Wahaca Resturant review

@thomasinamiers and @wahaca together are a perfect match. Anyone who knows me knows that I am highly critical of Mexican food to the point of a fine line between amusement and annoyance to some of my fiends.I have long been excited about the opening of Wahacca and already own a copy of the Mexican Food Made Simple cook book available from Amazon by clicking this link.

I downloaded the menu from the very colourful website ahead of time and eagerly anticipated the different tastes that awaited me.

The tequila is a very good judge of how authentic a Mexican restaurant will be and the quality of the food you will expect. The tequila menu looked like some thought had gone into it. I noted that bloggers and facebook users had also been consulted. Next time count me in if you have space. There is tequila and there is TEQUILA. Wahacca serves the latter and my tastes were catered for with some fantastic anjeo offerings.

On arrival you get some wonderful nachos and salsa. The chill power would not wound any chili head but the flavour will definitely still impress. The on the table chilli sauce too is authentic as it should be using a habanero sauce pictures on the right. I obviously like my sauces and I always have some authentic Mexican hot sauce in my cupboard like Cholula Chipotle Sauce available from scorchio by clicking this link

For food I wanted all of it Wahaca selection particularly the pork pilbil as this dish is hard to find in the uk and not often done well. But if you can find a good one... I went for the Wahaca Selection


3 pork pibil tacos, 3 winter vegetable tacos, 1 large huitlacoche quesadilla, 2 black bean tostadas, 2 chicken taquitos with green rice and black beans for two people to share. I was notably speechless but had a large grin on my face. My search for a positive Mexican experience and great food in the us in finally over. There are other restaurants available sure but Wahaca is the new KING.

The pilbil was juicy and full of flavour, the quesadilla not just a pile of cheese but of taste, tacos prepared the authentic way with one of the supermarket style flavours fooling the public. The black beans and salsa mixed perfectly with all flavours and the whole experience is something I cant express how good it was. When you go to pay.... get this they actually give you some free chilli seeds too to spread

the chili love! basically just go there and enjoy yourself

The menu has already changed and I cant wait to try the new autumn dishes check it out here 

If you want more information on Wahacca check out their website and blog it is constantly up to date with news offers and all kinds of cool mexicana!

Finally please Thomasina look at opening a Wahacca in Brighton and I will be a regular customers

Fried Padron Peppers

These are a great quick easy snack. I have recently come back from Barcelona. Over there the food generally does not feature chilli at all so I did struggle for a week or so. However at almost every cafe and bar you can get your hands on Padrons. from a market you will pay about 1 euro for around a kilo. in the tourist traps you will pay up to 9 euro 50 for about 15 peppers!!!! so do shop around if you go.

Basically all you need is a pile of Padron chili, some oil and salt. Cold beer is also essential but optional :)

1. Wash the peppers thoroughly in cold water and pat dry.
2. Place a large frying pan over a high heat, add the olive oil and heat until smoking then place the Padrons in
3. Cover and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally using tongs to avoid the oil, until blistered and slightly charred.
4. Drain the peppers on kitchen paper, sprinkle generously with the sea salt and serve with your optional beer.

Enjoy and prepare to become addicted. I have grown Padrons this year and will soon be eating my first crop. why not have them as a starter or even in stead of popcorn with a movie.

Padron Peppers

Gardners World 2011 Chilli Plant Displays

Here are some pictures I took from this years Gardner's World grow your own chilli pepper plant displays. Some amazing plants and vibrant colours. I ended up purchasing a few of the interesting ones too for my own collection

Medusa Chilli Pepper Plant

 Medusa peppers are a type of sweet, ornamental chili pepper which grows upright, brightly colored fruit, which is long and thin, producing a "hair of snakes" look akin to that attributed to Medusa in Greek mythology. The fruit is sweet, unusual for ornamental pepper, and goes from green through yellow and orange, to become red when fully ripe.

Bulgarian Carrot Chilli Pepper Plant

I have had one of these plants before for a couple of years. As you can see if produces wonderful large jalapeno like chili peppers that are not too hot but you can still feel some sweet heat from them. This makes them idea for salads and adding on top of your favourite dish.

Hungarian Black Chilli Pepper Plant

The Hungarian black is a rare & colourful Hungarian heirloom chili A tall sturdy plant growing to 75cm, they have green foliage with purple veins and produce purple flowers. The pods are about the same size as a jalapeno and ripen from very dark purple to red. The pods are mildly hot and have a good flavour and the plant is great as a feature anywhere!


Filius Blue Chilli Pepper Plant

 This chilli produces unusual small purple fruits that ripen to red. Filius Blue is a Striking ornamental plant with purple/green leaves on plant 60cm (2 feet) tall. It is ideal for growing in pots.The rounded fruits grow upright on the plant and will remain there, plump and shiny, for many weeks

Prairie Fire Chilli Pepper Plant

This plant is one that always catches my eye. It's a very compact bush with small fiery chillies that mature from yellow to red. Ideal as a small pot plant on a kitchen windowsill as its quick growing and just keeps on giving producing chili peppers around 70,000 scoville units

Golden Cayenne Chilli Pepper Plant

These chillies are very easy to grow your own with littel experience. They Produce a satisfying large pepper that's great in pickles, sauces and curries. The long thin fruits mature from green to golden yellow. - ideal for cooking.

Bangalore Torpedo Chilli Pepper Plant

The first time I had one of these chilli peppers was in a Torpedo cocktail, I wondered how the torpedo bit would be and to my delight it turned out to be a large chilli.The Bangalore Torpedo is native to eastern India. Its long thin fruits reach about 12cm and drop like pendants from the plant, maturing from light green to red and becoming hotter and hotter as they do.

 

 

 

Chilli Competitions

If you like Competitions follow @Janesgrapevine and if you like Chilli growing, eating and competitions then make sure you head to the facebook page of Greenhouse Sensation and 'Like' their page to win free chilli goodies

They are experts in the art of growing chilli plants and providing you with some great tools and gadgets to grow your own and help you along what ever your level of experience. Best of all recently with their new facebook group they are offering constant competitions for you to watch out for and win yourself some chilli goodies like one of their chilligrows as pictured below at the start of this years season in my back garden. I entered their first competition and they gace me a small bag of chili peppers at the west dean chili fiesta just for being a customer and entering!

Keep watch and don't miss out

Chilligrow Greenhouse Sensation