Behind the Bar
From Brighton to Bento: Roots in Two Worlds
Hey! I’m Kaitsu — or Kai, if we’re keeping it simple. Born in Brighton to a British dad who could quote Shakespeare while flipping bacon, and a Japanese mum who taught me the art of tea, sharp knives, and patience. My childhood smelled like soy sauce and Sunday roast. I grew up between cultures, learning early how to mix flavours — and people — with ease.
I didn’t come from a hospitality family, but I did come from a family that hosted. There were always people in our home, always something on the stove or in the rice cooker. I think that’s where it began — my fascination with how drinks and food bring people together.
From Glasswasher to Bar Chef: A Love Story with Liquids
At 22, I got a job washing glasses at a local cocktail bar in London. Not glamorous, but I was a broke uni dropout with big dreams and no clue. One night, the bartender called in sick, and I stepped behind the bar. The rest is kind of hazy — partly from adrenaline, partly from the gin fumes — but I found my rhythm.
Over the years, I worked in cocktail bars, pubs, hotel lounges, and even one suspiciously pirate-themed tiki shack. I started crafting my own drinks, experimenting with Japanese ingredients — yuzu, shiso, umeshu — and pairing them with the classics. I became known for flavour profiles that told a story. Some were elegant. Some were weird. All of them were me.
Love at First Sip: How Helsinki Became Home
Fast forward to a summer wedding gig in Copenhagen, where I met a Finnish guest who asked me, mid-Mojito, “Do you ever stop talking?” I said no. She laughed. We’ve been together since.
Moving to Helsinki 12 years ago was meant to be a trial. I had one suitcase, zero Finnish, and very few socks suited for -20°C weather. But something about the place clicked — the clean air, the calm chaos of seasons, the way people drink coffee like it’s a competitive sport.
I worked in some brilliant bars here, picked up enough Finnish to survive small talk, and eventually became a bar chef — designing menus, training staff, building flavour journeys in glass form.
Meet Sora: The Shiba Inu That Runs My Life
Six years ago, we adopted Sora, a Shiba Inu with the attitude of a rock star and the work ethic of a cat. He’s been my shadow, my sanity, and the unofficial mascot of Kaato by Kaitsu. You’ll probably see him pop up here and there in my posts — usually when I’m trying to photograph a cocktail and he’s photobombing with a chew toy.
Kaato by Kaitsu: Why I Built This Site
After years behind the bar, I wanted to take the vibe home — literally. Kaato means “the pour” in Finnish, and it’s what this site is all about: pouring stories, pouring knowledge, pouring drinks. This is my way of sharing what I’ve learned (and failed at) over the years. Whether you’re a home mixer, a pro looking for ideas, or just here for the dog photos — tervetuloa mukaan.
It’s a bit of London, a bit of Tokyo, and a lot of Helsinki — shaken, stirred, and served with a wink.