Mexican fiesta

Sat, Jul 5 01:05 AM

There's a Mexican wave going around the Capital and it is growing stronger by the day. We're talking about the rising popularity of Latino cuisine.

What found its footing in the city around fifteen years back in the avatar of Tex Mex seems to have finally come of its own, with a spate of restaurant openings and food festivals offering true-blue Mexican to Delhiites. Mexico calling Early May saw the launch of Mismo Bar and Kitchen, a top-end, fine dining restaurant located within the grounds of Hotel Janpath.

The place offers authentic fare amidst a pleasant, lounge-like setting, making for an enjoyable dining experience. At the Sheraton Hotel, Saket, the catch phrase these days is 'Mexico Calling' - a food festival which is offering diners a Mexican buffet experience.

The popularity of this fiesta can be gauged by the number of takers. According to Rishi Raj Singh, food and beverage manager, "In the ten days since we started this, there has been a hundred per cent increase in the number of people opting for the buffet.

" All Mex'd up And the most recent - and talked about - entrant to the scene is Sancho's, in the South Extension market. The multi-level restaurant offers cordon bleu Mexican all the way, right from the food and the drinks and down to the decor.

Little wonder, for as the chef informs us, all ingredients, including the chillies, have been sourced directly from Mexico. We recommend the tacos with six kinds of salsa (especially the tangy mango salsa), the vegetable fajitas, the 'mex'd up' take on the bruschetta, and their house special cocktail, Tangy Mojita (orange and lemon rinds muddled with fresh mint).

But the main attraction of the place has to be the salsa bar, which is right along the lines of a typical salad bar - just walk up, and take your pick from different kinds of salsas, veggies, meat cuts and tacos! Why we love it so Mexican cuisine has always found favour with Delhiites thanks to the similarities in flavour and cooking style. According to Sancho's executive chef Jorge Romero, there's a cultural similarity that draws us to Mexican cuisine.

"Mexico City is like any big city in India; people who move there bring their own cuisine and cooking habits. It's a big melting pot.

" Adds Amit Kaushik, brand manager, Sancho's, "A large numbers of Indians are well-travelled and ready to splurge. Ten years ago, people didn't really know much about this cuisine.

Now, Indian are on the verge of being world citizens as far as food is concerned." But it's chef Romero who sums it up best: "Like Indians, Mexicans cook for the family.

It's directly from the heart to the soul.".

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