With a new range of ‘TootooTapas’ sharing dishes on the menu, we asked local Asian-fusion takeout specialists Tootoomoo to deliver us one of everything, so we could road-test the lot and come up with a rundown of our favourites.
We warmed further to the task with the help of their pre-mixed cocktails: pleasantly sour and grown-up flavours that paired nicely with the assorted trays and dips rapidly disappearing all around.
So here are our highlights, and see below for an exclusive 20% off your own orders throughout September, if you fancy comparing notes.
1. Crispy indulgences
When we first came across Tootoomoo, we were struck with how healthy the food was compared to traditional take-away fare. But even if you’re all set upon a worthy raw fish salad, there’s no harm in sharing a naughty fried nibble first. Prawn tempura travelled surprisingly well from the Highgate branch down to NW5, the super-sized, crispy crustaceans displaying a nice contrast of soft fleshy centre and toothy outer case. Veg spring rolls were also firm and with a rough cornmeal feel to the pastry, which had very little oily residue, plus a not-too-sweet dipping sauce too. So that’s healthy enough for us.
2. Chicken tapas
Satay chicken skewers were not particularly special undressed (ours could have done with a little more flame-charring) but when married with the peanut sauce the entirety of the dish began to really sing. Like the sweet chilli before, this was another sauce without apparent sugar-heavy compromise and clearly full of fresh ingredients. A quartet of plump minced chicken gyoza parcels also burst with garlicky vigour.
3. Try a sushi combo
Since we last placed an order here, they’ve really upped their sushi game. Go for a four-piece combo, where generous yuzu salmon maki and soft shell crab make for a decadent roll to dunk and munch, or light but sizable kappa maki freshen the palate.
4. Lazy home cocktails
Pulling mini jam jars of pokey-strong margarita and lychee martini out of a delivery bag proved to be quite the thrill. The handy presentation, complete with fat straws and ribbons, makes them ripe for sharing around too. We liked how a potent whiskey sour stood its ground alongside the lemongrass hit of the satay and the richness of the duck sauce.
5. A main made for sharing
Aromatic duck, although not on the tapas menu, is a classic sharing dish and the Tootoomoo main dish version felt pretty much irresistible. The meat had a decent balance of succulent flesh and crispy skin, and it was nice to see a rainbow of veg, with beetroot, carrot and chives alongside the usual spring onion and cucumber to add coolness and crunch to the rich sauce.
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