Celebrating at Mommi

Every year, when we are nearly at the end of the FreeFrom Food Awards judging fortnight, I take the ‘prep’ crew out to dinner – Captain Cressida, Lieutenant Cooks Katherine and Kate, new recruit this year, Midshipman Sarah, Commander ‘Beers’ Sue and the Webmaster. And this year we thought that we should knit our enterprises together so we all trooped off to Clapham to FreeFrom Eating Out Awards winner 2017 – Mommi. And a VERY fine time we had too!!

Mommi serves Japanese Peruvian food – and yes, the food really did all look like this – Shrimp and Spiny Lobster ‘Fire and Ice’ Ceviche, Coriander and Jalapeño, Coconut Leche de Tigre, Crispy Fried Plantain….

Japanese Peruvian might seem an unlikely combination until you realise that the nineteenth century saw a large movement of Japanese across the Pacific to Peru and Brazil, often as slaves. But they took their cuisine with them, merely adapting it to incorporate the local ingredients and to create what is now known as Nikkei cuisine. And Nikkei cuisine is perfectly suited to ‘freefrom’ cooking as it rarely uses gluten, dairy, egg or soya and lends itself to adaptation for other allergens. Which is how Mommi came to embrace freefrom.

And for this who enjoy watching their food being cooked, Mommi has also embraced the Japanese custom of seating their diners round the kitchen so you can watch your meal being prepared – or your steak being flamed!

To get a real feel of how the kitchen operates watch this short video that we made when we made a recce visit about a month ago with FreeFrom Eating Out Awards coordinator Kathy and FFEOA map expert, Benjamin. I am talking to Dave and Paul whose concept Mommi was. Dave does the money bit – Paul, as you will see, is master of the kitchen.

Mommi is a totally gluten free restaurant – so great for our two coeliacs, Sue and Sarah. But because we also had two milk intolerants and a veggie they had created a special menu for us. As with all Mommi food, it was almost a tasting menu in that the individual portions were small – but big enough to get a proper taste, and then another taste, of each dish. (My argument with so many ‘tasting’ menus is that you literally only get one mouthful so if you like it, you do not get a chance to taste again!)

Paul created five ‘dishes’ for us – the shrimp and lobster above – plus Ahi Tuna Tartare, with Seasoned Sushi Rice, Pickled Japanese Mushrooms, Mango Mole, Avocado and Wasabi…

…Nikkei BBQ Baby Chicken, Black Corn Cause, Aji Panca Chimichurri, Salsa Chirolla…..

….Smoked Fillet of Sea Trout, Salt Roasted Beetroot, Quinoa Lime Picante, Amu Rainbow Roots, Paprika Oil…

…and… Asparagus Sugar Snap Peas and Tender Stem Broccoli, Ginger Oil and Black Sesame Dressing VO…

And that was before the three desserts….. Not surprising that Cressida and Sarah were in a state of collapse!

Over the other side of the table Sue, Katherine and Kate were doing rather better and were already into pudding…

Maple roasted Plums and Rhubarb; Pisco Sour Sorbet ‘Peach Salad’ Cherry Bitters VO – and Sesame and Pistachio Bitter Chocolate Ice Cream with Dulce de Leche Popcorn and Puffed Quinoa…

And yes, everything  did taste as interesting, exciting, unusual and delicious as it looked!

We only drank wine but Mommi also offer a fine selection of cocktails that we had sampled on our earlier visit – although check their strength!! Some are set to knock you side ways…

And if you want to know what our FreeFrom Eating Out Awards judge, Gluten Free Mrs D thought about her meal at Mommi, check in here.

Meanwhile, to titillate your tastebuds just a  little, further, here are three of the dishes from our earlier visit – and no, I haven’t a clue what they were – but they tasted great!!