Bounce, Chancery Lane

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Ping Pong is no longer just a game for bored students. London’s bar scene seems infected with this fun sport, and there are now venues all over the city offering tables for guests to use whilst catching up and enjoying a drink.

At the forefront of the trend, Bounce is the latest venture from the founders of All Star Lanes. It declares itself as ‘the home of Ping Pong’ and apparently the first ball was created here in 1901! With memorabilia crowding the entrance, it is an interesting education into the history of the game. The underground bar doesn’t look very exciting from street level, but take a peer inside and you’ll see half of London’s lawyers letting their hair down for a pint and a ping.

We played on the azure blue 2012 Olympic table, though our skills were embarrassingly poor in comparison to the masters. An hour is plenty to flex your muscles (you will use more energy than you would imagine!). A funky playlist sets the tone, and I couldn’t resist dancing along to the Beach Boys whilst batting the balls all over the place! Luckily girls are multitasking experts, my Ping Pong partner wasn’t as impressive.

For a break in between rounds the fruity cocktails will refresh you and the Mediterranean sharing boards are great if you are feeling peckish – the pizzas smelt delicious too.

Bounce is the perfect venue for a number of occasions: an innovative date, getting together with a team of mates or even to rent out for a special party.

More information here: www.bouncepingpong.com

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: Ballo, King’s Head Theatre

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I must say I was hugely excited to receive the invitation to review again at the King’s Head, it being one of my favourite places to come and see what’s on offer.  This evening certainly did not disappoint. I was sceptical at the thought of an opera of Verdian proportions being done justice by the intimate settings of the King’s Head but with the stage being set wisely in thrust mode, the action managed to overcome the spatial limitations of its platform.

Now, if you have seen any of the publicity for this production, you will realise that it bears resemblance to a certain Swedish super-power home store.  Indeed, ‘Ballo’ is the famous Ikea’s retail rival in this version.  That is not to trivialise or undermine the storyline in any way; as all the drama, backbiting and tragedy that one would expect from Verdi is still very much present, just against a more humorous, light-hearted backdrop – kudos to Adam Spreadbury-Maher for striking this fine balance.  A healthy dose of Abba in the second act may have offended the sensibilities of some purists but an open mind will put paid to any such reactions – it certainly had the audience’s hips shaking and bottoms wiggling!

The roles have been double-cast; I was fortunate to catch the tragic lovers Riccardo and Amelia being portrayed by Edward Hughes and Becca Marriott respectively.  Hughes commanded the challenging score magnificently; sustaining repeated high B flats with impressive stamina and resonance.  Marriot’s athletic arias were performed with panache and intelligence, and the two had a lovely chemistry.  The casting surprise of the evening was the trouser role (Oscar) being sung by male coloratura soprano Martin Milnes.  This added great comedy and spark to the show, and if one had closed their eyes they never would have known the difference!  The greatest comic injection, however, came from Olivia Barry’s portrayal of the fortune-teller Ulrica.  She had the audience in stitches with her witty interpretation, and delivered the epic role with great control and a rich, velvety mezzo.

As ever, a theatre of this size limits the scope for orchestral accompaniment.  However, the lightning fingers of Ben Woodward more than compensated for this – he handled this tour de force of a score with great dexterity – top marks.

Ballo runs until 25 May – book tickets here.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Mark McCloskey.

Indian Essence, Pett’s Wood

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Atul Kochhar’s Indian Essence advertises itself as your favourite local Indian… but what it offers is much, much more than this. In the heart of Petts Wood, the restaurant showcases traditional Indian Cuisine with a creative menu that is sure to excite a discerning clientele as well as satisfying traditional palates.

“Atul Kochhar’s unique talent as a twice Michelin starred chef has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine. Taking inspiration from his native India while continuously researching regional dishes, Atul has managed to combine his heritage with his love of British cuisine and created a unique and innovative modern Indian cuisine. As the very first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star, accomplished during his time as Head Chef at Tamarind in 2001, he then went on to open the highly acclaimed Benares Restaurant and Bar for which he was awarded his second Michelin star in 2007.” I experienced his exquisite delicate Indian food at Benares a few months ago so was eagerly anticipating my meal at his new, more casual eatery, Indian Essence.

After a lengthy journey from West London, we were relieved to arrive at the restaurant, which is thankfully close to Petts Wood train station. The meal began with miniature poppadums and three homemade fruit chutneys to whet the appetite and introduce a few Indian flavours. We chose several cocktails from the select list: Rose and Lychee Martini was girly and sweet and the Pineapple and Ginger Mojito was refreshing and exotic.

It was a challenge to pick from the menu of tempting dishes… Atul has combined favourite ingredients with typical Indian flavours and methods of cooking to present appetising recipes. It was a meat heavy first course: Lamb chops marinated in fennel, pepper and cream were supremely tasty, falling-off-the-bone soft lamb with an aromatic crumbly marinade. so good I felt the need to gnaw at the bone to obtain any last morsels of meat. Basil infused chicken tikka fillets was presented three ways, each with a different spicy coating, but all equally delicious. Crispy fried squid, was made with a light batter and sweet sticky sauce, not too chewy but with a good bite… we weren’t quite sure how they fitted in with the Indian cuisine but they tasted too good to dwell for long on their authenticity.

For main course we chose a mix of traditional Indian dishes and Indian influenced British classics. Slow cooked Lamb neck curry was the special of the day and also a favourite in the restaurant, recommended enthusiastically by our waiter we had high expectations. The meat was again amazingly tender, softened perhaps by the vibrant spices and herbs. The sauce was light and fragrant, and surprisingly not too rich. Tandoori chicken tikka in creamy tomato and fenugreek sauce was my favourite. Even the accompaniments were divine, the pilau rice and garlic naan were without doubt the best I’ve ever tried. The more familiar steak choice was the only disappointment of the day, a Goa style sirloin cut with pepper coconut sauce and coriander chips. Though the flavourings were intriguing, we found the steak too chewy and the chips too heavy.

Kulfi is a popular Indian frozen dessert made with semi-condensed milk. My brother particular enjoyed the pistachio and mango varieties on offer at Indian Essence, a light and refreshing ice-cream that cleanses the palate after spicy savoury courses. I opted for the interesting sounding Chocolate and peanut butter parfait with sugarcane ice-cream, a wonderful combination of flavours.

On the tedious journey to Pett’s Wood, I declared I’d never visit this faraway area again, my return trip was spent searching for a slot in my diary to return. Indian Essence offers exceptional Indian food that will appeal to everyone, I was impressed with every detail of Atul’s inventive menu and culinary execution.

More information here: www.indianessence.co.uk