A Popup Grows in Acton
Brøkton: Presenting Izakaya or Japanese tapas. A selection of traditional, yet informal, Japanese gastropub dishes with a twist ideal for sharing or solo feasting.
Just in time for spring, my latest brainchild Brøkton has come to fruition. Brøkton is a festival of fusion, but also a popup takeover night at Vindinista, Acton's premiere wine bar in Churchfield Road. I may have been born in Denmark but my soul is also part Japanese, part Acton. I have joined forces with another lover of Acton, Brooklyn bred Donna Freed to celebrate and express our foodie passion, love of Acton and cheffie flair in Brøkton.
After all my years of making sushi and more formal Japanese cooking I wanted to explore Izakaya - Japan's answer to the gastropub serving delicious and generous tapas style plates for sharing with a drink (or devouring solo!). I have drawn on some of my old standards and favourites adding a seasonal or whimsical twist. Along with some light bites, we always have a veggie or vegan offering, some hearty dishes and a couple of desserts.
Mandatory on an izakaya menu would be edamame and gyoza so I made miso salt for savoury dipping and alongside the pork gyoza I filled the vegetable ones with butternut squash. Our first outing featured bao buns stuffed with duck confit and chicken ton katzu as well as a sensational seabass dish over soba noodles. I was also rather proud as my tuna tataki seemed to be the sell-out star.
There was still a chill in the air for our second night which was quickly dispelled by Mum's Chicken with Mountain Rice – slow-cooked for Mum's umami magic. I love introducing new flavours like the tofu and miso marinated quails' eggs were served with a sweet-tart yuzu dipping sauce. We wowed with our coffee jelly with Earl Grey cream & candied yuzu peel – full fusion marks in a rather grown up pudding. Don't worry if you missed that one, it'll be round again.
We are pulling out all the stops on June 6 for the Evening Standard's London Food Month. Please join us to try the edamame dripping with a tangy and addictive miso sauce, a tremendous tempura with tiger prawns and scallops (vegan version available upon request) and the healthiest, happiest and superfoodiest dish of all: Salmon five ways heaped on a bed of brown rice and seeds- an Omega 3 and umami mashup of epic proportions. There will also be a tantalising beef tataki with a zingy rhubarb kimchee pickle. Save room for dessert: white chocolate pots with a sour cherry compote and white chocolate, ginger crunch or the divinely decadent, de-constructed strawberries and cream – vegan style – with sake strawberries, almond cream and sesame sea salt chocolate.
We will be celebrating summer on July the 4the with a hint of Donna’s New York, so be sure to taste the sunshine with Soft Shell Crab Maki, Buffalo Wings Isakaya style, Sushi Donut (healthy style) and much more.
June 6
July 4
@ Vindinista, 74 Churchfield Road London W3 6DH