Using a Shichirin in the Garden: How I Got Hooked on the 'Ultimate Little Luxury' I Couldn't Have in a Rental

Something I couldn't do when I lived in a rental.
That is, the time spent gathered around a shichirin in the garden.

A small dream finally realized after moving into a detached house.
But this has turned out to be an even better experience than I imagined.

Even the time spent lighting the fire is fun.

The good thing about a shichirin is that it doesn't cook things instantly.

You light the charcoal and slowly get it going.
This little bit of extra effort already feels like a break from the ordinary.

The kids come running over saying, 'Let me do it!'
And start fanning it with a paper fan.

Even though we're just lighting a fire, it turns into a bit of an event.

Everything tastes good just by grilling it over charcoal.

Once the fire settles down, all that's left is to grill.

Honestly, simple seasoning is fine.
Charcoal fire makes everything delicious on its own.

I especially recommend chicken.

My kids prefer chicken over beef, which honestly helps with the budget.
But when you cook it on a shichirin, it becomes surprisingly delicious.

Our family's go-to menu

・Chicken thigh (marinated in garlic soy sauce)
→ This is our family staple. You can't go wrong with it.

・Chicken skin
→ I like mine crispy, the kids like theirs juicy. It's a bit of a tug-of-war every time.

・Chicken gizzard
→ Pre-boiling it ensures you won't mess it up. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—it's the best.

・Chicken cartilage (what we call 'crunchy bits' at home)
→ Just like the name suggests, the texture is fun. A huge hit with the kids.

・Chicken neck meat
→ It becomes something else entirely over charcoal. It's truly delicious with just salt and pepper.

Depending on the mood of the day, we might also have pork shoulder, chicken hearts, or beef tongue.
Buying too much is a classic shichirin experience.

I really want you to try grilling saury at least once.

Personally, I can't go without charcoal-grilled saury.

Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
And then there's the aroma of the charcoal.

It's a flavor you absolutely cannot achieve inside the house.

It goes so well with drinks, too. I end up drinking a bit too much.

A shichirin is the 'just-right' kind of luxury.

It doesn't cost as much as eating out.
But it's a little more special than an everyday meal.

From the preparation to the time spent eating, the whole experience is fun.

I believe this is the charm of the shichirin.

A few tips from our household

• Start the fire with fire starters and a small amount of charcoal

• Pre-processing gizzards or offal helps avoid mistakes

• Don't force yourself to eat everything (it's good the next day too)

Also, as a measure against smoke and odors,
I do pay a little attention to the wind direction.

Just doing this makes it quite comfortable to enjoy.

I use a Cainz shichirin because it's light and easy to handle.

Summary

Things I couldn't do in a rental
have turned into a 'daily pleasure' now that I live in a detached house.

A shichirin in the garden.
I really recommend it.

If the weather is nice this week, I think I'll do it again.

Do you all have any 'must-have staple menu items' as well??