Cancun Mexican restaurant Hacienda Sisal came third in Ven a Comer 2018, a national food competition showcasing restaurants and companies that preserve and promote traditional Mexican cuisine, ingredients and liquors such as tequila and mezcal.
Ven a Comer is a nationwide competition organized by the Mexican Tourism Board to draw attention to Mexico’s rich culinary heritage (it is in the UNESCO World Heritage list) and the restaurants, chefs and cooks and food production companies that are preserving it, whether by using locally sourced ingredients, authentic recipes and cooking techniques passed down through the generations or serving tequila, mezcal, sotol and other national liquors.
There is also a category for companies, cooperatives and farmers growing and promoting Mexican crops, herbs, spices, organic coffee, chocolate, cheeses, wines and much more.
Located next to The Royal Sands in the Cancun Hotel Zone, Hacienda Sisal served classic Mexican dishes such as Chicken in Mole, a smooth rich sauce made with spices, chocolate and a hint of chili; Mixiote, lamb wrapped in a maguey leaf and slow-cooked; Carnitas, marinated pork; Cochinita Pibil, a slow-roasted pork recipe from the Yucatan; Veracruz-style fish in a tomato sauce and a range of traditional antojitos or appetizers such as sopes, tostadas, tacos, crisp fried tacos or flautas and quesadillas made with blue corn and Oaxaca cheese.
Thursday is Pozole day at Hacienda Sisal and the hearty broth with pork or chicken, hominy and all the classic garnishes of shredded lettuce, radish, onion, oregano and fried tortilla strips is on the menu for lunch and dinner.
On Sunday, the popular Hacienda Sisal Brunch buffet is a mouthwatering spread of Mexican appetizers and traditional breakfast dishes.
In addition to serving authentic Mexican dishes, ingredients and salsas, Hacienda Sisal has an extensive list of Mexican craft beers, wines and liquors such as tequila, mezcal and sotol, with Xtabentun liqueur from the Yucatan as the perfect after-dinner drink.
The 2018 Ven a Comer national winner in the restaurant category was Kinich, a family-owned restaurant in Izamal, Yucatan, acclaimed for its authentic Yucatecan cuisine.
