However, the décor is elegant with an open grill in the middle of the room. You can sit at a table or at the sushi bar. Te seating will be tight, but in the end, you will enjoy your meal. I recommend having some tempura, one
order of gyozas, one hot fish item, one hot meat item and the sashimi platter for a well-rounded experience. Te menu is a bit confusing, so if you are not sure which di- rection to go, the staff are very helpful and attentive. Te black cod marinated in yuzu miso is a must, as you can only get black cod in Japanese restaurants in London. Te skin is charred and the flesh is extremely tender. Te yellowtail sashimi with truffle yuzu dressing is to die for. Chances are you will want to order another round. Te gy- ozas are made in-house, steamed and then fried crispy. I had the beef and was sad once they were gone. Te sashimi is in- credibly fresh. Like most good Japanese restaurants in
London, it is an expensive night out but well worth it. You will leave happy.
Name Roka. Cuisine Japanese. Reservations A must! Neighbohood Mayfair. Price ££££ Tip Make a reservation as soon as you can.
Italian
Te more I dine around London, the fonder I become of Clapham. Tere is a host of restaurants run by chefs who have trained in Michelin-starred kitchens. Tey have taken a more casual and natural ap- proach to décor and atmosphere, but the same level of integrity with their ingredi- ents, local sourcing and technique. Te Dairy was one of the first restaurants to do this very thing in Clapham. Sorella is its Italian sister. Previously known as Te Manor, the restaurant was closed down, re- vamped and now run by a South African chef. Sorella is known to use every part of their ingredients, resulting in tasty desserts like fig leaf ice cream. Tey focus on Amalfi-style cooking and they also make their charcuterie in-house. Often, when people think of Italian
restaurants, they think about pasta. Sorella is no different. All of their pasta is made in-house and seasonally. You won’t find red sauce or traditional lasagna on the menu, rather dishes like pig cheek and squash ag- nolotti or truffle and mushroom tagliatelle.
However, one of the best things I had there was the charred leeks with a Clarence Court egg. Clarence Court eggs are known for having very large and deep orange yolks, resulting in a creamy consistency. Te Yorkshire venison chop that followed was cooked perfectly and paired with roasted beetroot and wilted kale. For £45 you can have a five-course meal
including: cicchetti, antipasti, primi, sec- ondi and dolci. Te entire wine list is made up of great Italian wines like the Nicola Bergaglio La Minaia Gavi di Gavi. Te only thing that upsets me about Sorella is that it is not in my neighborhood.
Name Sorella. Cuisine Italian. Neighborhood Clapham. Price ££ Tips Lunch deal is £18 for a big bowl of pasta and a glass of wine.
Ashley James is the executive chef of Laura’s Kitchen catering and Lil Laura’s Condiments, and is currently working to open a new Southern restaurant, Laura’s. For more information go to
www.Ashleysonedish.com
www.focus-info.org FOCUS The Magazine 7
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