Cinco de Donald: A MexiCan Celebration

Updated with video

When Leo Cervantes is confronted by a difficult circumstance, he looks for the opportunity it presents.

When the waters of Superstorm Sandy receded from Highlands, Cervantes and his staff at Chilango’s recovered the non-spoiled inventory from their destroyed Bay Avenue restaurant and invited the entire town to a free dinner that they prepared and served at Henry Hudson Regional High School which was serving as a shelter for hundreds of residents displaced by the storm.

When Donald Trump disparaged Mexicans during his presidential candidacy announcement last week, Leo, who immigrated from Neza, a tough town outside of Mexico City in 1989 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 2008, shook off the insult and created an opportunity.

Sunday, July 5th is Cinco de Donald at Leo’s two Monmouth County Mexican restaurants, Chilango’s in Highlands and the newly opened LaPlaya in Keansburg.

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Chilangos owner featured in Christie Ad

Leo Cervantes, owner, of the Highlands Mexican restaurant, Chilangos, is featured in a Christie for Governor ad that was released yesterday.

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Taste of Highlands #STTS

Consider this post an early preview to this week’s Greg’s List.

On Saturday afternoon June 22 from noon till five the Highlands Business Partnership and over 15 restaurants, including MMM advertisers Chilangos and Windansea, are serving scrumptious menu samples and delectable drinks as they kick off the official start of summer with their annual Taste of Highlands.

The event starts off at Huddy Park at the corner of Waterwitch Ave and Shore Drive where participants will be given a keepsake tote bag with directions to each establishment. Transportation between establishments will be provided for those who prefer to collect their calories rather than burn them off between stops.

That’s a lot of eating and drinking for $40 per person.

Tickets can be purchased online here, at one of the participating establishments, by calling 732-291-4713, or on Saturday until 2PM at Huddy Park.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County This Weekend–May 3-5, 2013

Photo by Art Gallagher

By Greg Kelly

Friday, May 3

• Manasquan Spring Side Walk Sale – MORE INFO

• Sicilians in the Basement at First Ave Playhouse (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Noir at NJ Repertory Theater (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• The Electric Baby at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Center Players (Freehold) – MORE INFO

• Steel Magnolias by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO

• Spirit of the Artist (Avon) – MORE INFO

• The Cocktail Hour by South Street Players (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO

• Psychic Sylvia Browne at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Nearly New Sale (Morganville) – MORE INFO

*     *     *

Saturday, May 4

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