Chef Vikas Seth is a restaurateur and star of Mexican documentary film. Chef Vikas Seth recently returned from Mexico and brings his learnings, adventures and experiences to Sanchez, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. In Conversation with Explocity, he tells us about his travels and his plans for Sanchez in Bangalore.

Why did you go to Mexico and what did you do there?​ 

I was on this amazing culinary trip with a well know Mexican Chef Iliana de la Vega, my mentor at the Culinary Institute of America, San Antonia and Chef-Owner, El Naranjo, Austin. I have been to Mexico number of times during my cruise working days, but the culinary trip with Chef Iliana was on my bucket list for quite some time and as my wife accompanied me, we had an awesome time exploring Mexican food and culture in Oaxaca and Mexico City.

It was extensive detailed trip 7 days in Oaxaca and 2 days in Mexico City, where we visited number of high end restaurants like Zandunga, Criollo, Origen, Los Danzantes, Tlamanalli, and Azul Historico.

Popular food joints like, La Olla, La Capilla De Zaachila, Del Jardin café bar, Nieves Oaxaqueñas Chagüita, Itanoni, La Casona De Tita, La Teca, El Milenario, Fonda Florecita, El cardinal and Chalupitas.

Many local food markets, like 20 de Noviembre market, Sunday market at Tlacolula, Mercado de la Merced and San Juan Market.

Had gastronomical cooking session with Chef Iliana, where we learned how to make queso fresco Oaxacan style apart from cooking a huge Mexican menu with local produce.

Got to meet the Mexican culinary legend Chef Diana Kennedy at the hotel where we were staying during her documentary shoot. She was so thrilled to meet an Indian doing Mexican food that she made sure that I become a part of her documentary, another mind blowing memory made.

Saw the making of Mexican Chocolate, Mezcal tasting and tour to mezcal distillery.

Visited number of culturally rich places in and around Oaxaca city like, Mexican painter Rodolfo Morales house in Octalan, visited tranquil village of Santo Tomas Jalieza famous for colourful embroidered belts, handbags, blouses, shawls and place mats, saw ‘alebrijes’ which are wood carvings of fantastic creatures painted in bright colors and intricate patterns in San martine Tilcajete, visited convent of Cuilapam, Santo Domingo Church, Botanical Garden called ‘jardin Etnobotanico’ and archaeological site Monte Alban, El Tule to see the stoutest tree trunk of the world among others.

​What's Cinco de Mayo? What happened on the 5th of May?​ 

Cinco de mayo means Fifth Of May. It is the celebration for Mexican Army’s only victory over the French troops at the battle of Puebla on 5thof May 1862.   

​Are you happy that you are running a Mexican speciality kitchen​?

Super happy cooking Mexican food.

Why is​ ​Mexican food popular? Is it similar to Indian food?​

Mexican food is surely getting popular day by day. Mexican food has a lot of flavour and spice which is similar to India food in a way. At Sanchez you discover the brilliance of Aztec cuisine, modern Mexican food, and Tex Mex too. But by and large in India people relate Tex Mex to Mexican food, which is quite different from real Mexican. But the trend is surely on our side with Mexican food getting popular worldwide, even one of the world’s best chef Rene Redzepi of Noma is running a seven-week pop up in the Mexican jungle which is considered to be the meal of the decade. I am sure the real Mexican food will also get accepted in India soon. But for now Nachos are surely more popular than Tamales!

Do you have ​to Indianise the food? Do you need to add Indian spices?​

At Sanchez we don’t Indianise our Mexican fare. We use authentic Mexican chilies and herbs for cooking. Apart from popular Mexican chipotle chili which is pretty common now in India too, we use pasilla, ancho, negro, guajillo, habanero and others in cooking at our restaurant.

​So what will your Cinco de Mayo menu feature?​ 

Apart from special Cinco de mayo tacos on the menu we are have the following as well available on Cinco de mayo at Sanchez

Drinks

Non –Alcoholic

Agua de Jamaica

Bright red hibiscus brewed iced tea, a little tart, a little sweet & totally refreshing

Horchata

Drink made of ground almonds, rice & cinnamon, creamy and slightly sweet

Agua de Chia

Healthy and refreshing lemonade style drink made from chia seeds

Alcoholic

El Suero             lime juice, ice cubes, beer, salt rimmed, Extra refreshing, offspring of a margarita

Michelada

Spicy beer cocktail, chili salt rimmed, made with lime juice, tabasco, Worcestershire, tomato juice and more!

Appetizers

Oaxacan Artisan Queso Fresco

Fresh homemade cheese made Mexican style, smokey chipotle, served with tortilla chips or grilled torta bread

Jalapeno Spiced Homemade Cream Cheese

Served with blue corn tortilla chips or grilled torta bread

Achiote Summer Vegetable Taquitos

Achiote - natural lipstick spice, slightly tart. Vegetables tossed in Achiote, topped with habanero onions, served on homemade mini corn tortillas

Garnachas

Small crispy tortillas topped with chicken chili con carne, roasted tomato salsa & queso fresco  

Mains

Roja & Negro Enmoladas

Corn tortillas stuffed with grilled seafood/meat/vegetables of choice and mashed sweet potato, topped with red and black mole, queso fresco, refried black beans and Mexican rice

• Prawns
• Red snapper
• Chicken
• Roasted Pork
• Roasted Lamb
• Tenderloin
• Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Green Beans
• Textured Soya

Paletas - Mexican Ice Popsciles

Tamarindo Chili & Cane Sugar Paletas

Ice Popsicles made with the sweet sour tamarind, ancho chili & Mexican cane sugar, on sugarcane stick

Fresh Mango & Chipotle Paletas

Ice Popsciles made with fresh juicy mango chunks, mango juice, lime & chipotle, on sugarcane stick

​Personally, what your favourite Mexican dish?​ 

I love Homemade Mexican Chorizo Chilaquiles, which is easy explain as Mexican lasagne made with tortilla chips instead of pasta sheet, ranchero sauce and filling of your choice and I love Homemade Mexican Chorizo at Sanchez!

​And the least favourite?​ 

Mexican Chapulines (fried grasshoppers) are not on my favourite list!

​Why did you choose to open Sanchez in Bangalore? ​ 

As we love Bangalore and surely one of the best cosmopolitan city to start with new food concept.
Check out pictures from his trip here. *WARNING: you might catch the travel bug.* We hear it's going around