Tag Archives: Sushi

THOROUGHLY MODERN MISS: Sushi Shop

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The discovery of Sushi Shop has made me very happy, although slightly annoyed at myself that I’ve wasted so many years on mediocre rolls and nigiri from certain high street chains. I’m a great fan of sushi, but I’ve inevitably picked it up as a meal on the go, or a vaguely healthy snack, and so become used to slightly stodgy rice and an overpowering taste of soy.

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Which is why Sushi Shop is so exciting. Started in Paris in 1998 by two Frenchmen who had fallen in love with the Japanese delicacy, Sushi Shop stood alone in the French capital. It positioned itself as a casual sushi restaurant and delivery service, somewhere to enjoy innovative, well considered flavours which married French and Japanese cultures, without the high prices of the top end Japanese restaurants. And the chain’s offering remains the same today.

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Sushi Shop is now in 14 countries across Europe, but the tradition which started in the year the brand was founded, of inviting a notable chef to develop a sushi menu inspired by the chef’s own style, lives on. The latest to be invited to the celebrated list which features, among others, Thierry Marx and Joël Robuchon, is Kei Kobayashi, who was awarded his first Michelin star in 2012.

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In a lovely piece of symmetry, Kobayashi is a Japanese chef who fell for French cuisine, and his menu, from which my favourites were a spicy Gyū Special Roll, Salmon Gravalax Roll and a Red Miso Cucumber Salad, is filled with the complexities found in French cooking, but balanced with the freshness which comes from the vegetables that Kobayashi loves to use. As Kobayashi himself explains,

“The challenge of reinterpreting sushi for a Japanese chef who works in the French tradition is both stimulating and a big risk, for me and for Sushi Shop. I had to detach myself from what I have always known in order to reinvent new recipes.”

Sushi Shop

I’m happy to say the risk has paid off. The prices might sit slightly higher than the aforementioned sushi chains that have become so familiar to London streets, but it’s a cost well worth paying. Sushi Shop offers a new kind of taste sensation, and makes high quality, freshly produced fusion cooking readily accessible – I recommend you try for yourself as soon as you can.

Sushi Shop has three outlets in London, in South Kensington, Marylebone and Notting Hill. Deliveries can also be ordered via the Sushi Shop App.

More information can be found online here.

Written by Lucy Freedman.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MISS: Wazen, King’s Cross

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Wazen Kings Cross

Working in Clerkenwell, Exmouth market is an all too frequent lunch spot. And when my arteries begin to squeal from the overdose of Paesan’s Mac and cheese, I head to Leather Lane to find light relief in a Victus and Bibo lamb wrap. And so I have never needed to venture further afield for my midday pick me up. Until I was directed to Wazen that is.

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Although the address is Kings Cross, Wazen is located away from the transport hub, which puts into question its billing as a neighbourhood restaurant. That said, the space itself does have a welcoming feel, and successfully avoids the clinical look of so many Japanese outlets. Dark wood and interesting ceramics adorning the shelves add warmth and character to the relatively small space which will comfortably seat around 30 diners.

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I would struggle to fault any of the food I tried at the restaurant’s opening event. Edamame, so simple and yet something I am so frequently disappointed by, were deliciously fresh with a perfect bite. The sushi was soft and well balanced, each element allowed to shine. Arguably the dish of the night was the beef tataki – deep, rich and incredibly tender, it melted away leaving a delicious meaty and citrus flavour in the mouth.

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Wazen is open every week day lunch offering a set menu which could become a dangerous daily habit, but is certainly something I will justify as a monthly treat. The evening menu and extensive sake list, served during the week and on Saturdays, will satisfy those expecting the very highest standards of Japanese hospitality.

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Wazen might be slightly off the beaten track in terms of location, but its food, service and ambience suggest that it is a restaurant heading in exactly the right direction.

More information about Wazen here.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Miss, Lucy Freedman.

Maze Grill, Royal Hospital Road

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The Gordon Ramsay group is expanding at speed, with his eateries popping up all over London. Last week I was invited to sample the menu at the new Chelsea branch of Maze Grill, arguably Ramsay’s most successful casual brand. Located on Royal Hospital Road it is the neighbour of his renowned 3 star establishment down the road.

The restaurant feels boutique-y, but with a cosy ground floor area there is enough space for a decent number of covers. I was sat, along with a few select food bloggers, at an upstairs table. We discussed recent food discoveries and inspiring travels whilst enjoying a glass of fizz.

With Maze Grill, Ramsay hopes to emulate the offering and atmosphere of the American sushi and steak houses. The menu focuses on these cuisines, with a few other tempting dishes for vegetarians. An impressive plate of sushi arrived for us to pick at, and the vibrancy of the colours indicated just how fresh the food was. It looked beautiful. We also enjoyed a few of the sharing starters, addictive Sweet Potato chips with Mexican-inspired smashed avocados and spicy crunchy Buffalo chicken fillets with chilli and lime.

For main course, an array of decadent dishes arrived. The star of the show was the wooden platter of steak which I strategically ensured I was close to. We tried the USDA Prime Sirloin (£3.40/oz) and the special but expensive Wagyu triple seared fillet (£14.50/oz). Despite the wow factor of the wagyu I preferred the flavour and texture of the American sirloin which was cooked to perfection with a lovely charcoal hint to the crispy edge. I’ve never seen steak served with lime, but it was a nice citrus addition to the dish. Every variety of sauce is available, usually peppercorn would be my preference but at Maze Grill I thought the (alarmingly orange) hot sauce or béarnaise were the tastiest. It was strange to not have fries with the steak, but my gluttonous streak was satisfied with the rich Mac & cheese and huge puffy onion rings.

Delicious wine from Washington accompanied the starter and then we moved on to a hearty red with the steak. The service was quietly attentive for the duration of the meal. Staff stayed out of the way as we arranged the plates and photographed everything… a group of food bloggers are not the easiest people to serve!

Indulgent desserts soon covered the table, a blur of sugary treats. The highlight was the ‘Monkey bread’ a soft cinnamon flavoured bread, that sunk invitingly as I dunked my spoon in. Topped with caramelised pecans, sticky caramel sauce and melting vanilla ice-cream, it was not dissimilar to a luxury version of my brunch favourite, French toast.

We left Maze Grill a few pounds heavier, but happy and content after the sushi and steak banquet. I’m not sure how much input Ramsay has in his ever-growing chain of restaurants, but either way they seem to be enjoying continuing success, with or without him at the helm.

More information and book a table at Maze Grill Chelsea here.