REVIEW: Kiri, Mayfair

In appearance, it's a cute French bistro - but when the menu arrives you're slap bang in the heart of Japan, with sake and sushi welcoming your taste buds in for a flavour adventure. Welcome to Kiri.

I usually don't read reviews before visiting somewhere myself, but the love for Kiri is palpable through any Google search. Bloggers, journalists and guests alike love the accessible yet considered menu where wagyu beef sits alongside deep-fried fish bones. Luxury meets honesty at Kiri and it's a bloody joy to dine there! 

We began with a carafe of Fisherman Jumani Ginjo 14.5% sake. Fresh, light and easy to drink this sake had a smooth, almost water-like texture with only a tingle of alcohol at the end of the sip. It worked well with all our chosen dishes. 

We began with ultra thin, completely see-through slices of fluke dressed in a truffle soy sauce - AKA umami itself! The slightly firm texture was intriguing and the heady truffle flavour actually matched the meaty fish very well. Our second dish, a mixed seafood ceviche with yuzu, was a refreshing contrast with mixed cuts of each seafood balanced with tomatoes and celery slices.

Next, a surprising mixed vegetable salad dressed with puffed rice and a slightly sweet house dressing. Vibrant beets and radishes shared spaced with gently steamed broccoli and asparagus giving each mouthful a different flavour. This dish was paired with rock shrimp tempura served with a spicy, Sriracha-style mayonnaise. The sweetness of the shrimp balanced with the spicy mayo was just divine and swapping between the cold, raw veggies and the warm sweet fish was delicious! 

The next pairing came in the form of sweet potato croquettes with an edamame wasabi mayonnaise - perhaps a Japanese take on falafel and hummus! I really liked these little croquettes but when eaten with the next dish (red miso glazed aubergine) was DREAMY! I honestly can't think of a better way to describe it; salty then sweet, crunchy then soft, meaty then earthy - all these different flavour and texture combinations coming together made for quite the spoonful! 

Our final few dishes focussed solely on seafood. Classic California rolls were updated with a topping of grilled eel, whose flavour I loved but texture I was not a fan of. Lemon sole 'kara-age' was a really intriguing dish which arrived on a deep-fried fish spine. We were munching on the little balls of lemony fish when our server noted: "you can eat the bones too!". Similar to pork crackling but even saltier, this dish was definitely one for the brave. We finally enjoyed a really special plate of fatty tuna with spring onion maki. Soft, sweet and meaty all at the same time, these gorgeous little rolls were such a treat and even if you order nothing else, you really need to try these! 

If you work near Mayfair and are looking for a special spot to kick back, relax and enjoy truly the finest Japanese food in a relaxed way then make Kiri your go-to spot.

Thank you, Kiri, for arranging this review. All opinions are my own.

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REVIEW: Cinnamon Bazaar, Covent Garden

Tucked away on one of Covent Garden's many side streets and hidden passages sits Cinnamon Bazaar - the fourth concept from the king of modern-Indian cuisine in the UK, Vivek Singh. Opened last last year to rave reviews from both the traditional press and us bloggers, Cinnamon Bazaar takes you on a journey of culinary discoveries. Inspired by the world markets of the past where traders swapped and shared recipes, ingredients and more, the restaurant serves a collection of dishes that draw links between stops along the Silk Route - from Iran to India and beyond. 

Whether you love Vivek's other hot-spots in Soho and Westminster, or you're a first-timer to the Cinnamon Collection, Bazaar will welcome you in with a fabulous cocktail and dishes to warm the soul.

We began with a cocktail each from Cinnamon Bazaar's limited edition menu developed by Mr Lyan - AKA the best bartender in the world. Fadoola Swizzle was my choice of poison, with basil seed, rum and apricot, while Alex went for the Gin Julep with black cardamon and green amchoor mango. I wouldn't normally go for a cocktail with Indian food, preferring either a cold beer or a glass of bubbles, but the intriguing and unique flavour combinations of Mr Lyan's creations are certainly a must-try. 

For food, we kicked off proceedings with Crab Bonda with Calcutta crab and beetroot in a spiced chickpea batter. Fragrant, sweet and earthy, these little balls of joy ended much too quickly but are an ideal starter for sharing. Next, we moved onto Chaats - the most loved street food of Indian. These bowls of loveliness combine salty, sweet, sour and savoury flavours in an array of textures so you'll always find a combination you like. I favoured the spiced onion dumpling chaat with curried white peas and a medley of chutneys, whereas Alex loved the sweet potato cake with chickpea sev. Both are dressed with yogurt, mint and pomegranate so look as beautiful as they taste. 

For mains, there was no way I was coming to a Cinnamon restaurant and not getting curry. I was recommended the Malabar Boatman's haddock curry by a friend and it did not disappoint. Rich, creamy and tomato-ey with a lovely aromatic flavour, it was quite unlike any curry I had enjoyed before. Despite the rich curry flavour the haddock stood strong and the kokum veggies were the perfect accompaniment. Alex opted for the double cooked pork belly 'Koorg' style which was a drier affair than my curry with a crunchy fresh salad and red onion. Sweet and moorish, the meat simply fell apart in the mouth and worked beautifully with a big spoon of dahl.

I thoroughly recommend you making a visit to Cinnamon Bazaar. The interior alone deserves a view, with hand-painted panels, hanging lanterns and a huge bar, and the food simply sings! 

http://cinnamon-bazaar.com/ 

Thank you to Cinnamon Bazaar for hosting this review. All opinions are my own and have been in no way influenced by the complementary nature of this visit.  

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REVIEW: Viet Food, Wardour Street

From the outside, Viet Food really doesn't look like much. Even the website is distinctly okay and until you get to the menu, you'd be forgiven for passing over this restaurant without a second thought. But guess what - you'd be very, very wrong! 

Viet Food is led by Jeff Tan, one of the UK's top Asian chefs and the former Executive Chef at Yuan in the Atlantis Palm, Dubai and, excitingly for me, Chef de Cuisine at Hakkasan Mayfair - yes, that's a Michelin star establishment guys! Jeff took his passion for exceptional Vietnamese food and celebrates it at Viet Food. Located in the heart of Chinatown, the shy and unassuming restaurant is an absolute treat for the foodie who craves great Asian food in the cultural heart of Asian London. 

From the outside guests can spot the chefs hard at work through the floor-to-ceiling windows and once inside will be greeted by the salty/sweet/sour scents of great Vietnamese food. We were invited to dine upstairs and began with a bottle of Saigon beer, duh, while spotting the birdcage hanging lights. 

The free prawn crackers came with a hot as hell spicy chilli sauce, which I loved, before our starters arrived. We shared crispy coconut calamari which was soft and juicy with just a hint of sweetness from the coconut; grilled scallop and prawn served in a scallop shell with the absolutely most delicious dressing IN THE WORLD - slightly sweet, mostly savoury, plenty of salt; and soft shell crab dusted with five spice. This final dish was the only slight let down with this course as the five spice was a bit non-existent but the crab was lovely and sweet. I also really enjoy the onion salad and made wraps out of the lettuce cups. 

When it came to mains, Alex and I went in very different directions. I opted for braised sea bream with fresh chilli and pineapple in homemade sauce, which is comparable to a light curry or soup. The fish was battered, then served in the soupy sauce which was a bit weird and cloying towards the end. However, the fresh pineapple was absolutely dreamy and worked really gorgeously with the fragrant sauce. The homemade sauce also worked really well with the house rice as it balances sweet-savoury spicy-salty flavours.

Alex chose a main of wok-sauteed pork ribs with fresh chive and sweet corn in mint chilli sauce, which visually looks a bit disjointed but actually worked well together. The fresh chilli added a lightness to the sweet, sticky ribs and the sweet corn was an interesting texture. The green bean side with preserved shrimp was really savoury and sort of lost the fresh green flavour.

Frankly Viet Food was one of the yummiest places I've eaten in a while. Compared to Hakkasan (bit naughty to do but there you go), there are definitely comparisons - the rice was equally good and the scallop starter was absolutely mind blowing. I think having this sort of option in the heart of Chinatown is such a win for Londoners as tourists will walk past believing it to be 'just another Chinatown outlet', while us in the know can enjoy great Vietnamese food at a really accessible price.

Thank you Viet Food for hosting this review. All opinions are my own. 

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REVIEW: Dinner at Patron NW5, Kentish Town

I think it's safe to say that I am quite literally obsessed with this restaurant. From indulging my inner Frenchie to treating my soul to some of the most delicious food ever, there's nothing I don't love about Patron. The decor, subtly French and darkly decadent; the food, obviously French and utterly delicious; the wines, well priced and inviting - the list could go on. Even the fabulous collection of waiting staff are a joy to chat to over a glass of something sparkling before starting dinner. 

But love letters to restaurants aside, we're here to review. We revisited Patron after enjoying a truly divine brunch last year to taste-test their supper selection. The fabulous restaurant manager helped us select the perfect wine (a Sauvignon Blanc no less) to work with the dishes we selected which included: soupe à l'oignon with garlic coutons and tomme de savoie, goats' cheese tarlet with sweet onion, tomato and pesto, mussels cooked in white wine with garlic and tomatoes with rosemary fries, and duck confit with dauphinois potatoes.   

My soup starter was the highlight dish of the whole visit, pretty incredible for such a simple dish. Sweet yet savoury, smooth in texture but with plenty of slippery onions and topped with the most divine cheesy croutons - I mean you really can't match it. Truly divine.

Alex's starter of goats' cheese tartlet was also delicious but perhaps a touch small in comparison to my soup. The zingy pesto and peppery rocket worked well with the salty cheese and sweet onions. A great balance of flavours. 

 When it came to the mains, I kept things ultra classic with mussels cooked in white wine, garlic, fresh herbs and tomatoes. The portion was impressive to say the least and the lovely general manager brought me fresh bread at the end to soak up all that liquor. Speaking of, while the mussels were cooked beautifully I did feel the liquor could have been thicker or I could have had a little less. It seems such a shame to waste great flavour. My fries, topped with plenty of salt and rosemary were crunchy, crispy and delicious. 

Alex's main of duck confit came drizzled with an intense, sweet red wine jus and served with his choice of dauphinois potatoes. The duck, at times, was a touch dry which could have been helped with a lot more sauce on the plate. The potatoes were creamy yet with bite and worked great with the duck and red wine sauce. A bit of greenery wouldn't have gone a miss but there you go. 

I really can't say no to dessert. I chose the utterly French crème brûlée which was beautifully creamy with plenty of vanilla. The top was really impressive and well blow-torched but not burnt. Alex went for the deconstructed tiramisu meringue topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh espresso and grated chocolate. Light, flavoursome and a really nice take on the original.

Overall yes, I am in love. I cannot fault Patron on the basis of atmosphere, menu choices, staff, or wine. A few tiny adjustments would have made this visit dream-like but really, who cares that much about a touch of sauce here and a little reducing there when the food tastes this good. I thoroughly recommend to all North Londoners, but let's keep this secret gem for ourselves. 

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Treating IBS with Indigo Herbs

We all live stressful lives in one form or another; it's a facet of modern living. We are bombarded everyday with messages that our brain determines are urgent which leads to a constant state of low-level stress. For others, this low-level stress can graduate into persistent worrying, anxiety, depression and ultimately ill health. 

Earlier this month I was diagnosed with stress-onset acute IBS. I've met several people with IBS before and I think it is more common today than ever before. That said, I had never be informed that it was a side-effect of stress. I truly believed my life wasn't that stressful, but, as it turns out, it kind of is! I run this blog; work nine hours a day in Central London in a highly pressured role; manage my home; plan my wedding; and all the other tasks expected of a functioning home, every single day. It's hard to balance my time and I often feel busy as hell, but I never saw myself as 'stressed'. 

I've suffered with other stress-related conditions in the past (constant headaches, brain fog, exhaustion, lack of motivation etc) but have always blamed things like my diet, inconsistency with exercise, boredom or lack of sleep. I've not really ever made the connection between my day-to-day life and the effects on my health. In many ways this is completely ridiculous - I'm always reading articles about stress and it's effects on your health, I'm a food and fitness-led person and I am a true devotee to sleep. Why I expected to go on running my busy life in the way I have been with no effects on my health, I have no idea. 

So that's where I am now - stuck with a life-long illness that is causing me daily pain. I wake up in the night in pain, I feel sick throughout the day, I'm learning to avoid certain food and I'm feeling unhappy with my constantly bloated appearance. Although there is no cure for IBS there are things you can do to alleviate the symptoms and that's where Indigo Herbs come in. 

I've worked with Indigo Herbs quite a lot in the past. I think their products are fantastic and the range is truly mind-blowing. I mean who even knows what mushroom extract is or how to use it! The team at Indigo Herbs reached out to me recently and I explained my IBS diagnosis. On the website they have blog posts and product pages dedicated to digestive health and specifically IBS. I picked out the Super Cleanse Bundle - a four piece set including tea, essential oil, pulse point roller and massage oil - and peppermint herbal tea which was recommended by my GP. 

• 4 Product Super Cleanse Bundle 
• - Super Cleanse Tea
• - Super Cleanse Essential Oil
• - Super Cleanse Pulse Point Roller
• - Super Cleanse Massage Oil - this can be rubbed on your stomach to ease strain and relax you!
• Peppermint Herbal Tea

You can follow my updates and how I get on with these products on Twitter and Instagram. Have you ever used natural methods to alleviate these problems? Let me know in the comments below. 

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A Winter Warmer from The Tabl

Fancy winning a Christmas treat? At this time of year we are (rightly so) buying gifts for those we love, but this year Tabl want to treat YOU to a present of your own!

Tabl is a community platform where fantastic food producers, supper club holders and foodie fans can come together and share the love. Whether you're looking for the perfect present for that picky person in your life or chasing the adventure of unknown flavours, Tabl has the answer.

NOW CLOSED
I love taking a healthy approach to classic recipes or adding that certain something to established foods to make them sing, and that's exactly want Tabl want to hear from you. Simply comment below this post, or Tweet me, you favourite winter warmer recipe with a twist! Why not update one of the below fabulously festive favourites? 

1. Mince Pies 
2. Leftovers
3. Christmas Cocktail
4. Winter warmer drink
5. Stuffing

Here's my recipe for red wine and honey spiced hot chocolate, or chocolate spiced mulled wine depending on your view point!

Red Wine & Honey Spiced Hot Chocolate

1. Begin with whole milk. It's natural fats will help the chocolate to melt slowly and create a really creamy finish. Pour two mugfulls into a small saucepan and pop the heat on. Low and slow is the game here.

2. Add in your solid hot chocolate. I'm using Cocoba's 71% Ecaudor Origin Dark Chocolate. Allow this to slowly melt down. 

3. Once the chocolate has fully melted add in two table spoons of red wine and a table spoon of honey. Normally one would cook out the alcohol in the wine but I like my treats extra naughty. I've used a Chateau du Fort Pontis (2011) Fronsac Bordeaux and Pearly Queen London Honey from Enfield. 

4. Allow this to reduce down a little and pour into your favourite mug! Enjoy!

NOW CLOSED

Don't forget to Tweet or Comment with your recipe for a chance to win a lovely Christmas pressie from Tabl!

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Brunch at Frank's Canteen, Highgate

Hidden away in the residential hills of Highgate sits Franks - a supper club pop-up and brunch hub. Specialising nearly exclusively in pre-dinner dining, Franks has a distinctly European flair with the likes of beef bourguignon and shakshuka both featuring on the menu. We visited for brunch at 11:30 on Saturday morning and it was packed!

The service, initially, was a little slow with later arriving tables served before us. Once we had decided on our food the service was much quicker. The wide, chunky tables are lovely but perhaps a little better suited to a venue with more space - while I am quite open minded when it comes to communal seating, tables of 4 equate to two couples which I found a little uncomfortable. Perhaps investing in thinner tables to give the option of tables of 2 would be a great move for Franks.

We began with two flat whites which were perfectly nice, creamy with a good amount of bitter rich coffee. Sadly the tops were left a little bereft with no latte art - which seems awfully middle class but I do like a bit of latte art. The orange juice I selected was perfectly balanced between sourness and sweetness, which was delicious. 

For food we ordered beef bourguignon for Alex and poached eggs on toast with smoked salmon and homemade baked beans for me.

The poached eggs on both dishes were absolutely perfect. They had beautiful orange yolks with plenty of runniness and excellently cooked whites - well done chef! On my plate, the portion of smoked salmon was absolutely exceptional and in fact better value than buying a packet the same size in a super market! The watercress salad was also well dressed and cut through the richness of the dish as I had lots of big, protein-rich flavours. 

The beans, homemade and bright red, were sadly too watery. The sauce needed to be much more reduced and the onions cooked down more into a sticky sweetness to have that sticky, moreish, almost creamy texture that I want from baked beans.

The story was quite similar with Alex's Beef Bourginon. The crisp fried bread was great under his poached egg. It was not at all greasy, really crisp and a lovely addition to the stew. The beef was, in part, quite chewy and slightly undercooked and the sauce again was quite watery and needed much more reducing to give it that sumptuous richness that comes from a good Bourginon sauce. The herb salad was refreshing and brought a lightness to this classically rich dish.

  Overall while I enjoyed my visit to Frank's it's not one that I would rush back to. I would love to see the sauces reduced down more to really infuse the great flavours they had in them and let the dish really sing. I think the table situation isn't that big a deal if you're not bothered by sharing (perhaps I'm just picky) so don't let that put you off. It's a solid brekkie if ever you needed one.

Thank you Frank's for hosting this review. All opinions are my own. 

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