Mamasan | Liverpool's Taste of Southeast Asian Cuisine
I was recently invited to collaborate with Mamasan at their new Liverpool One location and try out some menu items…
“INSPIRED BY THE FLAVOURS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, ELEVATED WITH THE BEST OF BRITISH PRODUCE FROM FARM, FIELD & SEA” - Mamasan.uk
Let’s start off by admiring Mamasan’s picturesque decor including their floral themes, lush green foliage & warm, welcoming colour scheme. Just look how pretty is this place is 😍
My mum came along as my assistant this time and for a much-needed girls night out! We began our evening with some drinks. I had a mocktail version of the Lotus cocktail and my mum had one of Mamasan’s speciality cocktails, Prosecco Bubbles. The Lotus, made with butterfly pea flower, lychee & egg white offered a sweet, floral taste and a nice, smooth mouthfeel. The Prosecco bubbles cocktail, made with citrus vodka, elderflower, cranberry bitters, passionfruit/prosecco air & Cointreau caviar, provides a more refreshing citrusy taste bursting with bubbles! The Cointreau caviar was very nice and added a little pop of flavour- this was our first time trying caviar so we were a little unsure if we’d like it but were pleasantly surprised. Each sip became more and more addictive.
For our starter, we decided to share the Confit Duck Spring Rolls with wild mushrooms and plum & ginger hoisin. This authentic take on spring rolls gave the dish an unexpected twist by incorporating fresh fruit as part of the dish. The fruity sweetness of the plum & ginger hoisin perfectly complimented the savouriness of the spring rolls, creating a unique flavour profile in each bite. I thought the presentation of the cucumber made the dish even more beautiful too.
As a little pallet cleanser, I decided to try one of Mamasan’s many interesting cocktails, the Watermelon Pop. This cocktail is made from Pineapple Infused Tanqueray Gin, Saint Germain Elderflower liqueur, Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice, Pandan Syrup, Soda and an Iced Watermelon, Mezcal and Cherry Lolly (made in house). I really enjoyed the intricate flavours of this drink, particularly the ice lolly aspect as it slowly infused the drink with delicious watermelon. It’s the ideal summer vibes cocktail and a must-try!
For mains, we opted to have the Miso Chicken and Sweet & Sour Pork with a few sides. The Miso Chicken is made with breast of coal-roasted chicken, white miso, sriracha caramel & sesame soy greens. This was definitely the right choice for me as I love chicken and have always wanted to try Miso. I found this dish to be full of flavour, a tasty combination of salty with a hint of sweetness and irresistibly moreish. My mum really enjoyed her main too! Made using Iberico Pork, pineapple, banana shallots, dragon fruit & peppers this dish serves up a treat! We were blown away by how well the use of pineapple & dragon fruit works by enhancing the existing flavours and adding a pop of sweetness. I really liked the dragon fruit the best as its soft, almost melt in the mouth texture and fruity palate acts as a nice contrast to the pork while still amplifying the dish. What impressed me most with this dish was the perfect ration of sweet & sour. Often sweet & sour dishes can be more sour than sweet and give off the wrong flavour profile but I was very glad this version got it right! It was the perfect balance of sweet & sour with a little tang that is gracefully matched by the sweet fruit. Our food was also adorned with gorgeous edible flowers too, which I thought was a nice touch.
To go with our mains, we chose a few sides to share such as the jasmine rice, wok-fried noodles & Thai dirty fries. I really liked the subtle jasmine essence of the rice as it didn’t overpower the main meal but rather paired with it very well. The wok-fried noodles were an absolute show stopper for us- we couldn’t get enough of them! And the Thai dirty fries were an explosion of flavour that kept on giving with its abundance of tasty toppings and spices.
As we were quite full already we decided to share the Coconut & Peanut Chocolate Delice- as there is always room for dessert! It’s made with chocolate, coconut, peanuts, poached peaches, orange, chilli & chestnut cream. This dessert encompasses all my favourite things, delivering a luxurious taste & divine mousse-like texture.
To accompany our dessert, we finished off our evening with one more cocktail each. I went for the Coconut & lime mojito, while mum tried the Piña. The Coconut & lime mojito consists of coconut-infused rum, freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar syrup, a good handful of mint leaves & topped with soda. The hint of coconut throughout added a nice tropical vibe to this cocktail while still maintaining the classic mojito. The Piña offered an interesting take on the classic Piña Collada by stepping away from the original creamy cocktail and transforming it into a much more sippable version.
