Que Chula es Puebla to Celebrate Bicentennial Anniversary of Mexican Independence Day

Except for Que Chula es Puebla, the bicentennial anniversary of Mexican Independence is going largely unnoticed and unobserved by Mexican restaurants in Westchester County. It takes place on Thursday, September 16 -- marking 200 years of freedom from Spain.  Independence Day is a bigger holiday in Mexico than Cinco de Mayo but only a few restaurants in this area have special festivities planned for it. 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5), often mistaken by Americans for Mexican Independence Day, is when local Mexican restaurants celebrate with Mariachi bands, hat dancing, flags, decorations and fiesta food. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the defeat of the French by the Mexican army at the battle of Puebla in 1862.

As Mexican Independence Day approached this year, Pablo Ilagorre and his brother and co-owner Santiago wanted to draw attention to this milestone in Mexican history. What better idea they thought could there be than to offer one of their country's most famous dishes and give patrons a free drink with it?

The dish is chile en nogada and it long ago helped established the City of Angels as a major culinary tourism destination. Considered Puebla's most acclaimed gastronomical triumph, chiles en nogada is believed to have been first cooked 200 years ago.

Chile en nogada is an extraordinary treat and the portions at Que Chula es Puebla are generous but it has not been on the regular menu since the restaurant opened in 2007. For as long as Pablo Ilagorre can recall, it has been served in Puebla only in August. He is not exactly sure why. It combines separately roasted poblano peppers with ground beef, peach, apple, pear, raisins and walnuts and is garnished with peeled walnuts, chilled cream, parsley and pomegranate seeds. The ground beef, fruit and nuts are always cooked together minus the peppers.

Chile en nogada reflects the colors of the Mexican flag with its toppings of poblano peppers (green) and pomegranate seeds (red) sprinkled on white sauce. At Que Chula es Puebla, it is served primarily on holidays such as Mexican Independence Day and special events but is available occasionally as a special.

In observance of Independence Day, Que Chula will offer a free shot of tequila to men and a free Jamaica margarita to women at dinnertime. It will serve five special dishes in addition to the regular menu, priced from $17.95 to $21.95. These dishes are:

• Chiles en Nogada (ground beef with roasted pepper and fresh fruit) 
• Frijoles Charros (pinto beans, sausage and onions)
• Parrillade Puebla (grilled chicken, pork, steak, with roasted cactus)
• Carnitas Sonara (pork loin in green sauce with roasted cactus)
• Bisteck achiote (similar to a New York steak with chipotle sauce).

Que Chula es Puebla is located in the Valley Street business section of Sleepy Hollow at 180 Valley Street.  The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. It has a small self-parking lot across the street.  914-332-0072.