May 5th marks the last day of classes and our favorite Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo. Read on to for Bwog's suggestion on how to celebrate the day.

Don't let the reference to Steinbeck fool you, Tortilla Flats is more Mexican cliche than Mexican culture. The menu offers a smattering of inventive, if at times bland, pseudo-Mexican treats, from the taco salad, a mix of shredded iceberg lettuce and sour cream in fried tortilla 'bowl,' to the New Mexican Short Stack, a casserole comprised of layers of tortilla chips, Jack cheese and refried beans. But, it is not the fine food or the fine culture that keep people coming back to Tortilla Flats, but rather the utter lack of affectation.

Ever since it started to snow last night, Cooking has been craving cocoa. Bwogger Maryam Parhizkar suggested the following home-spun hot chocolate recipe.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon, or alternatively 3-4 sticks of cinnamon
3 tsp vanilla
1 quart of milk

Combine the cocoa, sugar, and cinnamon (if using ground) in a small bowl. Heat half of the milk in a pot until it starts to bubble - don't let it burn. Bring heat down to medium-low. Stir in the cocoa mixture using a whisk or fork until the liquid has a smooth consistency and if using cinnamon sticks, add gradually while stirring. Add the remaining milk and bring to a boil; then add the vanilla and whisk until the chocolate is somewhat frothy. Serves 4.

Have any cool recipes lying around? Want to request something? Write to Cooking at bwog@columbia.edu

No, you didn't fall asleep last night and sleep for a week, they just decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo early. The Low steps are as multicultural as it gets this time of year--the Armenians, Hawaiians, Japanese, and more ethnic groups Bwog is too hungover from last night's post-Varsity-Show partying to remember have laid claim to the space in recent weeks. Do the evangelicals count?

At least this time there's a real live taco truck on College walk. Please, if you're going to get sick from food poisoning, head to the park first.