Lady Sadie's Ratatouille

Restaurants from London that should come the States!
This time, Yo! Sushi and Pizza Express.

These are two very affordable, very popular restaurants near Russell Square tube stop in London that are flanked by University of London (and George Mason University study abroad-ers) night after night.

Yo! Sushi is a futuristic sushi bar where the conveyor belt of sushi is all-you-can-eat and the table is self-serve. No really, this table was waiter free unless you desired a hot dish that was only available upon request. (And when you want said hot dishes, you press a red button in the center of the table with blares a siren, and all attention towards your booth.)

If I were to be lost at sea, I would want my raft to look like my booth from Yo! Sushi.

Why? Because it was completely self-contained.

Curls of the booth served as coolers for bottle of wine and beer. The table itself had all your little sushi-eating heart could desire. Wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, chopsticks…and it all popped up on command.

Did I mention there’s fizzy and still water fountains at your table!? Oh, and aside from the fact that YO! Sushi’s array of Japanese bites were delectable and everything sushi should be, there was a 25% student discount? Yeah, America, let’s get on that.

II.) PIZZA EXPRESS

This pizza joint wasn’t your run-of-the-mill Pizza Hut. This was pizza with class. With marble table-tops and wine glasses at every table you almost feel like you need to eat your gourmet pizza with a knife and fork (recommendation: I would, if not you tend to get stares).

With an air of high-class, Pizza Express delivers the favorites expected with pizza. Pepperoni, olives, onions, the works.

But what sets Pizza Express apart is the pizzas are literally made in front of you, and they have all fresh ingredients that really are fresh…not pulled out of a freezer.

Pizza Express offers pizzas like, “The American: A big helping of pepperoni for those who love their flavours strong and simple,” “Diavolo: Devilishly hot with spicy beef, pepperoni, onions and
Tabasco, with hot green or jalapeno peppers.” and my personal favorite, “Capricciosa: Prosciutto cotto ham, anchovies, fresh strips of red pepper, capers and olives, topped with a free range boiled egg.”

In my every family’s food history, there have been meals that stand out as fantastic. They may be associated with holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Labor Day, and the occasional Graduation dinner. (Picture is from an early Thanksgiving, my cousin & I have been required to sit in the exact same spot every year since this picture was taken.)

But, the most meaningful meals from my family just so happen to come from ultra-cold days. And today, being the coldest day in D.C. in the past week, with the temperature feeling about 11 degrees Farenheit — I was taken back to childhood days of comfort foods.

My personal favorite was a combination of my Grandma’s twice-baked potatoes (oozing with cheddar cheese, bacon, and butter), my Dad’s just perfectly seared fillet of steak, and my Mom’s famously delicious carb-laden dinner rolls. Yes, my family loves their calories.

A recent poll taken amongst my roommates has shown that favorite comfort food dinners range from empanadas to fried hamsteaks dredged in butter and brown sugar.

On About.com, there’s an article about comfort food where some favorites “take the cake”: macaroni & cheese and french toast. Some surprises? Danish Puff Coffee Cake and Bean & Bacon Soup.

Needless to say, this cold weather is prompting all of us to pile on the comfort food. Good thing the gym is less than a block away.

Time for Top Chef on Bravo. I hope Leah goes home, she’s a bit of a whiner and a cop-out.

More bites tomorrow.

photo credit: Me