Tucked away off the busy King’s Road is a gorgeous oasis bursting with Mexican culture: Mezcalito Chelsea welcomes you into its vibrant cocktail bar and terrace, boasting an impressive 500-plus collection of agave spirits and the sombreros to accompany it.
To celebrate the addition of Mezcal Sentir – a sustainable and high-quality agave originating from Oaxaca in Mexico – to their strong portfolio, Mezcalito Chelsea teamed up with renowned Japanese chef Yasuo Asai to bring an exclusive six-course menu paired with the mezcal to enhance each and every dish.
Yasuo is the only kaiseki chef in Latin America (kaiseki being the traditional preparation of a Japanese multi-course dinner using different skills and techniques), and a master of blending Mexican and Japanese flavours – two cuisines which at first you might think are too different to complement each other, but how I was surprised!
His cooking style is a blend of precision, respect for tradition and modern innovation. He is also committed to sustainable practices, carefully selecting ingredients that are ethically sourced and supporting small-scale producers who focus on responsible farming (hence the partnership with Mezcal Sentir).
Yasuo Asai x Mezcalito London
Each delectable course was served with a neat, 50ml measure of Mezcal Sentir’s collection, designed to enhance and complement the various textures and flavours seamlessly gelled together by Yasuo. The mezcals are served in this way (rather than cocktails) to allow oneself to fully appreciate the tasting notes of each variation.
First up, an amuse-bouche of eel and foie gras on a nori seaweed tempura. A crunchy and flavourful first bite to kick off the meal, this was paired with Mezcal Sentir Espadín: a mezcal with medium smokiness and notes of wood.
Mezcal Sentir uses a variety of agave types, including the more common Espadín, as well as rarer and wild agave species. This offers the drinker a range of flavours and aromatic profiles, such as the smooth and herbal Sentir Cirial which accompanied our next course – shrimp, spinach and peach salad with a deep-fried grasshopper for extra crunch! – and the intense Tobalá which has distinct earthy and smoky tones.
The next course of assorted appetisers truly showed how Yasuo blends Japanese and Mexican cultures to create something wonderful: cactus sushi was served alongside breaded pork with traditional Mole sauce, a jalapeño stuffed with minced chicken and a fresh oyster with Pico de Gallo.
This was swiftly followed by my favourite course of the evening: black cod delicately marinated in Mezcal and soy sauce served with grated fresh cheese. The fish was tender, and the salty cheese cut through the flavours of the soy sauce to bring an alternative savoury contrast to the dish. Paired with Tempeztate, another of Sentir’s wild agaves, this iteration had a strong presence in the mouth, but just like the fish, was expressed in a balanced way, and above all, was fresh and aromatic.
We rounded off the meal saving the most special of the Mezcal Sentir collection for last: Mezcal Sentir Espadín Reposado. Reposado is a type of tequila that is aged in oak barrels for a maximum of one year, giving it a balanced flavour profile that combines the agave’s fresh, herbaceous notes with the wood’s richer and more complex flavours.
Aged for 9 months, Espadín Reposado boasts tasting notes of vanilla and dried fruit which frame the presence of the cooked agave and its slight smoky flavour, making it an approachable spirit for those exploring aged mezcals for the first time. Its subtle sweetness also makes it perfect for pairing with dessert, which is precisely what Yasuo did with his Chile Poblano pepper mousse with walnut sauce and mochi.
Is this Europe’s Biggest Stockist of Tequilas?
The Mezcal Sentir brand is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of Oaxaca, a region of Mexico renowned for its mezcal production. The brand prides itself on representing the authentic flavours and heritage of this area, and even integrates the work of the artisans into their bottles. A relatively new brand but highly respected, they make an excellent addition to Mezcalito’s bar collection.
Above all, Mezcalito London is acknowledged as a mecca for tequila and mezcal enthusiasts, with nearing 600 agave spirits ranging from the more approachable and affordable to the more exclusive tequilas and mezcals only to be enjoyed neat.
Oliver Castilla-Tristan has a strong background in specialist tequilas, and comments: “Our goal is to share Mexican spirits, culture and food and to make customers feel that they’re not in London. Many of our clientele realise that Mexico has a diverse and rich culture. To describe things as ‘Mexican’ is like saying that Dublin is similar to Istanbul. Here, we celebrate the diversity of my home country.”
In addition to the wide range of spirits on offer, their daily menu features a variety of classic and innovative Mexican dishes. Highlights include tacos with unique fillings like beef birria and vegan jackfruit, as well as quesadillas, nachos and the live Mariachi band that plays every Wednesday.
Overall
So, whether you’re a tequila and mezcal aficionado or just love exploring new cultures, Mezcalito has something for every foodie. With its flagship branch in Chelsea, Mezcalito has a newly opened branch in Islington, along with a nightclub & bar in Brompton (with exceptional reggaeton DJs!)
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All imagery courtesy of Mezcalito Chelsea.