Generally, alcohol and learning don’t tend to go hand in hand, yet the words sake and masterclass fit like a glove at Lucky Cat’s new dining experience. Conceived by Gordon Ramsey, Lucky Cat is a small-plates-based, Asian inspired restaurant, offering dining experiences alongside a variety of menus. It has to be prefaced that while Lucky Cat hosts a beautiful space, set in an old bank building, a night out here is not in line with the average student experience. The word that comes to mind, as you approach the central bar, would be indulgence.
Upon arrival, I was greeted warmly and with a yuzu Bellini, to kick off the night. The cocktail was crisp and light, teasing you with citric notes from the yuzu. The flavours felt familiar, yet elevated, purely by the quality of ingredients.
The masterclass itself, however, does not take place in the main dining area, as we were lead down to The Vault, a space designated for more intimate experiences. The motifs of the buildings history as a bank are utilised brilliantly here, as the walls are intricately made up of old deposit boxes, and priceless collections of bottles are protected behind the bars of smaller vaults. The atmosphere is warm, but gilded with delicate design, and the utmost attention to detail.
On to the sake masterclass itself: after a brief but detailed explanation of what sake is, and the process of making it, we were served tasters of different sakes, accompanied by small plates, taken from the a la carte menu. Each dish and drink were paired beautifully, and took my palate to places it hadn’t been before, all the while picking up newfound knowledge about different sakes.
Kicking off with course one, there were Padron peppers with holy basil, paired with a fruity sake, with notes of melon. The two married beautifully, and we were off to a brilliant start. This introduction was swiftly followed by a more neutral flavoured sake, served in a traditional Japanese ceramic sake cup. Here you could taste the rice, from which sake is crafted, yet not overpoweringly so, as the tipple was equally fresh and light. This was paired with succulent beef tataki with a truffle ponzu; seared for 30 seconds on each side, then thinly sliced, the meat was tender and flavoursome, bursting with umami.
Next on the menu was – you guessed it – more sake, this time served alongside monkfish tempura with yuzu sea salt and yuzu kosho. This sake drank the most similarly to wine, but with a similar alcohol content, and floral hints alongside citrus. Again, the pairing was a hit, as the yuzu, along with a squeeze of lemon, brightened up the monkfish, which encased in a crispy batter was tender and perfectly cooked.
To round off the fish-centred section of the evening, we were presented with a selection of sashimi, including salmon, seabass, akami and chutori. The initial two cuts were ones I had tried before, but the quality brought them to another level of flavour, while the latter two cuts of tuna were new to me, but extremely welcome. With akami being the leaner cut of bluefin tuna, it was meatier than its chutori counterpart, which melted in the mouth, being of fattier content. And of course, this was all paired with another exquisite sake.
Of course, the night couldn’t end without dessert, to which we were treated with a trio of mochis. Mochi tends to garner mixed reactions texturally, with its soft and chewy outer shell, and freezing ice cream centre, washed down with a yuzu sake. Ashamedly, the yuzu flavour was compared to a “really nice version of Hooch”, but in fairness its zesty flavour and lack of alcoholic taste acts as pretty fair grounding for what might be considered an outlandish claim.
The sake masterclass was a brilliant experience that any foodie would be sure to enjoy, but it does come at a price. Lucky Cat’s sake masterclass is available to book online, under drinks masterclasses, and stands at £60 per person, which obviously is not in line with the average student budget. So, save an experience like this for a special occasion, as it’s sure to make the perfect birthday celebration, or treat for when your family come to visit.
Lucky Cat is open 12-11pm on Tue and Wed, 12pm-12am Thu-Sat and closed Sun and Mon.
