Mexico City: Enrique Olvera
For the scoop on where to eat in the Distrito Federal, T+L caught up with one of the city’s top chefs.
Renowned for modernizing Mexican cuisine with his signature restaurant, Pujol (dinner for two $145), Olvera is executive chef at the Distrito Capital (dinner for two $70) hotel. “I have enough fine dining at my restaurants,” Olvera says, “so I head to more casual places when I go out.” He suggests starting the day at Nicos (3102 Avda. Cuitlahuac; 52-55/5396-6510; breakfast for two $50). “They use free-range eggs for their huevos a la Mexicana and huevos montuleño, plus all the most flavorful chiles: jalapeños, serranos, anchos.” Lunch at Azul y Oro (lunch for two $60) is the next mandatory stop. “Ricardo Muñoz Zurita is perhaps the most important food scholar in Mexico. His duck empanadas with mole negro are amazing.” For something more upscale, Merotoro (204 Amsterdam; 52-55/5564-7799; dinner for two $50) serves Baja-style seafood. Don’t miss: “The braised abalone,” Olvera says.
