Damson gin calling

Next month, I am cooking a Japanese feast for the return visit of Lisa and Rupert. I’ll be making the usual dishes but I’ve also included a new one, okonomiyaki (Osaka style). I’d never heard of it and yet, it’s a staple of Japanese dishes. Obviously, I had to have a test run, which I did tonight. I intend to make it as a side dish rather than a main meal, so we visited the Holly Bush for lunch as a sort of entrée.

Well, that was our excuse, anyway.

Two things from the photo above. Firstly, the ‘S’ has vanished, so I guess the pub is now The Holly Bu h. Secondly, and a bit harder to see, is the Ukrainian flag fluttering in the breeze to the left at the back of the pub. The pub has successfully raised money to send a van to the Polish/Ukraine border and fully supports the humanitarian cause.

Going for lunch meant I could have a beer. Generally, when we have brunch, it’s before 11am which is when the beer taps are turned on. We arrived just before midday which meant we could have the lunch menu and I could have beer.

I’ve noticed the sea bass with miso many times but have never tried it. I figured, because we were having Japanese for dinner, it was only right I should try it today.

It was very nice. So much so that next time I make my sea bass on med veg, I’m going to smear a bit of miso over the fish skin.

Following our very successful lunch, we paid a visit to the Frensham Garden Centre. Mirinda needed to buy them out of flowers and I had to buy some coffee. Given it’s my favourite place to shop, it wasn’t as if I was only going to come out with coffee. Obviously, I visited the Surrey Hills Butcher and the cheese counter as well.

Then there was a bottle of West Horsley Place damson gin calling out my wife’s name. And eggs. I really needed eggs.

Basically, I thought I spent ages in the farm shop. I returned to the car and waited for Mirinda. The voice of experience had insisted I bring my book with me, and I thanked that voice as I sat in Max, reading about ambulance trains in the First World War.

Finally, back at home, it was time to attempt my first okonomiyaki and, I’m happy to say, they tasted fantastic. Mirinda said they were definitely guest worthy. So, they have made the Japanese feast menu cut.

I didn’t bother with a photograph because they didn’t actually look very good. When I make them next month, I’ll make them smaller and pretty them up a bit. Then I’ll photograph them.