S-W-O-O-N

I don't often swoon (the sort of head over heels heart palpitating joy that's known to turn my face two shades redder with excitement).


Last time I swooned was at a gorgeous pair of hot pink, sparkly, made in Italy Kate Spade heels. Never mind that when I wear them I need to take pain killers they hurt my toes so much.  I'm happy just looking at them.  It was love at first site. 


This time around, it was love at first bite.  Not quite as sexy as my shoes, this afternoon I fell, hard - for some beef brisket. But not just any beef brisket - beef brisket croquets with Asian slaw at Nopi.


Let me explain.


As many people know, one of my favourite restaurants in all of London is Ottolenghi in Islington.  By a stroke of good fortune, FM happened upon a new restaurant in Soho yesterday.  He went to investigate and found out it was the soft opening for Ottolenghi's new restaurant, Nopi. 


Nopi is similar to Ottolenghi in that the menu is quasi tapas style, but very different in it's elegant cream and bronze setting...and no take away items in site.  There's even a proper cocktails menu which has always eluded Ottolenghi.


FM filled me in on his find just as I was walking out the door to meet GT for lunch.  Most certainly serendipity.


Not only did we feast on:

• Beef brisket croquets, Asian slaw 

but also...

• Twice-cooked baby chicken, lemon myrtle salt
• Seared scallops, pickled daikon, green apple
• Prawn toasts, ginger and cucumber dipping sauce 
• Braised winter greens, tahini-yogurt
• Chocolate, peanut brittle, mace, crème fraiche
• Churros, fennel seed sugar, hot chocolate (my least favourite of the bunch)

Next best bit (after the brisket) ... because the restaurant isn't officially open until next Thursday ... our entire bill was 50% off.  Swoooooon.