Selfridges x Mexico
Selfridges has always the ability to plan exciting events and special features. Nowadays it showcases "Mexico" until the 17th of May, featuring Mexican ingredients to its Food Store on the Ground Floor, special dining experiences and tequila tastings.
In the food store someone can find tequilas, Mexican cheeses, sauces e.t.c. plus a mini canteen preparing tacos, tortas and nachos with guacamole and a mini cafe kiosk.
As for the tequila tastings they are a fun experience taking place in the Harry's Bar, at lower level, with expert mixologist, Tomas Estes and Carlos Leal. You start with a tequila inspired cocktail, of course not a simple margarita we are in Harry's Bar after all, and continue with a selection of tequilas and mezcal tastings, while learning at the same time.
I must say it was great tasting different kinds of tequilas and more distinguished brands than the ones we usually drink as shots in the bars, and enjoying them the correct way. I wasn't so excited about mezcal, but that's me.
After that if you're hungry, which you will, head further down the road to Meat Liquor for some juicy burgers and fries and, why not, an alcoholic milkshake.
As for the dinner tasting experiences, there are different chefs featured, all with different menus, where they will be cooking four courses in two consequent days. I went to chef's Daniel Ovadia dinner from Paxia restaurant of Mexico City.
All the plates were exquisite, with an excellent mix of flavours and spices, imported from Mexico ingredients and a taste of old and new Mexico.
First plate, black shrimp aquachile- burnt cocoa husk, huitlacoche tortilla.
Second, Torta Ahogada- veal "carnitas", tomato sauce, "chile de arbol" and pickled red onion. Mm spicy...
Third, Mole "Carretero"- duck, sweet potato-guava puree, crisp plantains with lime and chilli. It came with a mini pot of fire, but instead of coal had something as burning banana (?) leaves. It smelt wonderful and the soft duck (cooked for hours) melted in your mouth combined with the sweet sauce. That was my favourite dish!
And finally dessert, Necuatole (as he said a very old dessert recipe)- yellow squash, tequesquite (a pre-spanish ingredient very difficult to find today), orange, Mexican raw sugar, amaranth, sour cream ice cream and pumpkin seed salt.
All dishes were served with the appropriate Mexican wine, one white, two reds and one bubbly rose. Due to the climate in Mexico, the wines remind those of Mediterranean, unfortunately though you can't find them in London.
The tequilas, on the other side, served in the tasting are sold in the wine shop.
You can find all Selfridges events selling in Eventbrite.