
Dish · · Signature
Mole negro
My grandmother’s recipe, with chilhuacle negro chillies brought back each winter. Served with confit duck leg and blue-corn tortillas.
2026 in review
Tomás Ibarra
Restaurant General Manager
London
Letter from the founder
Dear reader,
I run a 90-cover restaurant: front of house, bookings, wine list, staffing and the P&L.
I’ve cut staff turnover in half by fixing rotas and paying tips fairly.
Tomás
2021
Restaurant General Manager
Maíz, Soho
2017
Assistant Manager
Brindisa Kitchen

Dish · · Signature
My grandmother’s recipe, with chilhuacle negro chillies brought back each winter. Served with confit duck leg and blue-corn tortillas.

Dish · · Signature
Triangular stuffed masa, black beans, hoja santa, salsa macha and a little queso fresco.

Dish · · Summer
Cornish scallops cured in lime and serrano, cucumber, red onion and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Pop-up · · 2023–
A ten-course dinner on the first Friday of each month in a Hackney bakery. Sold out 26 months running.
“Every guest feels like a regular when he’s on the floor.”
Opening support
Hiring, training and systems for a new restaurant.
Service training
Front of house, one day.
Profitability review
Menu, labour and supplier costs.
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, 2019
Westminster City Council
Personal Licence Holder, 2017