Painted Black – Ella Canta celebrates Day of the Dead
Ella Canta opened earlier this autumn, bringing the colour and spirit of modern Mexico to London, and through the restaurant, culinary superstar Martha Ortiz shares the folktales and customs of her homeland. This re-telling of Mexico’s enchanting stories will be seen throughout November, when Ella Canta will celebrate Día de los Muertos, the longstanding Mexican holiday to honour deceased loved ones.
The Painted Black menu will be available from 1–12 November, and will have a continuous line of black running throughout, a line that celebrates life. The dramatic dishes will combine bold, authentic flavours with contemporary culinary techniques, and will be served alongside a striking collection of cocktails. The six-course menu will include dishes such as Seabass with black aguachile, salty mandarin and turmeric sorbet and Quail with black recaudo and caramelized squash purée. For dessert, Corn ash sorbet with edible silver will be followed by María goes to Mictlán, a dessert where Martha’s much-loved María will travel to the land of the dead.
Furthermore, throughout the Day of the Dead celebrations, Ella Canta’s bar will be serving a unique menu of Painted Black cocktails, alongside their collection of rare mezcals and tequilas. These will include The Lady in Black, a fierce, citrussy black margarita dedicated to the goddess ‘Lady of the Dead’, and El Curandero, a fresh, tangy concoction combining Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, mandarin, lime, and Cajun Mexican Falernum.
From 1–4 November, DJs from Latin America will be bringing uptempo Latin beats and carnival rhythms across the Atlantic to Ella Canta. Also enhancing the celebratory atmosphere, the restaurant team will add traditional ‘Day of the Dead’ accessories to their renowned stylish attire, and the space will be decorated with floral displays and candles reflecting the customary ofrendas seen in homes across Mexico throughout the holiday.
Notes to Editors
1–3 November: The Painted Black menu will be the only menu available for dinner service
4–12 November: The Painted Black menu will be available alongside the à la carte menu for dinner
About Ella Canta:
Ella Canta opened in September 2017, bringing the colours, flavours, and spirit of modern Mexico to London. Ella Canta is adjoined to the InterContinental London Park Lane, one of the Capital’s most prestigious hotels. Martha Ortiz oversees Ella Canta as Chef Patron, working alongside Executive Chef of the InterContinental London Park Lane, Ashley Wells, and Head Chef of Ella Canta, Elias Silva Resinas. The new restaurant and bar joins Theo Randall at the InterContinental, bringing two renowned chefs to one dining destination in the heart of Mayfair.
About Martha Ortiz:
Martha Ortiz is a chef and cookbook author who is celebrated for her creative, feminine cuisine, her historical research into Mexican food traditions, and the great imagination and fantasy present in her work. She is recognised for resurrecting Mexican culinary traditions and reinvigorating them with modern twists, with an emphasis on the sensual nature of the food of Latin America. Martha shows off her country’s gastronomy with depth of flavours that encapsulate Mexico’s spirit and sense of identity. She has penned eight cookbooks on regional cuisine and distinguished herself as a food writer and a leading chronicler of her country’s gastronomic history. Her restaurant in Mexico City, Dulce Patria, is consistently recognised as one of the top restaurants in Latin America. She is also a regular on broadcast throughout The Americas, including Top Chef México.
Address: Ella Canta, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY
Website: www.ellacanta.com
Reservations: reservations@ellacanta.com // 020 7318 8715
Facebook: ellacantalondon Instagram: ellacantalondon Twitter: ellacantalondon
Opening Hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 11.30am–1am
Thursday to Saturday: 11.30am–3am
Sunday: 11.30pm–6pm
For further press information, please contact Sauce Communications: francesca@saucecommunications.com | rose.hardy@saucecommunications.com | 020 8600 3600