Tukdin

I have been increasingly interested in Malaysian food recently. The alluring mix of Indian and Chinese influences makes for a real tasty treat. After a great meal at C + R Cafe in Soho recently with some Malaysian friends (great food if you stick to the Malaysian dishes) I wanted to see what else London had to offer from this delicious cuisine.

On the back of a recommendation, I headed to Tukdin over in Bayswater (Bayswater has to be the best area of London for South East Asian food, I love it there). Tukdin was a pretty local kind of joint, with Malaysian families abound gathering for an evening meal. This boded well, I remember thinking.

We started with Chicken Satay (£5). The peanut sauce was sweet and delicious with the charred and tender chicken pieces. A good example. The version at Rasa Sayang in Soho just wins it for me (its spicier!).





We followed with what was the stand out dish of the meal, Sea Bass in a Sweet and Sour Sauce. It was arrestingly good. The crispy skin, the succulent fish and the sweet, tangy, hot and sticky sauce made me want to dive in again and again. This was one of the pricier items on the menu at £12.50 but it was definitely worth it.



Mussels Sambal (in tomato and chili sauce) (£5.50) were tasty but I suspected they were frozen and I wanted a bit more oomph in my sauce.



Sweet Pineapple Curry (£3.50) was a mild curry sauce with chunks of juicy pineapple. Nice with a big bowl of rice.



Daging Salai Masak Lemak Cili Api (phew!)(£5.50) was a bit of a disappointment for me. The sauce was too bland for my liking and from what I could see was just coconut milk, chili and bamboo shoots poured over thin slices of beef. I needed more flavours going on.



I smothered my rice in Sambal Belacan. This was a flavour sensation of hot zingy chili and intensely fishy goodness. Full on, high impact flavour. I loved it.



We would have stayed for dessert but a) I am not a huge dessert fan b) my eardrums were being perforated by the screaming of a small child on a nearby table. It is a family style place but a price I am willing to pay for such interesting and authentic food. I can't wait to go back and explore the menu some more. I am sure there are more absolute gems like the sea bass dish hidden away there.

Our meal for two, came to £42.

Monster Munch Rating: 77%

Tukdin
41 Craven Road
London
W2 3BX

0207 723 6955
www.tukdin.com

For the recent Bank Holiday weekend we hired and car and headed out of London to Warwick. A pretty city with quaint roads filled with little shops and restaurants dominated by the castle in the middle.

In search of food, we stumbled across the Rose and Crown pub which was a great little find. The pub was light and airy and they had a interesting array of guest ales on offer. Nice.



I was with a group of fellow weekend eaters. One had a Caesar Salad (salty bacon, creamy dressing and strong Parmesan, tasty).



Squid had crispy, satisfying batter and was tender inside. It was unusually served with preserved lemon:



Pea and broad bean risotto was made with creme fraiche (I think). I prefer the natural ooziness you get from using a well starched Arborio or Carnaroli rice and a good umph from a cheesy Reggiano. Admittedly this was a healthier version though.



Halloumi salad with orange was original and refreshing:



I opted for the "Bangers N' Mash". A staple. A must. They did themselves proud with this version which was accompanied with a tangy apple chutney and doused in rich, meaty veal stock. I wanted to lick my plate, but resisted. Something I don't do at home.



If in Warwick I would definitely recommend this pub. The menu has a good spattering of pub classics and a few unique creations. I am glad we walked out of Ask on the back of terrible service and were more adventurous.

Monster Munch Rating: 75%

The Rose and Crown
30 Market Place
Warwick
CV34 4SH

01926 411117
www.roseandcrownwarwick.co.uk