Wednesday 3 November 2010

London’s little gems...a quick look at my favourite North African, French, and Fusion restaurants.

I would love to share with you some of my favourite international restaurants in London but as I have limited time and a limited memory (most of these places I visited last year), I will just give you a quick overview and the rest you can see for yourself, should you act on my recommendations!
Kenza
As you follow the rose petals towards the entrance of this exotic restaurant, you can’t help but feel transported into an entirely different continent. The light looks dimmer, the colours more vibrant and the atmosphere feels more intimate as soon as you step inside. The decor of the place was the predominant highlight for me, while belly dancers and Arabic music also added to the North African ambience and were thoroughly entertaining. We shared a range of ‘mezzes’ instead of your typical ‘a la carte’ arrangement which meant we got to try many authentic Lebanese and Moroccan dishes. The muhamara- a walnut, red pepper and pomegranate dip was a fantastic accompaniment to the home made flat breads. I have since attempted to recreate muhamara, but failed to achieve the sweet yet pungent nuttiness we found in Kenza’s version. Other dishes included a range of sambousek (warm Moroccan patties stuffed with a choice of meat, vegetables or seafood) Soujok (little spicy sausages from Lebanon) as well as halloumi, chicken livers, tiger prawns and sauté potatoes with a kick. We may have found ourselves over-ordering, but the menu was so vast and exciting we found it hard to say no! This place would be perfect for larger parties so you can feast on a wide variety of mezzes whilst enjoying the party atmosphere of this charming North African restaurant.
Village East
With a vibrant atmosphere and a unique menu, Village East did not fail to impress me! The chef combines good, British ingredients with a touch of the exotic. My starter of scallops and pork belly combined with carrot puree and caramelized in a teriyaki glaze worked brilliantly in an east meets west sort of way. Our less exotic main of an 18oz chateaubriand was of exceptional quality and came with crispy châteaux potatoes and béarnaise sauce. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the generous portions left us with no room for dessert! The service was pleasant but in no way over-powering and the restaurant as a whole had this trendy, fast-paced vibe about it that would be more suited for an after-work dinner rather than somewhere to celebrate a special occasion (although your taste buds will be doing plenty of celebrating for you!). Some other exciting food items on the menu that tempted me include a sauted foie gras burger, Moroccan inspiredChermoula spiced poussin” with tabouleh as well as an Asian-stlye “white miso skate wing” with sticky rice, bok choi and ginger. If you’re in one of those moods where you just don’t know what you fancy for dinner, give Village East a try where there will certainly be something on the menu to tempt you!
Le Chardon (Clapham)
A busy, neighbourhood bistro, Le Chardon specialises in modern French cuisine in the heart of Clapham. I was particularly impressed with the starter of foie gras with red onion marmalade and French brioche, which was the major influencing factor in my choice of a second visit. The sea bass, served whole was complimented perfectly by the wide range of herbs, and don’t get me started on their dauphinoise potatoes which arrived at the table still bubbling in cream! Perhaps not one for the weight-watchers amongst you...I would also recommend the duck breast in orange sauce, a classic combination that does wonders for the taste buds! The atmosphere is relaxed but retains its elegance with unique art displayed on the walls which you may even choose to purchase! This place would be perfect for a romantic yet an informal date.

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