Gastronome

Choice Shortrib Chanko ANTHONY CONSILLIO PHOTO

Choice Shortrib Chanko
ANTHONY CONSILLIO PHOTO

ICHIRIKI JAPANESE NABE RESTAURANT
510 Piikoi St., Honolulu
And two other locations
Website ichirikinabe.com

It’s been so chilly at night lately, a pleasant reminder of the two years I spent living in Seattle. This colder weather has given us the most ideal eating atmosphere for things like pho (I’ll have more on this soon!), hot pot, ramen, udon — basically everything wonderful in this world.

And so I found myself at Ichiriki Japanese Nabe Restaurant. I’m sure, or at least I hope, that at this point, I don’t need to extol its virtues — that I’ve only ever had exceptional service there or that the portions are so generous I always have leftovers for lunch the next day.

If all this is somehow news, shame on you.

Kobe Chanko NATHALIE WALKER PHOTO

Kobe Chanko NATHALIE WALKER PHOTO

The way it works is incredibly simple: You choose a broth and what you want to eat, and then you cook it and enjoy. See? I wasn’t exaggerating.

My favorite soup is the standard shoyu-based Ichiriki broth. If I’m in the mood for something a little spicy but not overwhelmingly so, then I get the Pirikara. I’ve also tried the Yuzu broth, which was slightly tangy and sweet. I’ve had my eye on some of its premium soups, too, like the Kimchi and Angry Goma broths.

From there, the options of what you can put in the broth are endless and what it boils down to is personal preference. I usually opt for the USDA Choice Shortrib Chanko set because it remains tender despite how long I leave it to simmer in the broth, since I usually forget what I’ve dumped into my pot. All sets include additional items like cabbage, mushrooms, green onion, salmon and more that ultimately make the broth even more flavorful, which you’re going to need because another component of every meal includes cooking ramen or udon, or making rice porridge in your broth.

(Don’t forget to indulge in the Ujikintoki Shave Ice for dessert — green tea-flavored shave ice with mochi balls, azuki beans and condensed milk.)

Ujikintoki Shave Ice FILE PHOTO

Ujikintoki Shave Ice
FILE PHOTO

But for me, Ichiriki isn’t so much about the food as much as it’s about the ambiance it cultivates. It offers an interactive style of dining that adds comfort to first dates, and humor to larger groups and families. It’s that shared eating experience that I crave often, which Ichiriki satiates well.

FOOD TO READ… AND EAT

Guys, I literally have found the best thing in the world. THE BEST. It comes from a blogger named Bryt who titles her site Food In Literature.

Remember when Edmund gives in to the White Witch and takes a bite of that warm and plump Turkish Delight? Or when Miss Trunchbull forces Bruce Bogtrotter to eat every last bite of that enormously decadent chocolate cake? Or when gumobsessed Violet disobeys Willy Wonka and eats his three-course meal gum, and then turns into a blueberry? Or when James crawls into his giant peach and takes a bite out of that sweet and sticky wall?

Food In Literature has all these recipes and more, including ideas for literary-themed parties and crafts.

I’m already jotting down ideas for a The Great Gatsby and Peter Rabbit party.

Check it out at foodinliterature.com.