エムナイン
Fukuoka City Nishi-ku Imajuku Uenohara - About 10 minutes by taxi from Imajuku Station! It's located about 5 minutes from Imajuku Kaido crossing. In the mountains of Imajuku area, there is a restaurant called "Chikuzenbori," established in 1973, known for its charcoal-grilled dishes with a hearth, with the specialty being "chicken skin." The recent trend of "chicken skin" has brought this once supporting role into the spotlight, as everyone is aware. According to their website, the wife of the owner won the "TV Champion" competition! From the modest information, it seems there is some kind of dedication to detail that piques interest. The exterior, as seen, is in a mountainous area that gives off a vibe of wild boars and deer appearing! Inside, there is a reception area with individual rooms scattered throughout the premises. When you are led into the private room, you will find a lodge-like atmosphere with the warmth of wood, the sound of the wind and birds from the forest, and the murmuring of a stream in the background, creating a lovely ambiance. The impressive hearth table carved from a single tree adds a significant impact. This location and atmosphere are quite similar to the "Jitokko no Sato" in Miyazaki Miyakonojo. We tried the "Grilled Chicken Lunch Course" with additional orders of "wild boar meat" and "yamame trout." First, the appetizer and the famous "chicken skin" were served! The "chicken skin" is coated in white miso and placed on the grill. It can be tricky to handle as it sticks easily to the tongs and burns quickly, making it a challenge for the grill master not to overcook or drop it into the hearth. Once grilled with a nice sear, we took a bite! It was undeniably delicious, but not enough to make us reorder. We had the impression that it would be a rich flavor similar to local chicken, but it turned out to be quite ordinary chicken. Next, we were served the "chicken thigh meat, seseri meat, and chicken breast curry flavor"! When asked about the type of chicken meat used, the owner mentioned that they consult with a local butcher to source the meat. It would add more value if they had a dedication similar to using "Nagoya Cochin" raised in Miyazaki, for example. We enjoyed the perfectly grilled "chicken thigh," "seseri," and "chicken breast curry flavor" - overcooking is a no-no! Grilling too much can make it lose its juiciness, so the grill master needs to be careful not to burn it and flip it multiple times to gauge the cooking. The "wild boar meat" used the thigh meat! Although wild boar meat from Itoshima is becoming more common in the market, the "pork belly" and "loin meat" were incredibly delicious! However, this one was using "thigh meat," so it lacked a bit of fatty richness - it would be great if they could include "pork belly" next time! The "yamame trout" was taken from the tank at the entrance, speared on an iron skewer, and served, still twitching, on the grill! Grilling this "yamame trout" to perfection was also quite challenging - finding the right heat intensity and flipping it multiple times to cook both sides well. It was a delicious delicacy. The dessert was homemade by the wife, a former French chef! They were all delicious and surprising. A restaurant in the rural mountains that you'd want to visit occasionally! Next time, I'd like to try a combination with Wagyu beef, for example. Thank you for the wonderful meal. Enjoy Gourmet Life☆