Kirstall road restaurant Viva Cuba is branching out nationwide - launching a range of sauces and other cooking ingredients with some big national supermarket chains.
It's already famous with locals for its Spanish-inspired Cuban tapas menu, now its sauces are taking on big name brands like Peri Peri and Reggae Reggae on supermarket shelves across the country.
Owner and head chef Seb McGowan has gone nationwide with his Mojo Red and Green sauces, which are made using a special, closely-guarded recipe belonging to his mother-in-law.
What began as a side hustle in 2018 quickly ramped up during lockdown, becoming a full-blown £100k business and selling over 10,000 bottles a month.
“While we’ve been forced to close the restaurant because of the pandemic, the positive has been that we’ve been able to drive the Mojo brand forward,” said Seb.
Already stocked at Morrisons and Ocado, they've now been picked up by Co-Op too - meaning next time you pop in for a shop you'll spy the familiar packaging sitting on the shelves.
On top of the sauces, the pair have developed a whole new range of mayos, sauces, rubs and complementary foods due to be released in coming months under the Mojo brand.
"The ultimate goal is to become the next big sauce success story, like Peri Peri or Reggae Reggae,” said James.
The Mojo Red and Mojo Green sauces have sat on restaurant tables for nearly 20 years - but now fans can pick them up in their local supermarket, too.
Mojo Red is a sweet and smoky sauce, whilst Mojo Green draws more on garlic and the flavours of fresh herbs.
The award-winning low sugar, low salt, low carb, low fat, vegetarian and vegan-friendly products have gained a cult following in the sauces and condiments aisle, offering a high quality, low-cost alternative to traditional sauces like ketchup and mayo.
Eats
Salon Madre – a new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Leeds this month
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Georgina Pellant -
14th June 2021 
