OAXACA is a bit of a tongue twister, so when Thomasina Miers (above) created a restaurant brand based on the exquisite tucker of this Mexican province she went for a phonetic spelling – Wahaca.
Whatever, word of mouth has made this market food-inspired chain a huge hit in London and now Thomasina, first female Masterchef winner is rolling it out (as they say) to the provinces with Manchester earmarked for its second restaurant outside London.
Wahaca has applied for a premises licence for a unit in the Corn Exchange and hopes to open there in summer 2015 when its £30m transformation into a food and drink mecca is complete.
Some 13 restaurants – including the returning Salvi’s and Tampopo – and a boutique hotel are planned for the Grade II listed building, but a flagship name has been missing so far. The hugely popular, credible Wahaca looks a step in the right direction. In the just announced Observer Food Monthly Awards it is a runner-up in the Cheap Eats and Best Ethical Restaurant categories.
A Wahaca menu starts with 'nibbles' (from £3 to £4), such as guacamole, beans and tortillas, moves on to smaller plates of soft tacos, crisp tostadas and quesadillas filled with slow cooked pork, marinated chicken, char-grilled steak, fish, veg or beans (from £3.50 to £5). Mains (from £7-£11) are called 'Platos fuertes', offering more slow cooked pork, marinated chicken, char-grilled steak, fish, vegetables and beans. Sides (from £2 to £4) include spicy slaw, grilled corn and sweet potato fries.
Since arriving in Covent Garden in 2007 it has built up 13 branches in the capital, so the 'South of the Border' likes of our own Luck Lust Liquor and Burn, Barburrito and Lucha Libre look like they may have a wrestling match on their hands!