1. Make your way over to a quality Japanese restaurant or if you're in London try Kiku.
Kiku restaurant is a contemporary Japanese restaurant on Half Moon Street in Mayfair known across London as one of the most authentic of its kind. The design of the restaurant is minimalist and dignified, a clear reflection of Japanese culture. The rooms are long and narrow, plainly furnished with light wood with rattan screens that stop it being monotonous. As we entered, the staff greeted us with a friendly welcome, allowing us to change our booking and sit at the counter for a unique view of the food preparation.
For the first few visits to Japanese restaurants, it is good to go to the more high end examples as you will be looked after very well and likely to feel comfortable about the experience. Soon you will be a natural. Being more relaxed you will enjoy the atmosphere, the subtlety of the flavours and begin to experiment with the more unusual menu choices for example sea urchin (Japanese word "Uni" pronounced oo-nee).
2. Chopsticks and Hands
Before our meal, as is typical on arrival to a Japanese restaurant or hotel, we were offered a hot towel to clean our hands and refresh ourselves. It might be useful to know that it is totally acceptable to pick up and eat rolled sushi with your fingers. The staff want you to feel comfortable, and take every effort to make the experience enjoyable. Chopsticks were laid out, and I played the game of pretending to be an expert of the art like many newcomers. Practicing with chopsticks at home when eating is a fun way to improve your skills. Blowing your nose in a restaurant is considered rude. If you need to have a blow go to the loo.
Good To Know: The only difference between Japanese and Chinese chopsticks is that you don’t tap or push the food end of the sticks against the plate or bowl to even them up, just use the palm of your right hand as the stopping point against the top of the sticks whilst holding them in the centre under your left thumb and index finger. Here is a helpful video guide.
3. What to order
We sampled the Sashimi selection, beginning with a fresh salad and flavoursome dressing and followed by a beautiful selection of raw fish and seafood. This included salmon, shrimps, yellowtail tuna, scallops and mackerel served with traditional Japanese omelette, ginger and wasabi which we watched being prepared in front of us. We ate these from lightest to darkest with ginger or soup between each to cleanse the palette. Wasabi and soy sauce were included to compliment the dishes. These refreshing and light flavours left our appetites satisfied without being too filling. The meal was topped off with a light fruit salad and green tea and we thanked the chefs on our way out.
4. Allergies and Fear of the unusual
If you are allergic to certain types of seafood, there is an abundance of menu alternatives. Whilst seafood is very popular in Japanese restaurants, you will find a wide selection of delicious beef, chicken, lamb, vegetable, tofu and many other non seafood dishes offered.
5. The Motto
The Kiku restaurant shares the Mikuniya’s motto: “treat guests with a warm hospitality” which they deliver flawlessly. Every effort is made to introduce Japanese cuisine to British people with delicious and high quality meals, where only the best will do. The world renowned precision and attention to detail inherent in Japanese culture are mirrored in Templeton's hospitality service.
We at Templeton Events take every opportunity to research and trial the best venues, dining, seating, accommodation and more for your bespoke event. We’ll offer our expertise every step of the way and provide planning and a variety of services to compliment what you have in mind. We offer our clients consistency from one event to the next in terms of the level of service provided, and at least one director of Templeton is present at every event to ensure our high standards are maintained.
By Ethan Rickards and Charlotte Kelly De Vega.
Templeton Events
