Rainbow Taco Night

This post was created in partnership with Target.

Taco nights are probably my favorite go-tos for an easy, crowd-pleasing, veggie-friendly meal that can be prepped in advance for a fun, low-impact backyard bash. Today we’re taking it to the next level by transforming the backyard into a colorful guaca-rainbow ROYGBV feast for the eyes and the bellies.  Whether it’s to celebrate pride or just to geek out in the full spectrum of the rainbow, this colorful taco night will turn your patio into a polychromatic party you and your homies will not soon forget! 

We hit up Target for everything from (yellow!) taco shells to rainbow serving trays and R/O/Y/G/B/V accessories. Then we pulled all kinds of stuff from the depth of our drawers and cabinets — napkins in contrasting colors, vases, cups and bowls in whatever we colors we had.

The layout is key here. Start with cloth napkins, laid out by color along the center of the table to create a rainbow table runner. And you can even have kiddos help out with the table-setting part: start at one end of the table with everything that’s red, then continue adding oranges, yellows and so on, all the way down the table until you get to violet.

Color coordinate your food too! Start with red salsas, and peppers, move into orange roasted yams, yellow taco shells, tortillas and corn, green guac and limes, cojita cheese served in an indigo bowl, blue chips, and purple cabbage to round out the selection!

Another fun idea? Assign a color to each guest so that they come to the party matching their place setting. 

Don’t forget about the rainbow details! Like these festive rainbow cafe lights…
      

Or our signature rainbow refreshment!! Here’s how to make it:

Rainbow Sparkling Sangria (makes 6-8 glasses)

Ingredients:

10-12 strawberries, sliced

2 small tangerines, peeled, and sectioned

2 cups pineapple, cubed

2 cups green grapes

1 cup blueberries

1 bottle white wine (Choose your favorite variety depending on how sweet you want it. We used a Moscato.

1 bottle sparkling wine (Again, choose to your sweetness preference. We used a Prosecco).

Directions:

Place each kind of fruit in a separate bowl or container and fill with white wine until fruit is submerged. Cover, place in fridge, and let sit for 4-24 hours (the longer it sits the better the flavor, though the fruit begins to break down a bit the longer it goes, so it’s not as pretty).

Layer each wine glass with all the fruits, following the ROYGBV pattern.

Pour in the sparkling wine (gently, so you don’t disrupt the rainbow pattern) and enjoy!

And in case you need a little more inspiration, our friends from Camille Styles have a few more tips for us:
Food as decor. We love serving family style meals to encourage sharing, passing and conversation. And when your dishes are as colorful and varied as this, you get the added bonus of a table that’s so vibrant, you don’t even need a centerpiece.
Don’t shy away from a rainbow palette! Using pops of the multicolored pattern with restraint — like in serving pieces or smaller textiles — ensures a party that’s whimsical, without looking too childish.
Must-haves for building the perfect taco. When selecting your taco bar ingredients, keep in mind that the perfect taco requires three components: something spicy (like seasoned vegetables or protein), something acidic (like lime or a slaw), and something creamy (like cheese, avocado or crema).
The one rule to follow when it comes to making summer cocktails. The smaller the ice cube, the faster it’ll melt and dilute your drink. The solution? Turn to jumbo ice trays, use frozen fruit to keep your drink chilled, or serve blended beverages to ensure your cocktails stay fresh as long as possible.

Also, be sure to check out the really beautiful Camille Styles post, where we’re sharing a few jungalicious tips of our own! Hope you enjoy making a colorful feast! This is probably one of the easiest party-nights to pull off while still feeling festive, fun and special. Buen Provecho!

Shop the rainbow:

In support of our LGBT community, and the ongoing struggle for equality, 20% of our earnings from this post will be donated to Equality California. 

Photography and original recipes by Danae Horst for the Jungalow. 

 

This post is brought to you by TargetStyle. Shop the new Home collection in stores and online.

 

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