THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
It's cherry blossom time! In Japan, it's one of the most magical times of the year and Aqua Kyoto celebrates in style with a special Sakura (blossoming cherry tree) menu.
The venue is a heady mix of Japanese minimalism and London club vibe, dark and alluring. We were greeted with a cool mix of music in the bar and lounge, a great place for drinks. On through, the enormous dining room retains the club feel but the music remains in the background, allowing for intimate conversation. A grand sushi bar and grill station line one length, and comfy banquettes, the other. There's a magnificent terrace for al fresco dining, sadly unused on this cold, wet, English night.
Our charming waiter was both informed and attentive. The a la carte menu is extensive and certainly warrants another visit but the Sakura menu (£81 pp) is fantastic and only available until April 30. Strike while the blossoms are hot!
The "In Bloom" cocktail was the only disappointment of the evening. The mix of cherry blossom liqueur, vermouth, soda and prosecco was more of a luxury soda than a cocktail with kick. Far better was the Japanese Garden (£15): Tanqueray gin, apple juice, elderflower cordial, cucumber, and a whisper of wasabi had it all, floral notes, acidity, freshness, spice and punch.
A maki roll of blue prawn, avocado, cucumber and Yukari was topped with Morello cherry jelly. Genius! The delicate jelly worked magic on the perfect sushi which was plated with elegance.
We also sampled the rock shrimp tempura (£15), the Japanese answer to popcorn shrimp with chilli mayo. Absolutely moreish, this must have is also the perfect bar snack.
Black cod gyoza with mizuna miso and caviar (£18) gilded the cherry blossom. Seaweed crisps added crunch and umami to the scrumptious dumplings. Another A+ appetizer.
Pan-fried duck breast with sour cherry teriyaki, truffle pak choi and cherry crisps hit all the right notes. The duck was pink and succulent and the play on sweet, sour and savory balanced beautifully. With this, a bottle of 2020 Corvina, Torre Del Falsasco, Valpantena was a delightful pairing. At £29, it was definitely at the low end of the wine list but had good tannin structure, fruit and a touch of sweetness. It's not always about price!
From the a la carte menu, Black Cod (£38) dazzled my gorgeous guest. The caramelization was superb and the sweet, sticky glaze was offset by yuzu curd and some exceptional pickles: spicy cucumber and salty carrot. If these came in jars, I would buy a case!
For dessert, a fine, moist cherry blossom vermouth cake with mint crémeux and yuzu sorbet was a stunner! The pairing of mint and cherry was unexpectedly perfect and a fine cherry sherbet added zing. Cherry meringue shards added crunch and sprigs of cherry blossom completed the artistic presentation.
For a romantic night out, Aqua Kyoto is bloomin' good.
