Mister So's

This is a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet. We had a house guest from the US of A, who was very clearly a more organised traveller than me. He had researched the areas he could possibly visit and even tended to remember details. Amazing.

In any event, late on a Friday evening and after a few drinks in a very nice pub (but which did not have an exciting dinner menu), we found ourselves in Winchester looking for a place to eat. Our house guest suggested Mister So's. It had a table spare and its kitchen was still open at 2130, so we sat down.

Mister So's is quite small. And very pink. The staff were pleasantly aggressive, but extremely competent. We ordered seafood lettuce wraps for our entree and a smattering of dishes for our mains: steamed sea bass with ginger and spring onions, lo-han mixed vegetables and deep-fried spicy tofu.

The seafood lettuce wrap was delicious. Our house guest had to leave the table to make a business call back home and we were left with his portion of seafood wrap goodness. We only just managed not to scoff ALL of it down before he got back to have some. The mains were excellent, although a little on the small side; we were nevertheless quite replete at the end of our meal.

I accompanied my meal with jasmine tea, which was very tasty and topped up whenever I asked for it to be. My co-diners had Tiger beers with great glee.

All in all, the meal was great and well-priced. Definitely worth a visit.

*****
Mister So's Chinese Restaurant

3 Jewry St
Winchester
SO23 8RZ

Ph. 01962 861234

Chan Cham

This is an excellent sandwich shop. I am prepared to announce that it is The Best Sandwich Shop in South-East England. Even though I have not eaten at that many, I doubt that any can top it. I will, of course, eat my words if I am wrong.

I invariably have the hommous and grilled vegetables on ciabatta. One day I will branch out, but I eat here so rarely that I just order my favourite. The staff are lovely and funky, and they make your sandwich on the spot - so it can be a little slow if they're busy, but you don't begrudge this once you take that first bite. They also have a great selection of drinks: I was wildly excited to see Snapple, for example, but they also stock local beverages (which are much tastier than Snapple but I don't have any fond childhood memories of beverages local to SE England).

The cafe / eat-in part also seems quite pleasant; unfortunately I only get to have take-out sandwiches because I have to go back to work. One day I will go to Chan Cham on a Saturday and take a leisurely lunch there.

*****

http://www.chancham.com/index.htm

chancham
The Old Forge
8 Merchants Place
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1DT

Phone: 0118 958 5887

Namaste Kerala, Southampton

This restaurant is also South Indian - it is run by the brother of the chef at Kairala. We came with high hopes, and were not disappointed.

The restaurant itself could be easy to miss, if you weren't actively looking. It is wedged between a KFC and an STA travel, both of which have extensive marketing 'presence'. Namaste has a white and blue sign, above a doorway, and that is all.

Up the stairs and into the restaurant itself, is a different matter. My eyes were first drawn to the sofa and coffee table just in front of a rather well-stocked bar, serving Cobra and Kingfisher beer on tap.

We had the mixed vegetarian Kerala platter for entree: the potato and chickpea ball was delicious; the samosa only okay (I did not like the deep-fried pastry - although it was cooked very well); the pakora quite tasty but a little burnt. There was also a delicious spinach bonbon thing - spinach wrapped in pastry and deep-fried (of course): the spinach was great, but I'm not a fan of deep-fried pastry.

For mains, we had bengan baigan - eggplant curry - and meenporichathu - whole spiced fish, baked and accompanied by a red curry sauce. The bengan baigan was wonderful, but - oh! - the baked fist was magnificent. Its flesh crumbled away and was nicely flavoured with the baked on spices, and the accompanying red curry sauce complemented the spice flavours of the fish finely. There wasn't quite enough of the red curry sauve for me - but I did lather it on somewhat!

The rest of the menu was extensive: I was particularly impressed by the number of vegetable / vegetarian dishes.

Another place we can revisit in Southampton!

*****
Namaste Kerala

http://www.namaste-kerala.co.uk/

4a Civic Centre Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO14 7FJ

Phone: 023 80 22 4422