coolography

cicada

Posted on: 2 December 2008

Cicada interior

Cicada, serving pan-asian cuisine in trendy Clerkenwell, London, could very easily get away with dishing up the eponymous insect in any number of ways; they are eaten throughout the world and are often considered to be a delicacy. Thankfully, for the squeamish, or simply unadventurous, there was nothing of the sort on our given menus. Rather, coolography assumes, Cicada is named so for its small, buzzing atmosphere, snugly nestled on St John’s street, just off Clerkenwell Road. continue reading »

XO

Posted on: 27 October 2008

Tucked away in a side road off Haverstock Hill, XO restaurant in Belsize Park is perhaps not the best location to be navigating to on a dark and rainy autumn night. However the venue itself is warm and inviting and a perfect sanctuary from the elements. Softly lit and with a homely, modern decor, XO attracts a quietly sophisticated and well heeled crowd. Coats and umbrellas were taken, seats acquired, then menu perusal began.

Offering a relatively small selection of modern pan-asian cuisine, we still felt quite spoilt for choice. Tuna and salmon sashimi were no-brainers for sushi aficionados such as ourselves, and, as requested, was the first starter to arrive. Immaculately presented on a bowl of ice, we were initially swayed by style over substance. Sadly the presentation ensured that the fish was chilled to the point where it numbed the tongue and all flavour was lost. Desirable perhaps for a cheap lager, but not necessarily for sashimi at just over a pound per slice.

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