I really should’ve come out with this column a week ago, but it took the most recent Cinco de Mayo holiday for me to come to a specific realization.



When it comes to the drinks I order at a place, it’s as divergent as colors in a box of crayons. Some of my favorites include Kettle One and cranberry juice, mojitos, blueberry vodka and 7-Up or Sapphire and tonic.



However, if you happen to hear a tall gal with black hair order a “Cadillac, no salt,” you can sure as hell bet that’s me. I don’t make this move very often, or if I do, it’s only for one or two because there’s something about tequila (especially in straight shots, which is why I never take ’em) that makes me extra feisty. Some of my friends use that information to their advantage because they think it’s funny.



Cadillac margaritas are far and away one of my favorite drinks of all time. I find them to be sweet, sexy and downright delicious.



Not everyone makes a perfect margarita, which is why I won’t order these fancy cocktails just anywhere.



Cadillac margaritas denote a top-shelf mentality in the mixing, which I’m more than happy to pay for when it comes to flavor.



And the one place in Tacoma that does the Cadillac better than the rest is Matador.

Their Cadillac margaritas start with Sauza Gold (which you can upgrade from), Cointreau, sweet and sour and a float of Grand Marnier with salt (no salt for me!) and lime.



The result is a refreshing beverage that I can’t (but it’s in my best interest to) get enough of.



I order Cadillacs there year round, even on the coldest of winter days, because I haven’t found very many other games in town that offer such excellence and consistency in margaritas.



This beverage pairs so well with the caliente eats (my favorites there are the Tex Mex spring rolls, the quesadilla, chicken fajitas and nachos). I also love, love, love the sexiness that comes with the iron art, the fire pit and the incredible craftsmanship in carpentry that’s inside this hipster joint.



Also, Dominic, one of the ones who makes these Cadillacs for me, has a beautiful smile.

If for some reason Matador isn’t your style, what I can tell you is that anytime Johanna is working at La Fondita, you really, really need to try her personal recipe for scratch margaritas. I’d gladly take one of those even in a frigid winter, too.



Take this advice in moderation, dear readers, because Cadillacs or scratch margaritas can often sneak up and get the best of you.



Trust me, I know that all too well.



[Matador, 721 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.7100]

[La Fondita, 2620 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.752.2878]



Tell me where you like to party here.