Kurobuta , Chelsea

The Chelsea branch has a very different vibe to the Kurobuta in Connaught Village near Marble Arch. Chelsea is very much the grunge and indie version, with the food from Scott Hallsworth, you know t's going to be of high standard but this one might catch you surprise just how chilled and 'not fancy', in a good way, it is in here.

We opted for no sushi this time - it wasn't intentional - the meat just sounded too good and as we were only a table of two, we thought we would at least attempt to restrain ourselves on over-ordering.

Beef fillet tataki with garlic crisps - fantastic. This was so good. The cocktail isn't bad either - but the lychee martini is where it's at. 

Pumpkin tempura was really fresh - not oily and crisp. The mayo wasn't as spicy as advertised though (or maybe my tolerance levels to spice has gotten better)

Miso grilled hot wings. Again - not as spicy as I imagined but a good portion of meat on the wings. 

Obviously this was a compulsory dish. The pork belly steamed bun with peanut soy dip. This still is the best steamed bun I've had (and I've had a lot, trust me). The bun is fluffy and not soggy, that added something, whatever it is, really adds to the dish. The peanut dip is not as good as I remember - I'm not sure whether they've sweetened the dip since but it's still very good. 

The Yellowtail kami yaki. It doesn't look like much in the photo but honestly the best cooked fish I've had in a restaurant. Flaky, soft on the inside with a bit of crunch on the skin. This fish is seriously meaty. I couldn't work it out at first, as I'm used to eating fish with its head still attached, but looks aside, this was a top dish. 

Tea smoked lamb with spicy miso - now this one had a spicy sauce. Good lamb. 

I had this dish last time - the sticky miso aubergine. I love this dish and I would have this everyday if I was allowed. Still amazing. That sticky miso is great.

Ok, so before dinner I really wanted mochi...so I had to have some. They couldn't swap the coconut one for one reason or another, but it wasn't too bad - I think mainly due to the fact that it was still frozen and so that masked the flavour - which worked in my favour really.   

I still very much rate Kurobuta. I think Chelsea has an edgier vibe over Marble Arch which for me suits me better. The soundtrack was also very 'me' and it was just a cool place to hang out for the evening on Kings Road - not at all the Chelsea scene you would expect. 

Stand out dish is definitely the fish, but the staples like the steamed bun and aubergines is a firm favourite. 

Aqua Kyoto, London

We decided to finally try the dinner at the rooftop at Aqua, with a trip to Aqua Kyoto off Regents Street. The actual rooftop wasn't what I expected - a lot smaller than I imagined, and you can't really see anything - mainly because of the surrounding buildings and its own building. Not the best rooftop in London, but a great hideout for those who want some peace from Oxford Street nonetheless. 

The Aqua brand is pretty cool with its restaurants named in line with its cuisines or destinations - Aqua Shard anyone? I have been to Aqua Roma before many years ago in Hong Kong - probably one of the best views of one of the world's best skylines - but I knew that this would be have more of a focus on drinks and food service rather than the surrounding atmosphere. 

The chef's kitchen in the middle - handmade right in front of you. 

My cocktail came in a ninja cup. He was very cute and I wanted to keep him but a lovely, refreshing drink. 

Here we are with my ninja cocktail on the rooftop terrace - quite busy and small...and loud. Would recommend coming in early if you want a seat otherwise this place gets quite cramped. 

This was the drink that came with the foraging menu - shiso infused vodka, rose and pine liqueur, vanilla syrup and lime. To be honest, this drink tasted more like bathroom freshener which I just couldn't get out of my head unfortunately.

Omakase sashimi. 

Top dish - sumiyaki ostrich fillet. This was a bit toughened tasteless. Left dish - handmade green tea soba. This was superb - really loved the noodles. Right dish - katsuobushi scallops with yomogi rice.

Scallops were well cooked but there was nothing particularly outstanding about the dish. 

Green tea soba noodles - wild flowers, mushrooms, gingko nuts and eggs. 

Ostrich fillet with wild garlic and wild herb miso. 

The dessert for me was the best dish and really made up for the slightly disappointing dishes - bitter chocolate, spiced wild lacto damson, meadow sweet ice cream. The bitterness of the chocolate complemented the sweet ice cream perfectly and I could have had more. It was divine.

Blueberry Muffins

Just to prove that I do occasionally make stuff and not just eat out (you can find out more about the random things I cook on my Twitter - it's just not worth a full blog post that's all ;)).

I made blueberry muffins the other week following Paul Hollywood's recipe.

Turned out perfectly. Putting the dough in the fridge also helps when you're portioning out into the muffin cases - less mess in the kitchen!

Review: Pho & Bun brunch

I was treated to a birthday brunch at Pho & Bun which included a drink and 3 courses set menu. This is by the same guys who own Viet Eat in Holborn. As you may have guessed - pho and bun is a must here but there are also some brilliant plates not to be missed. 

Situated along Shaftesbury Avenue, you might have walked past the many Asian fusion places along here and never noticed, but please do stop by next time you're around. I would say this was more of a cafe than a restaurant, but I can see myself hanging out here on an evening with good food and good drinks. 

Summer Roll with Tiger Prawn. The peanut sauce was total heaven. 

Chilli Salt & Pepper Squid was delicious. The Spare Ribs alone could have been a dish in itself. So meaty and really good portions for a set menu - these *almost* filled me up! But so tasty.

The Tender Beef Pho as rated by my Diner Friend who is the pho expert said it was good, but the broth is not quite right. I mean obviously, to the unknowing (me) I thought it was ok but was slightly on the blander side, but was a decent portion and good meat. 

The Rare Beef Steamed Bun Burger. Good bun - not too soggy or sticky and fluffy against the good meat. 

Flan Caramel with Vietnamese Iced Coffee. This was the only thing I wasn't too keen on. The desserts on the set menu consisted of coffee or coconut - two things I'm not a major fan of,  but I went for this one as it was a best of a bad bunch. It was ok but the texture of the dessert is not my cup of tea.

We saw many lone rangers dining here, getting their pho fix - mix of Westerners and Asians so that's a pretty good sign already. A very tiny place with small tables, but has a more 'upmarket' feel somehow. However, I would say perhaps some of the tables are a bit too close (or some people just don't know how to sit properly on a chair) as the guy behind me at first decided to leave his rucksack on while sitting down - which hit me. And then he decided to sit really awkwardly so that his back kept hitting into my back - apart from that though, the cafe itself is very comfortable. Would definitely come back here.

DF/Mexico

From the founders of Wahaca, comes DF / Mexico!

Would definitely recommend this place for a meet up place with friends, newbies or a place to stop and hang out.

This place has a certain cool vibe to it without it being too edgy or try-hard.

The pork and fish tacos...with extra guacamole - obviously. Next time - I'm building my own tacos!

We came to the Tottenham Court Road branch a while back before going to see The Bodyguard musical (which is totally amazing by the way - Beverley Knight is on another level) and it was a quirky, 'glad we found this place' experience.

The decor is also pretty cool. It's laid-back - has a self service Nandos style but the food is top-notch. Good price, good food and simple menu - this place is back to basics, whereas Wahaca has now become a bit too overpriced for the smaller portions and to cater for the masses with its ingredients and plates, DF / Mexico is a laid-back sister who just serves up good food for those who are cool without trying.

The Flavoured frozen marguerites  pack a punch but oh-so tasty!

 

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

One of the things on my London Bucket List is to have afternoon tea at the home of the afternoon teas that is The Ritz. It’s all quite fancy I know, but if I was going to ever experience one afternoon tea in my life, then I would choose The Ritz. Hands down.  

You see, it’s not just about the finger sandwiches, the delicate desserts and freshly made scones (oh don’t forget the jam), it’s the historic culture, the English tradition and the whole dining experience. 

My birthday treat this year was the afternoon tea with champers at The Ritz! They do five sittings throughout the day, and as you would expect, they get fully booked pretty quickly, so our ‘afternoon’ tea was really an evening tea, but that didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. 

The horse of The Ritz

So, off we went, in our Sunday best (literally - it was a Sunday). It was a bit strange to be travelling on the tube on a Sunday evening when people around us were a bit subdued but there we were in a smart dress and, surprisingly, heels (thought I would make an extra effort), and there The Other Half  (TOH) was in a jacket and tie (this is compulsory if you are man - oh and a bit of advice - men must keep their jackets on at all times. A further note - they will give you a tie if you forget your own). 

Gliding into the hotel, you are instantly impressed with the decor of The Palm Court and the Britishness of it all - except for the palm trees - but they add an extra bit of exotic-ness to it - and it is the Palm Court after all. I must say the entire experience from the doorman to the collecting my jacket in the cloakroom was pretty special. I was just in awe the whole time. 

Even my cloakroom 'tag' was exquisite

First was the glass of champers and the choosing of my tea. I went for the Lapsang Souchong tea and TOH went for the Assam Tippy Orthodox tea. They arrived in elongated silver tea…jugs if you like, with mine coming with extra hot water. I can see why, as my tea was very strong and needed some diluting after a few cups, it was also very smokey (over pine fires apparently) - it was no frills just straight up gung ho tea. They also refill you too which is nice as the jugs are so big that you’re sure to never run out. 

The Chinese Lapsang Souchong tea - so strong but very smoky (in a good way)

The first serving was a stand with two plates - one for sandwiches and one for cakes. The sandwiches were very flavoursome - each and everyone. You can just tell that everything is freshly made and of high quality. My favourite was probably the thick ham and grain mustard mayonnaise on brioche. And the chicken with parsley cream on on malt bread. The bread was soft and added that extra bit to the sandwich pieces. 

Half way through the sandwiches the waiter put down a second plate of sandwiches. Very pleasing to the stomach. I’ve always said that you never get enough savoury to counter balance the sweet at these things. 

We were offered a third plate of sandwiches (amazing), I declined, however TOH is a food monster so he took it. 

The first sandwich plate (now empty) was replaced by scones. I usually save this til last but I noticed steam coming off it and instantly knew they were fresh out of the oven so I had to have one whilst it was still warm.

Clotted cream or jam first?

Crumbly and soft, it was every bit a traditional scone, although I didn't see a raisin in either of my scones which is probably the only negative thing I can say about this. 

Personalised dessert treats on a soft meringue on sticky strawberry sticker gel on top of a just enough sweetness madeleine cake

This chocolate number was surprisingly not overly sweet - just right for me

Not usually a big fan of macarons but this zesty lemon was divine. A good break (as shown in the photo) and soft and chewy on the inside. Not too sweet either and just a right amount of sour lemon. 

Here we are being posh before the TWO trolleys of full cakes came by - there was a coffee and walnut and another one which I can't remember because I was so blindly in love with all the food being offered

Yes, this is pricey but this is an afternoon tea you won't forget in a hurry (or ever, actually). From stepping into the hotel to walking through the wide corridor - this is an experience that is worth every penny.

Every member of the staff were exceptional and friendly. Everything is in tip top condition and the setting is very relaxed. The ambience is of one where everyone feels happy to be there and you get the sense that everyone is amazed by everything put to them on the table.

I think I've just had the best afternoon tea I've ever had - and one that can't be beaten. I loved every minute of it!

Review: MASH (no, not the TV programme)

I really enjoyed my time at Mash on Brewer Street.

This is an unsuspecting white building and on entering there is a desk and spiral stairways. Follow it down a couple of floors and come into this huge arena of dim reds and a cool, modern American bar. I had no idea this place was so huge and so fantastic. The setting was only missing some jazz music but I loved the vibe as soon as I stepped in. Each table is a booth which is very cool and handy.

We started with a drink at the bar. Free popcorn and some strong drinks were served from a liquor prescription menu (very cool).  I went for the Mexican Smuggler which was a perfect start to the evening.

The Mexican Smuggler - Casco Viejo Blanco, Mezcal, basil and Szechuan pepper sugar, lime, Mash Pilsner served with a Serrano ham crisp!

So we may have over-ordered on the sides but you may as well go all out, ya know? It was 50% off Wagyu beef (yes, you read that correctly), so I ordered 100g of the Kobe and 100g of the Ozaki...but if I were to come here again (which I'm not ruling out) I would try the 1000g Australian Tomahawk - which sounds (and looks) bloody amazing!

(Left to right: Ozaki and Kob). Cooked Medium (though slight on the rare side). My favourite was the Ozaki just because it was a bit more tender and had a bit more flavour 

So the rest of the dinner consisted of:

- chips, mash (of course), bone marrow.
The chips weren't anything special, but the mash was very creamy and the bacon bits added an extra bit of to make it more interesting. I could have probably eaten more. I find bone marrow a bit odd, just in the fact that it doesn't really taste of much really, it's the texture more than anything - but didn't really add anything to the dinner.

Bone Marrow with bits of toast

- garlic and thyme jus and pepper sauce for the steak
The garlic and thyme jus was a winner in my eyes. On steak, on mash...winner winner!

- we had some greens

We also had a bottle of red in the form of an Australian Shiraz, which was just delightful.

We then got over indulgent and had the MASH cheesecake with Rhubarb ice cream. The rhubarb was so delicious.

The rhubarb was the bonus bit

All in all, it was a great dinner, and so exciting to be sat in a huge underground auditorium - there is a very understated but sophisticated atmosphere to this place that made me want to stay forever.

Not going to lie - it was pretty pricey - the steak is no doubt of very high quality but, next time, I would cut out a lot of the sides and maybe go for a bigger steak.

I enjoyed my time here and I would definitely come here again...once I've saved up.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Ramen (Ra-meen)

I had burgers, and then it was pizza.

I’ve decided for 2016 I’m going to go on a hunt round London to find the best ramen – I realise half the year has gone already (what!) but I unknowingly started this a while back, I obviously have some subconscious obsession with noodles and broth.

So, here it is – the ongoing list:

Kanada-Ya - Haymarket

It’s difficult not to say this without an enthusiastic ya! at the end, which is half the reason why I like this place.

Like most trendy Asian spots these days, this place is pretty small and non-bookable (of course). However, we were seated pretty quickly after a trip to the Vogue exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on a Friday night. Although, the strong lemon perfume coming from the toilets was slightly distracting – on the plus side, it was the lemon I could smell and not anything else.

I went for the traditional pork broth. I love pork, especially pork belly, so if it’s on the menu, it’s a must. The broth was probably one of the best I’ve had. It wasn’t too salty, light and creamy but still enough flavour to complement the noodles. I don’t usually end up drinking all of the broth but on this occasion it was all gone, and I was tempted to order a second bowl. On the other hand, that meant I was still hungry after a bowl which, to me, is considered a negative.

The noodles were decent – but they don’t quite match the elasticity of Tonkotsu (see below).

The menu is also quite small with not much choice to ‘pick and mix’ unlike other places – there was also no egg, which paired with the 3 thin slices of pork probably makes all the difference in my hunger.

Bone Daddies – various locations

I see Bone Daddies as more of a Westernised-Asian place. If you haven’t been to its bottomless brunch at its Flesh and Buns then do it. But based on ramen alone – it’s fun but not the best.

Menu wise – it’s great. Lots of choice, and the chance to pick anything you want and add it in.

However, the broth is generally quite salty and a little too ‘stock cube-y’ for my liking. Also, with the adding of elements, it ends up being quite pricey.

It’s a great place to hang out with friends and looks great when it arrives on your table but I wasn't a fan of the broth...Also note, it has been over a year since I've been so things may have changed since then.

I had some extra 'cock scratchings' to my bowl

Tonkotsu – Soho

Being in Soho, you can imagine the queues can get quite ridiculous, but turn up quickly after work and you can get a seat almost immediately. Winner. As you come in, you can see the noodle masters at work, pulling and stretching fresh noodles – there is nothing more appetising than that.

Let’s start with the broth – it was good. Creamy and full of flavour – although on the more salty side for me.

Noodles – this was always going to get a 10 out of 10. The fact that you can see them making fresh noodles – you know it’s going to be good. They also ask how you like your noodles – firm, soft, medium, which is a bonus.

The egg was awesome – perfect combination of soft and hard egg, it had also been soaked in some sort of concoction which really added a different flavour to what can sometimes be a bland egg white.

This was slightly more on the pricey side – we went for ramen, drinks and a couple of starters and added up to around £50 – which for noodles and soup does seem a bit out there. Even though the soft, silky tofu was good – I didn’t think it was worth the £6 – especially as it was served as is with a bit of sauce and spring onions.

Ippudo, Covent Garden

Opposite another branch of Kanada-Ya with the queues spilling out, it’s tempting to shout across the road and tell them to come to Ippudo where they have a bar AND bigger space meaning more tables. 

Although they do get quite busy later on. From the outside, this place looks a bit more high end compared to your usual ramen places but don’t misunderstand – this menu has lots of choice but fundamentally is all about the ramen (although I got greedy eyes and got myself a steamed bun).

I rather enjoyed this bowl of love. Good portion size with the choice to add more meat/egg/veg. The broth was perfect – light, not salty. The added vinegar and spicy ‘red stuff’ really added a bit of something extra.

The meat was good – thicker slices although I could have had more. The egg wasn’t halved which is quite difficult to eat when all you have are chopsticks and an Asian soup spoon.

The service was good and staff friendly. I would definitely come here  again – this could be on par with Kanada-Ya’s broth. The noodles weren’t as good as Tonkotsu, but overall – this was my favourite of all the ramen.

The steamed bun is really good too - the meat is delicious and no soggy bun. Hooray!

Shoryu, Soho
I rather enjoyed the feel and ambience in this place. The ramen was excellent. It had enough meat and half an egg. The noodles had the ideal elasticity. It was a great ramen but there was nothing in particular that stood out for me. Everything was at a high standard, the broth is cooked for 12 hours and is not too salty, but it was just lacking something.

The service wasn't overly great once we were sat down in the corner along the bar facing the windows and back to the rest of the restaurant but if you're not in a rush, a good place to sit and chat.

The pork bun I had was very good too - although not overly sure on the two thick slices of cucumber with it. Very good steamed bun but doesn't beat Ippudo.