Tag Archives: Covent Garden

Fetish Infiniment Vanille, Pierre Hermé

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Last night I visited the Pierre Hermé store in Covent Garden for a sneak preview of their new Fetish Infiniment Vanille collection. A select group of food bloggers huddled around the counter, peering in at the immaculate rainbow coloured macarons. But though the rose, pistachio and passionfruit all looked very appealing we were here for the showcase of one particular flavour, vanilla.

Vanilla is a Special. A spice of multiple aromas depending on where it has been grown: overtones of chocolate, butter, fruit, wood, liquorice… A gem Pierre Hermé adores. An insatiable gourmand, Pierre Hermé couldn’t use just one variety of vanilla. And so Pierre Hermé composed his interpretation of the ideal vanilla flavour. A recipe combining different varieties from Mexico, Tahiti, and Madagascar that has become the signature “house” fragrance.

After a glass of pink fizz we tasted a selection of treats from the vanilla collection. The super soft macarons sandwiched together with a creamy buttery filling.  Then came shots of the warm, comforting vanilla infused green tea and a slice the white chocolate vanilla coated cake. Finally we tried vanilla scented rich dark chocolates and mouthfuls of Sablés diamant (a shortbread like vanilla biscuit). It was all delicious, and Pierre’s delicate treatment of vanilla brings out a unique warmth from this familiar flavour.

We stepped out of the sweet Parisian emporium with a new knowledge of vanilla and delightful goody bag to continue enjoying on the bus home. If this evening was proof of anything, it is that Pierre Hermé is so much more than just a master of macarons.

Discover the Fetish Infiniment Vanille collection from March 3rd to April 19th. See more here.

Moti Mahal, Covent Garden

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It is no secret that Londoners love a good Indian curry. It is the ultimate Friday night treat, and the search for the best on offer is endless. Recently, with the arrival of Gymkhana, fine Indian dining has become the focus of our cravings, and high quality Indian eateries seem to be appearing all over London. Moti Mahal Covent Garden is the chic London outpost of the celebrated Delhi restaurant which opened in 1959. The London location is not new but it felt new to me as I’ve never visited previously.

We turned up at eight on a Friday evening when the restaurant was already full of animated guests, appreciating the comforting cuisine. Sitting towards the rear of the restaurant where it was quieter, we were able to speak to the waiter at length about the concept and flick through the vibrantly illustrated cookbook. The emphasis at Moti Mahal is on the food traditions that surround the Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s oldest, longest and most significant major routes. Delhi-born Anirudh Arora has operated as Head Chef since the restaurant’s opening in 2005. The menu focuses on Arora’s passion for the cuisine of India’s famed road.

The menu is long and laborious to peruse, instead listen to the advice of your waiter and order based on his suggestions. If you are feeling very hungry and adventurous, you can opt for the tasting menu which gives you a flavour of the different regions of India. We tasted a range of starters and mains, so many that I was grateful for the small portions. To start, the trio of chicken tikka was wonderful, presented in a grand copper urn on very long metal grilling sticks. The marinades are intensely flavoured and the meat was juicy and tender with a lovely charcoal edge. We also loved the Thatee Grill Gosht (Butterflied lamb leg) coated in a thick garlic and chilli yoghurt, cooked to perfection with a marinade so good I wanted to lick the plate.

Murgh Makhani (Butter chicken) is a must. This faultless recipe from Delhi involves chicken tikka chunks simmered in a creamy tomato sauce. The portion isn’t huge so I guarantee there will be a fight for that last mouthful. We also tried the Venison Meatballs, a speciality dish. The rich meat is seasoned with brown onion and yoghurt sauce, it tasted almost Italian until the spices kicked in. We also ordered buttery garlic naan and pilau rice to soak up all the addictive sauces.

For dessert we managed to fit in a round of kulfi (Indian ice-cream) which arrived in assorted flavours on sticks, looking not dissimilar to mini-milks. In fact they tasted quite similar too, though the flavours were more inventive: mango, rose, pistachio. It was a lovely and simple pudding to cool our tastebuds after the spicy meal.

So what is the downside to all this exquisite food? It comes at a price. Smaller dishes are priced around £10 each, main courses are between £20 and £25, which all adds up when you want a few sides to share and a vegetable dish to accompany the meat.

The elaborate drinks menu matches the food in style: tropical cocktails and unique gins with tonic, or just simply a bottle of high quality, carefully chosen wine. We tasted the cocktails which were strong and nicely garnished, though a little sweet for me. Beer or wine suits the Indian flavours much better.

Producing modern and sophisticated cuisine with a sensitivity to the traditions of authentic Indian cooking, Moti Mahal exceeded all my expectations. Thanks to its location, this restaurant is the perfect option for pre or post theatre meals, or go on a Friday night and treat yourself to one of London’s better curries.

More information and book here: motimahal-uk.com

Sticks’n’Sushi, Covent Garden

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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