][1]Having gone down a storm since opening in Aberdeen, Las Iguanas launches on West Nile Street in Glasgow on Monday. Fittingly for a Latin American-themed restaurant, it will start welcoming diners just as the Mardi Gras carnival starts shaking its booty in Rio.
Originally founded in Bristol, way back in 1991, the group of South American restaurants has expanded into Scotland at what is possibly the optimum time. Peruvian dishes such as ceviche have never been cooler while cachaça is shaping up to be the on-trend cocktail spirit. Oh and of course, there is the small matter of the World Cup taking place in Brazil over the summer.
Get your xinxim on
Besides fajitas, enchiladas and other dishes which are familiar from Mexican menus, the 5pm Dining blog knows little about South American food. However, Las Iguanas’ dishes look interesting. There are sample menus here but we liked the sound of the xinxim – a Brazilian speciality which features lime chicken in a crayfish and peanut sauce. We also started drooling at the thought of the hot Guyanese pepperpot – a sweet and spicy stew made with succulent slow-braised mutton.
][5]Salsa and cachaça
Las Iguanas has a policy of purchasing as many of their ingredients as they can from within the UK but augmenting the Brit produce with authentic Latin American spices. All dishes are made freshly to order by head chef Anshul Gurung and the 30-plus sauces and salsas are made in the kitchens every day.
Las Iguanas’ are also known for their cocktails. They’re the only restaurant to produce cachaça from their own sugar cane plantation near Rio, with master cachaça-maker Joao Luiz overseeing the process from harvesting to bottling.
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