Cinco de Mayo 2022: Where to celebrate in London
The Mexican celebration of Cinco de Mayo originates with the country’s liberation from the French Empire following the Battle of Puebla in 1862 (not to be confused with Mexican Independence!). Though it’s a part of Mexican history and is celebrated there with parades, reenactments and a day off school for the kids, the holiday has become more of an American tradition, with special events and celebrations highlighting Mexican culture held all over the country, and businesses capitalising on the celebration by selling Mexican products and services with an emphasis on alcoholic beverages, foods and music from the region. In 2013 more than $600 million worth of beer was purchased in the United States for Cinco de Mayo – which is more than was bought for the Super Bowl or St Patrick’s Day!
The festivities have, of course, found their way across the pond, with London playing host to a series of events. There are venues offering Mexican fun all over town, and these are some of the capital’s best offerings.
Santo Remedio x Cazcabel in London Bridge
Santo Remedio (meaning “holy remedy”) is the brainchild of Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes, who aim to share with Londoners the variety of exciting flavours from all over Mexico. Their 2022 Cinco de Mayo event, Celebration of Puebla, is a one-of a kind four-course dinner experience by renowned chef Edson, with five Cazcabel cocktails to accompany it.
The partnership is taking a more authentic stance on Cinco de Mayo, with Cazcabel hosting a week of cultural activities alongside their creation with Santo Remedio. Guests at the restaurant will be treated to a Poblano dinner, paired with five Cazcabel tequila cocktails designed and presented by global brand ambassador Nate Sorby. The evening will start with a Cazcabel Reposado Poblano Paloma, paired with Padron Peppers Chalupitas, followed by four courses (each paired with a drink) including a Tuna Tostada, Wild Mixed Mushrooms “Taco Arabe”, Slow-Cooked Short Rib in Mole Poblano with Corn Tortillas, and finishing with a Chocoflan.
Celebration of Puebla is at Santa Remedio, 152 Tooley Street London SE1 2TU, on Thursday 5th May at 6.30pm until 8.30pm. For further information or to book visit here.
Wahaca in Oxford Street, Islington and more
This May Wahaca launch their new menu for summer 2022, and hopefully bring the sunshine with it. Alongside its typical fresh, seasonal ingredients, the menu also exhibits the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability by introducing carbon counts for every dish, helping customers make conscious choices around the food that’s kindest to the planet with 50% of the options now veggie.
Dishes for the summer menu include Meatless Farm “Chicken” and Avocado Tacos, drizzled with ajillo oil and topped with guacamole and green tomatillo salsa – the latest meat-free dish on the chain’s street food menu. The Devon Crab and Avocado Tostadas are a fresh taste of Mexican-style summer, served with chipotle mayo and pink pickled onions and best enjoyed alongside a well-chilled glass of white wine.
There’s a Caesar salad for something a bit lighter (the classic salad originated in Mexico, it turns out!), as well as two new wholefood salads (grilled chicken or ancho-roast cauliflower) – so there’s always room for dessert! Wahaca have come up with a Mexican variation of the English summer classic in a Mexican Mess (house-made meringue tinted with freshly-ground hibiscus flowers and topped with fresh strawberries, lime zest and softly-whipped cream).
The Mexican-style chain is a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, with a varied drinks menu and Tequila Experience to go alongside the new food offerings. In honour of the festival they’re offering margaritas for £5.50 on Wednesday 4th and Friday 5th May in Classic, Hibiscus, Passionfruit or Picante versions.
Wahaca has branches all over London, includi Oxford Street and Islington. For further information or to book visit here.
KOL in Marylebone for a gourmet meal or its mezcaleria
Going from strength to strength since the opening in late 2020, Santiago Lastra’s KOL, in Marylebone, brings authentic Mexican flavours to London with plenty of spice. The chef launched the Noma Mexico pop-up in 2017, and doubles down on the concept with this high-end restaurant, which also features a mezcaleria, located on the ground floor of the restaurant and housing one of Europe’s most extensive selections of Mexican and agave spirits, with more than 80 varieties sourced from small-scale and independent distillers hailing from the Yucatan to Jalisco and everywhere in between.
KOL also offers a Chef’s Table Experience on the lower ground floor, giving guests a unique insight into the culture and cuisine underpinning the restaurant. The experience is hosted in a space that recalls an elegant Oaxacan home kitchen and invites diners to explore an extended tasting menu, demonstrating the flavours and cooking techniques of Mexico married with seasonal British ingredients. Behind-the-scenes access enables an understanding of the produce and craftsmanship involved in creating new dishes. What better way to celebrate Mexican culture?
The Chef’s Table Experience is available on selected dates throughout April and May at KOL, 9 Seymour Street London W1H 7BA. For further information or to book visit here.
Breddos Tacos x Casamigos Cinco de Mayo supper club in King’s Cross
The Casamigos Supper Club kicks off a series of dinners at Goods Way starting with Cinco de Mayo on 5th and 6th May, in collaboration with Breddos Tacos. The private event is set within the hidden speakeasy bar, Nola’s, a unique and intimate setting, and it will host up to 20 guests each evening.
Breddos was founded by Nud Dudhia and Chris Whitney in 2011 in a makeshift car park taco shack in Hackney, East London. Since then, they have gone on to do residencies and pop-ups around the world, written a cookbook, had a couple of cook-offs at LA’s Tacolandia festival and found a permanent home for themselves.
The Cinco de Mayo events start at 7pm and will conclude at 11.30pm. Guests will receive a five-course dining experience featuring Breddos’ tailored Mexican tasting menu, accompanied with Casamigos’ own tequila-based cocktails, curated by Sweet & Chilli. The event encourages dinner table chat with like-minded people.
The Cinco de Mayo dinners take place on 5th and 6th May at Nola’s, 11 Goods Way London N1C 4DP, for further information and to book visit DesignMyNight here. The bi-monhtly supper clubs continue with Best of British x Chase Gin on 6th & 7th July 2022.
La Piñata mezcal and tequila festival
The only tequila and mezcal show open to the public in the UK, La Piñata launched in 2021. Their 2022 event is set to be a celebration of agave spirits and Mexican culture, and an opportunity to taste a diverse range of tequila and mezcal side by side.
With over 20 producers of the classically Mexican libations set to talk visitors through their ranges (including The Lost Explorer and Dangerous Don mezcals and The Butterfly Cannon and Vivir tequilas), the show will also feature a bar serving refreshing palomas and margaritas. A street food market will be offering the very best of Mexican and Latin American food to enjoy alongside the drinks, and live entertainment will be rolled out to complete the experience.
La Piñata have partnered with London Mezcal Week founders Thea Cumming and Melanie Symonds, who will be running and hosting masterclasses at the festival (all included in the ticket price) to dive deeper into the subject and appreciation of mezcal. A full schedule of tastings and masterclasses is available here.
La Piñata is at Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane London E1W 2SF on 7th May 2022 (with two sessions running at 11am till 3pm and at 4pm till 8pm). For further information or to book tickets visit here.
Mestizo
One of the first truly Mexican restaurants in London, Mestizo is now an institution. It was born in 2004 from the concept of a group of Mexicans, who dreamed of opening a a restaurant-bar offering real Mexican fine cuisine. The team made it their mission to spread appreciation of the “vibrant, diverse, colourful and simply delicious” food originating in their country, with the name Mestizo suggesting “mezcla” or “fusion” – a term that was utilised principally to designate the descendants of indigenous Mexicans with Spaniards.
Mestizo now also have a Mexican market, that sells a variety of Mexican products ranging from salsas, snacks, cooking utensils, tequilas and mezcales to traditional Mexican artesanies. In addition, there’s an area downstairs that hosts Thursday taco nights and can be booked for events – potentially the perfect setting for a Cinco de Mayo party!
Mestizo is at 103 Hampstead Road London NW1 3EL. For further information or to book a table (or the function room) visit here.
Fire up the Cinco de Mayo fiesta at Sabine Rooftop Bar
With Cinco de Mayo fast approaching, Sabine Rooftop Bar is a great to celebrate this colourful and fun-filled Mexican tradition. Join the fiesta with specially crafted margaritas, including the Guarita – a fresh and fruity cocktail with tequila and guava purée – thrilling entertainment and never-before-seen views of iconic St Paul’s Cathedral.
Sabine Rooftop Bar is set to host a fun night, with dashes of Mexican flavour throughout. Seven floors above the busy London streets, delicious light bites will be served while partygoers soak up Sabine’s tropical garden décor and stunning cityscape views. A DJ will provide an electric soundtrack to the evening, with exciting interludes from a tradition Mexican mariachi band throughout the night. The evening will culminate in phenomenal performances from a fire poi acrobat, stunning guests with pyro techniques.
Sabine is famous for its cocktails, all of which are available on the night. However, in honour of Cinco de Mayo, the team have concocted a twist on the humble margarita recipe. The Guarita is made with Tequila, Cointreau, guava purée, pink grapefruit juice and fresh lime and priced at £16.
No matter the weather, with indoor and heated outdoor seating areas, Sabine’s garden sanctuary allows guests to escape from the busy London streets and enjoy spectacular views of the capitals skyline for the perfect evening out with friends, family, work colleagues or a partner.
To book a table at Sabine Rooftop Bar, 10 Godliman Street EC4V 5AJ London, visit here.
Mexican-Japanese fusion at Los Mochis
This year, Los Mochis, the home of Mexican-Japanese cuisine in West London, is going back to its roots by throwing a real celebration for Cinco de Mayo. Expect cocktails, special one-off dishes and Mr Hendrick’s DJing all night long.
On Thursday 5th May, Los Mochis will be serving special dishes of Spicy Salmon on Crispy Rice, Soft Shell Crab Tacos and Maki, available for a limited time only. Alongside this, they will be serving half price cocktails with their Los Mochis Tommy’s Margarita and Pink Hot Chilli Paloma at only £8 each for the night. Boasting the second largest collection of fine and rare tequilas in Europe, as well as being the number one seller of tequila in the UK, Los Mochis and its infamous Tequileria, is the place to be this Cinco de Mayo.
To book a table at Los Mochis, 2-4 Farmer St London W8 7SN, visit the restaurant’s website here.
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