Taste Tortuga with a competition – presented by Madinat Jumeirah
“The next big thing on the food and restaurant scene this year is a Mexican renaissance,” so claimed chef-cum-TV star Anthony Bourdain during our interview at Cayman Cookout a couple of weeks ago. And something his fellow celeb chef friends echoed – Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert and Daniel Humm.
Quite timely given we have a brand new home-grown Mexican restaurant just open in Dubai – Tortuga Mexican Kitchen and Bar at Madinat Jumeirah’s Mina A’Salam where the Wharf used to sit.
‘Tortuga’ is the Spanish translation for turtle, and the green species is Mexico’s national marine animal – also found convalescing within the waterways of Madinat Jumeirah before being released back into the sea.
More importantly Tortuga is helmed by Mexican chef Carlos Hannon who promises home-cooked authentic Mexican fare and hence his strapline ‘mi casa es su casa’. Don’t worry you won’t find turtle on the menu ;). But you will find the signature dish of moreishly good molcajete (melted cheese in a hot volcanic bowl) – trust me I’ve tried it – a live tortilla station (the crispy corn tortilla rounds aka tostada topped with duck confit is my fave), and those addictively delectable churros (crunchy fried choux pastry dipped in hot chocolate). Plus Carlos’ hometown craving, torta ahogada from Guadalajara – a chunky and crusty sandwich drowned in a dried chilli pepper sauce. For the full flavour, read the menu here which even includes a Mexican food dictionary.
Tortuga’s signature Molcajete dish
Or even better, enter our competition so you can taste for yourself. We have two prizes up for grabs for FooDiva readers in Dubai – two dinners for two to the value of AED500 per couple including non-alcoholic drinks. All you need to do is tell us your favourite Mexican dish.
Leave your answer as a comment on this post AND using the submission form below. You can increase your chances of winning by commenting and sharing the competition post on FooDiva’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram channels. The giveaway competition closes on 15th February when the clock strikes midnight, and two winners will be picked randomly (through random.org) on 16th February. You will have 24 hours to claim your prizes otherwise we’ll have to select other winners.
Tortuga is located on the waterway at Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah. T; +971 4 3666730, E; MJrestaurants@jumeirah.com Open daily 12noon to midnight. Licensed so the tequila flows freely.
Good luck and a bientôt!
FooDiva. x
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Love the Mexican dictionary 🙂
Hopefully this place bucks the trend of mediocre Mexican restaurants in Dubai! None of my favourite Pulled Pork Burritos but plenty on the menu I’d love to try 🙂
I love Mexican Food!!
Mole Poblano is my favorite mexican dish ~ rich in flavors and not to forget the divine chocolate experience …
Mexican tortillas
My best friends mum is Mexican and she makes the most delicious dish called chicken Pozole, it’s a family recipe that has been passed down through generations and oh my!!!
As a Texas girl, I love me some TexMex, Mexican…you name it! Definitely cant wait to try Tortuga. My fave Mexican dish would have to be freshly made guacamole…extra spicy.
You had me at churros… 😉
I love Fajitas – beef, chicken, shrimp or mixed is just soooo good its on top of my mind when talking about Mexican food.
My favourite Mexican dish is Roasted Vegatable Quesadillas
I love Fajitas – beef, chicken, shrimp or mixed is just soooo good its on top of my mind when talking about Mexican food.
my favorite is FAJITAS (with chiken or beef) it’s simply delicious!!! yum yum
Mexican food has so much more than what fast food joints want us to believe. I hope the new Mexican wave allows people a chance to explore beyonf tortillas, burritos and fajitas. And although I love, love, love a simple but flavourful guacamole, my favourite has to be a red snapper dish called Huachinango a la Veracruzana.
Mexican chimi changas
My absolute favorite Mexican dish has got to be freshly made guacamole! I can live off that stuff!
I love Fajitas with Churros for dessert 🙂
I looove tacos and salsa!
I LOVE mexican food! I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed! Hoping to win this! I love anything and everything Mexican food! <3
Looking forward to checking this out!!
Mexican dishes are so flavorful, but if I had to pick my fav it will Beef Tongue in Salsa Verde (green sauce made with tomatillos and chilli plus more spices). Normally is served also in a Molcajete but depends from place to place the sauce also changes depending on the region. It is also a very common filling for tacos. The tongue is so soft that I will go with the cliché saying that it melts in your mouth but it actually does
Being Vegetarian…love the live Guacamole…a bit tingy and spicy 🙂 cant leave out the burritos and enchiladas…and raving to try the chocolate dipped churros 🙂
My favourite dish is chili con carne. And I love the dips as well. Hope to check the new place out for sure:)
Nachos and fajitas make the perfect combination , especially the crispy nachos with the great dip
A glaring omission on every menu on a lot of Mexican restaurants is southern Mexico’s highly diverse and often unique cuisine (Oaxaca and Yucatan) with such delicacies as tamales, steamed in banana leaves, grilled grasshoppers, served in tacos with spicy green habanero salsa or as a snack, garnished with wedges of lime, chicatanas, maguey worms salted and toasted and flavored ants (and ant eggs) with homemade nopal tortillas… I could keep on for hours but you get the gist: Mexican food, only in Mexico!
Definitely a plus of moving to Houston: if Mexican cuisine indeed is the new trend, I am in a good spot! Can find all of the above, and then some. Including turtle soup. Recently had a great sampling of Mexican coastal cuisine at the new Caracol. Still, with respect to Dubai’s Tortuga, I can imagine how extra well these flavors will taste overlooking those romantic waterways of the lovely Madinat Jumeirah.
Not sure it’s authentic …but my favorite side dish from my old local Mexican joint was Avocado fries. Unique and Super yummy!
Chicken Enchiladas is my favorite mexican dish. its yummy and really filling.
My favourite dish is mexican pizza which is more healthy & tasty with thin tortillas
I love Burritos and freshly made Guacamole.
Fresh fried churros with a pot of warm dark chocolate. It’s like Mexican Christmas
My favorite Mexican is Cuacamole…and…and Tortuga’s menu definitely seems attractive.
Favourite Mexican food? White beans and shrimp on mole coloradito. Plus tequila, of course…
Guacamole with nachos
BEST MEXICAN DISH has to be CHURROS con Chocolate! mmmmmm.. always safe the best for last 🙂
Nachos!! With a big dollop of guacamole! Finished off with Churros!
Prawn fajitas doused with guacamole
Chicken tacos
I love burrito’s, it is very healthy and filling.
I love Burritos and Nachos with salsa and guacamole
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO!! 🙂 Deliciousss!
I love Mexican Food because of the use of impossibly fresh ingredients, intriguing recipes passed down generations, the sauces they incorporate in every dish, & the gorgeous flavours that sneak out of each bite are some of the many reasons why I can never seem to have enough of Mexican Food. I can have Chicken Fajita Nachos every single day & still want more. But the dish which Is my current love is Chicken Enchilada. This dish is a Mexican story on a platter. The crunch of the corn tortillas, the creaminess of the oozing cheese, the tanginess of the jalapeños & the smoky flavour of the grilled chicken is most delectable. That’s not all the delicious Ranchero Sauce takes the dish to another level. Served with rice, Mexican beans , guacamole & salsa it’s a burst of a riot of flavours in your mouth.
I love me some Quesadillas! You can easily use whatever ingredients available at hand to make one. It can be made according to everyone’s taste using healthy fillings as well while dipping in sweet or savory sauces!
I love Churros, give me that Donut with cinamon and sugar and some hot chocolate… still loving Maya as well – that habenro sauce!!!! mmmm
Churros with chocolate sauce
Vegetable quesadilla
Nachos with cheese
My Mexican favs are Mole Verde Zacatecano and Empanadas.
It’s time to reveal our two lucky winners! Lupita Arrese whose favourite Mexican dish is the tlayudas tortilla snack dish. And Sharmishta (Mishti) Bhattacharjee who loves huachinango, the signature fish dish from Veracruz. Congrats to all participants, and stay tuned for another competition next month 🙂 x