Matt Abergel cooks on the roof of Shoreditch House, London, July 2018

Matt Abergel came to London this week!

Our Chicken and Charcoal chef cooked on the roof of Shoreditch House and nearby Lyle's

Donald Trump wasn't the only high profile visitor creating a stir in London this week. Our Chicken and Charcoal author chef Matt Abergel was here too – braving the England V Croatia footie match on Wednesday evening for a riotous rooftop BBQ at Shoreditch House in East London followed by a more sedate, sit down affair at nearby Lyle’s with chef and friend James Lowe the following night, Thursday.

Food on the grill

We couldn't get a baby Matt blimp together, nevertheless both events were sell outs and saw guests feasting on some yakatori favourites from Matt’s restaurant Yardbird in Hong Kong alongside familiar Lyle’s favourites recreated by James in fine supporting role on both nights.

James Lowe of Lyle's

Matt stepped up to the plate, or rather grill with Sweet Corn Tempura, Chicken Meatball, Tare Egg Yolk and Katsu Sando; while James treated assembled guests to Duck Hearts, Sunflower Old Spot Skewer, Sansho, Little Gem and Miso & Anchovy. Everyone drank Asahi Super Dry and two great Yardbird cocktails: Shino and Whisky Lemonade.

Food from the grill

Hope you enjoy the photos from our rooftop event and if you’d like know why there was such a fuss over Matt's arrival check out Chicken and Charcoal in the store here. Meanwhile, keep an eye on Phaidon.com for our interview with Matt next week in which he talks about feeding Pharrell Williams, how he deals with customers only there to instagram and what you can do to make your own summer BBQ go with a bigger bang.

On the menu on the night

Matt Abergel and James Lowe

Food on the grill

Chicken and Charcoal

Chicken and Charcoal: Yakitori, Yardbird, Hong KongMatt Abergel

The first cookbook from cult yakitori restaurant Yardbird in Hong Kong puts the spotlight on chicken - taking grilling to a whole new level

Chicken is the world's best loved meat, and yakitori is one of the simplest, healthiest ways to cook it. At Yardbird in Hong Kong, Canadian chef Matt Abergel has put yakitori on the global culinary map. Here, in vivid style, with strong visual references to Abergel's passion for skateboarding, he reveals the magic behind the restaurant's signature recipes, together with detailed explanations of how they source, butcher, skewer, and cook the birds with no need for special equipment. Fire up the grill, and enjoy. The first comprehensive book about yakitori to be published in English, this book will appeal to home cooks and professional chefs alike.

Specifications:

Format: Hardback
Size: 270 × 205 mm (10 5/8 × 8 1/8 in)
Pages: 240 pp
Illustrations: 200 illustrations
ISBN: 9780714876450

Matt Abergel, an authority on yakitori chicken, is the head chef of Hong Kong-based restaurants Yardbird and Ronin. Having worked at Masayoshi Takayama's Masa in New York and at Hong Kong's Zuma, Abergel opened Yardbird in Hong Kong in 2011. He plans to open a yakitori restaurant in Los Angeles in 2019.

'Perfectly captures the soul of this buzzing Hong Kong hotspot.' – AsiaTatler

'More than just a recipe book ... We challenge you not to be delighted.' – Wallpaper*

'Matt Abergel, of Hong Kong restaurant Yardbird, has joined the ranks of chef-authors Ferran Adrià, René Redzepi, Andre Chiang and Magnus Nilsson with the publication of his first book of recipes by Phaidon. The company is one of the world's most prestigious high-end cookbook publishers, and being published by Phaidon is an accolade for any chef.' – South China Morning Post

'The first comprehensive book about yakitori to be published in English.' – BK.Asia-City.com (Thailand)

'Much more than a cookbook, Chicken and Charcoal also explores the team's passions and collaborations with artists, designers, illustrators, and brands such as Vans, Carhartt WIP, and Stussy. With its own unique style and strong visual references by artist Evan Hecox, the book reveals the magic behind the restaurant's food and drinks as well as the story of where Yardbird, Hong Kong started, how it grew, and where it is today.' – The Nation (Thailand)