Mexican food has enjoyed a surge of popularity in the UK over the past few years. Chefs like Thomasina Miers kick-started our love affair with the cuisine and today there are dozens of restaurants offering an authentic taste of the country. We’re also spending our holidays in Mexico more than ever before – over half a million of us visited in 2016. But what about those of us who want to cook authentic Mexican at home?
That’s where producers like Gran Luchito step in. Founded by Fergus Chamberlain in 2012 after a trip to Oaxaca, it was one of the first companies to offer a real taste of Mexican cooking. Starting his career as a food buyer at Sainsbury’s, Fergus always knew he wanted to own his own food business, but it wasn’t until he was living in New York training as a chef that he started to experience proper Mexican cooking – something that was still quite rare in the UK.
‘Mexican food in the US is a bit like Indian food in the UK – there are Mexican restaurants everywhere,’ he says. ‘I wanted to learn more about it so I booked a two-week trip to Oaxaca to do some research, and instantly fell in love with the place.’