I usually go with usually a beer like a Modelo or some Tequila, but then maybe you know to last through the night. I sip on the nice
Laura Rice: But all responsibly, of course. Mondo Rayo is a taco journalist and host of the Tacos of Texas podcast. Mando, thanks again and have a great Cinco de Mayo.
Mando Rayo: Thanks, Laura. You can find Tacos of Texas on kut.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
This transcript was transcribed by AI, and lightly edited by a human. Accuracy may vary. This text may be revised in the future.
