Rum Kitchen, Carnaby Street

Posted on by

Thanks to the resounding success of the first Notting Hill based branch, Rum Kitchen has recently opened a second venue among the boutiques of Kingly Court near Carnaby Street. The Caribbean inspired beach shack restaurant and cocktail bar serves up appetising food and fruity drinks. Many will know the original Rum Kitchen venue as a lively club, its regulars include Prince Harry and girlfriend Cressida. The food there however seems to have been forgotten. Carnaby Street is more central and certainly is more of a sit down eatery, though the fabulous drinks still very much have a presence.

The distressed coloured walls are reminiscent of a beach hut. It was strange visiting such a carefree and relaxed place on a weekday evening, I felt like I was escaping school to join in the rum fun. I assumed the cocktails in Rum Kitchen would be dependant on Caribbean rum, and this venue certainly has a generous selection, but I was pleased to discover that even without the crucial spirit the concoctions were extremely sweet, but naughtily delicious. From the Twist list we tried the Rumbustion (a take on a Pina Colada) and our preferred, Rubin Carter which was more similar to a typical rum punch.

I found the Roti and Choka very plain, even with the additional burnt tomato and garlic dip and a smoky aubergine dip. The Island Spiced Squid with scotch bonnet alioli was delicious: thick squid coated in lightly spiced crunchy coating and topped with zesty lime and slivers of chilli. The mains were much larger portions: epic Jerk Fried Chicken Burger and Chicken Thighs. The menu is quite limited and repetitive, but this seems to equate to quick and efficient service. The chicken burger was different to any other I’ve tried, very tasty and flavoursome meat with chilli jam and slaw on the side. The chicken thighs arrived with pineapple slaw which I found a little too odd to finish, rum jerk bbq ketchup and wonderful fine shoe-string onion rings. The fries, were unremarkable, but dusted with a nice spicy salt and served with chilli jam.

Rum Kitchen is great fun, perfect for a group outing. Caribbean is not my favourite cuisine, it can be rather limited and too sweet for savoury food, but Rum Kitchen is definitely worth a visit, the cocktails are addictive!

More information and book here: therumkitchen.com

Sticks’n’Sushi, Covent Garden

Posted on by

Denmark has a food scene that is second to none. While in Copenhagen for the weekend I tried Danish, Thai, American and Italian cuisines and every bite exceeded my expectations. It may be expensive to eat out there but goodness do the Danes know how to cook. If you are searching for sushi in Denmark, the locals will all direct you to the same place, Sticks’n’Sushi. A few years ago this Scandi brand opened an outlet in Wimbledon, finally introducing the cool concept to Britain.

Last week my friend and I went to check out the new Covent Garden branch of Sticks’n’Sushi. Initially she questioned the decision… ‘But Mills, you don’t eat fish,’ I assured her that the ‘sticks’ would be adequate for me, and her love of fish would cover the remainder of the menu. In fact, Sticks’n’Sushi is the perfect restaurant for those still sceptical about sushi, there are so many other delicious dishes on offer there really is no need to be a sushi fanatic. Saying that, all those sushi obsessives out there will delight in this restaurant which delivers the most pristine, pretty sushi plated up in the most elegant fashion.

There is something about the stark red and black colour scheme and logo that immediately makes a passer-by think of Asia. Inside the sleek and stylish design is very welcoming, with gaggles of girls enjoying platters of sushi at every table. First I must mention the beautiful pictorial menu which displays delectable photos of every dish, so you can decide dependant on look. We immediately ordered two of the fresh juices to accompany our meal. Then, with an enormous amount of guidance from our waitress, we ordered a variety of the favourite dishes. Spicy Edamame Beans with warm miso dip were satisfying but quite sweet, followed by Ebi Bites (tempura shrimp with chilli, coriander, pepper, miso aioli and fresh lime) – these were divine with a light crispy coating and a tasty creamy dip.

For main course we were treated to a huge platter ‘Table for 2’:

Nigiri: 2 shrimp, 2 salmon New York, 2 tuna, 2 salmon

Uramaki / inside out rolls: 2 black Alaska, 2 sparkling tuna, 2 mamma mia, 2 dreamy California

Futomaki / big rolls: 4 gypsy big

Yakitori / sticks: 2 chicken breast with chilli dip, 2 chicken tsukune, 2 wrapped asparagus

Needless to say, it was more than enough to satisfy our hunger pangs! The sushi was all incredibly fresh and full of flavour. Of the meat sticks we favoured the grilled chicken with chilli sauce, though the asparagus wrapped in bacon was a lovely addition. For dessert, the menu images persuaded us to indulge with Lemon, Yuzu and Meringue and the Four Tasters (mini pots of crème brulee, green tea ice-cream, chocolate fondant, white chocolate with popped rice). Of the large selection tried (!) I would recommend the gooey chocolate fondant or the Lemon, Yuzu and Meringue combination which was light and refreshing. A pot of mint tea completed the meal.

Those working in the Covent Garden vicinity will be pleased to hear that Sticks’n’Sushi offers a take-out service, so you can enjoy the food at your desk. For others I would recommend visiting the restaurant before or after the theatre, with a group of friends or just for a hip and healthy (optional) date. I never thought I would love a sushi restaurant but Sticks’n’Sushi really has perfected the recipe for a contemporary cool restaurant offering fresh and fun food.

More information and book here: sticksnsushi.com

Hot on the Highstreet Week 197

Posted on by

Having my hair brushed as a very little girl was a nightmare. I have very thin hair but lots of it… easily tangled and painful to brush, a £2.99 plastic implement from the local pharmacy would just not do. Mason Pearson was a great option when my mum discovered this luxury brush brand, with thick but flexible bristles that are perfect for troublesome locks. Soon my younger sister and I both had one, an essential part of our morning routines. The Mason Pearson brushes are classic and traditional, and with no way to differentiate between brushes sibling squabbles soon became the norm too.

Let me introduce you to Rock & Ruddle, the lovely little company producing hairbrushes which solve all your hair problems. I met with the R&R ladies last week for chocolate and chatting at Rococo. Jackie and Alexandra met in their twenties when they were both working at L’Oreal. Years later they combined their knowledge of beauty and started Rock & Ruddle aiming to fill a noticeable gap in the market for a hairbrush that was both great quality and great design. The company began a couple of years ago after extensive research, and continues to thrive with stockists throughout the UK, though the main shop is online.

Visually they are very jolly with colourful and comical patterns and illustrations. Clare Mackie’s ‘Cats and Dogs’ design is particularly sweet. The pictures are printed into the plastic rather than on the surface ensuring the pretty pattern lasts forever. The hairbrushes are made in a traditional style with tufts of boar bristle. The natural bristle distributes the hair’s oil down each strand giving the hair extra gloss and shine. I really appreciated the additional nylon strand included in each tuft which gently separates the hair and detangles knots. The brushes are available in two sizes: Small (£20) and Large (£30). More reasonable than similar brands, but with loads more personality, Rock & Ruddle tick every box.

A thoughtful present for a friend, or a gift for mother’s day, the Rock & Ruddle products are a high quality and fun alternative to the boring brushes currently available on the British highstreet.

I have got a ‘thoroughly modern’ bright pink brush which I love. Buy a beautiful brush here.