Damn! Sexy Fish, Mayfair

As a little birthday treat to myself I decided that I would snap up the chance to book a table for the one and only, and oh-so-trendy, Sexy Fish restaurant on the corner of Berkeley Square. 

What I actually did was try to book a table four months in advance, and then set myself a little reminder to go back exactly a month before my birthday to book a table. I was determined to get a table at the Asian fish and seafood restaurant. Oh yes. 

Luckily my precise planning paid off, I did get a table, and I didn’t have long to wait when 20 June came round. After a slight hiccup (I was flying back from Amsterdam that day - both my flight and the train from the airport were delayed) I got there, albeit half an hour late. The staff were very accommodating however, as my friends arrived on time, and explained the situation. Note, you’re given a two hour table time. 

So, finally, I could relax and we got stuck in! The dishes work in the new trendy way - which is small plates to share tapas style. The waiter recommend three dishes each but we were informed that if we ordered too much he would let us know which was awfully helpful of him. It was a very difficult decision as we wanted to order one of each dish, alas our wallets would not allow it. I was also very envious of the table next to us who had the whole ice platter with sashimi shebang thing in the middle of the table. 

To start:

Octopus Carpaccio with lime and ginger vinaigrette, pickled shallots

Don’t underestimate this dish - who would know that you could describe octopus as delicate? The very, very thinly sliced octopus actually made a great start to the proceedings. Matched with the sharpness of the vinaigrette and the crunch of pickled shallots, it was very moorish. 

Tartare of Beef with sour plum, pickles and squid ink crisps

This plate was an all round winner with our 4-piece diners. I’ve personally never had raw beef (and usually would not appeal to me) but this was so fresh and so well-seasoned that we all agreed we could have our own plate. This was simply superb. I have no faults with this. Give me more. 

Wagyu Beef Gunken with white miso, truffle

This was a bulkier plate of treats which to be honest was good, every ingredient could be tasted, but compared to the rest of the plates, was a bit nondescript for me (sorry).

Grilled Avocado, crispy tofu, lime dressing and baby herbs

At first I was a bit like ‘can I really come to Sexy Fish and order some of the most basic foods like avocado and tofu?’ Yes is the answer to that. Light and creamy (applies to both), you can’t not like avocado really, but probably would recommend you to order something a bit more ‘out the box’ - you are in a restaurant called Sexy Fish after all. 

The middle section:

Prawn Gyoza - soy and ginger dressing

The dressing perfectly matched the prawns. Bonus points too for not just giving one each to the diner (as you sometimes get at restaurants like this) - there was an extra one we all fought for. 

Crispy Soft Shell Crab Nuoc Chan dressing

I’m a big fan of soft shell crab so this was a great choice. I also liked that it was already cut into portions - little details like that make a big difference. 

Maple Glazed Pork Belly Skewers - Yuzu ranch

Wherever I go, pork belly has to be ordered. That’s the way I roll. I could have done with a few more skewers, but it was meaty and fell off the skewer so tenderly. The maple glaze added an extra ‘oomph’ to the meat which complimented our choice of dishes perfectly as until now, we hadn’t had anything too meaty.

Octopus skewers with potato

Unlike the carpaccio - this is the typical octopus I think of. Bouncy and full of personality. Potato was an odd choice but I ate it all the same. 

The big stuff:

Miso glazed Chilean Sea Bass - artichoke three ways

This was one of my favourites of the night. I love sea bass anyway - it’s one of my favourite fish but teamed with miso it was always going to be a winner. Cooked to perfection, flaky and soft on the inside, full of flavour on the outside. I only wish there was more. 

Whole Lobster 700g - Ponzo and Smoked Bernaise

Already snapped and meat out, we were raring to go. We had three sauces served with it, unsure of the other one, but it seemed like a barbecue flavour oil/dressing. Whatever it was, it was delicious and went well with the lobster. 

Dessert:
This was when the night truly made a turn for the even better. We were four happy, greedy piggies. We almost ordered all of them on the menu (not kidding), but we decided we would order extra ice creams to go with it as the flavours were just so unique and tantalising. 

My Birthday White and Dark Chocolate Tofu with candied cocoa nibsOk, so the birthday bit isn’t actually part of the name, but it was a very welcome surprise when my tofu dessert came with a candle and my name written in chocolate (forget about your name in lights - this is what real dreams are made of). To be honest, I only ordered this dessert because it was different and not your average joe. I was a bit worried that it would be a bit ‘moussey’ which I don’t like, but luckily the tofu is more sturdy and had a substantial texture. The white and dark chocolate wasn’t too sweet and worked with the candied cocoa nibs - which was a bit like granola. 

The layered tofu dessert

Mango Mochi with mandarin and jasmine sorbet
Caramelised Pineapple and Coconut Cake
Gariguette Strawberry and Mint Panna Cotta with milk snow

I can’t personally comment on the other desserts but everyone gave their thumbs up. I must say the panna cotta looked very pretty. 

We also went for a range of Granny Smith and Sake sorbet; Rice crispy and green tea, soy & caramel and malted milk and honeycomb ice cream which all came on a freezed bowl and wafer in the shape of fish tail. Safe to say we were all rather excited when the desserts arrived. 

Away from food, the service was great. We had a really friendly and helpful waiter and also topped up our wine with efficiency but not too over-enthusiastic (the white wine we had was also very splendid - not that I remember which one it was). We had a nice little table in the corner by the window and looking back into the restaurant, it’s not as zany as you would imagine, but the fish hanging above the bar is a rather extravagant to the red and golds which creates for a dramatic look. 

Our bill came to over £330 including a bottle of wine and beer for four people, making it roughly £84 per person, which is way above my normal spending. The plates are fairly small but I think this place is more about the quality of food and you just have to overlook the quantity somewhat. To be honest, I personally would pay that for Sexy Fish - the quality of each dish was superb and I was talking about it for days after. I think this was a birthday meal I won’t forget. 

After gathering a combined score from all four of us - RATING: 4.25 out 5 (I personally give it 4.5)

Review: Roka Aldwych

I first visited the bar at Roka's Charlotte Street branch not really knowing anything about it, except that it was rather popular on a Friday night and that there was a pretty swish bar downstairs with some great bar food and cocktails. 

2 years later, I finally made it to the food at the Aldwych site. 

We came on a Saturday night for the set meal at £31 including a glass of bubbles. Of course, we had a drink by the spacious bar first (be rude not to really). The atmosphere as soon as you step in as electric. Wide open space, with a bar area in front with some comfy looking sofas, and the dining area surrounding the open kitchen. I was really looking forward to this dinner. 

Sashimi - from left to right - tuna, salmon & sea bream. The block of ice is an art in itself

I'm not usually a big fan of tuna (cooked or raw) but this one had a texture of jelly and was surprisingly not like tuna (if that makes sense) - I liked it anyway. Fresh and clear, I thoroughly enjoyed the sea bream too.

Roka were very good with substituting dishes for the GFF (Gluten Free Friend) as well as another friend who doesn't eat sashimi. Pictured: beef, ginger and sesame gyoza, gf avocado rolls, green beans with sesame dressing (no dressing for gf), spicy mixed sashimi with tempura and substitute californian sushi rolls.

For a 'starter', we had a lot of food, though we weren't complaining. The sesame dressing was a hit with my fellow diners, it tasted slightly peanut-ty. The tempura wasn't very spicy however, and would have tasted quite bland without the wasabi/soy sauce. We also had to ask for extra wasabi as there wasn't too much of it, plus we're really big fans of wasabi. 

Choice of 3 mains (the chicken with miso also has very high recommendations) - it was a close call between the beef and the sea bream, but I think I made the right choice in the end - sea bream fillet with ryotei miso and red onion. It looks a bit like chicken, and meatier than your average fish, but my gosh the flavour of the miso was incredible and very moorish. The fish was cooked perfectly, falling off with ease and silky soft inside. I could eat this all over again. This dish also comes with a bowl of slightly sticky steamed rice which was ideal. 

The beef sirloin with chilli and spring onion. Both beefs were not exactly cooked to how my friends wanted to have it, a little on the overcooking side, but overall I was told it was pretty good. 

When it comes to dessert, Roka did something I haven't seen before on a set menu - a choice of ANY dessert on the a la carte menu. Amazing. It was a tough choice as I wanted them all (you can actually have a dessert platter for £58 with real portions), but I decided to go for this:

Note the 'Roka' written on top of the chocolate

Which turns into this:

Drak chocolate and green tea pudding with pear ice cream. I don't usually go for chocolate desserts but the green tea intrigued me. Not to sweet and warm, the green-ness of the green tea takes you by surprise (well it did for me anyway). It was soft, gooey and worked well with the pear ice cream. This was another firm favourite. 

Overall, our experience at Roka was pleasant, the service was slightly hit and miss towards the end, almost as though we were now not as important as we'd had all our food, up until then however they had been very helpful. We did actually want to order one more round of drinks afterwards but it wasn't to be. For £31, it was a great deal. I would love to come here for the full menu, bank account permitting. The food was exceptional and it has a great ambience. For me, the stand-out dish has to be the sea bream. It was probably one of the best fish dishes I've eaten in a long time. 

RATING: 4 out of 5 (slightly knocked down for the service)

No. 1 for Pub Grub: The Potting Shed, Wiltshire

Unfortunately the light was against me and my greedy boyfriend couldn't wait
for me to snap away at his dinner long enough for me to get enough photos for a full review!

The Potting Shed in Wiltshire is a gem of a gastro pub in a picturesque country village. It serves up fresh and delicious dishes with a menu that changes with the seasons. I was sad to see that their mussels weren't currently on as I've enjoyed them many times previously but the fish and chips more than made up for it.

If you are looking for proper, crunchy batter and a fish the size of your face look no further than The Potting Shed. They have a great focus on seafood and the menu is usually an equal meat/fish split which as a fish lover I find very refreshing!

Recipe:10k Pasta Salad- the lunch of champions

Lots of reviews coming up soon for the food and snacks we used in training for the British 10K! To kick it off here's out night before pasta feast- high carb to energise us for the challenge ahead!

We both finished in an hour! Great results!

INGREDIENTS

Salad leaves of your choice
Cherry tomatoes
2 (big) servings of whole wheat penne
2 cans of tuna
Finely chopped red onion
Salad cream and mayonnaise
Olive oil and vinegar

METHOD

Wash your salad leaves and tomatoes. Boil your pasta and then drain and rinse with cool water. Add everything to a big serving bowl and mix in the tuna, onions and dressing. You could add other chopped vegetables and maybe some ham too.

This is a lovely filling lunch that's great for sharing with friends!

Review: Pescheria Mattiucci

Unusual Decor

Londoners looking for some of the freshest Mediterranean seafood in the city need look no further than Pescheria Mattiucci, the one and only fish boutique, the new fishmonger with a contemporary twist recently opened in the heart of Notting Hill. Run by brothers, Luigi and Gennaro Mattiucci, Pescheria Mattiucci promises to bring to London the same quality fish and gourmet Italian delicacies that they have been providing to Neapolitans at their fishmonger in Naples for many years. Luigi and Gennaro know their fish - everything is line-caught and sourced with skill in the seas around southern Italy. Each catch is transported from the fishermen's boats in Sicily, Naples and Sardinia to Notting Hill in less than 12 hours, ensuring that you can have the catch of the day on your plate for dinner that day.

Ecclectic Furnishing

We stumbled upon Pescheria Mattiucci trying to get out of the torrential July rain plaguing London this weekend. The home ware shop next door recommended their coffee and the fish counter in the window and eclectic decor enticed us in.

The menu consisted of a selection of Crudo (the Sicilian version of sashimi),
small tapas-like cooked dishes and larger plates such as soup.

As a group we enjoyed a selection of the smaller dishes including octopus deep fried in spicy oil and served with fried potato, mussels with risotto and calamari with black rice. I also tried the lobster bisque which was rich and creamy and also contained lentils.

Lobster Bisque

As a side dish we had mashed potato and aubergines which arrived very late and were a little cold unfortunately. One of our party ordered a soup which was not ready an hour into the meal which was a little disappointing as it had to be skipped. A basket of bread also appeared with a couple of dips; spicy tomato and basil and braised shallots seasoned with lots of vinegar which were great.

Cassata

For pudding we were served traditional sicilian Cassata, a very rich and sweet cake made with ricotta which gives it a cheesecake texture and a rum baba.

Gennaro the co-owner was very attentive and friendly although the service was a little slow and haphazard. I would like to return here in the evening when the restaurant is a little fuller, but I would certainly recommend Pescheria Mattiucci for anyone looking for an Italian restaurant that is a little out of the ordinary.

Review: The Wet Fish Cafe

This week we went on a West London adventure to the Wet Fish Cafe in West Hampstead. The restaurant is on the old premises of a 'wet fish shop' hence the unusual name. The walls are tiled with beautiful green art deco wall tiles which give it a really unique feel.

The restaurant is now in its eighth year of serving modern comfort food to the people of West Hampstead. We arrived around eight and were greeted by the friendly waiting staff and a glass of pink bubbly each! The owner, Andre came over for a quick chat and filled us in about the history of the building.

We both had starters which were beautifully presented, Hayley had crispy squid with sweet chilli mayo. I did sneak a squid ring or two and they were lovely and crispy on the outside and the squid itself was just right and not at all chewy.

I had the scallops with squash houmous and pomegranate dressing. The scallops were big and juicy and although I thought the houmous was an unusual pairing it did work.

The Wet Fish Cafe feature a fish market special on their menu every day and I enjoyed a sea bass broth with summer vegetables and cockles. The sea bass was perfectly cooked and the broth was flavourful and light, my only reservation was that the vegetables were very chunky which I wasn't sure about. The broth also had a scattering of samphire which I adore, it's absolutely fantastic and adds a real depth of flavour.

Hayley had another of the specials, a crayfish and spinach linguine. Although the crayfish was very tasty the portion was a little big and it seemed like there was too much pasta to crayfish.

We also both enjoyed a glass a homemade lemonade, which was refreshing and delicately flavoured with mint, without being overpowering.

I would recommend this restaurant for a casual dinner with friends, this tasty and light, modern comfort food was just right for a warm summer evening. The staff are friendly and welcoming and the unusual decor is a feast for the eyes. If you would like to book, it can be done easily online by clicking here.

Thanks so much for a lovely evening, The Wet Fish Cafe!