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Roast

By
OpenMikeNight
 – June 18, 2010Posted in: FOOD, ON LONDON

The Sunday roast, my remedy for all things hungover.  On Sundays, I typically sleep in quite late and just want to move from my bed to the couch with a cup of coffee and a couple hours of television that I haven’t had a chance to watch all week. By that point it’s early afternoon and the hunger starts to set in. I am depleted and in the past 48 hours, I’ve probably eaten nothing but leftovers, pizza, and leftover pizza. I need something that will satisfy my stomach, cure my hangover, and give me the energy I need to start the week. So simple and yet, so satisfying: a bloody mary, a slab of meat swimming in gravy, and enough vegetables to make you think its healthy overall.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to Roast in Borough Market for a few drinks. This place exemplifies class without being even the slighest bit pretentious. You would feel just as comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt as you would donning your best dinner jacket. They’ve somehow managed to capture all the friendliness and charm of Borough Market and added the service and atmosphere you would expect from a fine dining experience. The entrance is not easy to find, but ask anyone and they can point you in the right direction…or just look up. The place sits right above the market with tall glass windows for terrific views of everything below. The high ceilings are all glass too, giving Roast a very airy and open feel which helps to achieve the welcoming atmosphere they’ve tried to create.

My first visit was, naturally, for the bar. After a long stroll through Borough Market, we were a bit thirsty and the drinks menu is really refreshing. Every drink uses the best ingredients, many of them sourced from the market itself. The list of drinks changes regularly…so there’s always a reason to go back? The Bloody Mary, though, is reason enough. I could go on about how they cater to your every taste, whether you’re in the mood for something sweet, sour, spciy or otherwise…but I think I’ll just let the menu speak for itself.

Fancy a Drink?

The bar is very well stocked and you can immediately see that they take their drinks seriously. I wish I’d taken a picture of it, but there were plenty of unique spirits. They’re happy to serve up the classics (which I’m sure are very nice), but I suggest you work your way through their inspired drinks menu. Be nice to them and they’ll be nice to you, just check out our supposedly small margaritas, you know, just to taste them.

Now, I’ve only had the Sunday roast, so anything else on the menu is foreign to me, but this is a post about a place called Roast and I went on a Sunday…What did you think I was going to have? The meal was absolutely delicious. I started off with a nice light salad in preparation for the meat feast that was coming. I went for pork belly and it was (un)comfortably the biggest pork belly I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming…and consume I did. This was just another example of me eating far beyond the point of satisfaction and just across the line of gluttony. I’ll never learn.

The three course set menu roast on Sunday will set you back £30. Drinks are about £8. Ok, so it’s not cheap. It is seriously satisfying though, and certainly a place you could spend HOURS in. A friend told me I could simply write “Roast=Awesome.” and this post would be complete. I think it’s better summed up by saying it is just so satisfying on so many levels. Shockingly refreshing drinks, high-quality food from high-quality ingredients, and enough food to last all day…all in a fresh and inviting environment.

If it’s a sunny weekend, there’s probably no place I’d rather be than Roast. You might need to book a bit in advance, though, as they sometimes fill up on weekends. However, if you just happen to be strolling through Borough Market, it’s definitely worth popping in to their bar to lift your spirits with whatever the weekly special happens to be.

Bar Tip: I have to go back.

Tipster: I have to go back.

Restaurant Tip: This place gets two tips.

Tipster: It’s that good.

Door 74

By
OpenMikeNight
 – April 11, 2010Posted in: DRINK, ON TRAVEL

One last drink.

I recently discovered that these three words bear almost no meaning in the city of Amsterdam. Over the Easter weekend, I decided last minute to take a trip to visit the Dutch and see what kind of trouble I could get into. Four of us flocked to this city of debauchery with no agenda and no plans; our only obligations lie in making the most of the city. In the very centre of the city, I only had one recommendation, the speakeasy bar Door 74.

It was Saturday night and I would normally try and book for any classy cocktail bar, but here it would appear that is the onlyway of getting in at all if you’re not lucky. We didn’t really know what to expect except some really nice cocktails. A reservation was for 10pm and from the moment we walk in, we’re treated like VIPs at the most exclusive night spot in town. A kind gentleman takes our coats. A beautiful girl shows us to our table where a nice selection of nuts and olives awaits. Would we like a glass of champagne to start? Why yes, we most certainly would.

A Dry Vodka Martini

The drinks menu is extensive with plenty of interesting and unique creations. No fruit drinks here; if there’s fruit, it’s because they’re using their own homemade fruit syrups. The red vermouth is homemade too. Rare bitters find their way into rare and often infused spirits. Every drink is a tribute to the art of bartending.

Sure, they can do the classics, and whilst my friends were working their way through the cocktail menu, I was putting the bar through its paces. I started off with my personal bartending benchmark, a dry vodka martini with a twist. Surprisingly, the waitress asked if i wanted it shaken or stirred. This seems like a haven for purists, so I didn’t feel out of place saying “Stirred, never shaken.” I think it’s generally regarded that shaking a martini only serves to dilute the drink. Anyways, this drink goes down smooth, crisp, clean, and with just the slightest sweetness to it. Served in a chilled glass, it is truly a thing of beauty and rates among the best I’ve ever had. Ok, so they passed that test, but even I can make an (admittedly, average) martini.

“Could I have a Perfect Manhattan?”

“Absolutely.”

The Perfect Manhattan

Meanwhile, we ordered another round of house cocktails for the table and so far my favourite is “The Viking” – Akavit, Barbancourt rhum, Lillet blanc, orange  bitters. Just then, one of the bartenders approaches me and says “Are you the one who ordered the Perfect Manhattan?” Somewhat guiltily, I acknowledged I was the trying to gauge just how good their cocktails were. “You seem to know your drinks. Let’s find you that Perfect Manhattan.” Now it was a journey we were taking together. I try one whiskey that I am warned is quite strong. As delicious as it is, its probably going to overpower the vermouth. He knew it too and without hesitation he brings over a 100-proof whiskey which he thinks will suit it perfectly. This was only the second taste, but I knew this would be the one. A few minutes later, my Manhattan arrives and he’s standing there waiting for me to taste it, slightly nervous that it might not be what I was looking for, but showing the kind of excitement you get before someone opens a gift you have really put a lot of thought into. One sip and it’s perfect. Actually the best Perfect Manhattan I’ve ever had…twice.

So we worked our way through and I think I might have gone for a Sazerak, but it didn’t even matter. I was only trying other drinks because I would have felt bad about having the same Manhattans all night. It was nearing 3am and I asked what time the bar closes and with a spirited laugh (no pun intended) the waitress says, “We close when the bartenders feel like leaving…and they really hate leaving.” But it was getting late and we’d drank plenty, so we decided it was time to call it a night.

We walked back to our substandard accommodation and I had to drop off my roommates and take the single key so I could walk my friend back to where she was staying and still be able to get back into our hotel. The moment we walked out she looks at me and goes, “You know, I bet it would have been fun to stay there longer…” I didn’t need much persuading and we quickly jumped in a taxi. We thought we would just stop by for one last drink.

My foray into bartending.

We arrived back at the bar around 4 and were told it had shut some time earlier. After some persuading, we managed to get in and realised they were just getting started. There were still a good 15 or so people and they were cleaning up so we were told we could have any simple drinks. Like shots. Easy to pour, easy to serve, and too easy to drink. At one point they even put me behind the bar, a sign of respect that I don’t take for granted. They guided me around their vast selection of spirits to pour out shots for everyone and apparently, I was only the 4th person to person to work the bar who didn’t actually work for the bar. Rum and cokes were the bartender’s choice and their house rum is El Dorado from Guyana, which has a slight vanilla taste to it. We ended up talking for hours with the staff and other patrons lucky enough to be invited to stay late. A late night became an early morning and most of the guests slowly started to file out by 6. Everything, most of all our sobriety, was coming to an end. There were 5 of us left now, but we can’t leave without one last drink.

Out comes the champagne and a shot of whiskey each. A couple glasses down and some more meaningful chat and it’s now 7:30. We’ve lasted as long as the bartenders wanted to and they decided its time to finally call it a night. Have we really been here for the better part of 8 hours? Handshakes and hugs all around, it’s been an adventure and this is what Amsterdam is all about.

After that night, all I wanted to do was go back…which we did, the very next night. It was another night of decadence that ended with us stepping out into the light of day. Even now all I can think about is the next time I can get back for another round with some of Amsterdam’s finest bartenders. One last drink? I hope that’s never the case at Door 74.

Door 74Door74
Reguliersdwarsstraat 74
1017BN Amsterdam, Netherlands
Reservations can be made by calling or texting +31 63 404 5122.

PS HUGE thanks to 52 Martinis for the fantastic recommendation.

Bottega Prelibato

By
OpenMikeNight
 – March 30, 2010Posted in: FOOD, ON LONDON

I like Italy and I really like Italian food. Most of my meals at home consist of pizza, pasta, or some combination thereof. If I’m extra hungry (always the case) I might throw in an entire loaf of garlic bread. I’m not sure if this qualifies me as a connoisseur of Italian food, but I still feel confident in recommending Bottega Prolebato on Rivington Street. This relatively small restaurant in Shoreditch has all the charm of a seaside Italian village and the food to match (well, all of the seaside Italian villages I’ve been to have had amazing food). I have been here twice now and both times have been a delight.

The atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable. Most recently, I came here with one guy and a few girls and each of them immediate jumped an octave and squeaked “ohmygod its sooo CUTE!” (the guy included, it’s THAT cute). Random kitch adorns the walls along with all of my favourite Italian meats and cheeses. Downstairs there is a small lounge area with books on cooking, a couple couches and tables and a set of turntables (I didn’t see any records, but this would be a GREAT place to waste an afternoon over a bottle (or two) of wine and a stack of records). I walked in and, even though I’d only been once before, everything felt so familiar. I picked a table, laid my jacket on the back of a chair, placed the bottle of wine we’d brought on the table, and went back outside to wait for the rest of my party. The staff are exceedingly friendly and as soon as everyone had arrived, they rearranged the tables to seat our group of 5.

The menu is simple, but what they do, they do well. Both times I’ve been I started with the meat and cheese platter. This is a meal on it’s own and when we requested turning the platter into something slightly more vegetarian friendly, they simply brought out a larger portion with more cheese and vegetables. 5 people ate well and we had only chalked up £20 to the bill. Every time we started to run low on bread, another loaf appeared out of nowhere. Twice now I’ve been and both times I’ve had the gnocchi. This time was a simple mozzarella, tomato, and basil gnocchi which tasted very fresh and was a perfect compliment to the meat and cheese feast. Having had so much food to start with, three girls split two mains– something to keep in mind. If you’ve got an appetite though, don’t hesitate to get a whole pasta dish for yourself. Also, whilst they offer a few nice house wines, you are welcome to bring your own. None of us made it to dessert, but they all looked very nice.

For the 5 of us, the final bill came to £70. The service was casual, yet attentive; we never waited long for anything, and when I wanted the bill, I felt comfortable enough to walk up and ask them for it directly. On our way out, Gianfilippo came over for a quick chat and personally thanked each of us for coming.

We walked out perfectly satisfied and with, pardon the pun, big cheesy grins on our faces. We were just so taken with the place, the people, and the food that we found ourselves arm in arm, practically skipping down the road to Callooh Callay.

That’s the effect Bottega Prelibato has on you.

That, or the three bottles of wine we brought.

The Tip: TBC

The Tipster: Gianfilippo

Lastly, it is worth noting that I am not the first person to have reviewed this place. Apparently, it does quite well as a lunchtime delicatessen. Check out Cheese and Biscuits for a much more established and reputable blog than my own.

Inamo

By
OpenMikeNight
 – March 15, 2010Posted in: FOOD, ON LONDON

The other week, I returned to an old favourite, Inamo Restaurant in Soho. I will say this right now, I have been here several times and never once had a bad experience. Everyone I have brought here has loved it too. Apparently the menu was created by the same person behind Nobu and Hakkasan, but he might have left. That might add a little glitter to their reputation, but its not really that important. What you need to know is the food is great, the cocktails are original, and its just a lot of fun.

From start to finish, there is a lot to enjoy here.

Normally, I would start with the cocktails menu, only this time there isn’t one.

There are no real menus, in fact, nor are there any real waiting staff. All the ordering is done using a touchpad built into the table and food and drinks are brought to you as soon as they’re ready. A projector mounted above the table projects your virtual menu onto the table and this is where the fun starts. It may sound really gimmicky, but there is something a bit exciting about scrolling through the menu options and seeing each dish beamed down onto your plate.  It sparks conversation too; you’re each talking about what you want to order, who gets to order which dish, in what order you want them to arrive, etc. Changing the decor of the table is as simple as a few clicks. As soon as you’ve made your selection, the whole menu rolls up into an inobtrusive little circle on the table. It’s great to have some fun with it, but don’t let yourself get carried away. Changing the decor with a few quick clicks? Keeps things fresh and fun. Watching the crew at work on the “Kitchen Cam”? Blurry and pretty pointless. And a game of battleship? You’re in real trouble if you have that little to talk about that you resort to this. The whole system can really ‘bring something to the table’, but don’t let it detract from the enjoyment of everything else, especially your company.

With the novelty wearing off, we started off with a couple cocktails. The drinks are delicious and they really think of some interesting creations. As with everything else, fusion is the name of the game here. Your standard mojito is now a sake mojito. Fresh fruits make their way into most, if not all of the martinis: passionfruit, lychee, lemongrass and melon, to name a few. Their signature drink, the Inamo, is a refreshing and spicy blend of mandarin puree, spring onion, vodka and chili syrup. Careful, I ordered a Thai Sapphire expecting a manly drink, only to get an extremely fruit and pink conconction. It was still pretty refreshing, but not my kind of drink.

Over to food. Normally I go straight for the Berkshire pork neck with apple confit and chocolate sauce (you people who can’t mix your sweet and savouries can shove it…this is my favourite thing on the menu) but this time I’d come with a vegetarian who still eats seafood. Side note: I really dislike the word floating around for this, pesca-aqua-whatever. At least this meant we could still get the black miso cod, my second favourite dish. So we went through the interactive menus and ordered the following:

  • Spinach and Mushroom Parcels: I really don’t like mushrooms in anything and I thought these were delicious. Wrapped up little gifts from the vegetarian gods.
  • Tuna Tartare (pictured): Really nicely presented dish of “chopped tuna, sesame, herbs, truffle and soy” with a raw quail’s egg on the side which we mixed in right away. I imagine it improved the consistency, but I didn’t try it without it.
  • Black Cod: Instant classic, and from what I’ve heard, very reminiscent of what you’d find at much more expensive restaurants like Nobu.
  • Sashimi Platter: Larger than I expected, 15 sizable pieces of fish and an AMAZING wasabi dressing.
  • Edame Beans and Crunchy Green Salad: I’ve lumped these together because they were both just side vegetable dishes. They are pretty standard fare, but the Green salad has a really nice sesame dressing and I think it goes well with everything else.

There’s not much else to say, really. I’ve worked my way through a bunch of the meat dishes, some of the seafood, and even a curry or two. On the meat side, the aforementioned Berkshire Pork Neck, the Hot Stone Ribeye, and the Wagyu Bavette could each get me to return. Everything just tastes very fresh and unique. It is so easy to get the whole fusion concept so terribly, terribly wrong, but this is a terrific and inspired menu that really shows that the genre can deliver.

Of course we had dessert and the European influence here is obvious. Apparently there’s a French pastry chef in the kitchen. We had the Vanilla Creme Brulee (see banner photo) and it did not dissappoint either. Extremely creamy and velvety. I would order it again on my next visit, but I am too curious to try the other dishes like the Thai Basil Pana Cotta.

I will close by saying that after one bite, there is no way you could mistake this place as just a restaurant with a good gimmick. As interesting and cool as the whole ordering/interactive dining experience is, it is the food that will keep you coming back. The prices aren’t cheap, but I always walk away feeling like I got good value for money. There isn’t much to say about the service, because they tell you up front that dishes will come about 15-20 minutes after you order them, and that pretty much holds true. That said, you can always flag down a waiter if you need anything else.

Tip: PINCHITOtapas, WC1 (I don’t need any convincing, I’m practically a regular at the EC1 branch)

Tipster: Anthony, Manager

Rodizio Rico

By
OpenMikeNight
 – March 3, 2010Posted in: FOOD, ON LONDON

Let the games begin.

Meat is all around me. At Rodizio Rico, skewered towers of meat bombard you from all corners of the room. Our server comes up and asks if we’ve been before. Two out of three of us had been and we knew what to expect. The third made sure to bring his appetite, doing his stomach stretches with a burger at lunch. The waiter tossed three coasters onto the table, green on one side, red on the other. Green side up and the floodgates are open. Red side up when you need to catch your breath (or you’re on your last breath).

“Eat as much as you can,” he says.

Don’t worry, we knew what we were getting into long before we stepped foot in the door.

We’re wearing sweatpants, we’re here for excess.

You start by having a look at the buffet. I think I saw some salad and fruits, but that just takes up valuable meat space. The rest of the buffet is either fried, meat, or maybe fried meat. Rice with chicken. Fried vegetables with sausage.

Round 1

All in all maybe 10 different dishes, only one or two of which contain only vegetables. I load up 3/4 of a plate full, leaving a corner of the plate for the first wave of meat. I figure I can eat my way around the buffet starters and make more room for meat as the night goes on.

One by one, the carvers march over to our table. Lamb, rump steak, top side of beef, beef with cheese, beef shish, pork, sausages, chicken hearts (!). You get through them all and nothing has had a chance to settle. The food ranges from good to great, but more than anything, we’re driven by the mantra “Eat as much as you can”. Back to the buffet, but only to keep the palate fresh for more meat. A glass of wine helps too. That glass is on the coaster, pinning it to the table green side up.

Another plateful. More skewers. We’ve lapped ourselves and we’re back on lamb. We’re starting to have to make some tough choices; we can only accomodate our favourite meats now. I’m not full yet, but I can feel the food starting to weigh me down. Can’t stop, keep it coming.

Defeat.

Another plate down. The room’s going blurry and my head is spinning. I can’t make eye contact with any of the servers because Ithink they can sense my weakness. I surrender, I’m waving the white flag, I’m…turning the coaster from green to red. Take pity on me, I’ve just eaten my weight in meat.

We all say there’s always room for dessert. I’ve never known this to be more true than at Rodizio Rico. As full as I was, each meat skewer taunting me as it went by, I still thought dessert sounded pretty nice. A nice, light, and very sweet, mango custard was just what I needed.

Dinner, dessert, and a glass of wine come to just over 30 with service. Carnivores, eat your heart out.

The tip: Preto

The tipster: The man in the suit and tie…who, it turns out, doesn’t eat meat.

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