mcsue
21 Apr 06, 07:42 PM
We’d just returned to AKL after watching Fantasmic and thought we’d spend a bit of time at the lounge bar Victoria Falls.
We fancied a glass of wine and we were hungry, but not hungry enough for a meal at BOMA or JIKO - even if we could get a table.
There was a cheese plate available in the bar, but I wanted something hot. I wanted Flatbread from JIKO!
I had an idea. We’d see if we could get a seat at the Cooking Place. It’s where the appetizers are prepared and plated, and the Flatbreads and Tamales are cooked in those enormous chimney ovens.
There are about 8 bar-type seats at the counter and you can watch the chefs at work while you eat.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_171_Medium_2_.jpg
There was to be a wait of 20 minutes or so which was fine. We sat in the bar area and chatted to other guests about the scrummy food we’d all eaten here previously.
It seems to me that JIKO is either a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of place. I don’t have to tell you we are firmly in the ‘we love it’ camp!
The time whizzed by and we were soon escorted to our place seats at the ‘cooking place’. All the other seats were taken and some people were having entrees, but we just wanted those delicious flatbreads
Paul had the family favourite – Kalamata Olive/Cheese Flatbread and I had the BBQ Chicken with 4 Cheeses, Apple and Grilled Onion.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_247_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_248_Medium_.jpg
I had a couple of glasses of Radford Dale Chardonnay and Paul had a couple of glasses of Gamekeepers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines on the list here have been very well selected, whatever ones we’ve chosen we’ve been pleased with.
I was told that they have regular wine tasting sessions for all the staff, so they can give informed and considered opinions on the wines available.
One of the chefs gave us a Maize and Sweet Potato Tamale to sample (it was getting near closing time and there were a few left over).
I’d never have chosen it from the menu; it sounds too filling an appetizer for me – especially as you get two of them.
It was very interesting to have a wee taster though.
The soft herby corn pudding was topped with sweet potato mashed with truffle oil, which was in turn topped with sharp goat’s cheese.
Paul wasn’t so sure - he didn’t like the texture and thought it a bit bland - but I loved it.
I’d be tempted choose it for a light main course, if I was having two starters instead of an entrée.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_249_Medium_.jpg
We had the most unexpectedly wonderful time, chatting with the chefs and learning about the ingredients used at Jiko. They are all so enthusiastic about their cooking and love working here; they see it as quite an honour as JIKO is so respected in the USA culinary stakes.
Chef Annette came out and chatted with us again too. She always seems so pleased when Paul waxes lyrical about her veggie food.
Once again we tottered up to bed very satisfied with our dining experience at JIKO
We fancied a glass of wine and we were hungry, but not hungry enough for a meal at BOMA or JIKO - even if we could get a table.
There was a cheese plate available in the bar, but I wanted something hot. I wanted Flatbread from JIKO!
I had an idea. We’d see if we could get a seat at the Cooking Place. It’s where the appetizers are prepared and plated, and the Flatbreads and Tamales are cooked in those enormous chimney ovens.
There are about 8 bar-type seats at the counter and you can watch the chefs at work while you eat.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_171_Medium_2_.jpg
There was to be a wait of 20 minutes or so which was fine. We sat in the bar area and chatted to other guests about the scrummy food we’d all eaten here previously.
It seems to me that JIKO is either a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of place. I don’t have to tell you we are firmly in the ‘we love it’ camp!
The time whizzed by and we were soon escorted to our place seats at the ‘cooking place’. All the other seats were taken and some people were having entrees, but we just wanted those delicious flatbreads
Paul had the family favourite – Kalamata Olive/Cheese Flatbread and I had the BBQ Chicken with 4 Cheeses, Apple and Grilled Onion.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_247_Medium_.jpg
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_248_Medium_.jpg
I had a couple of glasses of Radford Dale Chardonnay and Paul had a couple of glasses of Gamekeepers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines on the list here have been very well selected, whatever ones we’ve chosen we’ve been pleased with.
I was told that they have regular wine tasting sessions for all the staff, so they can give informed and considered opinions on the wines available.
One of the chefs gave us a Maize and Sweet Potato Tamale to sample (it was getting near closing time and there were a few left over).
I’d never have chosen it from the menu; it sounds too filling an appetizer for me – especially as you get two of them.
It was very interesting to have a wee taster though.
The soft herby corn pudding was topped with sweet potato mashed with truffle oil, which was in turn topped with sharp goat’s cheese.
Paul wasn’t so sure - he didn’t like the texture and thought it a bit bland - but I loved it.
I’d be tempted choose it for a light main course, if I was having two starters instead of an entrée.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/538/medium/disney_oct05_akl_249_Medium_.jpg
We had the most unexpectedly wonderful time, chatting with the chefs and learning about the ingredients used at Jiko. They are all so enthusiastic about their cooking and love working here; they see it as quite an honour as JIKO is so respected in the USA culinary stakes.
Chef Annette came out and chatted with us again too. She always seems so pleased when Paul waxes lyrical about her veggie food.
Once again we tottered up to bed very satisfied with our dining experience at JIKO