Fancy Feasts In Mexico City

Fine Mexican cuisine takes centerstage in the nations capital, drawing gourmands and foodie travellers to Mexico City, the hottest dining destination of the moment

- Karen Tee

When it comes to Mexican food, chances are you’ve tried burritos, tacos, and nachos, which is more accurately described as Tex-Mex or American-style Mexican cuisine. In fact, it is almost impossible to define Mexican food succinctly, given the diversity of regional specialties – from the seafood-centric dishes of the Yucatan region to the robust street food in Oaxaca.

While the international culinary scene takes its time to gradually discover the bounty of delicacies Mexico has to offer, it is well worth making a gastronomic trip to the country’s capital, where talented chefs are serving fine interpretations of traditional food. Here are four restaurants in Mexico City to score reservations at.

PUJOL

With pretty much a permanent spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list, Pujol is arguably the most famous restaurant in Mexico. Chef Enrique Olvera, who was featured in the Netflix series, Chef’s Table, is widely credited as the man who sparked off this wave of nouveau Mexican cuisine. His goal, he says, is to create haute food without compromising on rustic flavors and traditional cooking techniques.

To understand what Olvera means, order his signature dish, the Mole Madre. Traditionally, mole is a complex sauce made from a blend of chilli, herbs, nuts, fruits, and spices drizzled over meat and other ingredients. At Pujol, a rich chocolate-hued mole which has been simmered for over 1,000 days (and counting) is served with a freshly made reddish-ochre mole as a main course, with a basket of tortillas as accompaniment. The difference in the depth, flavors, and textures of the aged and young moles are transcendental.