Headlines § e-mail § Publisher details § rates & data Est. 1996 Issue 144 February 2009 Sushinho - Latin America visits Japan     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. Having come up with an innovative concept, he set about raising the necessary finance, using the contacts he had made during his career in finance. Says Girardet: "My overriding aim all along has been to breathe new, exotic life into London's sushi scene by combining a dynamic and elegant dining experience and exceptional service with welcoming, stimulating and warm surroundings". top

Headlines § e-mail § Publisher details   Mood Food is published by FSR, London, England © 2009  Editors: Peter J. Grove Editorial office: PO Box 416 Surbiton, Surrey, England, KT1 9BJ Tel: 020 8399 4831 email: GroveInt@aol.com