So I went out to the new Sun International Casino for a spot of dinner at Something's Cooking by J. The new restaurant opened by musician J'Something from the South African band, Mi Casa.
Upon arrival, the restaurant has a very minimalistic feel to it. It is not a fancy restaurant with large leather wing-back dining chairs. Very much just plain & simple, from the tables & chairs to the decor. (To be honest, my initial reaction was that I would probably leave the restaurant rather unsatisfied & disappointed.) I love the industrial feel & open air kitchen. It creates a feel of somewhat an interactive experience whilst visiting.
So I started checking out the menu. I love how they play with the wording "something" throughout the menu. Very apt.
The Cedarberg Sustainable Rose. The 1st time I had this wine, was actually at the 1st Chef's table that was ever held down in the kitchen of Timesquare where it was paired with our dessert. I thought it was an appropriate wine to have upon my return.
To start the evening off & just "something to share" was the Pork Crackling. Crispy. Salty. Full of that delicious Bacon flavour that we all love so much.
Korean Dunked Wings. According to J, his wife thinks they are the best wings around. I can definitely second that. Spicy. These are not for the mild at heart individuals. They have a mouthful of Asian flavours that linger a moment or 2. The sauce is simply delicious.
The Pork Belly. It's not what you would usually expect. What arrives at your table is a Pork Belly in a Asian inspired Broth. The meat on the pork belly is soft & juicy. The fat is still crispy. It is a must try in my opinion.
Mamma's Prawns. The way J's mother made them. The true Portuguese way. And just look at the size of these prawns. Nothing skimpy about that. With a proper spicy Portuguese sauce & dipping bread.
"The Catch", well that's what all you know when you order it. That it is fish. Then this arrived. A piece of succulent fillet of fish. Paired with a creamy Passion Fruit sauce, that bursts with flavour with every bite. This one dish could cause some serious food envy at the table.
On to the dessert. Again. You order "Apple Pie" & this is put down in front of you. The apple pie is folded away in a crepe and served with custard ice cream. Candied Walnuts & Honeycomb add a touch of texture to the dessert. To top it off, there is a butterscotch sauce that will change your life. You know those hard butterscotch sweets that your gran always kept in her handbag for you to eat in church? This sauce is exactly that in liquid form. Presentation is definitely on point here too.
The Milk Tart meets the Arroz Doce. Again, the presentation is on point. And it tastes just as good as it looks, if not better. According to J, this is a dessert that tells his story of a Portuguese background coming to South Africa. Sporting some of the most South African things - Milk Tart & Koeksister. And the traditional Portuguese Rice Pudding Arroz Doce.
To finish the night off, what is better than coffee? Well maybe the Esprestini yes. It comes with "Biscotti" (read Macarons, you will soon realise that things are not what they seem at this restaurant.)
All in all. Something's Cooking By J sure exceeded my every expectation. I left there feeling extremely satisfied with the experience that had just blown me away.
The service was great & the waiters extremely friendly.
This is definitely that restaurant that you simply must visit when you have the chance whilst you are at Timesquare. I believe you won't be disappointed.
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