A New Tampa Mexican restaurant has invited the public to join James Beard Award-nominated chef and restaurateur Mark Estee for a tequila-pairing experience.
Consulting chef for the family-owned Vuelo Mexican Grill, Estee will be in-house for the specially created four-course tasting menu from 5 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24. The courses — Florida rock shrimp tiradito with citrus, chiles and corn; Luis’s chicken mole with crispy masa cake and chicken chicharrón; carne asada with salsa verde and smashed potatoes; and warm chocolate cake with cajeta caramel sauce — will each be paired with a premium Azuñia tequila.
Depending on the dish, the smooth spirit, made with pure, Jalisco-grown Weber Blue agave, will arrive in a specialty cocktail, neat or over ice. DJ Domi is set to provide the dinner’s Latin soundtrack throughout the evening.
Admission, which costs $40, can be purchased online in advance, or at the door where it increases to $50. Advanced ticket holders will also be entered to win a Azuñia gift basket of a cocktail shaker, glasses and a bottle of Azuñia Blanco Tequila.
Opened a few months ago on this food editor’s birthday (Oct. 25, ahem), Vuelo showcases classic Mexican cuisine with Latin and South American flavors and spins. Another Mexican eatery from a chef with James Beard nods (and a farm-to-table focus) is headed for Oldsmar. Check out CL’s coverage on that restaurant, Suegra Tequila Cantina, from earlier this week.
This article appears in Jan 12-19, 2017.
