CINCO DE MAYO AT CHILANGO

May the 5th 2010 saw the first nationwide Chilango promotion. With the help of Corona, we dressed the restaurants for the occasion.

Cinco de Mayo dates back to 1862 when the French Army invaded Mexico. The French army was larger and more equipped but Mexico managed to defeat them. The day was significant for two reasons – one because of the unlikely defeat and two, because since then no country in the Americas has been invaded by a country from any other continent. The Mexican men who fought at the Battle of Puebla defied the odds, and Cinco de Mayo celebrates their bravery and determination.

We joined up with Corona to offer customers who bought a Corona with their meal a prize and there was also a chance to enter the Chilango competition to win a hamper filled with lots of awesome Chilango goodies. The managers and staff used their creativity to decorate the restaurants – check out the awesome pics.

Have you got a Chilango Story? Email: shannon@chilango.co.uk

Best Burrito Wrapper Award!

Tony, who works in Meadowhall at an engraving shop called Crystal Amaze, is one of our most avid customers at Chilango Meadowhall. He visits us so often that he can now identify who the best burrito rollers in our team are. He presented one of our team members with the “Best Burrito Wrapper” award. Sandra, in the photograph below, received an engraved box and a bottle of wine from this loyal customer.

Do you have a Chilango Story? We would love to hear it! shannon@chilango.co.uk

CHILANGO CHAMPS CLASS

On Monday 8^th March 2010, Chilango Meadowhall hosted 24 children from St Peters C of E Primary School, Barnsley. The children spent a couple of hours learning about how we prepare some of our ingredients and our friendly crew showed them around the Chilango Kitchen. They started by learning how to make Pico de Gallo and then moved on to the grill area where David Baker, our Grill Chef, talked about how we cook our chicken and steak. He also showed them how to make our Salsa Asada ( medium salsa ), which they couldn’t get enough of.

The children where loving the experience and couldn’t wait to start making the guacamole although they had a little trouble using the over-sized masher which is probably why some of it ended up on their faces. Despite the mess, most of them thought the guacamole was awesome.

The children then had the chance to make their own meals before sitting down to enjoy all the new flavours from Mexico that they had so eagerly learnt about.

The day was a great success and the staff at Chilango had just as much fun as the pupils. The children were so impressed by their visit that they each made Chilango a special card. It was a great experience for everyone involved!

“Thank you again for the food, it was delicious and I’m sure many – including myself, will be returning. It certainly was a day that all the children will remember and such an enhancement to our learning about Mexico. “Lorna (Teacher at Tankersley St Peter’s Primary School)

Chilango Bluewater Opening

On official opening day, Saturday 13^th March, we served free food from 12-4pm and handed out £5,849 worth of Mouth-Watering Mexican Flavours!  The queue started building 30 minutes before opening and stayed about 75 deep all afternoon. A Mariachi Band serenaded the crowd and the Latin Dancers that followed gave Bluewater a show it won’t forget.

We have had an awesome first week in Bluewater and Chilango has been welcomed with open arms.

Chilango has landed in Bluewater, and we’re almost ready to take off…

Watch out as Chilango lands in Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent. It’s only ten days until Kent floods through our doors to enjoy a free burrito at our grand opening. The restaurant is looking great but we can’t wait for it to be bustling with happy faces and lively Chilango atmosphere. Activities started today with an exciting staff orientation. Over the next few days our training team will be coaching our new Chilango team members, showing them exactly how we rock ‘n roll ( literally ). Next week we sneak the Bluewater retail staff in behind our hoarding for a pre-opening taste of what we have to offer and hold a VIP night for special guests. The anticipation is building for the opening of our fourth restaurant.

Join us for the opening day activities on Saturday 13^th for free food 12-4pm and entertainment including a Mariachi Band.

Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent

Saturday 13^th March

FREE FOOD 12 – 4pm

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=331799952482&ref=mf

An Avid Chilangoee

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Eric and Shannon for the amazing bundle of coupons, and specifically Shannon for wrapping them in a nice box and writing a card. As an avid Chilangoee, I’ve been in regular contact with Eric for many months, usually with the selfish intention of suggesting he open a location in my post code (SW7 represent)!  He hasn’t opened near me, so I’m going to assume that these coupons were a sort of peace offering but I’ll accept them nevertheless.

I was really chuffed when Eric invited me over to Chilango for drinks, and even more chuffed when they gave me a months worth of free food.  I truly believe that there isn’t a better burrito in London, and recommend to everyone that I meet that they give Chilango a go — everyone I’ve sent has been chuffed as well.  Wow, I’ve said chuffed 3X  (I only just learned what that meant this afternoon so yeah me for quickly expanding my English vocab)!

- Josh Jackson

Afrodita Rock Upper Street!

“Wow, those new Chilango uniforms are pretty cool – what gives?”

Not a photo from our latest staff training, but proof of an exciting musical visit from Immanuel Miralda and Karin Burnett of DF nu cumbia band Afrodita back in September.

Onlookers were dazzled as the pair shared their unique blend of extrovert, eclectic and galactic music direct from Mexico City (after the pair had enjoyed a burrito, of course).

Listen to Afrodita on MySpace now, view more photos on the Chilango Flickr stream and watch below for an insight in to their unique world: