Why Not a 9-Course Tasting Menu at J by Jose Andres in Mexico City?

Elizabeth Weintraub at J by Jose Andres in Mexico City.

Because we had toured many cities in Spain last August, including the fabulous Barcelona, and earlier this month found ourselves in Mexico City to visit the sanctuaries of the butterflies in Mexico, we had decided to treat ourselves to the tasting menu at J by Jose Andres. This is a chef who blends tastes and authentic cuisine from his native Spain with local ingredients and iconic cooking styles favored in Mexico City. In retrospect, we should have selected a fewer number of courses as we had a choice, but our eyes were larger than our bellies.

Nothing was off limits to us at J by Jose Andres. Grasshoppers, you betcha. Beef tongue, absolutely. Grilled octopus a must. Raw snapper or mezcal-soaked oysters, wowey-zowey, scrumdillyishous. We were promised the best gin and tonic in Mexico City, and we got it prepared and poured table-side. The only item I could not get was escamoles, but we satisfied that urge later in Oaxaca.

Everything in J by Jose Andres is modern yet edgy. The decor involves a lot of orange, which is such a hunger-inducing color. The only little problem we had was the spot-light chandelier over our table which highlighted a small circle in the center, and when it moved, the light bounced around, making it hard to shoot photographs of our plates. I managed to somehow take photos of every dish except dessert. Which was OK because I was ready to curl up on the bench and take a nap while my husband hailed a cab back to the Four Seasons.

The peso goes a long ways in Mexico City. Much different than staying at a coastal resort. If I recall correctly, this meal for the two of us, with drinks, was less than $90. This is a restaurant I could dine at again and again. It was marvelous. Hope you enjoy the photos!

The best gin and tonic in Mexico City is found at J by Jose Andres

Grasshopper rests on top of avocado and tomato

Meat pie dusted with what looks like cheese

This was called milk shake and I don’t recall the contents

Grilled octopus

Olive oil, grapefruit, tequila over fish with sea foam

Two oysters in gin and two oysters in tequila

Piquillo red peppers at J by Jose Andres

At the left, Tempura avocado with pickled oxtail at the right.

Raw Vera Cruz Red Snapper with capers was mouthwatering