Mad Mex: Launch party of new store, Ultimo (7 Sept 2011)

815 George Street, Ultimo NSW 2007
http://www.madmex.com.au

Another Mad Mex opens

“Mad Mex offers authentic Mexican cuisine with a Baja Californian-inspired menu of delicious and nutritious burritos, nachos, quesadillas and more all prepared with only the freshest ingredients and served in a fast casual format than can be preapred to dine in or takeaway”

Thanks to Stuart Fyfe from 6dc for inviting me to the store launch of the new Mad Mex on George Street near Railway Central. Director and Founder Clovis Young was on hand to demonstrate a few cooking techniques on how they make a flavoursome salsa. Essentially roasting/burning tomato, onion and peppers over fire will provide a smokey flavour. Blend together then add your favourite chilli for heat and flavour plus salt and lime juice for taste. The freshly made salsa was quite nice with some warmish tortilla chips. He mentioned a good supplier of Mexican ingredients is Fireworks Food which is the same place Barrio Chino use. Some tequila tasting and education was also in order. I learnt that tequila just has to have 51% agave to be classified as tequila. So hence the 51% agave Jose Cuervo Especial didn't smell or taste as good as Hornitos or Tres Generaciones which were 100% agave. As Clovis says, 51% tequila means 49% hangover — I think he may be right.

For my dinner I ordered the Crispy tacos with black beans, cheese, lettuce & sour cream with choice of filling ($9.90 for 3) so I could try the pork, beef and chicken in each of the tacos. The service was very efficient, although perhaps a little too fast and scary for someone who wasn't particularly familiar with the menu. I sort of felt I had to make my mind up quickly on what I did and didn't want on my order as ingredients were quickly thrown on top. In the end I couldn't even see my crispy tacos under the mountain of lettuce, cheese and huge dollop of guacamole (add $2). I guess they don't skimp on the toppings which might make it better value for money. I noticed Churros with melted dipping chocolate ($5.90 for 2 pieces) on the menu which I always thought was Spanish but soon learnt it's also traditional in Mexico. The churros were decently sized and cooked to a nice crisp although coated in a thick amount of cinnamon sugar which might be welcomed by some. The warmish dipping chocolate was good but be careful of any unfortunate drippings — a few seemed to make their way to my shirt and pants. The churros seemed to be pre-cooked into shape and then deep fried to order unlike Chocolateria San Churro which cooked the fresh dough to order making for a slightly less dense texture inside, although they were definitely better than the dry version I had at Cafe Hernandez.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Quick and efficient service, Ingredients seem pretty fresh, Portions are quite generous, Seating available

CONS: Quick service can also be a little scary and overwhelming if you don't know what you want, No public toilet available, Guacamole is $2 extra, Tacos a little messy to eat

WORTH TRYING: Churros with melted dipping chocolate, Tortilla chips with salsa

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Crispy tacos with black beans, cheese, lettuce & sour cream with choice of filling ($9.90 for 3)

Nachos ($10.90) add guacamole ($2)

Churros with melted dipping chocolate ($5.90 for 2 pieces)

WORTH TRYING :-)

Picture menu and spicy beef option

Choose your style menu

Choose your filling and salsa

Sides, drinks and churros menu

Director and Founder Clovis Young in demonstration and relaxing with the crowd

How to burn vegetables to make a salsa

Time to blend the burnt vegetables then add salt, chilli and lime juice

Different types of chilli appreciation

Tortilla chips with salsa of your choice

WOTH TRYING :-)

Jose Cuervo Especial (51% agave, 49% hangover)

Hornitos 100% agave, Tres Generaciones

Taste testing: Jose Cuervo Especial, Hornitos, Tres Generaciones

Seating and decor

How to eat a burrito napkin

Corona bottle chandelair

Wall graphics

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Barrio Chino Launch: Mexican Taqueria & Tequileria, Kings Cross (30 Aug 2011)

28-30 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross NSW 2011
http://www.barriochino.com.au

Tequila, tostadas & tacos

Thanks to part-owner Peter Lew for inviting me along to the launch of the new Taqueria & Tequileria, Barrio Chino. It didn’t take long to realise the Mexican served here was a huge step above your average Westernised cheese and sour cream smothered renditions of the past I've had. Actually I can’t even remember seeing any cheese. My first flavoursome bite of the Camarones taco ($6 each) with grilled market prawns, kiwi fruit salsa and chilli jam transcended by taste buds to a new experience — Mexican that will want me coming back for more, and more. But at $6 a pop I better watch my wallet too although I've been told they are a bit larger on the normal menu. The signature Tuna Tostada ($14 for 4 pieces) of tuna sashimi, avocado and chipotle mayo on a corn chip lived up to its hype. I could have easily finished off a whole tray although at $3.50 each it's the same price as freshly shucked oysters in a restaurant. I never would have thought raw fish on a corn chip would work but it does. It also became one of my favourites of the night. Apparently the tortilla and yellow corn chip bases are available from the Mexican products supplier Fireworks Food.

All the tostadas and tacos I tried were worth trying but some I preferred more than others including the Roast Corn Tostada ($12 for 4 pieces) of sweet corn, avocado and chipotle mayo and Chicken Borracho taco ($6 each) which had a good balance of chipotle-beer braised chicken, cream, avocado contrasted with refreshing iceberg. The Spicy Albondigas ($15 for 3 pieces) of pork and beef meatballs with roasted tomato-chipotle sauce had a nice flavoured heat to it like most of the dishes tried. Although I’m not sure if $5 a meatball will be value-for-money for many people — ouch! But again they're supposed to be larger on the normal menu than what was served as a cocktail style for the launch.

When it comes to tequila I don’t seem to be a huge fan — perhaps too many awful memories in the past of bad quality tequila 1, tequila 2, tequila 3, floor. Their house margarita Tommy's Margarita ($15) is humorously described as ‘No Shitty tequila. No sour mix. Just hand squeezed lime & organic agave netar. You're welcome!’ It packs a punch and I’m sure lovers of the margarita will probably enjoy. The Stealth Margarita ($16) is equally lethal with the added kick of jalapeno and chilli salt — can it get any more Mexican, I think not. The food has certainly left me wanting to return to try more. I’ve been recommended to try the ribs and ceviche which are now on my wishlist when I get a chance. This place has certainly opened my eyes to the taste sensations of delicious Mexican cuisine I've only heard about but have never had the opportunity to try until now.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Very tasty tostadas and tacos, Fresh and quality ingredients, Flavoursome dishes to enjoy with a drink that's not too heavy, Mexican that isn't covered with cheese and sour cream

CONS: I'm suspecting the cost of filling up your stomach could get expensive if you're a big eater, Bite sized servings

MUST TRY: Tuna Tostada, Camarones taco — For next time the ceviche and ribs have been recommended to me by the entrance hostesses

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Roast Corn Tostada - Corn chip, sweet corn, avocado and chipotle mayo ($12 for 4) pieces

Pulled Pork Tostada - Corn chip, pulled pork, burnt orange and jicama ($12 for 4 pieces)

Tuna Tostada - Corn chip, tuna sashimi, avocado and chipotle mayo ($14 for 4 pieces)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) — One of their signature dishes

Camarones taco - Grilled market prawns, kiwi fruit salsa and chilli jam ($6 each)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Beef Barbacoa taco - Brisket, red chill sauce, lime cured red onion and oregano ($6 each)

Calabaza taco - Roasted pumpkin, capsicum, cactus and toasted pepitas ($5 each)

Carnitas taco - Traditional crispy braised pork, onion and cilantro ($6 each)

Chicken Borracho taco - Chipotle-beer braised chicken, cream, avocado and iceberg ($6 each)

Spicy Tuna taco - Seared yellow fin tuna, jalapeno-garlic sauce and pineapple-jicama salsa ($6 each)

Spicy Albondigas - Pork and beef meatballs, roasted tomato-chipotle sauce ($15 for 3 pieces)

Chefs daily postre - Horchata flan with rum syrup

Chefs in the kitchen

Drinks are up

Tommy's Margarita - Our house margarita. No Shitty tequila. No sour mix. Just hand squeezed lime & organic agave netar. You're welcome! ($15)

Stealth Margarita - Calle 23 blanco, St Germain, lime, agave, jalapeno and chilli salt ($16)

Segura Viudas Brut, Spain

WORTH TRYING :-)

Luchador Shiraz 2008 and Yada Yada Yada Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Santa Vittoria water

Margarita menu

Extensive tequila menu


Fully stocked bar of tequilas

Entrance hostesses with hats and boots to match

Nicole Galloway (part owner) in the middle flanked by models(?) that aren't fans of smiling perhaps

Scary face, pretty face — you choose

Sombreros and boots

Cocktail flairing and fire-breathing — call the fire brigade

Launch party in motion

Official photographer

Nice lighting features — it's the finer details that count

The calm before the party storm

Colourful Mexican skulls

Last minute final touches on the signage

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