Would you say Mexican cuisine is popular in this region?

Juan Flores, executive chef, Loca: Mexican cuisine is popular in the region, but only a handful of restaurants serve genuinely authentic Mexican food. There may be many places in the region that you can go to, to order a taco, but this doesn’t mean the taco is actually made in the traditional Mexican way. Real Mexican fare is complicated and sophisticated to cook, and requires time and attention to make. So much of Mexico’s history is steeped in the food and it differs depending on the region, from Yucatán to Veracruz and Oaxaca. These regions’ food offerings vary because of the local conditions of these areas. Real Mexican food is growing in popularity in the region as more restaurants make an effort to ensure their food is genuine, which is definitely progress.

Ruben Herrera, chef de cuisine, Maya Modern Mexican Lounge & Kitchen, Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa: Yes, Mexican cuisine is extremely popular across the region — more and more Mexican restaurants are opening up across the UAE and Middle East.

Abdul Latif Arakji, regional executive chef, Rosa Mexicano: There are over 200 nationalities living and working here, with many who would go the extra mile to indulge in quality Mexican preparations. There are already a few Mexican restaurants in the region, delivering customer needs.

Oscar Rito Rodriguez, head chef patron, Tortuga: Real Mexican cuisine is not well–known in the region. Guests believe that burritos, fajitas and nachos make up thetypical Mexican fare but it is actually tex–mex food.

Are recipes tweaked to suit a local audience?

Flores: I am a Mexican chef from Mexico. To tweak any recipes would mean serving guests food that is not authentic. The preparation of our food is as authentic as we can make it, using 100% Mexican products from Oaxaca cheese to Mexican chillis and tomatillos.

Herrera: The food we serve is extremely authentic. Some of our traditional favourites include the cazuelas. We also have a few very popular dishes on the menu that have been recreated with a modern twist — such as tacos de barbacoa and pescado maya. Generally speaking, in Mexico, we like our food to be really spicy, but we have had to tone down some of the dishes on the menu, as we need to make sure we satisfy everyone’s tastes.

Arakji: Unfortunately, the Mexican wave in the region leans more towards tex–mex, and in most of the Mexican restaurants in Dubai, the dishes are an American adaptation of the basic items in a Mexican authentic cookbook, to meet the local taste. Fajitas, tacos, tortillas, burritos and quesadillas are a few traditional, yet widely popular, dishes from the South America; authentic Mexican cuisine has lots of seafood as well, such as the dishes from the Pacific coast (aguachile, ceviche), while South–Eastern Mexico is known for its spicy vegetable and chicken–based dishes. Also, beans and spicy peppers, such as jalapeños and chillies, remain a crucial aspect of Mexican food.

Rodriguez: We share a lot of ingredients with India and Asia, and sauces like curries are very similar to our moles sauces. What we do is to look after our roots, look into all our recipes and see what can work here with our audience; and also educate the people gradually.

Story continues below
Advertisement