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sake, shochu and sushi
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日本語のブログ
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Last night I was invited by the owners of Odakkui, Katayurimo and Hana Oto Izakayas to share a very special bottle of sake (above pic).
This sake, a superlative Daiginjo, had been brewed back in 1997 by Okada Brewery which eventually ceased operations in 2006. In spite of its old age (for a sake) it had preserved in perfect condition all the time at very cold temperature by a collector cum liquor shop, Matsunagaya in Shizuoka City.
For the connoiseurs, this Daiginjyo is called Okinabeneten, brewed by Okada Brewery in Fujieda City. Rice: Yamada Nishiki milled down to an extravagant 35%. The yeast was a Shizuoka NEW-5 Yeast. Dryness is only +7~+9 and acidity a very low 1.0~1.3. The drawing process was “Fune shibori/tank press”. Alcohol was standard 15~16 degrees.
A great sake, so pleasant to drink with a dry elegant entry, short tail and a complex and rich aroma and taste. Tended to show different facets with food, alternatively turning drier and sweeter. An incredibly extravagant sake to drink with food. We drank it both chilled and heated.
Now, what did we eat with such a nectar?
First of all, sashimi of course. Not one kind, but two!
First seafood sashimi as shown on pic above:
(From top clockwise) Fresh Shirasu/baby sardines, Akami/lean tuna, Madai/red snapper, Hotategai/scallops, Katsuo/bonito. In the centre is boiled Tako/octopus. The whole was provided with wasabi (real one!), grated ginger, myoga cut into very fine strips and chopped thin leeks.
Yasai sashimi/vegetables sashimi, the specialty of the house. Great juicy and crunchy cucumber, daikon, red radishes, celery (Shizuoka Prefecture produces half of all celery in Japan!), myoga and sweet red pimento. You probably noticed the big shiso leaf concealing chopped sweet onions. A treat for vegetarians (and vegans!)!
Yasatei is also renown for its superlative Kansai-style oden!
And finally another treat for vegetarians: renkon/lotus roots sauteed with soy sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds!
Great food for a great sake!
Yasaitei
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 
Apparently, we are starting a fashion!
If I were you I would start collecting the seeds, you never know!
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Oh yes I noticed the shiso leaf, and the one in your bento from yesterday’s post as well! I’ve used the last of the leaves that were remaining on my shiso plant and look forward to next spring!
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Hello Robert (or Robert Gilles),
Thanks for the friendship on Foodbuzz!
I’ve been reading through your blog and think it would be a great fit for the Restaurant Reviewers BlogRoll.
I’m not sure if the code for the BlogRoll works on wordpress, but if you’d like to join, we could give it a try. If it won’t work, I can put your blog on the BlogRoll if you would link to my blog, Hendersonville Epicurean.
If you’re interested in helping our restaurant reviewers community to grow and increasing your page rank at the same time, just go to my blog at http://hendersonvilleepicurean.blogspot.com, look for the BlogRoll in the far right column and click on “submit your blog”.
That will take you to an information page and submission form.
Hope to hear from you,
Laura
Hendersonville Epicurean
Restaurant Reviewers BlogRoll
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