Novikov a Russian with Asian and Italian Flavours

Well, he called last night about 3 a.m. and we got talking, he sells Russian hats down at Battery Park, forty bucks

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Chicken Roaster”)

What has in common Japanese, Italian and Russian? Apparently Novikov. The Russian restaurateur Arkady Novikov opened a huge space with a lounge, Asian room, and Italian room. Novikov has more than 50 restaurants in Moscow and now he's up to the quest to conquer London with two head chefs and two sommeliers one for each room and cuisine to double the fun.

The place

The place is luxurious, spacious, and noisy. We were a big group from a reunion of the MSc and ended in the Italian room to try Marco Torri menu. Lovely red Barolo wine, for starters we shared burrata con pomodorini, carpaccio di filetto di manzo, and calamari fritti. Nice flavours, fresh ingredients, good start.

Calamari

For main I got the Ossobuco con risotto alla Milanese. Amazing, great flavour, everything spot on, but the risotto was exceptional.

Veal Ossobuco

I also had the chance to try the Bistrca di manzo, outstanding, the flavour of the 28 days aged rib eye steak was just great.

For dessert we shared a couple tiramisu, really nice and lovley flavours.

Tiramisu

To end a shot of Limoncello and I got a Santa Teresa 1796, a great finish, neat Venezuelan rum, one of the best rums for sure, outstanding.

Limoncello

The colour of rum

If you like opulence, high prices, good service, and nice food this is your kind of place.

Novikov

T: 020 7399 4330

Italian Cuisine / Asian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £70pp

Area: Mayfair

Borough: City of Westminster
Twitter: NovikovLondon

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A Laneway in Brisbane [On The Road: Brisbane]

The Laneway is a bar part of the Urbane, Sub Urbane, and The Euro family. The kitchen under the command of Alejandro Cancino, creating a high calibre bar cuisine. You will find bar relax food and nibbles, creative cocktails, candle lights, and a projector featuring a Charles Chaplin film. 

Laneway

Candle lights

The menu is simple dishes to share and a couple burgers. I went with a colleague and we decided to share a couple of the options. The first one was Parmesan, prosciutto and Gruyere croquettes. Amazing, great flavour, creamy, perfectly fried, not oily, crispy, just perfectly executed. Then some sticky lamb ribs, dry rubbed with fennel, mint and brown sugar in a yoghurt sauce. Really nice with good seasoning, some smoky and a spicy notes. 

Ribs

Moving on some southern style fried chicken, I love chicken and this one comes seasoned with 27 herbs with a chipotle sauce. Great flavour, perfectly cooked, the herbs gave a nice flavour to the fried chicken crust, just like an adrenaline rush. Finally some calamari dusted in smoke paprika spice mix with aioli. Good ending, nice seasoning and an extra punch from the paprika. 

Calamari

Chicken

Great place for drinks and quick bites in CBD. 

Word Wall

Lane reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Pothole” 

Jerry: What's this?

Kramer: Well, you know, those annoying little bumps on the lane-lines?

Jerry: Isn't that some kind of safety thing?

Kramer: Well, I had to pull them up if I'm going widen the lanes

Jerry: What the hell are you talking about?

Kramer: Ah, you know how in planes they got first class? More legroom, better ride? Well, I'm bringing that concept to mile one-fourteen

Elaine: How are you going widen the lanes?

Kramer: Well you black out lane-lines one and three, and a four-lane highway becomes a two-lane comfort cruise

The Laneway

T: +61 7 3229 2271

Bar / Quick Bites

Approx Damage: AU$30pp

Area: CBD

Brisbane

Twitter: TheLanewayBris

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A Grill-e in Providence [On The Road: Huntsville]

My last meal in Huntsville/Decatur trip was probably one of the best ones. The place Grille 29, located in the Village of Providence, under the command of chef Chris MacDonald, and winners of Taste of Huntsville for 3 years 2007 to 2009, so I had to give it a try, even it’s one of 8 restaurants operated by a big company in Florida. European style décor, dark dimmed light dinning, relax, and soothing. 

Providence

The place

Got the menu and went immediately for the crispy calamari, light fried, some lovely fried peppers, srirachi aioli and spicy marinara dipping sauce, a success, great flavour, the aioli was great nice punch form the srirachi, the marinara nice, perfect light batter, loved the battered peppers, a bed of lettuce, which gave some crunchiness, light and nice. 

Calamari

Close up

For main I went for Filet 29, 6oz centre cut filet mignon wrapped with applewood bacon and topped with Gorgonzola, beautiful, it was perfectly cooked the Gorgonzola gave another dimension, nice touch, as side creamed spinach which was lovely and garlic mashed potatoes the weakest link of the night. 

Filet

Great place, relax, good food, plenty of options on the menu, sadly I found about it on my last day in the area. 

Great filet

29

Filet Mignon reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Movie” when Kramer while waiting for Jerry and starving stared at a sign that reads “100% pure fresh beef, tastier than Filet Mignon” 

Kramer: Could you do me a favour? If you see a guy that's five foot eleven, he's got uh a big head and flared nostrils, tell him his friend's going to be right back, okay?

Grille 29

T: +1 256 489 9470

Steakhouse/Seafood

Approx Damage: $60pp

Huntsville

Alabama

Twitter: Grille29Hsv

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Chicago Steaks, Seafood, and Crab = Joe’s

The big boss favourite place in Chicago is Joe’s, he always talks about it, so I had the chance to come back to the Windy City and couldn't resist to try it. The place serves seafood, prime steaks, and stone crab. Originally from Miami, 99 years old institution, the dream of Joe Weiss came true, almost a century later they searched for new horizons in Chicago in the year 2000, and in 2004 opened a spin off in Sin City. 

Joe's

Got to the place. Had my reservation but it wasn't necessary as there were tables available. Checked the menu, I knew from a couple colleagues that the Alaskan crab legs were good, also the steaks, but what to order? After a little bit of hesitation I decided to go for their classic Florida stone crab claws with the house mustard and the fisherman’s platter. 

Inside

The stone crab was delightful, awesome, superb, insert any other succulent adjectives, I think I'm short describing it, and the house mustard is perfect, the flavour was top notch and gave the crab claws the next level. The fisherman’s platter was great, I ordered grilled, nice flavours, and everything perfectly cooked, the shrimps, scallops, calamari, and the cod were perfect, I even ordered more of the Joe’s mustard sauce and played well with the platter, to be honest everything goes right with that mustard, I tried to get the recipe in vain, a well-kept secret. 

Stone Crab Claws

Fisherman's Platter

The service was great, one of the best places to eat in Chicago for sure, now I know why the big boss likes it so much. A must if you are wandering around downtown hungry. 

Boss reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Opposite” when George is interviewing for a job with the New York Yankees. 

Mr Cushman: Why don't you tell me about some of your previous work experience? 

George: Alrighty. Ah, my last job was in publishing... I got fired for having sex in my office with the cleaning woman 

Mr Cushman: Go on 

George: Ah, Alright, before that, I was in real estate. I quit, because the boss wouldn't let me use his private bathroom. That was it 

Mr Cushman: Do you talk to everybody like this? 

George: Of course 

Mr Cushman: My niece told me you were different 

George: I am different, yeah 

Mr Cushman: I got to tell you, you are the complete opposite of every applicant we've seen. Ah, Mr Steinbrenner, sir. There's someone here I'd like you to meet. This is Mr Costanza. He's one of the applicants 

Mr Steinbrenner: Nice to meet you 

George: Well, I wish I could say the same, but I must say, with all due respect, I find it very hard to see the logic behind some of the moves you have made with this fine organization. In the past twenty years you have caused myself, and the city of New York, a good deal of distress, as we have watched you take our beloved Yankees and reduced them to a laughing stock, all for the glorification of your massive ego! 

Mr Steinbrenner: Hire this man!

Joe's

T: +1 312 379 5637

Seafood and Steakhous

Aprox Damage: $40pp

Area: River North

Community: Near North Side

Chicago

Twitter: joeschicago

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A Pearl in Austin

If you like seafood and you are in Austin you have to go to Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar. Opened by two young chefs Lawrence McGuire and Thomas Moorman in 2009 to give Austin premium fresh seafood, simply done, keep in it classic, and having as many oysters as they can, usually they have more than 20 different oysters on the menu. I knew about the place thanks to Heather and Ricaruca who strongly recommended but what really convinced myself was watching the Heartland episode on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. 

The Place

According to Tony Bourdain the secret with seafood restaurant is simple, find the best and don’t screw it up, and that’s is what Perla’s does quite a minimalist concept. I got for Brunch on a Sunday with a colleague, ordered a salt and jalapeno pepper fried calamari with green sauce and marinara, and a lobster and egg frittata with asparagus, roasted tomatoes, avocado, and basil. The calamari was excellent, great battered, the sauces were nice, and a great spicy kick. The frittata again quite good, well executed and good combination of flavours. 

Calamari

Lobster Frittata

Excellent place without a doubt, next time I will give the oysters a try. 

Inside

Lobster reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Hamptons” 

Carol: Oh, the baby's crying. I'll go get him. He can sit with us 

Elaine : No! 

Jerry: No, you don't want to do that. You'll be uncomfortable 

Elaine: Yeah, finish eating. The baby's not going to have any fun over here, we're not fun for a baby 

Jerry: Yeah, the lobster will scare him

Perla's

T: +1 512 291 7300

Seafood

Neighbourhood: South Congress

Austin

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Helsinki Street Food

The best street food you can find in Helsinki is probably in the Kauppatori market. Located in a central square near the Esplanadi and limiting with the Baltic Sea is the place to go if you want to try the Finnish spin to street seafood. 

Reindeer Goods 

Sea Food

The Market

I went basically every day while I was staying, had the chance to try fried Vendace, fried octopus and calamari. Also I couldn’t resist trying reindeer in different forms, so I had reindeer sausages and a some sort of meatball/burger patty. 

Reindeer sausages and meatball 

Vendace and Octopus 

Calamari

The food is simple, tasty, and cheap. Don’t miss it if you are nearby, and perfect to have before or after visiting Suomenlinna by ferry departing from the square. 

Market reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Pez Dispenser” 

Kramer: Want one? Yeah, I just bought it at the Flea Market. 

George: Hey, what goes on there, exactly? 

Jerry: You don't know? 

George: No, I…-I…-I know... I know... 

Jerry: You think they have fleas there, don't you? 

George: No 

Jerry: Yes you do, Biff. You've never been to a Flea Market, and you think they have fleas there. 

George: All right, I think they have fleas there. So what.

Kauppatori

Market

Neighborhood: Kaartinkaupunki

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An Indian Pop Up

I think I mentioned before pop up restaurants were on trend in these days. Well one of them is Dishoom Chowpatty Beach Bar. I have wanted to go to Dishoom, and the other day with a colleague while walking in Southbank I mentioned to give it a try to the Indian fast food beach style concept.

The Place

The Long Bar

Lamps

The place was originally to be opened until October 4^th. However, the bartender mentioned they might close in October redecorate and open again as it has been a great success. In effect this mental restaurateurs put sand and a hut in the middle of the Southbank centre, who would thought in a rainy city like London with usually a very short summer this idea will work, apparently it did.

Beach Style

The menu is simple, Naan rolls, snacks, meals, and some sweets. And in the blue corner there is quite a good selection of drinks, including Gola Ice (Bombay’s favourite Ice Treat in two versions virgin or naughty).

Bollywood Style

I ordered the Dishoom Frankie (spicy lamb minced in a naan roll), Dishoom Calamari (fried with lime and chilli, and Chicken Ruby (home style curry). To kill the thirst a Thumbs Up which is Bombay’s best cola. The Frankie was ok, nice flavour, but nothing mind blowing. The chicken curry on the other side was great, really nice and tasty, and the calamari was superb, I could eat only that the whole day.

Bombay's cola

Calamari

Chicken Curry 

Frankie Roll 

Samosa

So if you’re in a pop up state of mind don’t miss this Indian and try the calamari before they close in October as they might change the menu.

Lunch Time

India reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Betrayal”.

Sue Ellen Mischke: Elaine? Oh! Oh, I am so happy to see you!

Elaine: You are?

Sue Ellen Mischke: Well, of course. No one else was even willing to come to India. I mean, not even Pinter's parents and they're Indian.

Dishoom Chowpatty Beach Bar

T: 020 7420 9320

Pop up restaurant Indian Cuisine

Area: Waterloo / Southbank

Borough: Lambeth
Twitter: DishoomLondon

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