PERUVIAN BRUNCH @ PACHAMAMA

It has been a while since I visited Pachamama, a Peruvian-inspired bar and restaurant in Marylebone, back in the early days when they first opened (2-ish years ago?)- it was not the most memorable experience, but I was convinced that things had improved since then. 
 
 We booked in for a relaxing Sunday brunch and were seated at a nice table towards the back where natural light shone through from above.

The cocktail menu looked rather tempting, and the three of us ordered the Miraflores from the list of 'Mama's Cocktails', a sweet and fruity cocktail named after their favourite area in Lima where you sip cocktails by the beach. Now if only there was some way to transport ourselves to somewhere exotic, if only just for the weekend...

We started with a selection of snacks to share which included the sweet and tender pork belly chicharrones and brown crab and yuca churros which were really light and moreish.
I could never miss out on padron peppers that I could happily snack on all day, and I also liked the crisp peruvian fried chicken with a side of hot sauce.

We also had a selection from the Lunch Plates category, which included a couple of ceviche dishes: house sea bass and samphire ceviche, and salmon tiradito with beetroot and avocado, both of which were tasty and refreshing, as well as being vibrant and appealing to the eye.
This was followed by a couple of meatier dishes: quinoa waffles with yacon syrup and bacon, and 'Duck on Rice' which was one of my favourite dishes (I do have a certain affinity for rice dishes...must be an Asian thing!). I was not too fond of the crispy lamb belly which was a bit on the dry side.

I would also recommend ordering some sides, from which we ordered the aubergine with smoked yoghurt and pecans, and the plantain with feta, black olive and yacon syrup.

To finish off, we ordered coffee and couple of desserts to share: a refreshing blackberry and sorrel 'Suspiro de Limena' and a contrastingly rich and delicious torta de lucuma and peach.

Overall it was a pleasant and satisfying brunch, and a much better experience compared to the first.
The place was not particularly busy which I prefer especially if you're looking for somewhere to relax on a weekend.

The Cheekster, signing out x

 

SAMBAL SHIOK @ THE SUN & 13 CANTONS

For those of you who missed out on Sambal Shiok's past, sell-out residencies at Newman Arms and Salvation in Noodles, cheer up, as they have just recently started their new residency at The Sun & 13 Cantons in Soho - for a whole THREE MONTHS (!)

So there's definitely plenty of time to seize this opportunity to sample Sambal Shiok's delicious take on modern Malaysian food.

Like the past residency, the menu showcases a selection of Spicy Laksa Soup Noodles that are sure to get your tastebuds tingling. The spicy coconut chicken and prawn broths have a great kick to them and are greatly comforting especially when the weather is chilly. But not to worry, for those of you who can't handle that much spice, you may order an extra portion of coconut milk to tone it down - nobody will judge you (!)

I'm sure most of you would be familiar with the ever popular signature Malaysian dish, Nasi Lemak - a dish consisting of fragrant coconut pandan rice, spicy sambal chilli, cucumber, sweet pickled red onions, peanuts, deep fried anchovies and egg, that you can also choose to have it plain, with ayam goreng (fried chicken), beef rendang, or the vegetarian dahl version.

Furthermore, you can order some small dishes/bar snacks on the side to share, such as the Hainan Dumplings ('pot-sticker' dumplings with Hainanese ginger chilli sauce, that I would highly recommend!), Ayam Goreng (Malaysian fried chicken) or Vadai Kerepek (lentil fritters). For those with larger appetites, there are plenty of extras to add on if you wish to do so.

For those with a sweet-tooth like myself, there are some Malaysian-inspired desserts available to order, such as the Malaysian peanut pancake and bubur cha cha.
To quench your thirst, there is hot teh tarik which is one of my favourite Malaysian drinks, as well as cincau and limau ais.

And if all that mentioned above hasn't gotten you salivating and craving for some Maaysian food already, then I'm sure that the photos below will...

Centrally located in a renowned Soho institution, the residency runs from 29th March 2016 until 1st July 2016 - Lunch is available from Tuesday to Saturday (12pm - 3pm), and dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (5.30pm - 9.30pm).

Walk-ins and takeaways are also available at all times.

If you fancy a taste of Sambal Shiok's hearty burgers and mouth-watering rice-boxes with a Malaysian twist, you can also find them trading at Street Food Union (Fridays) and Southbank Centre Market (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) - check out the website for full details on trading hours. 

The Cheekster, signing out x

CAFE ROUGE, KEW BRIDGE

So it has been years since I last visited a Cafe Rouge, back in the days of my thrifty university life, when dining out was more of an occasional treat - how many years ago, we shan't go into too much detail...

Opened since 1989, Cafe Rouge in Kew Bridge has recently reopened after undergoing an extensive refurbishment, and is described as its most romantic restaurant to date. 
A family-friendly restaurant with a charming view of the River Thames, the new designs are an ode to the famous Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, affectionately known as 'Love Lock Bridge'.

Walking though the dramatic rouge red curtains at the entrance, the restaurant has a rather warm and intimate feel, with black and white framed artwork depicting Paris's famous bridges and romantic scenes.     

We were sat on the upper floor which had also received a makeover, with its own bar and riverside views. Marble table tops, vintage tassled lighting, banquette seating and a gold ceiling help to complete the authentic Parisian bistro feel. Rays of sunshine penetrate through the glass doors that lead out to the balcony, which would be an excellent spot to dine and relax when the weather warms up in the summer.

Having explored 26 years of Cafe Rouge dishes and French cuisine, from their debut recipes in 1989 right through to current French food trends, the menu has been revamped to include classic Paris snails, Confit de Canard, Poulet Breton and Seabass en Papillote, amongst others.  

We were greeted with a welcoming bottle of chilled Sauvignon Blanc whilst we nibbled on house olives and baguettes with d'Isigny butter.

For my starter, I had the king prawns in garlic and smoked chilli butter, served with baguettes - the prawns were fresh and juicy and the sauce was really flavourful. I also tried Marie's warm breaded Camembert which was really creamy and indulgent, with a sweet cranberry and redcurrant sauce.

I had the Confit de Canard as my main - slow-cooked Normandy duck leg with dauphinoise potatoes, french beans and cherry sauce. The meat was really tender and delicious although I would have preferred the skin to be slightly crispier. Marie had the classic Boeuf Bourguinon served with green beans, carrots and herb mash. The meat was really soft and tender, and definitely a hearty meat-lovers dish.

For dessert, we shared a small selection of mini desserts: tarte au citron, fondant aux chocolats and tarte tatin. I think that I might have to start veering away from my tendency of ordering mini selections which often tend not to be as satisfying as having a whole dessert...

I might go for the creme brulee or a whole fondant aux chocolats next time.

Overall we had a lovely experience, and the menu definitely looks more enticing now compared to the Cafe Rouge that I visited in the past. The venue itself is charming, situated in a good location and very family-friendly, which is great if you're a local in the neighbourhood.

The Cheekster, signing out x

The meal was complimentary, but views remain my own.