|
Inspired
by the fusion of two very unique cultures, sushinho is an innovative
new culinary experience. Think Latin American chic bred with all the
practicality and efficiency Japan has to offer.
The creation of Oliver Girardet,
gourmand, world traveller and steadfast fan of all things Latin
American, sushinho has become the destination of choice for those
looking for a very different type of dining and drinking experience
in central London.
The name of the venue (pronounced
su-sheen-yo) is a combination of the word 'sushi', known as a
Japanese dish of raw fish, vegetables or pickles, and '-inho', a
uniquely Brazilian/Portuguese suffix meaning diminutive, younger, smaller.
The diminutive is crucial to the
concept. While respectful of tradition, skill and ability, sushinho
is a younger, fresher phenomenon. It takes the regular sushi
restaurant offering and infuses it with a quintessential Brazilian
feel to create something that is accessible, unintimidating and fun.
With 2008 marking the 100th
anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in
Brazil, the opening of Sushinho could not have been timelier.
Numbering an estimated 1.5 million, there are now more people of
Japanese descent in Brazil than anywhere in the world outside of
Japan itself.
The 165 Japanese families who
arrived in the port of Santos near Sao Paulo on 18 June 1908 have,
not surprisingly, left a significant legacy. It is in the eating
habits of Brazilians that you can find the most visible evidence of
the impact of Japanese immigrants and their descendants. The
neighbourhood of Liberdade - essentially Japan Town - boasts an
incredible variety of top sushi and sashimi restaurants offering
everything from quick and simple fare to complex and expensive delicacies.
sushinho's menu reflects this
happy marriage. Blending Japanese, Brazilian and European fare, it
offers such exotic concoctions as sautéed lobster with chilli
vinaigrette, miso salmon foie gras and crispy pork belly with
feijoada bean purée.
sushinho also offers a full
service bar/cocktail menu including the famous Brazilian cocktail,
Caipirinha. Several drinks are unique to the restaurant, including
Sakeirinha (Caipirinha with Japanese Sake instead of Cachaça),
Gingerbread Slipper and Tropical Fruit Sling.
In keeping with the culinary
theme of harmonious integration, Sushinho foregoes conveyor belts and
minimalism for interiors infused with warm, colourful tones and
enlivened with a funky Brazilian beat.
In addition to the restaurant,
sushinho features a downstairs lounge and bar that has been designed
in a similar vein to its upstairs counterpart. It offers a selection
of exotic cocktails courtesy of master mixologists and a music
selection that offers unparalleled Samba tracks mixed with funky
street beats.
sushinho is the creation of
Oliver Girardet, a gourmand, world traveller and steadfast fan of
Brazil, who has spent the last three years hatching his plan for the restaurant.
Following an eight year career in
IT, banking and media that culminated in two successful years with
the Financial Times' advertising team, Oliver - a German Indonesian
and adopted Londoner of exacting tastes - made the decision to add
his personal stamp to the London restaurant scene.
Carlos Maia is Head Chef. A
Brazilian national, Carlos has extensive experience in the restaurant
trade both in Brazil and London, most recently as Senior Chef at one
of London's most respected Japanese restaurants. Having worked
independently as a chef and as a general manager at various venues in
central London, including The Pheasantry and Break for the Border, he
has amassed a wealth of knowledge. Carlos has also worked in tourism,
setting up his own bespoke travel business introducing high net worth
Brazilians to London.
top |
