Tequila Anyone!

by Lori Allen, My Wandering Fork

My brother Adam passed away recently so I’ve decided to dedicate this article to him. He loved a good cocktail and loved chatting about crazy subjects to write about. He actually came up with the idea of my TO-Go article so I saw it befitting to honor him with this article about all the great margaritas that are served up in our area. And of course it is just in time for Cinco de Mayo!  So Cheers to Adam Yourell – you will forever be in our hearts and soul. 

Los Portales 
Mexican Grill (St. Johns) 
South Lake Plaza 2245 County Rd 210
 St Augustine, FL 32092 (904) 819-1486
Who doesn’t love a great cheap Margarita after a tiring day?  Lost Portales serves up just that with their best priced house Margaritas at $2.25 all day Mon-Thur from 11-5 on Friday and Saturday

Back 40 Urban Fresh 
450 State Road 13 Ste 113 St. Johns, FL 32259 (904) 287-8226
Top Shelf Margarita is the way to go at Back40.  Here the Top Shelf Margarita replaces the normal Triple Sec with Grand Marnier and, generally, uses better tequila.  This gives the margarita a bigger orange flavor and even a little richer consistency. Delish!

Cantina Louie
10870 us Hwy 1 North  Ponte Vedra Florida 32082 (904) 217-3238
One of the fave’s here is the Fresh Guavarita - Blanco tequila, Gran Gala, lime juice, house made sour, and guava juice- which gives the tart lime a nice sweet taste. Very refreshing.  They also have Fro- Jo-Rita Monday- frozen margaritas at a special price and 7 different flavors every Monday for that weekend recovery!

La Catrina 
155 Hampton Point Dr. Suite #10, St. Augustine, FL 32092
The Blueberry Jalapeno Margarita is a must at this establishment. It is made with Jose Cuervo Blanco, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice, Fresh Blueberries, Triple Sec and Jalapeno. It’s the best of both world’s sweet and heat. So good! Another cool combo is their Blueberry Pineapple Margarita with Jose Cuervo Blanco, Coconut, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice, Fresh Blueberries, Fresh Pineapple and Triple Sec. Yum!

Hurricane Grill & Wings
CR 210 3055 County Rd 210 Suite 101, Jacksonville, FL 32259 (904) 230-6445
Coronarita – one of my favorite going on vacation drinks. It’s a house margarita with a corona beer slowly poured into it so as you drink down, so you get the tanginess of the margarita and the light lime freshness of the beer. It’s a win win situation!  This place does them right!

St Marys Seafood & More (World golf village)
​705 Hortons Trce, St. Augustine, FL 32095  (904) 547-2578
And for the best tasting, best Value for your money and lightest freshest Margarita around I have to choose the Elevated St. Mary's Margarita.  This enticing concoction comes in its own shaker (so you get way more than one drink) and is filled with Avion Silver, Bauchant Orange liqueur, agave nectar and fresh squeezed lime juice. It is so light and refreshing and packs a punch. If you love margaritas like me you will not be disappointed! 

I’ve come up with a little concoction of my own and named it The Adamrita Pimienta Frambuesa – a little sweet, a little tangy and just right amount of heat.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Lori's "Adamrita Pimienta Frambuesa" 
8oz Silver tequila
3 limes juiced
¼ cup muddled/smashed fresh raspberries 
2oz Agave or simple syrup
1tsp Crushed Red Pepper- more if you want more heat
Blend all in a shaker pour over a salted or sugar rimmed glass with crushed ice 

Fun Fact: The Margarita- so how and when this beauty was created. As the story goes, it was 1938. Carlos “ Danny” Herrera owned a restaurant between Tijuana and Rosarito in Baja, California. He fancied a dancer by the name of Marjorie King who was allergic to many spirits. But not tequila...Thus we must say thanks to Danny and love  for his creation!