Fire up the Grill for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is coming next week and it's time to put together your menu in order and prepared for what is quickly becoming the start of the outdoor cooking season. Tradition says you should aim for a Carne Asada feast. However, there is so much you can do. Try a Fajita Style New York Strip Steaks or Grilled Mexican Pizza. Of course, there are Fajitas, Anticuchos, or a great Red Snapper.

Cinco de Mayo should not be confused with Mexican Independence Day. That is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is not a largely observed holiday in Mexico (with the exception of a few regions), but is much more popular in the United States. So, what is Cinco de Mayo? The short answer is that it celebrates the defeat of the French Army by Mexican soldiers at the battle of Puebla. The real answer is that Cinco de Mayo is a uniquely Mexican-American holiday.

On its most basic level, Carne Asada is a marinated and grilled steak, sliced thin and served on tortillas. This "grilled beef" can be used however you want it, in tacos, burritos or served up straight. The basic method is to marinate most any kind of beef in a lime based marinade. Grill it over a hot fire and then slice into thin strips across the grain. But there is a whole lot more to it than that.

There are a lot of different kinds of charcoal grills that offer many different features. I've picked the 10 best charcoal grills from the simple kettle grill to large full functional charcoal grills that can cost well over $2,000. Pick the grill that is right for you and right for your pocketbook. These grills represent the diversity of charcoal grills on the market whether you are looking for one that can smoke, one that can grill like no one's business or just let you cook up a simple meal.