The Independent

Sushi and sashimi are now as popular with the snack-food crowd as with the set that valet park their Maseratis at Nobu,' observes ANTHONY ROSE.

London now has more than 160 Japanese-style restaurants, he continues, and with this advent of new cuisine, the issue of wine matching has also been addressed. Alessandro Marchesan, sommelier at Zuma, has done the research and he shares some of his findings with Rose.

His suggestions include trying a New Zealand Riesling with a dish such as yellowtail with green chilli relish with a ponza (bitter orange and soy) sauce, or a spicy Aussie Shiraz with rich meats like miso-marinated lamb. Matching Japanese food to Western wines can be a playground for the adventurous,' concludes Rose.

His top wine for splashing out on is 2004 de Bortoli Yarra Valley Reserve Shiraz (19.99; Oddbins Fine Wine).