JIN KICHI

A Peak Inside The Wonderful World Of Jin Kichi

Adrenalin Rush

Turning Over The Sizzling Eye Candy

Yebisu 330ml.  A Perfect Bottle Of Beer.

Here Comes The Cavalry. 

The Famous Five - Gyoza Dumpling 

Robin Hood Arrows

The Ballerina Dancing Bonito Flakes

The World's Best Avocado and Prawn Tempura Fritter

Simply Yum.

Hand Made Washing Up Japanese Style.

#15 Young and Keen

Me Wa Kuchi Hodo Ni Mono O Li.

Who in their right mind cares about the Rugby World Cup when there's an edible egg shaped ball of Hamachi Sushi roll to chase ?

Step forward Jin Kichi, an old faithful and ever present on the burgeoning Japanese circuit of Eateries in London. With a well heeled reputation as an authentic Tokyo experience, JK has the good sense to retain its position as a word-of-mouth secret, with its humble and simple Izakaya bar foundations. 

Enter through the keyhole and the attentive staff provide the traditional Japanese restaurant welcome cheer "Irrashaimase". You notice the Itamae-chef holding forte at the centrally staged charcoal grill plate, neatly built on simple masonry bricks. This mesmerising stage sets the tone for the hand crafted character of authentic Japanese cuisine and showcases the art of Sumiyaki, the grill skewered speciality delicacies, this establishment is known for.

Being seated at the grill bar counter, feels just like Tokyo, with a perfectly formed utility space and bright pendent paper globe lanterns with their Japanese tattoo calligraphy. With the addition of delightful toothpick ceramic holders, these provide a welcome contrary view to the theory that everything beautiful, is BIG in Japan.


Conveniently with seating at an attractive blue-formica bar counter top, or little sets of wooden table and chairs, theres no need to remove your shoes, to perform the traditional Padmasana Lotus pose on a Tatami mat. You could instead focus such artful meditation and poise, upon the challenging task of securing a table booking in this hugely popular venue.

The food at JK stimulates the senses and leaves you  drooling and shrieking for more. There are so many highlights you may need an art director to help edit the footage. The homemade gyoza pork dumplings with spicy sauce are reason enough to queue outside, but even they could be considered token fillers amidst the other jaw dropping delights. 

And there is no better jaw dropping scene than a plate of the grilled 'Salmon Jaw with Salt', Richard Drefyfuss eat your heart out; while a Jin Kichi highlight is watching Bonito flakes dance a pirouette on top of the grilled aubergine, like miniature ballerinas swaying and swirling in unison in death defying slow motion.

On this visit we fell head-over-heels in love with...

• Yakitori Skewer with Shiso Leaf
• Ebi Yaki Grilled Jumbo Prawn
• Mixed Prawn and Vegetable Tempura Fritter
• Yellow Tail Tuna with Avocado Roll Inside Out with Black Sesame
• Salmon with Avocado Roll Inside Out.
• Grilled Aubergine and Bonito Flakes
• Gyoza Grilled Dumplings

On your way out, don't forget to bow and smile and say "Okanio O Onegaishimasu", as you discreetly unbutton your waistband. And if you can still find room to fit in this mouthful .... 'Sumiyaki-Robatayaki-Izakaya-Yakitori' style bar restaurant, then this little goldmine is certainly the one for you.

*Remember when booking in advance to pop in to the nearby Holly Bush pub for a pre Sumiyaki drink.

http://www.jinkichi.com

SOS

Salad Prep

The Full Monty

Wicked Waiheke Coastline Wine 

Farmhouse Fayre Sticky Toffee Pudding

Toblerone Summit Glaciers

#14  Valentines Day


Summer Of Salad


"Hey don't falter, when your with me it's always summer." 


There are few meals that define summer quite like a Nicoise salad. It certainly is summers Mint Royale feature and this writers favourite place to tuck in to a summer salad is nestled at home, relaxing on the couch of life. The best part of a Nicoise is there are no fixed rules, allowing for inner creativity and a chance to paint a little landscape to suit your mood.


Here we opted for these Nicoise essentials : Cherry Tomatoes, New season Potatoes, Radish, Avocado, Green Beans, Boiled Egg, Anchovies, Black Olives, Pistachios, Pine Nuts, Olive Oil, Himalayan Salt. 


Accompanied by a beaute bottle of Man O War from their micro climate vineyard on New Zealand's Waiheke Island.


For pudding, a contest was declared and in the corner in the rose pink shorts....
'Piping Hot Farmhouse Fayre Sticky Toffee Pudding with Local favourite Marine Ices ice cream'
and in the pale blue shorts....
'Toblerone Chunks Ascending Ice cream Glacier Scoops'.
And as the ring master might say, by unanimous decision the judges declared this pudding contest..... 
ABSO  LOOT- LEEEEEEEEEEE
KNOCKOUT.


www.marineices.co.uk
www.farmhousefare.co.uk
www.toblerone.com
www.manowarvineyards.co.nz

SWISS COTTAGE POOL RESTAURANT

The view from Swiss Cottage Swimming Pool Restaurant

# 13 Unlucky For Some


There's Nothing Going On But The Juice.

Now then, now then ladies and gents, this may, or may not, float your boat, but if you enjoy your favourite tipple accompanied by flowing water.....

pop down to the Swiss Cottage Pools Restaurant


I am sailing,
I am sailing
Home again, 
Across the seas
I am sailing, stormy waters,
To be near you 
To be free....... from msg, additives, E numbers and other naughty manmade chemicals.


http://www.chegworthvalley.com


The best of natures juices. 

CHEZ NOUS

Full Moon Menu

It dosen't get any better than this

Regular patron snug in his natural habitat

The Beaker of Ribena

A Peak inside Nirvana

Avocado and Prawns with buttered triangles

Grilled Trout with Salad and Chips

The Birthday girls let rip

#12  One Dozen


A Place to Call Home

Some girls are bigger than others, some days are better than others, sometimes your instinct is to recoil from life's harsher edges and simply feel cosseted, fed and watered by a friendly face. A place where you can be left quietly to ponder life's intricate meandering web of ups and downs.

The development of Comfort Food is a testament to those such days and there are few locations in London that could compete with Chez Nous in a Comfort Relay Race.This snug cafe restaurant is one of a kind, proudly a family run business and fantastically not part of any chain, it retains the idiosyncratic charm to seduce and cosset.Opening early in the morning till late at night, it covers the traditional breakfast hangover to a twilight cheese toastie.

Supporting a local community with a fascinating cross section of the social demographic of Belsize Park, Chez Nous is frequented by builders, actresses, community workers, artists, accountants, hippies, vagrants and vicars. It certainly is a local institution, a haven for regular faces and sometimes for those less fortunate, who pop in gratefully to discreetly receive free food, for their daily nourishment. It is a place with a heart and a soul and though the young female staff seem to change frequently, a common thread runs through their smiling, courteous happy spirit, which radiates in their service. 

Educated travellers drop by and freely pass on their tips while some other patrons mentor and counsel over a cup of tea, safe in the bosom of Chez Nous.The layout is intriguing too with a single long bench seat and tables facing across the room to the adjoining customers. This gives a sense of being part of a life stage or tv documentary, while the ambience is so relaxing this never feels intrusive.

The decor and use of materials may not appear at first glance to be anything to write home about, but dont be fooled. This is the beauty of Chez Nous, it dosen't need to try too hard, because it is true to itself and has over the years, moulded into a snug, homely, non precious intimate form of existence.

The menu is extensive and perfect. It reeks of comfort food. The food is nothing but homely and comes in a generous proportion, cleverly avoiding life's tricky decisions by coming with both salad and chips. The plates are served with the perfect just-what-you-need condiments on hand. 

In the 21st century it is evident we as consumers have learned from America and an overly spoiled economy to be more demanding and exacting. Chez Nous knows how to counter this excessive expectancy and helps you to understand that sometimes, the little things in life that usually go unnoticed, are actually more important than the seemingly bigger self important things.

There can be no better testament to Chez Nous than  finishing this blog and by mentioning these observations :

• an elderly customer given a doggy bag in a plain white plastic handle carrier to take home, with a little cake for pudding enclosed inside a polystyrene beaker. 
• a patron depositing ice cubes with her fingers into her beaker of wine.
• the maitre d' serving a surprise birthday cake with pretty candles lit up and wrapped in pink ribbon, to a table of four excitable ladies.

http://www.thank-the-lord-chez-nous-has-not-got-a-website.com

THE BROAD WALK

Sausage roll, paper bag, bite size roll.

The baton exchange

The prized object

# 11 Legs Eleven

Breakfast Picnic Stroll

Breakfast picnic strolls are a new favourite pastime of the blogger. If you find yourself having a stroll.... why not think of a stroll with a roll.  

Sausage rolls are a little delicacy, an eighth wonder of the world and served fresh from the oven, become a complete breakfast meal of their own.

Pop your danglers in and tap on the pastry beat.


I love Sausage rolls,
Put another dime in the duke box baby
I love Picnic strolls,
Come and take the time and Roll with me.


MELROSE AND MORGAN
*Straight From The Oven
Large Sausage Roll £3.25 / Mini Sausage Roll £1.20 

http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/The-Regents-Park.aspx

PIE O' CLOCK

The pie o meter reaches the stars.

# 10 Camerons Den

Poke My Pie

"They tried to make me go to piehab and I said No, no, no !"

Any true artist knows where to find a true artist pie maker.

Please meet our local butchers bonus ball.

Any Oxbridge graduate worth his onions knows the square route of Pythagorus is always Pie.

http://www.bigben.co.nz/

ROWLEYS

Nestled in Jermyn St

Valentine's Night

Swirly Cast Iron Stair

A Romantic Carafe

When the boat comes in

Pan fried Cod on bed of buttered Spinach

The House Speciality, Char-grilled Entrecote

Pudding Service

Admiring the Eye Candy

# 9 Doctors Orders


A HIDDEN GEM


to read the write up - watch this space !


http://www.rowleys.co.uk/

BARRETS BUTCHERS of Englands Lane

Freshly malleted free range Beef cut

Free Breadcrumbs from Barretts Butchers

Flour, breadcrumbs and Organic free range egg from Budgens

The hands that rocked the cradle

Freshly crumbed Schnitzel. Waiting in the queue.

From the frying pan into the fire.

Spuds from Michael Palin's favourite grocer Pomona, Haverstock Hill. 

The South Island of New Zealand Schnitzel.

The end product. 

Roots Ginger Beer. Real Ginger, Real Ginger Roots.

# 8  Garden Gate


Crumbs Of Comfort

Some people say Kentucky Fried Chicken is finger lickin' good. And who are we to argue ?

It is more than a small crumb of comfort to know that times are a'changing and for every KFC that opens around the globe there is some burgeoning small community earnestly pottering away, producing handmade food that is locally reared, grown or sourced.

In starting this personal blog, I have been learning heaps about the technical rudimentaries. How difficult it is to get the layout just so, how little or much to write for the reading audience not to get bored and should I bother about the traffic flow. The most important point of all is how really good food can taste so different depending upon the place, the ambience and the experience.

This weekend the blogger decided to cut loose and make Schnitzel. Now, most food aficionados will know authentic Schnitzel is made from Veal. There are some meat eaters out there who steadfastly refuse to eat veal and sight understandable concerns relating to the historic cruelty of the young animal. It is good to know a body such as the RSPCA now endorses eating UK Rose Veal, having proactively overseen the adoption and implementation of new farming methods.

Despite this helpful reassurance, the blogger decided to challenge our local butcher on Englands Lane, to provide a cut of meat suitable for making Schnitzel, that wasn't Veal.

Our nice smiley butcher is innovative, bright eyed and bushy tailed and set about hammering away with his wooden mallet, creating paper thin slices of pork and beef. This experimental plan we hoped to prove an interesting Schnitzel test, with prime cuts from reputable locally reared, free range animals.

Kindly throwing in a surprise free bag of breadcrumbs, we gratefully thanked the butcher and headed off home to find the accompaniments for our meal and to prep for the table.

The rest as they say, went just like clockwork.

Schnitzel is a fab, fun plate to prepare and whether the cut is beef, pork or veal when served with mash, it truly is the ichiban of comfort foods.

Barretts Butchers