…grasshopper and cactus dishes for the more adventurous
A sensational culinary event that made a big splash in its inaugural year, the Mexican Food Festival, is once again headed for the Pegasus Hotel this weekend.
At a press conference yesterday, the Pegasus Hotel and the Embassy of Mexico in Guyana officially announced the festival, the second of its kind.
Officials from the embassy, Cooperation Affairs and Trade Promotion Officer Ms. Nayeli Ceceña, and Administrator Roberto Garcia, presented Mexican chef Gerardo Ramos who was brought specially for the festival. Also present was resident Executive Chef of Pegasus  Paul Hamilton.
Ceceña said that Ramos, who hails from Mexico City, the capital and largest city in Mexico, will prepare a range of dishes traditional to the country.
Burritos, tortillas, chili and over seven varieties of salsa are just a few of the dishes that will be available at the festival. Discussing the characteristics of the cuisine, Ceceña said that exotic eats such as grasshoppers and cactus will be available for those with adventurous tastes.
She said that Ramos brought a quantity of the grasshoppers, which are a delicacy in Mexico, with him. However, she noted that this is only an option for the adventurous and will be on the side, noting that “No grasshoppers will be secretly added to the food, it’s only if you want to try it”.
Hamilton, who played an integral part in the first food festival in 2009, working along with visiting chef Gabriel Jimenez, and will be working along with Ramos this time around, said that the exposure of  the   festival is a great opportunity for  the culinary  staff of Pegasus.
On Friday, the hotel’s El Dorado Restaurant will be offering a formal Mexican dinner from 19:00 hrs, at $4,000 plus VAT per person.
On Saturday, a Mexican buffet will be offered at the poolside at the same time and for the same price. The buffet will also be accompanied by Mexican music and video slide shows of Mexican sites and traditions.
The event forms part of the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the independence of Mexico.