Food:"The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" at Cooke's Pie and Mash, Broadway Market, E8

A little bird flew into the apartment today. It was probably trying to escape the noisy din from three days of music in Victoria Park, bringing festival-going interlopers into the neighbourhood.

We walked to Broadway market late in the afternoon, following the path along Regent's canal, joining the strollers and cyclists lolling about. Sundays at Broadway markets are much nicer than the market day on Saturdays. This is when the cafes are free to breathe and spill tables onto the footpath.

The pie and mash shop has been taken over by a Japanese chef, but only on Sundays when the pie shop is closed. I cannot think of two things more incongruous and therefore more interesting.

"The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" at Cooke's Pie and Mash.

Handpainted watercolours adorn the exteriors

It runs every Sunday from 12pm to 9pm, serving either a set menu for £13, or takeaway bento boxes for £5.

Today's set menu: Tekkadon -- fresh tuna with rice, salad with rocket, cress, vine tomato, Hijiki with carrot and beans, Miso with clam, Pickles, Iced barley tea, or soba tea.

Isn't this the loveliest menu? 

Temple of the Golden Pavilion - set menu £13

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion specialises in Japanese home cooking. Every dish was fresh and crisp, presented beautifully. The clam miso soup was exceptionally tasty, the stock clear and sweet from the clams and not overly salty. A large bowl of soy-seasoned rice with large meaty slices of tuna sashimi. Cucumber pickles to round everything off beautifully.

Japanese wooden bowls.

It was quite a novelty for us to be having Japanese food in a pie and mash shop but the gentle, nonchalant ambiance inside the shop seemed to suggest that it was the most natural thing in the world.

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion also does catering and events. Contact details on their website.

Food: Tajima-Tei Japanese restaurant, Leather Lane, EC1

Occupying the ground floor of an unassuming office block on Leather Lane, Tajima Tei should be regarded as an institution on the London dining scene. For over 10 years, it has quietly and thoughtfully turned out some of the best Japanese food I've ever had.

Clockwise L-R - Sashimi, Sushi, Marinated mackerel, Deep Fried Squid, Tempura, Black Cod

I mean, look at this. A bento box fit for kings. We also had our standard favourites. The first being the Agedashi Tofu, four pillow like cubes of tofu, tempura crisp shell, soaking up the goodness of the soy, mirin and radish broth. The second, Tonkatsu, is a panko-crumb coated pork schnitzel served with tonkatsu sauce (a Japanese bbq sauce, if you will), a squizz of American mustard, potato salad and Japanese coleslaw on the side.

Tajima-Tei is a family run business, as over the years, I've seen the same staff behind the sushi counter and in service, providing a reassuring calm that in the fast pace of the London dining scene, there are some oldies but goodies which ought to be treasured.

Tajima Tei: Unit 1, Doorington House, 9-15 Leather Lane, EC1N 7ST. Open Monday to Friday only, lunch and dinner.

Food - Japanese Supper Club, Brazilian Nikkei Cuisine with the London Foodie, Islington

Brazilian Nikkei cuisine represents the influence of Japanese diaspora adding to the delicious melting pot of Brazilian cuisine.  I don't know why Luiz Hara hasn't been approached to open a restaurant, because the slick operation he runs in his beautifully furnished home in North London far surpassed to many other supper clubs I've been to previously. Luis produced 7 beautiful courses which demonstrated an instinctive feel bringing together different types of ingredients.

Starter 1: Salmon Tiradito - Peruvian Sashimi of Salmon, Passion Fruit Leche de Tigre, Crispy Kabocha & Espelette Pepper. Hidden underneath crispy bits of Kabocha (like sweet potato) were several slices of sashimi grade salmon. Luiz's passion-fruit marinade was sharp and smooth at the same time. Perfection.

 Starter 2: Deconstructed Sushi - Grilled Scallops on Rice, Wasabi Flavoured Tobiko Eggs, Nori and a Spicy Creamy Sauce. The outstanding dish of the evening for its interest factor. The fake cheese like exterior is simply a mask for what is actually a gorgeous lemon and light cream sauce, enrobing little nuggets of grilled scallop on a bed of sushi-rice.

Starter 3 - Nasu Dengaku - Grilled Aubergine with Miso, Mirin and Sugar Dressing, Topped with Mozzarella Cheese. The addition of cheese on top of miso grilled aubergine sounds wrong but tastes, oh, so very right.

Starter 4 - Nimono - Daikon Fondant, Soboro Chicken and Blow-Torched Foie Gras. The daikon acts as a sponge, soaking in the rich flavours of the chicken. The foie gras was a little indulgent addition.

Starter 5 - Tempura - Courgette Flowers Filled with Scallop, Tofu and Lemon Mousse, Oyster Mushrooms and Petters. You'll just have to take my word that the courgette flowers were incredibly fresh, and the scallop mousse worthy of the fine ingredients.

Main Course - Yakiniku - Brazilian Beef Picanha in Rock Salt, Crispy Onions, Soy Sauce and Lime Dressing, served with Japanese Stir Fried Garlic Rice and Japanese Mushroom in Truffle Ponzu Butter.

Dessert - Banana and Nutella Gyoza, with Black Sesame Caramel Ice Cream.

You can check out Luiz's blog at The London Foodie which lists his forthcoming supper club dates. At £45 a person, the price is genuinely worth every penny. Luiz's passion for cooking really stands out in the design of his menu.  I have been slavishly following his food and travel blog for years and clearly the influences of his travels to Brazil is reflected in what he shares with his guests at his supper club. Bravo.