01/04/26

Review: Korean BBQ and Bold Flavours Take Centre Stage at SOOM

SOOM, the latest restaurant from the team behind 3KOBROS in Canary Wharf, offers a refined take on Korean BBQ with a menu that focuses on quality ingredients, balanced flavours and the sociable ritual of cooking at the table.

The meal began with a thoughtful gesture from the kitchen, a small serving of pumpkin soup sent out as a welcome from the chef. Light, warming and gently sweet, it was a comforting way to open the appetite before the starters arrived.

Among the first dishes to land on the table was Yukjeon, a Korean beef pancake made from lightly battered, pan fried slices of beef. The texture was delicate and crisp around the edges while remaining tender inside. Paired with a bright sweet and spicy shredded spring onion salad, the dish delivered a pleasing contrast between richness and freshness.

Another standout starter was the Ojingeo Dari Twigim, a generous portion of crispy squid tentacles deep fried until golden and served with fried basil. The light soy dipping sauce added just enough saltiness without overpowering the natural sweetness of the seafood.

From the chef’s specials, the Yukhoe offered a beautifully balanced take on beef tartare. Freshly hand cut beef was finely seasoned and topped with Korean pear, egg yolk and a subtle drizzle of sesame oil. The pear added a delicate sweetness that lifted the dish, while the egg yolk brought a silky richness.

The highlight of the meal came with the assorted beef BBQ platter, featuring premium ribeye, fillet and boneless short rib. Served alongside seasoned spring onion salad, crisp lettuce and three varieties of Korean pickles, the platter encouraged diners to build their own bites. Each cut cooked quickly on the grill, revealing tender meat with deep flavour, enhanced by a trio of Korean sauces that ranged from savoury to gently spicy.

To accompany the meal, the Dal Hang-ari cocktail offered a playful twist on traditional flavours, combining chestnut makgeolli with cream for a smooth, slightly nutty drink. With its focus firmly on quality meats, balanced starters and thoughtful flavour pairings, SOOM delivers a satisfying Korean BBQ experience where the food remains the clear highlight.

Address: 99 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4AZ

For more info. and to book, click here. https://soomkorean.com

Written by Enytha Peer

Photography courtesy of SOOM

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Composed yoga and classical music class at Gymbox - Review

Jul 31, 2024
2 min read

Known for their innovative way of disrupting fitness, iconic gym chain Gymbox recently unveiled its latest innovative offering, 'Composed', creatively pairing restorative yoga with live classical music.

Heading down into the Gymbox Farringdon basement, it was hard to believe that such a calming class would take place in a high energy gym like this. Walking by boxing rings, tracks and rows of machines, it’s a bit of a maze there but everyone was super friendly and happy to direct. Stepping out of the madness of the gym into a calm, dimly lit wellness studio with soft purple lighting and mirrored surroundings. I gathered my props and settled in, happy to see that they had super fresh Yogi Bare mats available.

Once everyone settled in, our teacher Tia started to explain the concept whilst the beautiful sounds of a classical Cello began to radiate from one corner of the room. Structured around a finely tuned playlist curated by professional classical musicians, this unique holistic class invites members to melt into the melodies while working the mat – adjusting the tempo and intensity of movement to mirror the score.

Moving in time with the notes played by the incredible musician, Schrello, we found ourselves gliding in time with the music, with the notes matching the pace and verbosity of our practice. Having expected a very yin style class I was pleasantly surprised to find the practice was spicier than that, fusing restorative with more dynamic sequencing, allowing me to melt deeper into my flow state and move mindfully with my breath.

Of course, the savasana was incredible. I’m not sure if I was asleep or in a state of meditation but what I do know is that the relaxation was DEEP and undeniably more intense than what I usually experience.

For keen yogi’s who want to try something new, or gym goers looking at a way to supplement their usual work out, 'Compsed' offers a fresh new take on an ancient practice, allowing attendees to really tap into their flow state. With the proven impacts of classical music on reducing stress, boosting wellbeing, and even improving physical rehabilitation, 'Composed' encourages members to melt into the music for the ultimate body and mind recharge.

Composed class schedule and locations:

Bank, Wednesday @ 1pm

Ealing, Tuesday @ 1:15pm

Elephant & Castle, Thursday @ 7:30pm

Farringdon, Monday @ 7:30pm

Holborn, Tuesday @ 5:30pm

Old Street, Monday @ 12:30pm

Westfield London, Monday @ 7:30pm

Westfield Stratford, Monday @ 5pm

Victoria, Friday @ 12pm

For more information visit https://www.gymbox.com

Written by Jordan Crowley