London’s history and culture surround you at the very modern Japanese restaurant Clap, which opened this month.
At 12-14 Basil Street in Knightsbridge, Clap is ensconced within the building that was once part of the Tube station fathoms below, on the Piccadilly Line that rips through the heart of London’s West End.
A clue to its origins can be found at the ground-floor entrance, six floors below the actual restaurant. The deep red tiles that adorn the walls are part of London Underground’s familiar fascias, while hidden around the corner is the now closed rear entrance to the station.
Over the road are the mansion flats where comic actor John Cleese once lived, annoying his neighbours while he practised the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch in Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It's worth a google if you don't know the sketch.
A stone’s throw down the street is the luxury department store Harrods, the most well known and ostentatious premises in this neighbourhood.
This cultural melting pot plays a part in the vibe at Clap, a premium restaurant in a premium location, which draws inspiration from Tokyo’s electric nightspots.
It is the latest in the Clap stable, which already has outposts in Beirut, Riyadh and Dubai.
There are obvious differences, however: It is about a third smaller than its Dubai counterpart, and while it still has live DJs and uses the hashtag FindYourRhythm, it is more dinner with beats than nightclub with food.
Where to sit, what to expect
The two-level restaurant can seat about 220 people. The sixth floor is where you see the action of the kitchen, with two separate areas where diners can see the chefs at work. It is the quieter of the two floors, and has a mixture of families, older clientele and larger groups.
There’s no doubting that the trump seats are those facing the window, giving you a view of the lit-up dome of Harrods. Conversely, if your back is to the window you get the advantage of people-watching.
On the seventh floor is the DJ, a giant moving fish tank screen and Clap's signature toy figurine chandeliers. Lighting is moody and the music gets you ready for an after-party in nearby Mayfair. A terrace will open when the London weather is warm enough.
Service is pristine: informative, but friendly rather than formal. Servers are also attentive to special requests and allergies, which are dealt with in a politely reassuring, not panicky, fashion.
The menu
To experience the full array of the dining experience at Clap, the easiest option is to plump for the omakase menu, and leave yourself in the chef's hands.
The first of five courses offers truffle edamame, black cod with gem lettuce (switched in place of rock shrimp tempura due to an allergy), foie gras, citrus miso and fried kadaifi, plus crispy rice salmon.
Despite being a bite, or Zensai, the edamame take a while to get through and, while messy, are a nice twist on the usual salted option.
The salad course, featuring a crispy shiitake dish, is distinctly outshone by the Clap cod salad. This elicits the first “wow” of the evening despite being a simple dish of leaves. Dressing magic at work.
The sushi platter is the most visually stunning course, and comes with sashimi, nigiri and rolls including different types of tuna, hamachi and perfect sea bass. The Crazy California rolls are crab and avocado smothered in wasabi mayo.
On to the main course and black cod makes a welcome return, this time with sweet citrus miso and hajikami shoga (ginger sprouts). The meat dish is a marinated lamb rock accompanied by kimchi "Clap-way". Queue the second “wow” for the kimchi.
These are joined by a stone bowl of vegetables, which by now is starting to feel more than enough for one meal.
Another visual sensation awaits for dessert: a platter of exotic fruits, matcha cheesecake, mochi and ice cream. A half-sized portion of fruit would have been sufficient, although the platter is excellent and refreshing after the rest of the meal.
Stand-out dish
If you’re in a Japanese restaurant, it’s hard to stray far from the sushi bar when looking for a highlight.
Top-grade produce, which Clap clearly sources, is given the simplest of tweaks to create dishes with finesse that are mouth-watering and Instagram-worthy.
A chat with the chef
Within two decades, Randolfo Vaz has gone from dishwasher to executive chef, with an awful lot of dedication, focus and determination in between. He describes the "dish pit" as the best introduction to the industry he could have had, because he was able to observe how everything worked, and see the executive chef commanding the kitchen.
"When I got the opportunity to work in the grill section, I gave it my all and fell for it," he says.
Chef Vaz is Brazilian, but his culinary journey has taken him from London to Los Angeles, before finding success at Clap in Dubai.
He has now moved to London, where he helped put together the team. He describes the experience as hard but rewarding work.
With several trips to Japan to help his culinary knowledge, he has thrown himself into cooking Japanese cuisine.
His cooking style is simple and all about the ingredients, and he names red yuzu kosho fermented with Japanese citrus as one of his favourites.
“I've used this particular item in various dishes, such as pink prawns ceviche and lamb chops,” he says.
With his Brazilian background, cooking meat perfectly is a guarantee. “For meat lovers, our lamb chops with kimchi are a must-try. For vegetarians, I would recommend the grilled tofu and vegetable stone bowl; for seafood lovers, the black cod miso; and for dessert, the tiramisu.”
Elsewhere on the main menu, you could try bites of Hokkaido scallops and foie gras, Wagyu beef tartare and Biwa caviar, roasted Tamara king crab leg, sea bass amapeno, and pistachio-crusted baby chicken with yuzu and daikon.
But for Vaz, dining at Clap goes beyond just the food; it's about having fun and developing yourself. “For me, food represents good times with your family or friends, and will always give you a big smile,” he says. “Food is culture; it can tell you who you are, where you have come from and where your next destination will be.”
Price point and contact information
The Omakase menu is priced at £175 ($222), or you can choose the premium version at £225.
From the a la carte menu, bites range from £6 for miso soup to £38.90 for Wagyu beef and foie gras gyoza. From the sushi bar, nigiri is £68 for six pieces, sashimi between £12 and £19.50 for three pieces and six signature rolls start at £12.90, rising to £55.90 for lobster tempura.
Main courses range from £23 to £46.50. Dessert platters cost £45 to £57 while individual dishes are £14 to £17.
Clap is open from 6pm-11.30pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 6pm-11pm on Sunday. Reservations can be made by contacting 0044 20 3988 0044 or london@claprestaurant.com, or via https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/claplondon
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Results
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
INFO
Everton 0
Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Racecard
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