Tag Archives: soho

La Bodega Negra, cafe and ceviche bar, Soho

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Trekking through Soho ravenous after 11pm is a disappointing affair. After a late night play, food was a necessity and I had confidence that Soho would be the place to find our grub. Turns out everywhere stops serving at 10.30 ish, everywhere that is apart from La Bodega Negra Café and Ceviche Bar.

This Mexican café glows on the corner of Old Compton Street enticing in guests with the eye-catching neon sign and a happy soundtrack which drifts down the street. We skipped in, so delighted to hear they were still serving that we almost hugged the waiter. Snuggling up at a cosy corner table we were in the ideal position to observe and enjoy our surroundings, the raucous groups of friends and intimate couples, all enjoying a casual meal while listening to the entertaining music.

I promise you I tried to avoid the cocktails, especially after several glasses of Pimms earlier in the evening, but the authentic sounding drinks were irresistible… it didn’t help that I had major cocktail envy watching all the other diners sipping pretty drinks from martini glasses. I wanted to be like them, and taste what they had.. so I succumbed and ordered a caiprinha which arrived ice cold, strong and zingy but utterly delicious.

The menu is filled with all the usual classics, in numerous meat and veggie varieties. We ordered a few plates to share: Chicken Tostada, Pork Al Pastor Tacos with Salsa Verde and Quesadillas with Chorizo, Cheese and Salsa Roja. The dishes are slightly odd sizes, too small to share but too big to pop in your mouth in one go… neither starter nor main. It is best to order a selection and pick at it all, sharing and caring as you go. Apparently the Tacos are the most popular, yummy fillings in hard crunchy shells… but I found that I preferred the other dishes. Quesadillas were piping hot and oozing melted cheese, an addictive combination of ingredients with a kick from the spicy salsa and with a dollop of contrasting soured cream. Chicken Tostada was good too, an appetising mix of marinated pulled chicken, tinga, crema and avocado and the slightly strange addition of pineapple which I didn’t like so much. The homemade Guacamole is a must, mixed to perfection, I would definitely recommend a side portion with your meal.

Had it been earlier in the evening, I would have indulged in one of the yummy sounding desserts… especially as Mango Pannacotta and Lime Granita was on offer! There’s something to look forward to for next time…

La Bodega Negra provides tasty food in a fun environment and is the perfect place for a mischievous midnight snack.

http://labodeganegra.com/

Carom and Floridita, Soho

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I have always wondered what the huge, flashy venue at 100 Wardour Street has to offer… yet another of Soho’s fabulous foodie havens for feasting and flirting. This chic venue is home to D&D restaurants Carom and Floridita. I sensed a bit of rivalry between the two floors, Indian vs. Cuban and Gin vs. Rum. The whole venue has a fun vibe: bright lights and lots of chatter. Tony upstairs made us exquisite martinis while the mixologists in Floridita stunned us with unusual Rum based treats.

Previously I have heard fellow cocktail lovers mention the legendary drinks at Floridita, who specialise in Rum based mixology… but I knew nothing of Carom the Indian eatery. Up market Indian restaurants seem to be thriving in the city, curry worshippers are no longer satisfied with their local takeaway, seeking a fresher, healthier and more vibrant version of this delicious cuisine.

As always, I let my eyes do the ordering which resulted in an epic assortment of aromatic dishes. We went with the manager’s recommendations, which was definitely wise as everything tasted authentic and delicious. To start, we both favoured the Chicken ‘Malai Tikka,’ wonderfully marinated, tender meat… dangerously moreish thanks to the garlic and cheese. We were slightly bemused by the accompanying moss green dip which was served with nearly every starter! The Satay tasted good, though unconventional, the dish substituted my favourite peanut sauce with Chilli & Mango Chutney which disappointed me a little. Rich Paneer Tikka and Vegetable Potli Parcels are both good veggie friendly choices, filling and utterly delicious. I’m not a fan of seafood but my friend enjoyed the Crispy Fried Chilli Squid, a generous portion stacked high and served with coriander dip. Crisp white wine was discreetly topped up while we concentrated on the array of food.

The mains were a continuation of the flavoursome sensory overload: bright, beautifully seasoned dishes of every kind. Head chef Balaji Balachander has created a menu of innovative dishes, authentic in style and exceptional in taste… I was very impressed. This course was a festival of flavours and colour. The lamb was the clear winner for me, the Lamb ‘Tawa Masala’ Chops, is a Carom Specialty and has garnered popularity for good reason. The taste is so rich and intense, I couldn’t resist coming back to scrape the bowl again and again. The Chennai Chicken Curry is a home delicacy – buttery, creamy and comforting, it is a mild recipe perfect for all palates. Salad, Garlic Naan, Raita and delicious crispy rice provided plenty of variety and contrast to the meal.

We managed, just to squeeze in a few mouthfuls of dessert, the Lychee Sorbet is light and sensational and an absolute must try. The Mango and Cardamom Crème Brulee with Raspberry Sorbet is an original take on the classic French dessert, but is nothing special.

Downstairs in the ‘Cathedral of Cocktails’ the party continues, ideal for a quick drink or as an all night hang out. Floridita is both kitsch and supercool, a Jazz blues band entertained us with contagious tunes and glamorous rum based cocktails fuelled my addiction to this Cuban vibe. Visitors sit round individual round tables in a cabaret layout… it encourages intimacy and a buzzing atmosphere. Our enthusiastic waitress insisted we try the more unusual drinks on the menu, I was only too happy to oblige as the endless choice is intoxicating. Any and every variety of rum cocktail is possible at Floridita, but Dacquiris are a real speciality. I tried the No.2 with Havana Club Anejo 3yrs shaken with fresh lime and orange juice, sugar syrup and a hint of orange Curacao, it was perfectly mixed and served, strong but sensual and completely delicious. The Mai Tai is a good choice for guys not experienced in cocktail sipping – a strong blend of flavours with a kick from the lime. We also tried the Fog Cutter and Rum Crusta, which you have to ask for, as you won’t find them on the menu.

The exotic world of Carom and Floridita offers escapism from the grey streets of London… here you will find the best cocktails, innovative and appetising food and a welcome that ensures everyone has a good time.

Visit the websites for Carom and Floridita for more information.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MISS: Patara, Soho

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In the heart of London, the bustling streets of Soho offer an array of individual restaurants, serving delicious food from all over the world. When I met Milly there last week, I was delighted when she said we were going to a Thai restaurant as it’s my favourite cuisine.

Patara is a beautifully designed restaurant set in classy interiors (think dim lighting, exposed brickwork and Thai wood carvings) offering fantastic Thai food, using the highest quality ingredients. The menu was certainly extensive and it took a while for Milly and I to make decisions. A smiley Thai waiter took our drinks orders first – I went for a passionfruit caipriniha and Milly went for a regular caipriniha. In all honesty, they were not the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted but the food that came later, more than made up for the drinks.

For starters, I ordered the assorted rice paper rolls with prawns, crabmeat and five spice duck served with a lime and chilli sauce. The presentation was immaculate, complete with a lovely flower carved out of a red pepper. The taste of the dish was even better; the freshness and quality of the ingredients were especially striking and lime and chilli sauce was refreshing and a perfect complement to the rolls. Milly ordered the ordered the chicken and beef satay combination and we both feel confident in saying it was one of the best satay sauces we have ever tasted!

Although the menu had a range of original and exciting dishes (i.e. wild boar curry), we couldn’t resist ordering some classics – the beef fillet red coconut curry (with Thai eggplant and sweet basil leaves) and the free-range chicken green curry with sweet basil leaves. The curry sauces were lovely but the real highlight -of both dishes- was the meat. The quality of the chicken was superb and the beef was so tender it simply melted in your mouth. This was a refreshing change for me as I usually order vegetarian curries when I’m eating out because I don’t like eating fatty/overcooked meat which is so common in many Asian restaurants. Patara have clearly decided to provide a fine dining experience and have opted to use the best produce possible; it certainly shows.

We complemented the two curries with a side of greens – Chinese Water Spinach (morning glory) with chilli and garlic –  which was really tasty and a perfect addition to the rich and creamy curries.

When it came to the dessert menu, neither of us had our hopes up; I will make a sweeping generalisation, but the desserts in many Asian restaurants are often disappointing, involving too much sticky rice and mangoes or deep fried bananas. Patara’s desserts are in a different league and I urge you to try them- however full you are after your main course!

We ordered the homemade coconut ice cream and the bitter chocolate chocolate pudding with mango sorbet. The coconut ice-cream was truly delightful; definitely homemade and full of fresh coconut. The chocolate pudding oozed rich melted chocolate and its accompanying sweet mango sorbet was also incredible! Milly rounded off the meal with some fresh mint tea in a very classy teapot.

If you love Thai food as much as me, I would definitely recommend trying Patara; its original menu and the top-notch ingredients make it stand out. This quality does come at a price though – the beef fillet red curry was an expensive £19.50 and rice is charged on top of this. This aside, as a special treat Milly and I do not think you will be disappointed … Just make sure you leave enough space for that coconut ice-cream!

Visit the Patara website here for more information.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Miss, Sabina Morley.