With warm weather finally upon us, Americans are ready to kick off the season, and what better way to get started than with Cinco de Mayo. While many revelers may not realize that May 5 commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, they are still happy to celebrate the occasion with frosty drinks and Mexican-inspired cuisine.
As restaurants across the country gear up for a busy day of service, operators like you can set your establishment apart and elevate your Cinco de Mayo specials with the fresh, clean taste of responsibly raised lake-grown Regal Springs Tilapia. From the bright flavors of ceviche to the nostalgic flavors of a freshly prepared fish taco, Regal Springs Tilapia can easily enhance any dish. You can even get innovative with your menu by serving fresh takes on traditional dishes, like a smoked tilapia guacamole or a deconstructed chile relleno with grilled tilapia, roasted vegetables and a poblano cream sauce.
Regal Springs Tilapia is a versatile, mild-tasting fish with a firm, flaky flesh. This makes tilapia an adaptable base for a variety of flavor applications, not to mention a perfect protein for the ever-popular taco. While tacos have always been a street-food staple, in recent years they have been playing a larger role on foodservice menus. According to Mintel, tacos grew 22 percent on menus between 2012 and 2015, resulting in a 5 percent increase in Mexican cuisine during that time span.
Though many Americans are only now learning about the simple virtues of fish tacos, surfers and seasoned Mexico travelers have long appreciated them. Longtime fish-taco aficionado Ralph Rubio, founder of the popular fast-casual chain Rubio’s, had his enlightening experience at a fish taco stand in San Felipe in 1974. Today, he owns multiple restaurant locations throughout California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada—all specializing in fish tacos. Since he opened his first restaurant in 1983, he has sold more than 200 million fish tacos. His secret? Sustainable, high-quality ingredients.
“At Rubio’s, we take great pride in our commitment to serving sustainable seafood whenever possible, and we’re proud to partner with Regal Springs® to source our tilapia,” says Ralph Rubio, co-founder of Rubio’s Coastal Grill. "The Rubio’s Regal Springs Tilapia Taco is a must-try. Served on warm corn tortillas, the tilapia is grilled or blackened on an authentic comal, then topped with creamy chipotle sauce, salsa fresca and cilantro-jalapeno slaw.”
High in protein while low in calories, fat and carbohydrates, Regal Springs Tilapia is a healthy, gluten-free fish that satisfies customer demand for sustainable protein options. At a time when restaurant patrons demand menu transparency, you can trust that Regal Springs Tilapia are raised in pristine deep-water lakes without the use of any antibiotics, growth hormones or chemicals.
So whether you’re serving up Baja-style fish tacos, spicy ceviche or a healthy grilled fish dish, Regal Springs Tilapia is the perfect white fish to enhance your menu. For more information or to request product samples, visit www.RegalSprings.com.
