I had the privilege of experiencing the newest street food menu last week at Six By Nico. This everchanging, dynamic restaurant launches a new menu every six weeks, and this menu was fantastic. Inspired by street food around the world, Six By Nico takes you to six different cities, boasting new aesthetics and flavours with each destination.
Escaping a cool autumn night in London, I stepped into an enchanting setting with soft lighting and lush greenery surrounding me — beckoning me and my friend to a table where I would embark on a six-course journey with mouth-watering flavours from Seoul to Hanoi.
The minute we sat down, our wonderful waiter Josh welcomed us like family — educating us on the gastronomic journey ahead. He had a clear enthusiasm for the excellent culinary delights that the restaurant offers. As soon as we sat down, I indulged in the fluffy, fresh sourdough bread with smoked butter — foreshadowing the elevated sophistication that would later come with the upcoming courses. With the bread, I enjoyed the Kyoto Highball cocktail with Gin, Briottet Manzana Verde and London Essence Peach & Jasmine Soda — creating a refreshing, botanical drink.
The first course, the Seoul-inspired Steamed Bun, was my favourite course. Sitting in the restaurant, my soul left my body. The perfectly golden, crispy bun sat in a delicious broth, accompanied by ginger and pickled mushroom — sprinkled with a chilli oil that gave the slightest heat to the dish. Meanwhile, the Gochujang pork hid inside the bun — surrounded by a soft dough that retained all the powerful flavours surrounding it. With every bite, the food melted seamlessly onto my palate as each flavour complemented one another.
The second course was equally as intricate and well-thought-out. The Samosa inspired by Goa, boasted an excellent presentation, with a flaky outer layer topped with spiced onions and pickles. The refreshing pickle and cucumber flavours blended nicely with a slight touch of heat. To pair with the dish, we were given Cavalieri Reali Prosecco, which boasted delicate notes of florals and pear — beautifully matching the flavours of the dish.
Moving to the Istanbul-inspired Kebab, I wanted each bite to last forever. Here, tender lamb belly fell off the skewer without a knife. This was paired with roasted cabbage, pickled golden raisins, salsa verde and roasted garlic foam. The raisins brought forth a sweet sensation, balancing the boldness of the creamy garlic foam while the flavours stood out against the tender, juicy meat. With powerful flavours at play in this dish, each ingredient was still showcased with each bite. To pair with this course, we had the Saint-Jean des Sources Merlot, with bold tannins to release the robust flavours of the dish.
After enjoying the latest dish, the Taco inspired by Mexico City was as successful as the previous one. The saltiness of the perfectly tender coalfish, and crunchy corn tortilla was completed with the sweetcorn purée and balanced with a hint of heat from the smoked jalapeño and tomatillo salsa. This was paired with a Verdicchio — bringing a citrus, fruity balance to the delicate, subtle taste of the fish.
Finishing strong with the main courses, the Chicken Satay, inspired by Jakarta, was the perfect end to the wonder-filled savoury dishes for the night. With each bite, the tender meat, paired with the soft pak choi salad and nutty satay sauce with peanut crumble orchestrated a delicious dance of flavours. It should be noted that my friend is allergic to peanuts, and the culinary team wasted no time whipping her up an equally delicious well-crafted chicken dish without the peanuts. This dish was perfectly paired with Don Feli Malbec No. 9, containing dark cherry and plum notes with moderate tannins.
The Coffee dessert was the final destination in my gastronomic journey. Inspired by Hanoi, this was easily the most visually aesthetic dish of the night. With a rich cocoa Mousseline and creamy leche buttermilk ice cream elevating the flavour profile of the coffee, this dessert was worth savouring every taste. Paired with this mouthwatering confection, the Grains de Plaisir Moelleux presented a sweet, fruity and floral wine.
Overall, Six By Nico offered us an incredible gastronomic experience by elevating ordinary yet classic dishes. With two locations at Canary Wharf and London Fitzrovia, there are no excuses not to try the culinary journey available until 17th December 2023.
To discover more, visit: Sixbynico.com
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All imagery courtesy of Six By Nico.