27 September 2008
opinion
Lagos — Ten is the magic number. Number 10 is what pleasant memories are made of. 10 was the number made famous by the irrepressible and inimitable Jay Jay Okocha, the Nigerian darling of international football. Charming, most endearing, very entertaining and delightful, Jay Jay has built an institution that tries to capture the Jay Jay spirit. His joie de vivre, airy disposition and colourful life style inspired a lovely restaurant, sports bar and weekend nite club on Victoria Island's Saka Tinubu Street, in Lagos.
What better name to call a Jay Jay creation than Number 10 and its popularity since it was opened in December 2007, has made it as famous as the other Number 10, the Downing Street residence of the British Prime Minister. Toss in the metal and weapons detectors at the entrance to the building and you can appreciate the comparison, for both play host to VIP's and thus have to ensure their safety in a crazy world.
Zein's Executive Chef, Mohammad Zein, was out when I decided to stop by for a drink last week. When I phoned to note his absence and say I was passing through, he was upset. 'You promised you would come on Sunday. You didn't come and you didn't even call. Wait for me. I am coming now'. I had to apologize severally before he calmed down enough to understand that I had been delayed on a trip to the east where even gsm phones don't yet work like they do elsewhere .
While waiting for Mohammad, I asked bar man Marcel Ntafiong to brew me a Mango Pun Shan which consists of fresh mango, mango syrup and peach juice. I also chatted with Dave Arohson, the Chief Auditor and was thoroughly amused by his effort to market 10 to me, a devout convert. To Dave, 'No. 10 Restaurant is a unique place to be especially if you believe in class and international standards. The name 'No. 10' was an inspiration gotten from the jersey number of Jay Jay Okocha who is our chairman and the owner of this 5 star restaurant. Our well trained waiters and waitresses are always ready to give maximum service and make your relaxation memorable. Security consciousness is not left out. We have two bullet proof doors for coming in and going out and five smart, armed Mobile police men ensure general security. Simply put, if you have not been to No. 10, you've not been to the place that is currently happening'.
Thank God Thelma arrived with my drink and I could distract Dave and myself with the menu which Douglas brought across from the restaurant. Cosmos Edet, 10's manager offered to help but I wanted to browse through first and politely declined his offer.
Guess what I had for lunch? Make a choice from Starters like Fromage De Caldo which is Breaded hot goat cheese with Rocca and Olives. Or Marinara Shrimps which consists of Shrimps fried with Olive Oil, Garlic, Parsley, White Wine and Shrimp Spices with sliced bread. An international delicacy is Foiegras which is delicious grilled duck liver marinated with special sauce and served with sliced bread. You could eat Mixed Salad in the alternative and these delicious entrees cost just between N1,800 and N3,400 a plate.
The main course offers tasty options from Grilled Fillet, T-Bone Steak, Grilled Chicken, Creamy Shrimps, Grilled Gambass, Grilled Salmon to Noni Venesian which is Noni's Spaghetti, Bechamel, Mushroom, Chicken, Bacon and Grilled Mozarella Cheese and cost between N2,300 and N6,500. Side dishes include Mashed Potatoes, French Fries, Fried Rice, White Rice, Jollof Rice, Oven Baked Potatoes and Pasta.
There is a cigar rack for those who must indulge and the options range from N1,700 to N6,400 per cigar for species like the light Cohiba Siglo 1, Romeo Juliet Churchills to the heavy Cohiba Siglo VI. Remember, the Federal Ministry of Health warns that smoking will kill you quick.
Back to the basics. 10's lounge seats 30, the Sports Bar takes at least 20 and the restaurant seats 40 in its three sections. When you step into 10 you feel like you stepped out of Lagos, straight into Europe or America. Lovely, tastefully assembled furniture, fittings, wall paper and colours combine in setting the mood for the various sections in this upstairs entertainment house at 48 Saka Tinubu Street. It is open daily from 9am till the last patron leaves, which could be 4am or later at the weekend.
Now it's bar time folks. When you step into the 10 Sports Bar, you are struck by how very well stocked it is. Phew! There's enough booze and juices to keep you smashed for a long time, so please don't drink if you must drive home or indeed drive any where.
Especially since there are fun club nights like the Wednesday Special Nites when ladies get Margaritas free and Thursday Ladies Nites when Ladies AGAIN get free Daiquiris. When and where do men ever get free drinks? Who talked about the equality of the sexes? Fridays and Saturdays the Sleek Club grooves as a niteclub.
Mohammad is back at my table and reminds me that 10's intercontinental meals are powered by the best quality fillet and steak from South Africa. Now I know da secret.
Back to that very well stocked bar. Lovely leather and metal high chairs, leather covered bar menu with colourful pages and 'bad mama' Foxy Brown on page one.
For the teetotalers, there are non-alcoholic drinks so please do not despair. I went off alcohol at a point so I know that clean, healthy feeling that an alcohol-free head and body gives you. You have options like Fresh Mama, Virgin Mary, Mojitos and the Mango Pun Shan which I drank earlier. Unfortunately, I have 'bad' friends and the beer keeps getting better so I drink alcohol socially now.
Bar 10 offers Aperitif and Vermouth like Cinzano Rosso, Campari and Pastis for N1,500 a glass and N12K a bottle. Cognacs like Hennessy, Remy Martin VSOP and Hennessy VS are also just N1,500 a glass and N12K per bottle. Sadly, the lovely fire-hydrant fashioned Hennessy dispensers on the bar counter are no longer used.
If you wish to step up, drink Remy Martin Luies which is N30,000 a glass and will set you back by just N380,000 for a bottle. You could drink Liquor and Bitters like Cointreau, Drambuie, Amaretto, Sambuca, Kahlua, Jagermeister and Grappa for just N1,200 a glass too.
Rum, Tequila and Vodka are always on duty. Scotch Whisky a la Black Label, Gold Label and Chivas, sit alongside American Whisky a la Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey and their cousins and Malt Whisky like Glenmorangie, Glenlivet, Glefiddich Pure Malt, Famous Grouse and Macallan which are just N2,000 a glass and N22K a bottle.
Cocktails, like Nigeria, come in tribes. There are the Vodka-based drinks like Cosmopolitan and Black Russian which is made of vodka, kahlua and cola, and ouch the Screaming Orgasm of vodka, kahlua and Baileys. Next is the Gin tribe. If you want to Damn The Weather, mix gin, Martini Rosso, Triple Sec and orange juice.
Trust Jay Jay for he has created the 'Green Eagles', a tribute consisting of gin, Blue Caracao, Peach, Banana, Orange Juice, Pineapple and Lemon. Now I know how they won that Atlanta gold and why some people somersault 40 times after scoring a goal!
These are champagne cocktails too and it is also a pity that the lovely wooden champagne barrels on the counter are no longer used.
No. 10 cocktail specials include Pina Coladas, Margaritas, Juliet Dumped Romeo, Jay In Your Tommy and Disabled Chico. At this point, I wondered if Chico was a footballer Jay Jay once encountered and disabled. There are soft drinks and good old fashioned beers and lots of fruit juices too.
No 10 would really be a very nice place to take the family for brunch on Saturday or Sunday. The kids (and the women too) would just love a piece of Jay Jay the football maestro. Happy Independence Anniversary and Happy Sallah brethren. Catch you later.
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