If you've never eaten at Sticky Mango, this is the week to change that. The Asian restaurant, based in Waterloo, is hosting a spectacular menu for one week only, in tribute to the late, great Anthony Bourdain.
Despite bringing gastronomic joy to fans around the world, Bourdain took his own life during filming for his TV show Parts Unknown in June 2018. In 2019, American Chefs Eric Ripert and Jose Andreas proposed a worldwide call to action: to commemorate Anthony’s birthday and to celebrate his life annually on 25th June, which would become #BourdainDay.
Bourdain is remembered at Sticky Mango by a mural painted on the front of the restaurant, commissioned by chef-owner Peter Lloyd and created by street artist Jerome Davenport (@Ketones6000); the work of art is Peter’s way of paying his respects for all the great memories the two shared on screen, through the pages of Kitchen Confidential, together on a chef tour and again at the World Street Food Congress in Singapore and Manila.
To celebrate #BourdainDay 2021, Peter the team at Sticky Mango team have designed a sharing menu to re-create some of the magical discoveries and meals that Anthony brought to TV screens. The special menu, priced at £49.50 pp is running from today - Monday 21st - until Sunday 27th June. Peter has partnered with The Burnt Chef Project to donate £5 from every menu sold to raise valuable funds for this worthwhile cause, supporting chefs and raising awareness of the ever-increasing challenges on mental health within this industry.
We stopped by this evening to sample the menu and were blown away by some of the dishes. From the fresh and spicy papaya salad, to a wholesome, comforting Bon Cha with noodle broth, pork meatball and pork cheek, marinated in oyster sauce, caramel sauce, garlic and ginger. The Char Kwey Teo - noodles with cockles and duck - was apparently one of Bourdain's favourites, and now one of ours. A delicate yet delicious Beef Rendang was a standout, with its origins lovingly described by Peter as he delivered it to the table. The Crab Bee Hoon, resplendent with a whole mud crab, was the icing on the proverbial, utterly flavour-packed, a dish which the man himself claimed was 'as good as it gets' when dining in Singapore. A standout however was the 'Nose to Tail' dish of pork sausage, crispy pig tail and pig brain, marinated in delicate flavours and gently chargrilled in a banana leaf, something Peter said we'd never have tried before 'unless you've been on I'm A Celebrity...'
This is a special menu for a special man, while at £49.50 for seven courses is spectacularly good value. Book yourself in before it's too late.
