New Mexi-Mart for St Kilda

Had enough of queueing for Mexican food? Rather stay home and try your hand at cooking it? Then check out Mexi-Mart at the Acland St Cantina, which is aiming to provide enthusiastic home cooks with authentic ingredients and take-home Mexican meals. Melbourne Pub Group chef and director Paul Wilson recently travelled throught Mexico sourcing elements of authentic Mexican cooking, including La Chinata smoked paprika, dulce de leche smashed cookies and organic black quinoa. Wilson says customers are lapping up the La Chinata smoked paprika ''to make smoked paprika aioli or smoky tomato sauce'', as well as La Morena chipotle chillies in adobo sauce, which are ''great for relishes and can be used in sweet marinades''.

Hilary McNevin