Anniversary Lunch at Sushi Samba
Another year of marriage together with my No.1 partner and best friend. This year we celebrated at Sushi Samba.
In a blink of an eye, thirteen beautiful years went by. I can’t believe it’s been thirteen years since we tied the knot on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on that gorgeous autumn morning. I am forever grateful for this beautiful journey together with my No.1 and best friend.
Mom & Dad’s Day Out
To celebrate our anniversary, we had an adults-only lunch at Sushi Samba on the 38th floor of Saleforce Tower. Yes, a day date. Where did we leave Lady Yeya, you ask? Lady Yeya is now over 3.5 years old so we can drop her off for a playdate without any drama. A win! My mom friend kindly hosted Lady Yeya for an afternoon playdate with her BFF. It was a win-win for everyone. The two girls had a blast, my mom friend had a relaxed afternoon, and us lovebirds got to enjoy a kid-free afternoon in the City. We look forward to returning the favour to my mom friend, and having more of these day dates in the future.
Panoramic Views of London
Whenever we go out for a celebratory dinner, we always pick Japanese only because we can’t make sushi at home. There are few Japanese restaurants we have yet to try, and one of them was Sushi Samba.
A glass lift takes you up to Sushi Samba on the 39th floor in about thirty seconds. There’s definitely a big “wow” factor at Sushi Samba. From its iconic torii gates to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and the gorgeous light fixtures, Sushi Samba is definitely a stylish place to be and be seen. There are panoramic 360 degree views of the entire city of London. The furniture and decor incorporates natural hues along with splashes of its signature colour orange. The East Terrace is massive and perfect for some sunset cocktails on a warm summer evening. The Gherkin is a stones’ throw away, whilst the Shard and other notable skyscrapers are in the distance. There are plenty of spots at Sushi Samba for those memorable Instagrammable photos.
Sushi Samba: Fusion of Japanese and South American Flavours
As for the food, it is a bold fusion of Japanese, Peruvian, and Brazilian cuisine. An interesting fact is that Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside Japan. Likewise, Peru also has a sizable Japanese diaspora. Incorporating different elements of their respective cuisine makes for a modern twist to traditional dishes. The menu features small plates such as wagyu gyoza, shrimp tempura, tuna ceviche; to the traditional Japanese robata grills and large plates including Brazilian classics such as moqueca and churrasco. If you’re a big fan of Japanese Kobe beef, you’ll be in for a treat here at Sushi Samba as they serve authentic Kobe beef.
As a Japanesepile, Kenz and I ordered exclusively from the sushi and sashimi menu. It was tuna ceviche, a classic dish from Peru. Then a dazzling array of samba rolls including Samba London, Neo Tokyo, Tiger Maki, and California arrived on a beautiful platter. We also ordered the Nigiri Omakase. Here, you trust the sushi chef to select the type of fish on your behalf. In keeping to the theme of “Japan meets South America”, the dessert menu had both traditional Brazilian and Japanese desserts. We rounded out our meal with some mochi ice cream and toasted to our 13th anniversary.
As if we didn’t get enough of the panoramic views from the Saleforce Tower, we made our way to the Sky Garden on top of the Walkie Talkie building. Here, it was another celebratory drink with more views of London, a place we have called home for the past 13 years.
