London Restaurant Reviews - Bangalore Express

Bangalore Express - An Evening of Wine Tasting and Indian Tapas

I was one of the lucky 20 or so Qypers and food bloggers who were recently invited by Eamon from Qype to take part in an Indian Tapas and Wine Tasting Event at the new City branch of Bangalore Express.

We were welcomed by the gorgeous Jennifer Goss from Complete Media Group, and seated shortly after with the proprietor Charles Hill and Louise from Liberty Wines who together gave us the low-down on the evening’s 16 wines and accompanying tapas.

My first impressions were excellent – the décor was modern and sleek, and the staff friendly and very helpful. Charles’ partner, Yogesh Datta (the acclaimed chef of The Painted Heron in Chelsea) was also present and quietly greeted us.

I have attended wine tasting classes over the last twelve years and know a little about the different grapes and terroirs, and what to expect from each. I can pretty much match any Western dish to a decent bottle of wine, but partnering Indian food & wine is a whole different ballgame. I was impressed that Charles & Louise had taken up this challenge at Bangalore Express.

We started the evening with a selection of eight different bottles of white wine, with accompanying dishes. These had been carefully chosen to compliment the spicy Indian food on offer and included some very aromatic and rich grape varieties like a Gewurztraminer from Alsace and an Austrian Gruner Veltliner, two of my favourite bottles of the evening. 

Our first dish was “Chilli paneer cheese on yoghurt cake with red onions”, followed by “Tiger prawns with mild korma” and “Duck, cashew nut and raisin roll”. These were all well flavoured and mildly spiced.

 

Other outstanding whites included a Rhone Valley Viognier, a 2007 Vermentino from Tuscany, and an Australian “Plantagenet” Riesling. These were all excellent choices – they were robust, complex and full of tropical fruit flavours, and stood up well to our food.

The “Salmon tandoori with dill” was served next – this was pleasant and beautifully charred. The “Chicken tikka masala” that followed was also flavoursome and nicely presented with deep fried curry leaves on top.

 

We also tasted two bottles of rose wine including a French Grenache-based blend followed by an Australian bottle of Merlot. To accompany these we had “Lamb meat balls in tempered mint yoghurt”. This was one of the best dishes of the evening despite looking rather odd (more like white chocolate truffles than lamb).

To accompany the meat courses that were to follow, we were then served six different red wines including a 2007 Boudeaux, another fantastic Austrian wine made of 100% St Laurent grapes (a grape I had never tasted before), an Argentinian Malbec, and three other Italian wines. These were all fine wines.

The “Caribbean curried goat” was another excellent dish, the meat was perfectly cooked and the sauce richly flavoured. The “Chicken tikka in baby corn sticks” and “Duck Roganjosh” were also good. 

 

One of Bangalore’s novel ideas is the ability to mix and match your favourite meats and cooking styles from a matrix in their menu. All you need is to choose a type of fish or meat, a cooking style, vegetables and rice to accompany it. You might opt for a Duck Roganjosh or a Prawn Tikka, the variations are truly endless. A big plate of chosen curry and rice will set you back £9.50 (or £8.50 at the Waterloo Branch).

The final dishes were “Lamb tikka marinated in mint” and “Onion bhajis with spinach and fresh fenugreek leaves”. Both were beautifully cooked and distinct in flavour.

Bangalore Express’ menu is eclectic and will probably appeal to anyone who enjoys contemporary Indian cuisine. As well as some “classics” like dosas, tandoori dishes, thali and curries, the menu also offers dishes like “Indian Fish and Chilli Chips”, “Masala Burgers”, and their “Indian Style Calzone”, all @ £9.50. 

An interesting innovation to encourage wine rather than lager drinking with Indian food is the introduction of wine “flights”.  These are different selections of three x 125ml glasses of wine (equivalent to half a bottle) at £12 for white and rose “flights”, and £14 for reds “fligths”. With bottle prices ranging from £17 to £28, the “flights” have not been marked up, making them a very interesting option for wine lovers.

A big thank you to Eamon from Qype for allowing me to take part in this fantastic event, and to Charles and Yogesh for their great generosity and hospitality, and for showing us the way forward with contemporary Indian eating and drinking. 

Verdict –Good Indian food at very reasonable prices. One of the best wine lists in town and serving “flights” of 3 x 125ml tasting glasses at no extra charge, a must for any wine lover. I cannot wait to return and try a couple of “flights” with a selection of Indian tapas.  

London Restaurant Reviews - Leong's Legend

Leong’s Legend

I can’t think of a restaurant that attracts such a range of different opinions as Leong’s Legend. I had meant to visit it for some time but had been put off by some damning reviews by fellow bloggers. My curiosity got the better of me, and so I headed to Chinatown’s Macclesfield Street with an inquisitive but open mind.

At around 6:30pm, our group of 6 arrived at a very full and buzzing restaurant. We were soon greeted by the manager “Jade” who promised us a table if we returned in 30mins. He explained that bookings were not taken in the evenings, and that they operated on a first-come-first-served basis when seating their customers. We returned at the time agreed (by this time there was an enormous queue) and were soon shown to our table.

Our first impressions were good – the manager and staff were extremely polite and helpful (unlike in most reviews), the decor was elegant and the food looked delicious. Leong’s Legend’s interior is reminiscent of Hakkasan’s dark wood panelling and subtle lighting, but in a much more understated manner - it feels more like an old teahouse than a posh restaurant.

Some of the good write-ups, like that from World Foodie Guide, praised highly Leong’s Siu Loung Bao, its Braised Pork Belly and the Mini Kebab with Pork. We ordered these and other dishes and found, with only a few exceptions, that they were very good.

The “Legend’s Siu Loung Bao” (8pcs) @ £5 was indeed excellent. The skin was a tad too thick for my tate but the pork filling and delicious broth inside them more than made up for this. They were one of the best Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Dumplings) I have had for a long time. 

Leong’s “Crab Meat Siu Loung Bao” (8pcs) @ £6 also did not disappoint, they were just as good as their pork equivalent. I would strongly recommend ordering either of these XLB dumplings.

The star of the evening however was “Leong’s Braised Pork Belly” @ £6. The sauce was sweet and intensely flavoured while the meat was tender, utterly soft and delicious.

Since we had two children with us, we also shared a “Half Crispy Aromatic Duck” @ £14. This was good with plenty of meat and pancakes for all of us.

The “Aromatic Chilli Lamb” @ £6.80 was an interesting dish. I would not normally have ordered lamb at a Chinese restaurant before being introduced to Sichuanese cuisine a few years earlier. This dish was a delicious example of Sichuanese food, and one I would like to try again.

Another star dish of the evening was the “Aubergine with Mashed Garlic and Tao Pan Sauce” @ £5. These were by far the best stir fried aubergines I have ever had. Similar to Gourmet San’s Aubergine with Fish Fragrant Sauce, they were packed with flavour and the sauce was not too liquid. A real winner.

The other two accompanying dishes that we had were “Fried Special Noodle with Shredded Pork, Chives, Carrots and Onions” @ £4.80 and the “Bamboo Rice” @ £3.80. These were passable, and portion sizes were on the small side.

The “Taiwan Mini Kebab with Pork” @ £2.60 was flavoursome – the pork belly was slightly on the fatty side but the flavours were good, and together with the steamed dough, couscous and herbs made up a delicious dish.

 

 

Having had oyster omelette in Singapore many times previously, I was a little disappointed with Leong’s version “Fried Oysters Wrapped with Egg” @ £6.60. It contained tong choy (morning glory) which was an interesting addition, but the amount of oysters was not overly generous and it was a little dry. It was a mediocre version in comparison to its Singaporean equivalent.

Leong’s wine list was well priced with their white or red house wine starting at £12.50. We had two bottles of the Cuvee Le Bosq Blanc de Blancs at £12.50 – it was very easy drinking and partnered the food well. The total bill was £111 or £18.50 per person including 2 bottles of wine, tea for 6 people, soft drinks and service.

Verdict – Very good Taiwanese/Sichuanese dishes at reasonable prices in Chinatown. I would happily return to Leong’s Legend, particularly for their superb Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Dumplings), and Braised Pork Belly. Good service.

London Restaurant Reviews - Mama Irene @ Lennies Snack Bar

Mama Irene (UPDATED on 1st March 2011)

One of my favourite restaurants in London, Irene is a true pioneer of what today is a well known and much loved cuisine in the UK. She has been cooking Thai food in London’s East End for over 20 years and her restaurant is a real institution in the Shoreditch food scene.

I have been coming to Mama Irene’s for the last two years and have, since then, introduced some of my dearest friends to her. It took me a few visits until Irene decided I could have one of her tables – today, I am lucky enough to have her mobile number and am able to enjoy her cooking frequently.

Her menu is very limited, which is an excellent sign for an Asian restaurant. On every visit she will, if you allow her, sit at your table and run through the various food options – she will serve you whatever is freshest and has just been bought at her local market on the day.  I remember using the menu only on my first visit, and have since then let her choose all my dishes.

On my last visit, we were served another great meal – we started the evening with her homemade spring rolls, followed by deep fried pork ribs. The spring rolls had a real kick to them because of the spices in the filling, while the ribs were crisp and deliciously meaty.

There are always two amazing dishes I ask her to prepare whenever I call to book and which I truly recommend – her sea bream steamed with Asian herbs, mushrooms and black bean sauce, and her roasted pork belly on a bed of wilted lettuce. These recipes are not set in stone and every time I visit Irene’s and try them, they taste slightly different but equally delicious.

She also cooked us Thai green curry chicken, prawns & squid with green beans in a spicy sauce, and stir fried pork belly with spring onions. All three dishes tasted fresh and authentic, but I particularly enjoyed the pork belly.

 

 

For dessert, we were served banana fritters with crème fraiche which ended the evening on an excellent note.

Other amazing dishes tried in earlier visits include her Seafood Laksa, other scrumptious variations of her steamed sea bream, and her green papaya salad. I doubt that you will find any of these dishes in her printed menu so I would recommend you letting her do most of your ordering.

We were in a group of 6 and the meal was exceptionally good value under £15 per person. The fact that Mama Irene is also a BYOB venue is an added bonus, making this an excellent choice in terms of food and value for money.

Coming to Mama Irene feels more like visiting an old friend’s kitchen than a restaurant – her food is homely and uncomplicated, and the setting is simple, cafe style and unpretentious. Irene hires Lennies Snack Bar from Wednesday to Saturday evenings from 6pm, and Sundays for breakfast only. I strongly recommend an advance booking.

Verdict – a real Shoreditch institution serving excellent value and delicious, homely Thai food in simple surroundings. Personable service. BYOB. Highly recommended.


...What Others Are Saying...

Dr Tiffany Morris on 1st March 2011: I was excited about Mama Irene’s restaurant as soon as I read the review on The London Foodie, but unsure as to whom to invite along I didn’t have the opportunity to try it immediately. One afternoon I received a message from Neil, a member of the couchsurfing community that was visiting London on business. He could tell from my profile that I was a food lover. He contacted me for a restaurant recommendation and enquired if I might also be free to join him for dinner. I immediately thought of Mama Irene’s. I sent him a link to The London Foodie review and he replied with excitement. We met at a pub near the restaurant for a pre-dinner drink and then headed in around 7:30pm.

The atmosphere was so cozy and intimate that I instantly felt a bit awkward for going there with a stranger and had the feeling I was on some kind of blind date. However, my companion was lovely and down to earth and we had plenty to discuss in terms of food and travelling. We laughed about the slightly obscure décor in the café and wondered if any of the other diners had as unusual stories for meeting each other and discovering this restaurant.

As the London Foodie said she would, Mama Irene came to our table and described two dishes that she wanted to cook for us and asked if we would like some spring rolls to start. We were thrilled that she was ordering for us! She brought us a Green Chicken Curry and Steamed Sea Bass with garlic and spring onions. Neil was worried they would be too spicy and I was worried they wouldn’t be spicy enough and somehow we were both happy. The food was fresh and delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We noticed that like us the other diners were there the entire night. It’s not the sort of place that gets several covers in one evening. People come and they stay until it’s time to close! I loved it so much I also went there with 5 friends for my last birthday and once again it didn’t disappoint. I am definitely looking forward to my next trip.