Nomu Goes Taberu When Bristol's newest Japanese bar/restaurant Nomu opened in Whiteladies Road last month the intention was that it would be primarily a cocktail bar. But it was to be a bar with a Japanese twist; the twist being the availability of some Japanese food, which would take second place to the drinks. Ken Wong, the owner, has since found that his customers had other ideas: they've been heading to Nomu for the food first and foremost. And that has brought about a change of emphasis, with Nomu now placing itself more as a Japanese restaurant than a bar. You can check out the new menus on the right. | Nomu 81 Whiteladies Road Clifton Bristol BS8 2NT |
0 Comments
Since I posted a first look at Yume Kitchen's menu back in January they have updated and improved it, so here is the latest version. Yume Kitchen is at 9 Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6LD.
You wait forever then two come along at once: as it is with buses, so it is with "Japanese Kitchens" in Bristol. Only a month or so after the arrival of Yume, Bristol's first Japanese Kitchen, comes Nomu, a new cocktail bar/lounge and Japanese Kitchen in Whiteladies Road. Culinary nomenclature aside, Nomu is a very different proposition from Yume though. As the name suggests, Nomu will be concentrating more on drinking than eating and the owner, Ken Wong, describes it as a cocktail bar lounge with a Japanese twist. He also told me that they have "a wonderful kitchen team who can make some fantastic Japanese food", so I'm looking forward to trying it. Nomu is due to open at 81 Whiteladies Road, Clifton officially on 1st March, after a "tester weekend" (invitation only) beginning this Friday. I remember once going to a pub with a Japanese friend and sitting with some British friends, who knew little or nothing about Japan. With worrying enthusiasm, they interrogated him about the mysteries of his exotic homeland, when the conversation turned to food. "You eat dogs, don't you?" one of them put accusingly to him. My friend was quick to put them straight, suggesting they might be thinking of some other Asian country, although I'm not sure they were entirely convinced. So how come there is a Japanese video series called "Cooking with Dog"? Fear not, canine lovers, we're talking about Japan here. Of course the dog in question is not an ingredient: no, he's the host of the show and the narrator. The woman who does the cooking, working through a range of classic Japanese recipes, is known simply as Chef and her dialogue rarely extends beyond the occasional "美味しいです" (it's delicious). It's the dog, a poodle called Francis, who tries to position himself as the star of the show. Here are a couple of examples: watch Chef conjuring up the wonderful Japanese dishes of Oden and Shabu-shabu, while Francis explains what's happening. |
AuthorI'm David O'Keefe. I live and work in Bristol and I've been the organiser of Bristol Japan Club since 1996. Archives
October 2013
Categories |