Arepa Lockdown
Bereft of events to erect their much-loved stalls, food traders are having to get inventive under lockdown. Popular Venezuelan food stall ‘Guasacaca’ are coming to the rescue with family meals such as ‘Arepa Bowls’ (4 Arepa Buns Quinoa, Black Beans,Cheddar, Plantain, Shredded Beef or Chicken), ‘Plantain Sliders’ and ‘Make your Own Arepa’ Kits, which they’ll deliver direct to your door. So if you want a taste of this year’s La Clave Fest in your very own home, the next time someone suggests pizza, make sure you dial this number instead.
guasagroup.com/kits
Spoil yourself with Marlon
Exhausted by weeks of cooking, word has it that Londoners are craving for a break. While it may be a few more weeks before restaurants open, folks begging chefs to come and cook for them will have their wishes met from May 10th, when private chef websites are reopening. One chef that has cooked in our LatinoLife home and we can highly recommend, is Colombian maestro Marlon. With twenty years training in international kitchens, and Michelin star establishments in London, Madrid and Valencia, Marlon offers modern twists on Colombian classics and a unique fusion style. Book him directly at marlonskitchen.com
Supermarket Spice up
One company that has seen a big rise in sales since lockdown is this new Latin American sauce company who are taking on the likes of Olde El Paso on the ‘Latin food’ supermarket shelves. Previously seen at Latin food festivals, Capsicana’s sauces have been flying off Sainsburys shelves recently, including this fajita kit with Mexican Chilli and Honey and chipotle chilli salsa mix. Ben spent time travelling round the Americas with his dad before he began importing dried and smoked chillies from Mexico and selling them on a market stall in Hitchin. But his vision, plus years of determination, have paid off and we’re grateful that there’s now an alternative to the same tired old taco kids that have been staring at us for decades.
Capsicana.co.uk
Blue Power
Another small business getting creative in lockdown is ‘Maíz Azul’ (Blue Corn) a group of Mexicans living in London who make authentic dishes inspired by street markets in Mexico and homemade recipes that have been passed down for years via their families. They use blue corn, one of the main types of corn used in the Southern and Central Mexican food, to make their tortillas and their dishes are influenced by their lives in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Whilst usually found in London's street markets, during lockdown, they are doing local delivery in South East of handmade corn tortillas, gluten and GM free, with delicious fillings. They are also delivering other Mexican goodies like tomatillo verde and pilocillo sauces. Orders are via Instagram DM (@maizazuluk) or via email maizazuluk@gmail.com. See also their online store www.maizazul.co.uk/store
