Though it dominated in 2012, Mexican looks set to continue its run of favour in Sydney in 2013 with the opening of Mejico, a Mexican restaurant and bar opening next door to Jamie’s Italian on Pitt St.
Tag: Tequila
Perhaps it was the dearth of good Mexican food for so long that led Sydney-siders to so wholeheartedly embrace its flavours. Perhaps it’s because great Mexican is about vibrant and fresh produce (of which Australia has plenty) thrown together simply and cheaply (of which bar owners like plenty). Or maybe it’s just that it goes so damn well with tequila and mezcal.
Beneath the Newmarket Hotel lies this quirky addition to Melbourne’s bar scene. From the Melbourne Pub Group and chef Paul Wilson, the emphasis is as much on food (see our bar profile this issue for a look at the kick-arse latin food) as it is on their 30-odd tequilas and mezcals.
Perhaps food and drink got too serious there for a while, too self-referential. The experience became less about the company you kept and more about food for food’s sake. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for grown up food and drink – pounding back tequilas and tinnies of beer is not for everyone, after all. And it’s to those folks that Cellar Bar, Melbourne is looking. The place is grown up, refreshingly lacking in irony, and is a whole lot of fun.
Indeed, the great boozer, Sir Kingsley Amis, once wrote: “I think the nastiest drink I’ve ever drunk in my life was some stuff called mezcal in a Mexican market town.” But that has all changed.
With summer upon us we sat down with Ruben Aceves Vidrio, master taster, historian and global ambassador for Casa Herradura, one of Mexico’s greatest tequila houses and home to el Jimador and Herradura tequilas.
Opening its doors in February this year Mamasita occupies the site that once held the café/bar Recorded Music Salon. This authentic Mexican bar and restaurant – read no burritos or nachos – is a meeting of the minds between Matt Lane (ex-owner of The Poinciana and ex-GM of New York’s La Esquina) and Jason Jones (former executive chef at Orange in Windsor).
Le Shack has announced that it will be the new distributor of Casa Noble Tequila as of August 2010.
Manly’s burgeoning bar scene is welcoming a stylish new addition to its ranks thanks to the opening of Miss Marley’s. This new venue is brought to you by Adam Clarke and Kieran Baily (formerly of Henry Afrikas) and is their unique take on the much talked about ‘small bar concept’.