Martha Ortiz reveals name and menu for London restaurant

Ella Canta, taken from the Spanish for 'she sings', will open at InterContinental London Park Lane this spring, serving a selection of Ortiz's famed Dulce Patria dishes and new ones.   

Starters such as white fish ceviche topped with creamy hibiscus flower, piquin chile, cinnamon and pickled vegetables; and beef tartare with maiz gordita and Papaloquelite oil, will be followed by salads and main courses including seafood and lobster pozole, and cacahuacintle maiz with traditional garnishes. 

The menu will also showcase Mexican sauce 'mole' with Ortiz planning to offer a tasting menu of seven moles in tribute to the dish, which contains an average of 20 to 30 ingredients and a hand preparation process that can take at least a day to accomplish.

Speaking to Restaurant last year Ortiz said it was important the menu was authentically Mexican.

"The food will be very authentic and it will stay true to the heat of Mexican food – I don’t want to go halfway with chillies. When you do that, you fail. I’m not good at diluting things," she said. 

Ella Canta, which will sit alongside Theo Randall's restaurant at The InterContinental Park Lane and be accessed from a separate entrance, will also include a destination bar serving mezcal, tequila, cocktails and a small plate style menu. 

The restaurant's interiors have been designed by architects David Collins Studio, overseen by Creative Director Simon Rawlings.