Chiswick Sushi Bar

Well, Jerry, they're Japanese. I mean, that TV you watch, that sushi you eat, I mean, even that kimono you wear. Where to you think all that money goes, hmm?

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld quotes “The Checks”)

Makoto is a small sushi bar near by Turnham Green station. Fresh quality seafood, good execution, and fast delivery make it a great option in Chiswick if you have appetite for Japanese cuisine.

Starters

We got some tempura for starters, and also the soft shell crab. For sushi we went for a selection of spicy tuna, king prawn, and also salmon. Rolls were quite nice, my only complain was that some of the rolls are XL and not bite size, so when eating makes it a bit difficult and the roll crumbles apart. I will stay with the 6 pieces portion, as they are perfect small bite size rolls. 

Sushi time

To end a lovely wasabi and green tea ice cream. Overall great flavours.

Ice Cream

Makoto

T: 020 8987 3180

Sushi Bar

Approx Damage: £30pp

Area: Chiswick

Borough: Hounslow

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An Outstanding French Brasserie [Closed]

That's not a French cuff shirt, you know

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Strike”)

Traditional French brasserie, opulent, lovely chandeliers, and impeccable decor. That's what you will find in Brasserie Chavot. Classic French cuisine with a modern twist by chef Eric Chavot. One Michelin star and 3 AA Rosettes but surprisingly not too busy on Saturday lunchtime.

The Dinning

For starters we got the deep fried soft shell crab with whipped aioli. It was amazing, perfectly cooked, the aioli was spot on, delicate flavours and a perfect execution. The other starter was the crab mayo and avocado, really refreshing, lovely execution, a great start.

Soft Shelf Times

For main we tried the steak tartare, it was really nice, delicate, probably a bit too much going on, too many components but overall a nice dish. And also the Rib eye with béarnaise, this was the highlight of the meal, it was superb, bone marrow as surprise addition, and the garlic and parsley sauce in top of the marrow was perfect. Beef perfectly cooked, great searing, medium rare, the flavour of the ribeye was amazing, no need of the béarnaise or any sauce.

Tartare

Steak Time

Refined place, great service, spectacular food, classics perfectly executed. Probably the best restaurant I have tried in 2014.

Brasserie Chavot

T: 020 7183 6425

French cuisine

Approx Damage: £55pp

Area: Mayfair

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: brasseriechavot

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Canary Brunch

Hey! So what's the deal with brunch? I mean that if it's a combination of breakfast and lunch, how comes there's no lupper or no linner

Jeannie (Seinfeld episode “The Invitations”)

The other day I got an invitation to try the brunch menu of One Canada Square. A lovely event ran by the ETM group where a nice group of food bloggers had the chance to tweet up their experience. The place is a refined, spacious, and traditional European restaurant and cocktail bar. The David Collins Studio designed the place, and the kitchen is in charge of chef Jamie Dobbin. 

Soft Shelf Crab

We got a nice selection of dishes and also cocktails, the highlight was definitely the soft shelf crab Benedict jalapeño, and on the cocktails side the Canary Mary, a great twist to the Bloody classic. Nice food, lovely space, and great cocktails.

One Canada Square

T: 020 7242 9122

European Cuisine

Approx Damage: £40pp

Area: Canary Wharf

Borough: Tower Hamlets

Twitter: OneCanadaSquare

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Dim Sum Oxymoron

In a Chinese restaurant do they take money?

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”)

I loved Hakkasan so I was really excited to visit Yauatcha for Dim Sum. Not the classic Dim Sum teahouse joint, modern design, upscale, and holding one Michelin star. They also have a takeaway of chocolate and macaroons that are just amazing. The food was spot on, we got as much as we could, the highlights were no doubts the lovely lobster dumpling with tobiko caviar, the spicy soft shelf crab, the Wagyu beef puff that is to die for, and the mushrooms and black truffle spring rolls.

Dim Sum time

Wagyu Beef Puffs

The food is impeccable, really lovely, great flavours, and perfect execution. A couple warnings, the service was a bit slow so not as good as it should have been for one star, and the sits are design for hobbits so if you’re a bit tall you might feel uncomfortable. My recommendation is to ignore the service and enjoy the food.

Yauatcha

T: 020 7494 8888

Dim Sum / Chinese Cuisine

Approx Damage: £37pp

Area: Soho

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: yauatcha

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Hirata Buns and Rock n’ Roll

Aaah! Aaagh! Aah-aah. Oh, oh the humanity! Aaagh! 

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Pothole”) 

This is definitely the year of Taiwanese buns. The Taiwanese street food, kind of a burger, popularised in NYC by David Chang’s Momofuku it’s surely but slowly coming their way into London. So when I heard that chef Ross Shonhan opened a spin off of it’s successful ramen bar Bone Daddies I Couldn't resist to visit as soon as I could.

The place in Covent Garden

The menu of Flesh & Buns is focus on the Hirata buns, basically the New York City version of the Taiwanese street food. The place is in a Basement nearby the Seven Dials. Noisy as his big brother Bone Daddies, but not as dark playing with white bright colours, and industrial lamps. 

F&B

Bar

Long Live the Communal Table

Not all in the menu are buns they also have nice starters going from rolls to prawn tempura. We went for three different small plates, first oysters, they were nice and fresh, little spicy kick thanks to the jalapeño dressing, and lovely touch of coriander. 

Oysters

Moving on we got the soft shell crab, it was amazing, perfectly executed, the jalapeño mayo to dip was at the right spicy level and not too rich which was perfect, I definitely loved soft shell crab. 

Crab time

The last starter was fried squid, beautiful, it was crispy and perfectly executed, good spicy level, touch of pepper and lime. 

Squid

Then to the main show, we got the braised pork belly, buns are DIY, it was amazing and fun creating your own bun. The pork belly was cooked perfectly, nice touch of the mustard miso, messy and yummy. 

DIY

Extra buns just in case

Making my Hirata

Ready to eat

To wash down the buns there is a selection of sake. We got the sparkling specialty, Mio sweet and cold sake with hints of vanilla. They should call it Spake the Sparkling Sake.

Sparkling Sake

To end the lunch we decided to have our own bonfire. S'more includes a small Asian kind of cute bonfire to melt marshmallow and prepare a biscuit with the green tea chocolate they provide. The marshmallow, green tea, and chocolate sandwich/biscuit is amazing, I have to say it was the highlight of the day, and remember I’m not a sweet tooth, again fun and tasty. 

Fogata

Campfire

Getting Ready

Burning the marshmallow

S'More

The place is perfect, excellent food, great service, nice music, I would recommend stop reading and head to Covent Garden for some Hirata Buns.

Flesh & Buns

T: 020 7287 8581

Asian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £37pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: Camden

Twitter: FleshandBuns

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Just Two [On The Road: Brisbane]

August seventeen, nineteen-ninety-two. The same dress! She never changes! Oh my god. She's got to have hundreds of these dresses 

Jerry Seinfelde (Seinfeld episode “The Seven”) 

Restaurant Two, located in 2 Edward Street, with 2 chef hats from Australian Good Food Guide, probably you’ve already identified a pattern here. The place is amazing, high ceilings, wood floors, modern, minimalistic, and the building The Old Mineral House is Heritage listed. A modern Australian menu, created by chef David Pugh, and an excellent wine list. 

Two

Sofa

Our Table

We went a big group and share some starters. To start we got an amuse bouche, the duck pheasant and game terrine, really nice, good start to build up. 

Terrine

For starters I shared with a colleague a selection of 3 starter. Soft Shell Crab Tempura was amazing. Perfectly battered the soft shell crab, and great flavor with the tomato, the crushed avocado, and a lemon mayo that was to die for. Then Hervey Bay scallops, really nice, good balance, perfectly cocked, a touch of wasabi cream creating a nice the contrast with the chicken wing confit and Eggplant, nice balance, unbelievable that chicken wings and scallops work fine together. The third starter was the ocean king prawn saute and chorizo, another success. Excellent flavour, best of the night for sure, the piquillo pepper and chorizo giving Spanish flavours, in combination with the saffron arancini, in herb and garlic cream to complete the dish.

Soft shell crab

Scallops

King prawns

Also had the chance to take a couple bites of another starter, the Noosa Spanner Crab risotto with lemon foam. It was amazing, the presentation spot on, and full of flavour.

Risotto

Pan roasted lamb rack and braised shank with Indian spices, smoked eggplant, baba ganoush, tomato chutney, onion, and rocket. A perfect ending for the meal, the shank was spectacular, tender, a great dish.

Lamb

A beautiful meal in a lovely place

Restaurant Two

T: +61 7 3210 0600

Modern Australian

Approx Damage: AU$70pp

Area: CBD

Brisbane

Twitter: RestaurantII

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