MEX in the City – it’s becoming quite the taste of the summer. No sooner have we reviewed the El Camino pop-up at Cotton Factory than fellow newcomer Six By Nico on Spring Gardens announces its second six-week tasting menu will showcase colourful Mexican cuisine.
It only seems like yesterday we sampled Nico Simeone’s launch homage to the ‘Chippie Tea’.
The chef’s concept of keenly priced six course tasting menus (just £28), changing theme every six weeks, each based on place or memory, has proved hugely popular in his native Scotland.
‘Mexico' aims to “transport diners from the hazy cactus deserts of Tijuana to the vibrant, bustling streets of Mexico City with each course.“
We’re told to expect a mix of contemporary street food and ancient culinary classics, given a trademark refined tweak by Nico (below).
There’ll be an amuse bouche of lettuce, lime leaf and avocado gazpacho, pico de gallo salsa; blow-torched mackerel with watermelon, green cilantro taco, whipped creme fraiche; fresh burrata with green chilli salsa verde, cucumber ketchup, garden herbs, green tomato tostada; sea bass with white bean hash, chorizo, pumpkin, squid ink and lemon emulsion; pork belly with barbecued elote, crispy fried cornichon and roasted quince; a twist on chocolate cremeux featuring banana ice cream, vanilla and agave gel, candied hazelnuts, chocolate taco and banana crisp.
There will also be the option for diners to add additional snacks, with choices including a hard shell chicken leg or jackfruit taco with guacamole, pico de gallo salsa, spiced emulsion and gordal olives at £5 per person.
Nico told us: "We want to bring to life our interpretations of contemporary Mexican cooking. People these days are much more familiar with Mexican dishes. Al pastor, quesadillas, mole, carnitas, barbacoa, chipotle and taco are all part of our culinary vocabulary now and Six by Nico are excited to introduce our guests to some thrilling Mexican-inspired dishes”.
Interestingly when they ran Mexico for ix weeks a year ago in the Glasgow Six By Nico the menu was quite different. Good to see it’s not production line menu promotion.
Six By Nico (A Story Every Six Weeks), 60 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ. Diners can book a table now for 'Mexico', which runs from Tuesday, August 20 to Sunday, September 29. Open Tue-Sun, each six-course menu will be available from noon to night. £28 a head with an optional wine pairing for an additional £25. To make a reservation visit sixbynico.co.uk/manchester