London Appetizer

Hason Raja Fundraising for Mumbai Victims

Hason Raja, Holborn’s renowned Indian and Bangladeshi fine dining venue, is offering patrons a £10 voucher which they can chose to donate to victims of Mambia’s terrorist attack, use to discount meals, or split the money between the two.

Hason Raja proprietor Rafu Miah says, “Lots of restaurants are offering credit crunch specials, but despite the gloom and doom in the media, plenty of businesses and individuals continue to thrive - those people that don’t need the cash can put it toward a good cause.”

Using authentic ingredients, Hason Raja offers an eclectic modern cuisine including Monk Fish Tikka, Dumka Lobster and Goose Ki Parchy.  Other unique offerings include the Abadi King Prawn lightly spiced starter with tartar sauce, the Tandoori Paslion rack of lamb and the Duck Breast served in anis and saffron sauce.

Chef Prasun Saha, who trained in Calcutta, working in 5-star establishments such as the Taj Hotel, Mumbai’s famous Only Fish restaurant and top Chinese restaurants in Gujarat, offers a fusion of flavours with subtle influences of Chinese and Thai cuisines. He is also happy to prepare favourite dishes not featured on the menu.

Signature Bangladeshi dishes include Shathkora Mangsho, a traditional dish of diced lamb shank cooked with wild Bangladeshi lemons.

The restaurant is dedicated to the 19th century Bangladeshi feudal lord. A playboy in his early life Hason Raja led a life full of drama, colour and romance, before become an aesthete in later years, devoting himself to writing poetry and music.

Established in January 2003 restaurateur Rafu Miah, has put his 30 plus years’ industry experience into creating a first-rate fine dining establishment, offering traditional and modern dishes with authentic tastes and distinctive flavours in a stylish, understated soundings with Italian furnishings and exemplary service.

Commenting on the spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, Miah said: “Asians from the Indian sub-continent are all brothers, we shouldn’t be killing each other – this is a way for people to express their revulsion of terrorism regardless of the perpetrators.”

Like the transformation of restaurant’s namesake from playboy to aesthete, Miah calls on those intolerant of others’ views and beliefs, to undergo a change of heart and learn to live in state of mutual respect.

The £10 vouchers can be downloaded from www.HasonRaja.co.uk

For reviews of Hason Raja on The London Restaurant Review and to book online click here

The Spaghetti Tree - book signings at Carluccio's

The story behind the popularity of Italian food in Britain will be revealed at a series of special events at Carluccio’s in April and May.

Between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on selected dates, Author Alasdair Scott Sutherland will host an evening of fine Italian food, wine and literature as he tells the story behind his brand new book ‘The Spaghetti Tree: Mario and Franco and the Trattoria Revolution. A book signing and live Q&A session will follow before all attendees enjoy an authentic, two-course Italian dinner for just £8.50.

The Spaghetti Tree is the colourful and untold story of Britain’s growing love affair with Italian food. Before the Trattoria Revolution, many Britons believed the 1957 BBC Panorama April fool story that spaghetti grew on trees. Alasdair’s book charts the Italian invasion of Britain’s food and restaurants, of which Antonio Carluccio, with his TV series, his books, his seminal Neal Street Restaurant, and his eponymous Carluccio’s caffès has been an integral part.

Guests will learn how the popularity of Italian food has spread, from simple trattorias in Soho in the 1960s, through to today when pasta, pancetta, pesto, prosciutto, polenta, pomodoro, pecorino and parmesan can be enjoyed across the country. After which they will have the chance to indulge in a delicious Italian two-course meal with coffee for just £8.50, or add a glass of wine from the carefully selected list, for £11.50.

Starters include a savoury bread tin (focaccia, grissini, Linguarian ciappe and sliced breads served with butter or extra virgin olive oil) or insalata mista (fresh buffalo mozzarella served with wedges of oven-roasted tomato, fresh tomatoes, basil, focaccia bread and black olives, dressed with extra virgin olive oil). To follow, choose any home-cooked pasta dish from the Carluccio’s menu. Favourites include penne giardiniera (Carluccio’s Pugliese penne with courgette, chilli, and deep fried spinach balls with parmesan and garlic) and spaghetti alle vongole in bianco (Neapolitan spaghetti with whole fresh clams, and a white sauce of garlic, herbs and chilli).

Alasdair will be signing copies of The Spaghetti Tree during the evening. The book will be sold at £14.99 and is available from all Carluccio’s stores and online at www.thespaghettitree.co.uk

The Spaghetti Tree book launches will take place in the following caffés:
Hampstead 8th April 2009
Carluccio’s Hampstead, 32-34 Rosslyn Hill, Hampstead, London NW3 1NH
T: 020 7794 2184

Walton Upon Thames 14th April 2009
Carluccio’s, The Heart, Walton Upon Thames, Surrey KT12 1GH
T: 01932 246 396

Fulham 15th April 2009
Carluccio’s, 236 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NB
T: 020 7376 5960

Cambridge 16th April 2009
Carluccio’s, 1 Fisher Square, The Grand Arcade, Cambridge CB2 3QF
T: 01223 307046

Oxford 20th April 2009
Carluccio’s, 42 Oxford Castle, Oxford OX1 1AY
T: 01865 249413

Brighton 23rd April 2009
Carluccio’s Brighton, Unit 1 Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE
T: 01273 690493

Tunbridge Wells 24th April 2009
Carluccio’s, 32 Mount pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RA
T: 01892 614968

Bristol 6th May 2009
Carluccio’s Bristol, Quaker’s Friar, Bristol BS1 3BU
T: 0117 933 8538

Dishes from the Royal Courts of India

The Cinnamon Club, London’s finest contemporary Indian restaurant in the heart of Westminster, is honoring the Royal Courts of India this April in a celebration of the country’s culinary past. Before India’s independence in 1947, each of the princely states was as diverse in its cuisine as it was in its culture.

Stirring the passion of his kitchen brigade with recipes that time has almost forgotten, Executive Chef Vivek Singh has created six exciting dishes that are influenced by a collection of Royal Courts that include the Mughals in the North, Nawabs in Lucknow, Nizams in the South, Marathas in central India and the Marwars in Rajasthan.

Singh spent many years working in Calcutta specialising in the cuisine of the Royal Courts, using ancient recipes dating back as far as the 16th century. Dishes include Awadh Raan, an elaborate dish whose style of cooking tends to be very slow, the richness of Awadh cuisine lies in the variety of ingredients used like mutton, paneer, and rich spices including cardamom and saffron. While Rajasthani cooking was influenced by the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the necessity to hunt. Singh combines his expertise with traditional cooking methods, using only the finest ingredients, to recreate some of the grandest dishes that have helped shape India’s cuisine.

 

Zameen Doz Machili

Baked whole wild bass with spices

Murg Mussalam

Whole roasted pair of poussin filled with apricots, chilli, nuts and saffron

Khad Khargosh

Loin of rabbit baked in a pit with mustard and garlic, served with chickpea bread

Hyderabadi Salan

Roast duck breast with sesame and tamarind, served with haleem in fat chilli and spiced duck liver

Awadhi Raan

Whole roasted Pyrenean milk fed lamb leg with royal cumin and cheese

Bharwan Gucchi

Morels stuffed with cottage cheese and figs with rich onion sauce and gold leaf

 

Singh’s Royal Court Menu provides an insight into dishes that time has almost forgotten.Enjoy the Royal Court Menu throughout April at The Cinnamon Club 2009. Dishes start from £30.

The Cinnamon Club, The Old Westminster Library, 30-32 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BU

www.cinnamonclub.com
t.020 7222 2555

Thai New Year Party at The Mango Tree Restaurant, London

Splash out with Belgravia’s fine-dining Thai restaurant, Mango Tree, as they celebrate Thai New Year with fine food, fruit carving, dancing and music as well as a chance to raise money for charity.

Familiarly known as ‘Songkran’, the New Year water festival is a time to pay respect to elders, friends and family as well as being synonymous with the throwing of water, marking the end of the dry season.
Mango Tree plays the perfect host to an evening of delicious dishes alongside unique Thai dancing, theatrical performances and an exclusive showcase of Thailand’s stringed instruments including the ‘cha khe’, for guests to get a real glimpse into the heart of the country dubbed, ‘the land of a thousand smiles’. Diners may also enjoy street food dishes from Mango Tree’s very own stall, serving boat noodles and authentic desserts.

Mango Tree’s £30 festival menu, courtesy of executive chef Mark Read, will whet your appetite with a host of signature Thai dishes:

Starter Platter
Moo ma-now steamed pork slices in chilli, lemon and garlic with fresh herbs
Hoi Jor crab, prawn and water-chestnut wrapped in tofu and deep fried, served with a sweet plum sauce
Peek gai yud sai corn-fed chicken wings braised in a spicy tomato and red wine sauce with spring onion
Som tum som-tum of yellow turnip with peanuts, snake bean and yum sauce

Main Platter
Gaeng pa nuer beef brisket jungle curry with bamboo and fresh peppercorns
Tom yum ruam mitr mixed tom yum with chicken, beef, prawns, mussels and cuttle fish
Pla sarm rod deep fried red snapper fillet with a sweet, sour and spicy sauce
Kow ob gai chicken with butter roasted fragrant rice and a ginger and mushroom sauce

Dessert
Sakoo gati sago and cantaloupe melon with coconut cream

As part of the celebrations, throughout April, Mango Tree will also be supporting WaterAid, a charity helping to overcome poverty by enabling the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water. Diners at Mango Tree will have the opportunity to donate 50p each for unlimited tap water, with all donations going straight to WaterAid. This is part of the charity's Tap into WaterAid initiative, where restaurants across the UK are encouraging their customers to make a small donation in return for tap water.

So for a real taste of Thailand in all its glory, join Mango Tree on the 8th April to celebrate Songkran.
Mango Tree’s Thai New Year menu at just £30 per person will be available for lunch and dinner from 6th – 19th April 2009.

46 Grosevnor Place, Belgravia, London SW1X 7EQ
t: 020 7823 1888 www.mangotree.org.uk

Cling Film Hell's Kitchen at Claridge's

I loved this article I read in The Telegraph - maybe Gordon should cling film his mouth to curb his incessant swearing!

Food safety officers are investigating one of Gordon Ramsay's London restaurants after a reality television star claimed to have been left choking on a piece of cling film.
 
Noelie Klineberg said that she pulled an inch-and-a-half long piece of plastic from her mouth while chewing on a lamb main course at the Michelin-starred eatery in Claridge's Hotel.
Miss Klineberg, who was dining with her millionaire fiancé Robin Goforth, also claims to have felt unwell later that night.

The Doncaster couple, whose ostentatious lifestyle featured in Wife Swap and an ITV programme called Flash Families, were staying at Claridges on a short trip to London to pick up an engagement ring at Harrods.
They retired to their room after complaining about the meal and later refused to pay the £170 restaurant bill when they checked out of the hotel the next day.
Westminster City Council confirmed that it had received a complaint about the restaurant and would be sending an inspector to investigate.
"I started with scallops which I thought were a bit chewy but I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to cause a scene after Robin had taken me there," said Miss Klineberg, 38.
"Then I was shocked to find cling film in the lamb.
"We complained to the waiter and later when we went to our room I began to feel unwell."

Gordon Ramsay Holdings, which operates the restaurant, said complaints were taken very seriously adding that it would like to discuss the matter with Miss Klineberg.

Earth Hour at Carluccio's

On the 28^th of March, Carluccio’s will join millions of people and businesses around the world to support WWF’s Earth Hour and draw attention to the issue of climate change.

From 8.30pm – 9.30pm, Carluccio’s caffès across the UK will show their support for this vital campaign by switching off all non-essential lighting and replacing it with candles, treating diners to an even more romantic evening.

1,500 cities in over 80 countries will follow suit, and turn off their lights, including national landmarks such as The London Eye, City Hall, The National Gallery and The National Theatre, together signalling that immediate action must be taken against climate change.

Earth Hour gives people the chance to do something positive to combat climate change. Instead of expecting people to spend 60 minutes in the dark, fretting about the state of the planet, Carluccio’s and WWF have teamed to encourage people to make the switch, leave their homes and enjoy candlelit diners at the authentic Italian caffès and celebrate hope for the future.

For your nearest Carluccio’s please visit www.carluccios.com.

Franco's Restaurant, Jermyn St, London

Opened in 1946 Franco’s has been serving the local community for over 60 years.  A popular Italian restaurant in the heart of St. James’s which offers guests a tranquil oasis away from the buzz of the city.  Its character evolves throughout the day from the early morning breakfast, to the charged lunches and romantic candle lit dinners in the evening.

The menu has been expertly developed by our Head Chef Paulo Parlanti and combines both traditional and modern dishes.  Only the very best seasonal ingredients are often flown in from Italy to ensure that the food is not only authentic but wonderfully flavoursome.   Our staff pride themselves on providing an exceptional standard of service, which is attentive yet unobtrusive.

Franco's
61 Jermyn Street
London
SW1Y 6LX
Book online here

La Campagne - Seattle

I was in Seattle for 24 hours and went back to La Campagne, a French restaurant near Pike Place Market, because I fancied Cassoulet.

I was shocked by the prices, average by Seattle standards but expensive for a Londoner like me with the pound being as low as it is.  Three of us racked up $260 including tip and we didn't have desserts.

The food is good although it is a little weird being in a 'French' restaurant in the middle of Seattle being served by a smiley UDUB waitress and the chef coming from Jamaica!

The Cassoulet arrived in a Le Creuset pot and was thick, wholesome and tasty. although slightly oversalted.  They insist on putting breadcrumbs on top which I don't like but each to their own.

The wine list is extensive and overpriced - my advice would be to stick to under $50 then you won't be too heartbroken when the wine is average.

Overall 6/10.

Hawksmoor Steak Restaurant, London

Back in 2005 we decided to take the Americans on at their own game – by opening a British steak restaurant (with such success that even New York Magazine said that “Hawksmoor is on a par with the legendary beef palaces of New York”).  Now we’ve upped the ante by taking on America’s greatest contribution to world gastronomy – the hamburger.  After months experimenting, tweaking and perfecting, we’re confident we’ve done it again.  The best burger in Britain?  The best burger in the world?  We’ll let you decide.

Our chefs have been locked in sound-proofed rooms until they wept into their Non-Disclosure Agreements, suppliers have been forced to produce endless cuts from different bits of different cows until we found the perfect mix.  We can’t reveal the full recipe of course, save to say that it all comes from well-loved British Longhorns and includes some long neglected old fashioned cuts like clod and sticking and small nuggets of bone marrow for bursts of juicy flavour.

Even the hand made demi-brioche bun (soft, but not too soft) took 6 months to perfect. And if you fancy a cheese burger exactly which cheese works the best?  We tried them all (or at least it felt like that) and struck gold with Jamie Montgomery’s Somerset Oggleshield.

Lunch Menu

We like our steaks big (we think they cook and taste better that way), but we’re aware that at lunchtime even we sometimes fancy something a little bit smaller.  And in these times of hardship perhaps something a little bit cheaper as well.  So, we’re introducing a couple of new lunch options.
 
Hawksmoor Hamburger & Triple Cooked Chips (or Little Gem Salad) - £15
250g Rump Steak & Triple Cooked Chips (or Little Gem Salad) - £15

The à la carte menu is also available and will feature our new favourite cut, the massively flavoured Rump Skirt.  As there are only 2 of these steaks per 2 tonne animal we cant get enough to have on the menu all the time, so like the Hawksmoor Hamburger it will only be available at lunch time (at £4.50 per 100g).

Hawksmoor
157 Commercial St, London E1 6BJ
www.thehawksmoor.com
02072477392

Inamo Restaurant Review, Wardour St, London

Inamo Restaurant on Wardour St has been open for a few months now and has attracted a great deal of interest as one of a few 'concept' restaurants in London.

It's Japanese (although our waitress was Canadian) and it's dark, bordering on seedy.  There's not much space between tables but no-one is bothering what you are doing - they are all playing with the cool lighting effects.  Your menu is beamed onto your table and you scroll through the food and drink options using your finger.  Let's hope the tables are always clean then (ours was).  But first choose your 'tablecloth', another image beamed from the projector directly above each table.

Ok, sounds weird but it was kind of fun. For 5 minutes.  Then I started feeling a bit sick.  It doesn't do much for the food to be brutally honest.  It plays with your senses in a wrong way, leaving you feeling a bit confused and a bit nervous.  When the food turns up you can't really see what you are eating.  But it was all good.  It arrived very quickly and the portion sizes were ok.  Black Cod was very tasty but pricey at £11.95.  Edame beans, rice, wild boar roll, sushi and prawns were all good.

It would be easy to rack up a big bill here - just like conveyor belt sushi the food arrives almost instantaneously and you can lose yourself in dishes.  Not helped by the lights that slowly brainwash you.  Add beer or wine to the mix and GOD HELP YOU.

Two of us spent £52 quickly and were not full but we had to get out of there - 40 minutes was quite enough.

Photos below - I would recommend that you go once for the experience but it's not a place for repeat visits.  If anyone has been during the day I would love to know if it's any different!

Telephone: 0207 851705

134-136 Wardour St
Soho, W1F
www.inamo-restaurant.com