Champor-Champor – A Recession-Proof Deal in London

Has London become affordable again? Absolutely YES, when it comes to dining! The days when one British pound equaled $2.00 are gone. Well… For now at least. Add to that a struggling economy and restaurants that are lowering their prices to attract and sometimes just retain customers. What do you get? Delicious deals like the £15.00 Early Bird Dinner Special at Champor-Champor in London.

Champor –Champor is a Malay expression meaning “mix and match.” As you step through the door of the restaurant, you are transported into a world of Asian wonders where oriental artifacts tango with chef Adu Amran’s creative Malay-Asian cuisine. The atmosphere is “cozy, yet chic, with a hint of a bohemian flavor.” Champor-Champor is conveniently located near London’s Borough Market.

The food, which is Malay-inspired, incorporates a wide variety of southeast elements, reflecting the inherent concept of the restaurant. The menu is seasonal and usually includes exotic meats such as ostrich, soft-shell crab, crocodile and water buffalo.  The presentation of the dishes, along with the décor of the room is nothing less than superb.  The £15 Early Bird special includes a choice of a starter and a main course.

What we recommend:
Stir-fried frog legs with ginger, galangal and XO sauce (picture above)
Fish balls, silk tofu and okra soto; sweet and spicy soy (picture below)
Hibiscus tea and brown sugar granita
Roast fillet of ostrich; peanut & Szechuan peppercorn sauce; compressed rice

Make sure to try to the Singapore Sling, renowned for being one of the best in town. You also have a choice of unconventional wines from India, China, Uruguay and Georgia, all hand-selected to perfectly pair with the food.

Champor Champor
62-64 Weston Street
London SE1 3QJ
Telephone:  +44 20-7403 4600

Frugal Fridays at Craft?

You read right! Starting this Friday (January 16th), Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio and Craft’s executive chef Damon Wise are partnering to launch Damon: Frugal Fridays, a series of recession-proof Friday dinners at Craft.  This comes in as the ultimate low-cost alternative to Craft’s Tom: Tuesday Dinner, a $150.00 bi-monthly dining affair where Colicchio cooks a seasonal, seven to eight-course tasting menu for a limited number of guests.

Frugal Fridays will take place in the private dining room and feature a menu of palate-titillating small dishes and drinks all priced $10. According to the restaurant, “The format allows Wise the chance to depart from the Craft style and experiment with a casual menu of his own creation — one that’s ideal for thrifty times.”  Reservations are not accepted. So, come early and enjoy Chef Wise’s culinary creations deliciously fit for a recession. See the menu below.

Address: 47 East 19th Street, New York, NY 10003
Opening: Friday, January 16th, 2009
Hours: Fridays 5:30pm – midnight (closed on 2/13).
Note: Reservations not accepted.

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