Mexicano, Bangkok’s oldest-established upscale Mexican restaurant and bar, has launched “Sabado Latin Party”, a new option for the many salsa dance fans of all nationalities who love to flock together to strut their stuff at various accommodating venues around li’l old Bangkok.
Sabado Latin Party takes over Mexicano (1/F The Rembrandt Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 18) every Saturday evening from 9.00pm-2.00am (100 baht drinks after 10.00pm) while the restaurant is open from 5.00pm. Free salsa dance training is available from 8pm-9pm and professional Latin dance teacher Sultan Jamal is on-hand to lead the hip-huggin’ moves across the Tango floor. Plus besides Mexicano’s action-packed dance floor, there’s another adjacent dance floor where salsa fans practice their steps and sways in a more studied way.
The fabulous fiesta of fun-loving guys and gals includes Latin dancing, specially priced drinks and, of course, thanks to Master Chef Carlos Bravo, some of the best and most authentic Mexican food in town.
The so-called “eatertainment” party night features Chef Carlos’s signature “spicy, wicked and ‘give me more!’” flavours.
International latino guest DJs spin the discs between sessions from the live Latino band which injects another level of sexy energy into the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Mexicano’s amazing stock of 60 different tequilas, local beers, international craft beers and wines keeps whistles wet despite the sensual exertions.
Mexicano first opened its doors as Senor Pico back in 1993. Chiming rhythmically with the salsa dance craze, it quickly secured a strong following.
The restaurant relaunched last year with mostly the same Chihuahuacantina-style décor but a different culinary philosophy, as “Mexicano”, a Spanish word meaning, well, Mexican, but in the sense of being the real deal.
Culinary-wise, Mexicano is particularly mindful of the fact that Mexican was the first cuisine to attain UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity status). In other words, it believes in conserving the original ingredients and flavours that made the cuisine so addictive in the first place.
Start with a poignant Passionfruit Margarita — lemon, passionfruit and 1 oz of tequila in a sombrero phat, salt-rimmed glass.
Then savour uber-juicy Ceviche De Atun Y Pescado — orange and lemon-marinated tuna and sea bass mixed with, mango, avocado, coriander, onion and jalapenos, served on a bed of crushed ice under a frisson of rosarie, spinach and corn chips on the side for scooping. A Corona Michelada (beer, tomato, chilli, Maggi and seasoning) makes a perfect complement.
Stack up some delicious quesadillas — a giant grilled flour tortilla nestling homemade chorizo sausage with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese in its folds, served with pico de gallo fresh tomato sauce and sour cream.
Tacos Bajas: Sonora soft flour tortillas burst with crispy seabass re-fried in tempura batter, juxtaposed with a citrusy salad of cauliflower, carrot, chipotle mayonnaise, avocado. The crispy outside fluffy inside meaty fish is superb.
For an authentica Mexican grill experience, go for Espedatas: a giant skewer of char-grilled Australian ribeye, chicken and prawn rubbed with garlic, salt, bay leaf. Served with Mexican rice, refried pinto beans with cheese on top, green (chilli) and red (tomato) salsas and fine grain tortillas, this is pure succulence.
Homemade ice creams sometimes include tuna (not the fish!) etc. Or for a piece de resistance try the homemade coconut Flan (like crème caramel) with roasted pineapple, chocolate and pistachio ice cream.
El Brunch on Saturday lunch times (Bt699/350++) is another must.
Viva Lo Mexicano! Tel. 02 261 7100 Ext. 7550 mexicano@rembrandtbkk.com, www.facebook.com/mexicanobkk.
