Fifteen years after the opening of La Casita Mexicana, Chefs Jamie and Ramirobring their authentic flavors and heirloom recipes to South Los Angeles.
LA chefs Jaime and Ramiro’s opened their newest Los Angeles-area restaurant Mexicano (pronounced “me-hi-ka-no”) at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw on February 27. Guests entered through wrought iron gates to find the main dining room, awash in hexagonal turquoise and cream floor tiles, stained wood, and etched metal dividers holding a bounty of colorful lamps, retail items, and indigenous artwork from the chefs’ home state of Jalisco. An extensive outdoor patio for al fresco dining features suspended incandescent, Edison-style bulbs and steel pendant fixtures illuminate the space.
In the kitchen, which can be seen from the dining room, Jaime and Ramiro have expanded their repertoire of authentic Mexican cuisine for a new audience. Menu highlights include a 10-minute cooked-to-order grilled tamale, Nayarit cod ceviche, and pechugas de pollo, a simmering Mexican dish of shredded chicken with poblano chiles, cream and mushrooms. The cocktail menu will feature several Mezcal based cocktails such as the Sereno made with ginger and lime, the Placero with cactus, lime and Chicharron salt, and the Mezcapán, featuring Mazapán, Orangeflower water, and lime and three Raspados, the Mexican version of a snow cone, including a Jamaica one, a Tamarindo one and a Vanilla one. Decadent desserts include mini churros to dip in cinnamon-laced cafe, guavas marinated in a Mexican-style eggnog and Chile en Nogada Ice Cream topped with candied Poblano Chile strips, a play on the traditional chile dish of Mexico.
Behind Mexicano, and located in the food court, at Flautas Chefs Jaime and Ramiro offer a number of traditional crisp-fried Mexican rolled tacos. Larger in size than taquitos, and a favorite street food in the chef’s native Jalisco, the flautas are topped with various sauces, salsas, and moles. With over 10 varieties to choose from guests will be hard pressed to decide between such favorites as the chicken flauta topped with Jaime and Ramiro’s legendary mole poblano and the potato and homemade chorizo flauta filled with potato, Mexican crema and spicy tomatillo sauce.
The owners of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw have done a fantastic job of revitalizing the area with a $40 million renovation and Mexicano will play a big role in continuing to transform the region. The opening of Mexicano will contribute significantly to making this part of Los Angeles a culinary destination, providing neighbors and patrons with an elevated casual, and unique dining experience.
Located on the east side of the Cinemark Rave Theater, near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Crenshaw Blvd.Flautas is located inside the dining court at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw,behind Mexicano.
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About Jaime and Ramiro
After years of cooking bold and traditional Mexican food together at La Casita Mexicana restaurant in Bell, CA, Jaime Martin Del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu have become affectionately known jointly as Jaime and Ramiro. The two met as airline company executives 19 years ago, and bonded over their shared desire to open a true Mexican restaurant. Among some of the biggest stars in the Mexican cooking world, the duo brings the authentic flavors and heirloom family recipes of their signature Los Angeles-area restaurant to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw with the opening of Mexicano. Garnering a nomination for Best Chef: Pacific from the James Beard Foundation in 2008, Jaime and Ramiro continue to earn recognition for serving exemplary traditional Mexican gastronomy from numerous national and international publications. Their charisma and passion for Mexican cuisine has afforded them broadcast opportunities, including a role as judges on seasons one and two of the Telemundo show, “Top Chef Estrellas,” as well as recurring work with La Opinión, the largest Spanish newspaper in America. They have also received certificates of recognition from the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and from the Los Angeles Board of Education for their civic work and contributions.
About Baldwin Hills Crenshaw
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (BHC) is an 870,000-square-foot retail destination located at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. Anchored by Macys, Sears and WalMart, with over 100 specialty stores, state-of-the-art cinemas and dining options, BHC has long been recognized as the hub of the surrounding communities. From a signature concert series known as BHCP Live!, monthly Kid’s Club and a weekly Farmers’ Market to the many public services offered at the mall, it is clear that BHC is more than just a place to shop, it’s a central gathering place for the local community. BHC is entrenched in the local lifestyle, and is committed to making this neighborhood an even better place to live, work, shop and just BE! BHC has teamed up with several leading community partners to support a variety of worthwhile events throughout the year, and continue to support programming that reflects the history and interests of our local residents.
Posted 03/04/15by JD
