New Mexican hot spot Los Vida lays claim to Melbourne’s hottest taco

THINK you can stand the heat? New Mexican restaurant Los Vida in Melbourne’s CBD has created a “devil’s sauce” that makes tacos truly hot stuff.

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DISAPPOINTED with our cool summer?

A new CBD eatery is doing its best to turn up the heat, serving what it reckons is Melbourne’s hottest taco.

At Los Vida they have created a limited-edition spicy sauce called Pablo’s Diablito – which translates as Pablo’s Little Devil sauce – and is using the sauce to create tacos that really are hot stuff.

Owner Octavio Gomez-Haro said in Mexico chilli was used as a seasoning, and was a huge part of the cuisine.

“In Mexico we grow up eating lollies with chilli. It’s integral to bringing Mexican food to life,” he said.

“Melbourne has an amazing food offering, and people have been exposed to authentic Mexican food, so we wanted to add something new. I think Melbourne can handle the heat.”

Rebecca Boggiano tries the spicy taco with restaurant co-founder Octavio Gomez-Harro cheering her on.

The sauce is named after Los Vida chef Pablo Galindo Vargas and is made from a blend of jalapeno, habanero and super-hot arbol chillies.

These are flame charred in a process known as “toreado”, which releases the oils that contain the potent capsaicin, the active component that gives chilli its heat.

The toasted chillies are then hand-ground and mixed with cauliflower, carrot, onion, thyme, bay leaves and other “secret spices”.

The sauce delivers what Mexicans refer to as “trance chilli” - or a chilli high.

I can vouch for it.

The sauce is definitely hot with lingering spice, delivering persistent numbing and tingling on the lips and mouth.

Depending on how much sauce is used, most will break out in a sweat.

But it adds to, rather than takes away from the enjoyment of eating the tacos, which are very good, generously piled with fillings including braised pork, grilled fish, chicken and lamb.

The sauce can be added to any taco to taste.

“The sauce is very spicy, but it’s edible. There’s no point in destroying the food,” Mr Gomez-Haro said.

Pablo’s Diablito sauce will be available at Los Vida, St Collins Lane, 260 Collins St, until the end of the month.