A That's series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life.
Ahead of Cinco de Mayo, we speak with Brit-Dutch operations jefe of MAYA and MAYITA Mexican restaurants, Rob Jameson. He tells us about his love for Mexican culture, favorite dishes and drinks
1. I am ‘hùn xuè ér’.
In 2001 I used to work with a bunch of great hard-working Mexican bartenders in a restaurant off of Regent Street in London. After work they used to take us drinking down the road in an iconic restaurant and bar called Down Mexico Way. That was my first taste of the awesome Latin vibe!
2. I like old vintage raw denim and the cowboy culture. To me the culture symbolizes the working man.
Cowboys originate from Mexico. A lot of people don’t know but most of the Southwest of the USA used to be Mexican, which when I entered the US from Mexico once, the Hispanic US immigration official made a point of telling me! Maybe the wall should be moved further North. ;)
3. I have a few favorites from the bar, but Tlayuda is my favorite Mexican dish.
It's like a Mexican pizza made with Oaxacan cheese and other ingredients like deep-fried acidic grasshoppers. I like blanco tequila, Siete Leguas is one of my favourites and a Tapatio’s (Guadalajara native) go to. For Mezcal I like El Jolgorio and Real Minero’s ranges in general - they make small batches in ancestral methods. As a prefered agave species I love Arroqueno and as a favorite Mexican beverage, nothing beats a morning fresh sour/sweet pulque. My favorite comfort food though? Sausage, thick cut chips and Heinz baked beans everytime... preferably while watching Spurs.
4. Meeting Don Tacho, a 75-year-old Mezcal farmer
and chatting about his life with him and his son and my business partner Miguel whilst feasting on Tlayudas, pulque and seriously good Mezcal in the courtyard of his tiny pelanque in the home town of Mezcal, Matatlan, Oaxaca. That was my favorite Mexican memory. Also, meeting Jesus Hernandez from Olmeca tequila is a truly humbling experience. He is a man that Rudyard Kipling's ‘if’ poem is talking about.
5. My ideal pinata would be in the image of Mayahuel, the goddess of fertility/the maguey agave/pulque.
It would contain mini Mezcal and Tequila bottles, a return ticket with Aeromexico direct to Merida, Yucatan, lots of typical Mexican sweets like Glorias and Pulparindos, a few hot sauces and tons of smoked Mexican dry chillis!! My 2-year-old daughter would be the one to break it.
Catch Rob running on the terrace of MAYITA next weekend at the annual Cinco de Mayo party on Friday, May 5. The party includes Mexican face painting, a 'Make Your Own' margarita station, tequila trolley, traditional food and drink and live music. Early bird tickets can be ordered now; check out the event listing below.
See listing for MAYITA and MAYA. See event listing.
Read more '5 Things'
0 User Comments