Pizza at 22 Venty Due

December 19, 2009 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Specialty: Real Napolitan Pizza baked on wood fire
Completely Non-smoking!

The Japanese are so avid when it comes to pizzas that they lose all sense of reality and eat anything called so.
It has been a long wait, but at long last, in October 2009 to be exact, someone finally had the courage to make true pizzas in our gastronomy-crazy city of Shizuoka: 22 Venty Due!

Now, absolutely everything is made from scratch the true artisan’s way!
“Simple is best!” Chef Hiroki Nakagawa claims. That might sound like a boast, but he certainly keeps everything to basics. On the other hand, “simple” also means slightly extravagant!
The dough is home-made and double leavened as it should be as it will cook in a minute at the most.

The moment you order, make sure you are ready to eat:
The dough will come out its box, it will be spread in a few seconds. Here come the tomato puree, the peccorino cheese ( a true beauty!), the basil leaves, the seasoning and the olive oil. On the baker’s wooden giant spoon, and…

A few gestures, and the pizza comes out, crusty to a perfection with all its ingredients cooked as they should be!
Why and how?
That is where “simple” becomes extravagant:
the pizza is cooked inside a real wood oven.
All wood is “nara no ki/Japanese oak” delivered all the way from Tottori Prefecture on the other side of Japan!
It takes two hours to bring the oven to the right temperature of 450 degrees Celsius, but then the pizza will come litterally smoking on your plate less than 3 minutes after you have ordered it!

22 Venty Due serves only 3 types of pizza: Margharita, Marinara and Bianca (1,000~1,250 yen), but it is just what you need!
Other side dishes like salami, mortadella, ham, Fritta/fritters can also be ordered with wine by the glass or bottle (about 20 brands).
Hiroki and his wife, Chinatsu, can arrange dinner courses according to budget and preferences. Both of them are actually from Shizuoka and came back home after trips to Italy and working in Tokyo. Welcome back!

Now, why after less than 3 months of existence have all the Shizuoka magazines featured photoes of Hiroki Nakagawa’s pizzas, if I may ask?

Incidentally, smoking is strictly prohibited! Bravo!

22 Venty Due
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo Machi, 3-21-20
Tel & Fax: 054-260-4522
Business hours: 18:00~21:30
Closed on Sundays
Reservations advised.

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Macha & Tofu Tiramisu Cupcake

December 19, 2009 dragonlife 4 Comments

There is little need to say that cupcakes are universally popular.
Now if you can add or combine macha and tofu into them and come up with a tiramisu concept as a whole you are bound to please a lot of people! LOL

Macha & Tofu Tiramisu Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For cakes

■ Sponge Cake:
-Eggs: 2
-Sugar: 40 g
-Tofu or soy milk: 1 tablespoon
-All-purpose flour: 40 g
-macha: 2 teaspoons (6 g)

■Syrup
◆Sugar: 15ｇ（10ｇ）
◆Water: 2 tablespoons
◆Macha liqueur (if available):　１　teaspoon

■Cheese Cream

-Cream cheese: 200ｇ
-Anko/sweet bean paste powder: 100g
-Tofu or soy milk: 50 cc/ml
-Preserved cherry blossom (for decoration): 15
-Sugar (optional): 20~30 g）

■ Macha powder (for the finishing touch)

RECIPE:

-Soak preserved cherry blossoms in water to soften and then soak water off between two sheets of kitchen paper. Choose the best 6 of them and heat inside the microwave oven for 1 minute to ope/”bloom” them. Keep the rest aside.

-Take cream cheese out of the fridge.
Mix the flour and macha powder.
Line the oven plate with baking paper.

-Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius.
-In a bowl beat the eggs and sugar together until mixture whitens.

-Add tofu (or soy milk). Mix in with a spatula. Add macha and flour mix and mix in with the spatula.

-Bake for 15 minutes at 170 degrees Celsius.

-While it is baking, mix all the syrup ingredients in a small bowl.

-Take the sponge cake out of the oven and let it cool down completely.

-With a spatula, mix cream cheese, sweet bean paste powder, tofu and non-heated cherry blossoms. If not sweet enough, mix in more sugar.

-Divide sponge cake into 12 portions to fit inside cups.
-Line each cup with with one portion of sponge cake. Brush plenty of syrup on each.

-Fill with cheese cream up to half. Place one more layer of sponge cake. Brush plenty of syrup on the sponge cake again. Fill up each cup completely with cheese cream.
Leave inside fridge to chill them properly (one hour is enough, or it would harden too much).

-Before serving sprinkle macha powder all the surface and decorate with a cherry blossom.

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Duck Breast: Basic Recipe & Presentation

December 18, 2009 dragonlife 4 Comments

Small picture, sorry！

Some people make a big story of cooking duck. It is quite simple, actually, especially with a minimum of preparation. It has the other advantage to be open to an infinite array of variations!

The pic above was for one person. As I cooked it for both of us, just imagine that there was another identical plate.
Here is how I proceded:

INGREDIENTS:

-1 large duck breast (can be ordered easily over the Internet)
-Olive oil 3 tablespoons
-Whisky 3 “caps” (I use the bottle cap)
-Port wine (or any sweeet red wine) half a cup (100cc)
-Cold butter 2 large tablespoons
-Salt and pepper to taste

-6 small potatoes cut in “wedges”
-1 large tablespoon of olive oil

-Half a cup (100cc) of green “flageolet” beans (fine green beans)
-1 tablespoon of baby onions (frozen ar fine)
-1 rasher of bacon cut to the size of your largest nail (LOL)
-Salt, pepper, thyme to taste (careful with the salt as I mixed the veg with a little gravy from the duck!)

-Fine greens (small leaves: you can buy them already mixed and packed
-Dressing of your choice (easy on it, or it will spill onto the duck!)

RECIPE:

-Take skin off duck breast and discard. For people who cannot without it, make shallow incisions all over it, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, brush it lightly and fry it skin facing down for 80% of the cooking time!)

-Sponge off humidity with kitchen paper towel and put it aside.

-Boil potatoes to about “80% cooked” (their core should be still solid), cool immediately under cold water, peel and cut in wedges (not stiks of fries!)

-In small deep pan fry bacon with no oil until the pieces are crispy. Put aside on small plate. Don’t wash the pan. Pour in half a cup (100cc) of water and boil beans. When beans are ready, there should be little water left. Mix in thawed baby onions and bacon. Do Not season yet.
Keep of fire and cover

-Now you will work with two frypans at the same time. Be careful and keep in mind that if the oil becomes too hot, it might ignite, so keep a large towel handy (last time I almost started a fire. Luckily I had the reflex to cover the frypan with the towel. The fire extinguished immediately. NEVER try to extinguish with water as it will explode in your face!).
On your right (unless you are left-handed), pour the oil for the fried potatoes. It does need to be too hot. Throw potatoes in and let fry, shaking them around from time to time. Fry them until they are golden (use a non-stick pan and the results will delight you!)
On your left, heat the oil for the duck. It needs to be quite hot. Place duck breast in middle. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over it according to your preference. Fry both sides for 30 seconds. Turn down the fire to medium and carefully pour in the whisky (not cap by cap but with a small glass you would have filled before hand). Let the whisky ignite and shake the duck breast around until the flames have extinguished. Lower the fire a bit more and cover with lid.
How do you know the duck is cooked. When you press it with a finger, it should pop back easily with a little gravy/juice seeping out. Experience helping your eyes will be enough to judge when the time is right. Do not worry if you find out that some of the middle of the duck breast does not seem cooked enough. Some people like it well cooked while others like it rare. You can always choose the slices according to taste. Purist like it almost raw in its centre, though.
When the breast is cooked, put it on a cutting board. You will cut it at the llast minute.

-Add some of the gravy to the beans and reheat to your preference.

-On two large plates decorate the top third with greens (see pic above). You will add the dressing on top just before serving.

-Pour the Port wine into the frying pan and stir it with the gravy. reduce it on small fire.

-The fried potatoes should be ready by now. While the sauce is reducing, place the potatoes side by side in half a circle. As you will place the duck slices over it, there is no need to season them.

-Once the gravy has reduced enough, mix in the cold butter until smooth. it will prevent the sauce from “separating). Taste and season it if needed.
-Cut the duck breast into thin slices and place them side by side on top of the fried potatoes (see pic)

-With a tablespoon, place beans like on the pic.

-Pour gravy onto the duck slices.

-Sprinkle greens with dressing and serve.
If you are a wine fan, serve this dish with a full bodied red.

VARIATIONS:

I add some some finely cut parsley and basil to the beans at the last time. some finely cut thin leeks sprinkled over the duck slices look good. You can add some red colour with thinly cut tomatoes on both sides of or around the beans.

Here is another presentation: Potato Gratin in the middle and onions confit on the sides.
I made the sauce lighter for this particular one!

Another one again!
The potato wedges were cooked separately as well as the eringe mushroms slices in the middle with cauliflower first boiled, then sauteed.

Enjoy!

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Vegetarian French Cuisine: Dad’s Cream Mushrooms

December 17, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

We are still in mushrooms season, wild ones or cultivated species, fresh, dehydrated or frozen. Mushrooms are low in calories, but high in quality, whether it concerns taste or nutrients.
Some people have told me that mushrooms cannot be frozen. This is a fallacy. Full stop.
I personally receive frozen chanterelles, trompettes and what else from the internet and I can assure they are delicious.

Here is the recipe of a dish my father (85) cooked for us last time I came back home in Burgogne, France. It was made with exclusively frozen mushrooms! It can accompany any meat, especially white-flesh meat, or can be appreciated on its own paired with a solid white wine or heady Japanese sake.
Great for vegetarians! Vegans can accomodate it witheir own substitutes, too.

INGREDIENTS: For 3~4 people

-Mixed mushrooms of your choice, fresh or frozen (if frozen, let them thaw slowly inside refrigerator for a few hours and get rid of excess water, although the same water can be used with the sauce!): 500g
-Shallots (echalottes): 2 finely chopped
-Garlic: 2~3 cloves finely chopped (crush garlic before chopping it. Do not forget to discard core!)
-Parsley or Italian flat parsley: half a cup finely chopped
-Fresh cream: 200cc/1 cup
-Madeira wine: 50cc (yellow port is fine, too, as well as sweet sherry)
-Olive oil and unsalted butter: about 2 large spoons of each
-Salt, pepper, nutmeg (to taste)

RECIPE:

-On a medium fire in large frypan melt an equal quantity of olive oil and unsalted butter (some people prefer more, some less. Experiment!).
Throw in the shallots and garlic and slowly fry until shallots turn transparent. Throw in all the mushrooms and fry until they give back enough water.
Add Madeira wine. Stir well.
Next add fresh cream and stir until cream is perfectly blended.
Add salt, peeper and nutmeg last, stir.
Check taste and add more spices if needed.

Pour the whole in a large dish and sprinkle parsley over the mushrooms before serving.

Eat hot.

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2009/12/16)

December 17, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The year-end holiday season is upon us. While 2009 has proved a difficult year economically in Japan and around the world, the blessings of life remain numerous and they deserve recognition and celebration. At Baird Brewing, we eulogize these blessings in liquid form each December with the release of Jubilation Ale.

Jubilation Ale (ABV 7%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character from the addition of two wonderful local ingredients: (1) fully ripened figs candied in Japanese red sugar and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a Japanese Nikki tree. The full bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale is available on draught at our Taproom pubs and other specialty beer retailing bars and restaurants in Japan beginning Thursday, December 17. The bottle-conditioned version (633 ml) also is available for purchase from Baird Beer retailing liquor shops in Japan beginning the same day.

If joyous celebration this holiday season is simply beyond your capacity, we fully understand. There is a Grinch in all of us and it needs recognition too. For the Grinch inside of you, we proudly release Bakayaro! Ale.

Bakayaro! Ale (ABV 8%):

This insolent, snotty and mean-spirited brew is pungently hoppy and wickedly strong. High in malt gravity (1.080), bitter in hoppiness (90 IBU), aggressive in aroma (double dry-hopping with Centennial), Bakayaro! Ale just doesn’t give a rat’s ass. We invite you to come in, have a pint and let those around know exactly how you feel.

Bakayaro! Ale is draught only. It will be pouring from the taps of pubs and restaurants everywhere beginning Friday, December 18. Lead Brewer Chris Poel, Bakayaro! Ale’s father, will be kicking off the mean season in person at the Harajuku Taproom on Friday evening. Please show up and tell him to piss off!

Finally, I would like to publicly announce that the long tenure at Baird Brewing of our current Nakameguro Taproom manager, Yokota-chan, is coming to an end this month. Yoko-chan is the first individual that Sayuri and I hired to join us in full-time work at our company. He started at the Fishmarket Taproom back in 2004 and in his almost six years with us has brought great dedication, honesty and professionalism to the task. He will be sorely missed. He is moving on to start his own restaurant business and Shizuoka and we wish him the very best.

Sayuri and I will be at the Nakameguro Taproom this Friday evening participating in a send-off party for our departing manager. Please plan on stopping in and saluting Yoko-chan for his many year’s of dedicated service.

Holiday Cheers

Bryan Baird
Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

The Japan Blog List

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Must-see tasting websites:
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-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
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Tempura: Kakiage Recipe

December 17, 2009 dragonlife 2 Comments

“Kakiage” is a very popular form of Tempura in Japan, especially in homes as it can make use of whatever is available on any particular day.
The main difference with usual tempura is whole eggs are used for better consistency and taste as it is very often served over a bowl of freshly steamed rice.
In restaurants, depending on the level of the chefs, all kinds of kakiage are served and make for hearty meals, even for big caucasians.
Shizuoka has a specialty that everyone in Japan wishes to sample: sakura ebi/cherry shrimps kakiage that I have already introduced.

Below is the basic recipe. I refrained from giving exact proportions as everyones can easily improvise.

INGREDIENTS:

-Onion
-Carrot
-Burdock root
-Trefoil
-Shrimps
-Cuttle fish
-Etc… there is no restriction!

Batter:
-Thin, light (cookie) flour: 1 cup
-Water: 1 cup
-Egg (whole) 1
Above is basic, which can multiplied equally

-Salad oil
-Sesame oil

Above is picture of what was included in that particular kakiage. Notice the kabocha and peas in their pods! Let your imagination fly!

Cut the vegetables into thin strips, no longer than 5 cm/ 2 inches and all of the same size (important!). Cut cuttle fish, shrimps into according size.

Prepare the ingredients for the batter. You don’t chasing them around later!
Important: All three ingredients should have been kept in the fridge to chill them all down to the same temperature.
Beat the egg lightly, not too much. Add water and mix lightly, not too much.
Divide the kakiage ingredients into single portions into different bowls.

In each single bowl add flour and egg water to ingredients, thinking of batter proportions.
For example, 4 portions: 4 equal portions of flour and 4 equal proportions of egg water you have prepared beforehand.
Now, you could all mix everything into the same bowl and make kakiage into 4 batches. The problem is that there is a good chance of 4 portions unequal in proportion, consistency and taste!
Mix ingredients with flour and egg water roughly. Not too much or the kakiage will get hard and look like overfried fritters!

Add a little sesame oil to the salad oil to season oil and according to your preference. Bear in mind that too little oil will mean that the oil temperature will rise too quickly.
The perfect temperature before plunging the kakiage in is 175 degrees Celsius.

Using a ladle drop one portion into oil.
You may need a couple of long wooden chapsticks to keep the ingredients from separating at first and keeping the whole thing into a rough circle.
As for the ladle, a wooden one would be best if available.

As soon as the lower side has solidified turn the kakiage over.
Fry turning 2 or 3 more times for equal even frying until you are staisfied with colour.
Don’t overcook, but don’t undercook either.
You will learn quickly by sampling them later!

Rest the kakiage for a little time over a grill or kitchen paper to get rid of excess oil.
Now, you can serve as it is on a bowl ofresh rice or dip it (break it then) into a tempura dashi soup stock you will have prepared and heated beforehand.
My preference is to season it with a little matcha powder mixed with fine salt.
You may season the kakiage beforehand by sprinkle ingredients with a little salt and pepper or add the same tothe flour.

Here is another great way to serve it with leftover steamed rice.
Fill a bowl with leftover rice (even cold, but not chilled), palce the kakiage on top, top the kakiage with thinly cut dry seaweed, and pour hot green tea onto the rice!
It is called: “Kakiage Chazuke”!

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Tiramisu: Japanese Style

December 16, 2009 dragonlife 9 Comments

Cheese Tiramisu by Takagi

A Foodbuzz Friend of mine going by the name of Bazooka Gourmet thought that Tiramisu originated from Japan.
Unfortunately it didn’t.
But it is a fact that it is a very popular dessert in Japan.
As the Japanese are incredibly adept at improving original recipes I thought it could be an interesting idea to see what was avalaible in this country!

Here is what I found:

Matcha Tiramisu

As served at Pizzeria Morita (Osaka shi, Fukushima Ku, 5-6-33, Inou Bldg. 1F. Tel.: 06-6450-0630) and TACY CAFE (Osaka shi, Kita Ku, Umeda, 1-12-6, Iima 1F. Tel.: 06-6342-1687)

By Kasarin no Tsurezure Diary

Marron Tiramisu by ABC Cooking Studio

Chocolate Tiramisu by PATISSIER Louise

Tiramisu Ice Cake by Chat de Roll

Damier Tiramisu by Kawajie

Another Matcha Tiramisu by Hand-made Kiki

Tiramisu Cupcake by Sanae Pon

Christmas Tiramisu by Soy

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Ramen Recipe: Chicken Wings Ramen

December 16, 2009 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ramen are great, but sometimes one is stuck for variety (new ideas).
Here is a very simple recipe that anyone can succeed at with a minimum of time and ingredients:

Chicken Wings Ramen!

INGREDIENTS: For 3 people

-Chicken wings (te-basaki in Japanese): 4~6
-Japanese sake (or cooking sake): half a tablespoon or more (seasoning)
-Sesame oil: half a tablespoon or more
-salt and pepper: to taste (5~6 pinches each)

-Water: 1000cc/ml

◆Japanese sake: 1 teaspoon
◆Soy sauce: 1=2 teaspoons
◆Salt: one pinch
◆Oyster sauce: 1~3 tablespoons (according to preference)

-Ramen: 3 packs
-Leeks (chopped): according to preference
–Rayu/Japanese chili oil (ラー油): according to preference

RECIPE:

Thoroughly sponge off chicken wings of any water/humidity

Pour sake over chicken wings. Make sure they all coated and leave to marinate for 10 minutes.

Fry chicken wings 8as they are with the sake) with sesame oil and salt and pepper. make sure they are well seasoned.

Fry chicken wings until they are nicely coloured as in above picture.

Add all the water. Cover with lid. Bring to boil first. Reduce fire to low and simmer 25~30 minutes.
In a separate bowl mix all ◆-marked ingredients for chicken seasoning.
Prepare water for boiling the ramen.

Add chicken seasoning to chicken.
Boile the ramen.

Place the ramen in each of three bowls.

Top the ramen with an equal amount of chicken wings and their soup.
Sprinkle with rayu oil and top with chopped leeks.

Serve and enjoy at once!

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For Vegan and Vegetarians! “Forgotten” Vegetables 24: Pepino/Poire-Melon

December 16, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

SYNOPSIS:
Organic agriculture and biodiversity have in recent years brought about a rediscovery of many “forgotten” vegetables that people especially in Europe and France conscientiously tried to forget as they reminded them of the privations suffered during WWII. The same people had then to make do with untraditional vegetables because potatoes, carrots and so on were confiscated by occupying forces or their own armies.
With sustainibility and bioagriculture made more important by the deficiencies of modern mass agriculture, those “forgotten” vegetables have suddenly come to the fore for the pleasure of all, and that of course of vegetarians and vegans!

This particular series of postings will introduce these vegetables one by one. I hope they will become useful for a long time to come to all my vegan and vegetarian friends!
1) Scorsonere/Oyster Plant, 2)Potimarron, 3) Vitelotte, 4) Rutabaga, 5) Cardon, 6) Panais/Parsnips , 7) Patisson, 8) Topinambour, 9) Crosne, 10) Cerfeuil Tubereux, 11) Poiree, 12) Oca, 13) Ulluque/Ulluco, 14) Tigernuts, 15) Capucine tubereuse-Maschua, 16) Chataigne de Terre-Great Pignut, 17) Yacon, 18) Balsamite/Costmary, 19) Sikkim Cucumber, 20) Tree Spinach, 21) Chayote, 22) Strawberry Blite, 23) Purslane

Here is a palnt that can be considered both as a vegetable and a fruit depending upon its maturity.
Also considered as a great ornamental plant!

Pepino (Spanish/English) or Poire-melon (pear-melon in French) or Solanum muricatum in Latin is a species of evergreen shrub native to South America and grown for its sweet edible fruit. It is known as pepino dulce (“sweet pepino”) or simply pepino.
The pepino dulce fruit resembles a melon (Cucumis melo) in color and flavor and thus it is also called pepino melon or melon pear, but pepinos are only distantly related to melons and pears.
Another common name, “tree melon”, is more often used for the Papaya (Carica papaya) and the pepino dulce plant does generally not look much like a tree.
The fruit is common in markets in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, but less often overseas because it is quite sensitive to handling and does not travel well. Attempts to produce commercial cultivars and to export the fruit have been made in New Zealand and Chile.
They are being increasingly grown in Europe, France and Belgium in particular, where they can be found in all kinds of dishes.
Moreover, in the United States the fruit is known to have been grown in San Diego before 1889 and in Santa Barbara by 1897.

The plant is grown primarily in Chile, New Zealand and Western Australia. In Chile, more than 400 hectares are planted in the Longotoma Valley with an increasing proportion of the harvest being exported. Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador also grow the plant, but on a more local scale. Outside of the Andean region, it been grown in various countries of Central America, Morocco, Spain, Israel, and the highlands of Kenya. In the United States several hundred hectares of the fruit are grown on a small scale in Hawaii and California. More commercially viable cultivars have been introduced from New Zealand and elsewhere in more recent times. As a result, the fruit has been introduced into up-scale markets in Japan, Europe and North America and it is slowly becoming less obscure outside of South America.

Pepino and kiwano salad

It is a vegetable/fruit valuable for its vitamin C as it contains 29 mg per 100 g.
Depending on its maturity, its taste varies from a slightly sweet cucumber to that of a pear or melon.
Most adapted to salads, although can be cooked when immature.

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Sweet Potato Muffins

December 15, 2009 dragonlife 6 Comments

Here is another simple recipe for a cake where “East Meets West”:
Sweet Potato Muffins!

INGREDIENTS: for 12 cakes

Pastry:
-Cookie/thin flour: 230 g
-Salt: a little less than １/２ teaspoon
-Sugar: 50 g (to be included with the flour)
-Baking powder: ２ teaspoons
-Sodium bicarbonate: １/４ teaspoon
-Cinnamonpowder: 1 teaspoon
-Nutmeg powder: １/２ teaspoon
-Eggs: 2
-Sweet Potato (mashed): 230 cc/ml
-Melted butter: 2~4 tablespoons
-Milk: 150 cc/ml
-Sugar: 50 g (to be incuded with the eggs)
-Walnuts: 50 g

Topping:
-Brown sugar: １＋１/２ tablespoons
-Flour: 3 tablespoons
-Butter: ２/３ tablespoon
-Cinnamon powder: １/４ teaspoon

RECIPE:

Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 F)
Coat the paper muffin cups insides with a thin layer of oile just enough to facilitate later unwrapping.
Bring all inf\gredients to room temperature.

Prepare topping first:
In a bowl drop the brown sugar, flower, butter and cinamon.
Work ad mix the lot with the tips of your fingers.

In another bowl drop the flour, sugar, baking powder, sodium bicarbonate, cinnamon powder and nutmeg powder.
Mix and sieve through a fine mesh chinois.

-Wrap the sweet potato inside cellophane paper and heat in a micriwave oven until soft. Take of skin if any. Mash the sweet potato adding the milk to them.

Add the eggs and extra sugar and mix well.
Add melted butter and mix well.

Add the sweet potato puree to the flour mixture.
Mix with a spatula.
Do not worry if you don’t attain a perfectly smoothe paste.
Mixing the whole tooo much would result into a hard muffin!

Pour the muffin mixture into the cups or in the apparel as shown in picture above up to two thirds of their depth. Sprinkle with topping.
Bake for 15~20 minutes.
Check if they are properly cooked by stabbing them with a thin wooden stick.

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Japanese Cuisine: Chawanmushi-Basic Recipe

December 15, 2009 dragonlife 3 Comments

Chawanmushi or Chyawanmushi/茶碗蒸し is the Japanese equivalent of a French flan with thebig differencethat is not a dessert, but an appetizer!
It is quite easy to prepare and open to so many variations.
Here is the basic recipe. Just let your imagination fly!

Chawanmushi!

INGREDIENTS: For 2

-Eggs: 2
-Shrimps: 10 small
-Shiitake mushroom: 2
-Chopped leeks: to decorate and taste (or trefoil)
(you can use gingko nuts, kamaboko, crab, sea urchin, etc.)
-Dashi: 100 cc/ml (of your choice)
-Japanese sake: 50 cc/ml
-Soy sauce: half a teaspoon
-Sugar: half a teaspoon
-Salt: 1 pinch
-Water: 2 cups, 400 cc/ml

RECIPE:

Take shell and head off every shrimp.
Let shrimps marinate in the sake for a while.
If you use frozen shrimps, thaw them and sponge off their water first.

Cut the shiitake in two.
If you use fresh shiitake, fry them just a little in butter and sponge them off.
If you use dried shiitake, let them mariante in lukewarm water for two hours. Their water can be used as part of the dashi.
If you use frozen shiitake, thaw them and sponge them off first.

in a saucepan, drop dashi, water, salt, sugar and soy sauce. Heat to before bubbles come up (bubbles will be the main reason for failure!).

Beat eggs and por them slowly into the dashi, whisking them all the time.

Once all the eggs are mixed in, switchoff fire and strain/sieve soup.

Place half of the shrimps and mushrooms at the beottom of each cup.

Slowly pour half of soup in each cup/ramequin/small bowl.

Pour 3 cm of water into your steamer pan and bring to boil.

Place steaming tray inside steamer and place cups on it with lids on.

Cover as shown on above picture.
Cook over strong fire for 2 minutes, then 10 minutes over low fire (over high fire all theway through will ened into failure!).

Check if chawanmushi are properly cooked. If you stab a toothpick in it, no dashi shoud come out.

Decorate with leeks or trefoil and serve!

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Italian Restaurant: Dinner at Il Paladino

December 15, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive.
Specialty:Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables.

It had quite some time since I last had a full dinner in an Italian restaurant in Shizuoka City as I tend to visit them only for a quick fis in between work.
I finally had the chance to enjoy a full-course dinner the other day at Il Paladino as an end-of the year dinner with friends.

Il Paladino’s two chefs prepare Italian cuisine mainly of Sicilian inspiration.
As I was the man in charge of the menu, I had just met them a while before to agree on the number and dishes and their basics. After it was all up to their skills and seasonal avaibility!

Antipasti misto plate for 4

The restaurant being very busy that day, I took charge of serving portions to the four of us into each of our plates (Japanese guests practically never do that, especially men!).
The antipasti, among others, included Japanese rock seaweed fritters, Pesce manticato/Brandade, marinated mackerel and grilled vegetables.

The fish dish was isaki, a fish caught off the Izu Peninsula in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. It bears the odd English name of “Chicken Grunt”!

Dividing and serving the fish into 4 portions turned into a performance!

One of us belonging to a famous strawberry-growing family (there are 1,500 registered strawberry growers in Shizuoka Prefecture alone!),the chef had come up with a bright idea: Flaglora Risotto/strawberry risotto with fine Piemonte truffles seasoning, parmegiano and supreme olive oil!
A discovery and beauty!

Grilled Lamb for the meat dish!

Hard work again for your servant!

The ladies had to have a pasta dish!

Funghi e salzizia with Buccoli Pasta!
Light and perfect!
Note: the fact it was served individually made the waistline-conscious ladies a bit more secure! LOL

For dessert the specialty of the house: Home-made (completely) vanilla ice-cream with grappa and caramelized almonds and hazlenuts!

As for the wine, read the repport I posted yesterday below!

A somewhat unusual Italian white wine!

Don’t expect to find this wine on their “official” menu!
You must ask for the owners of the place to look what they have stashed away/hidden in the cellar at the very back of the restaurant!

Name: Alois Lageder (Italian White Wine)
Place: Sud Tirol, Alto Adige
Grape: Pinot Griggio (Pinot Gris)
Bottled in 2008.

Clarity: very clear
Colour: Light golden
Aroma: Fruity amd light. Lots of muscat and green apples
Taste: Very light, almost feminine attack.
Dry and fruity with muscat and green apples faithful to its aroma.
Very pleasant and easy to drink, especially a little chilled.
Very fine bubbles disappearing quickly.
Shortish tail.
Holds its own well with food in spite of its light weight.

Overall: An unusual wine, very similar to an Alsace of the same grape.
Very pleasant and light. Woth drinking with antipasti misto and fish.
Will prove a great experience for young beginners!

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only)

The Japan Blog List

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Bread + Butter, Comestilblog, Greedy Girl, Bouchon For 2, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Mangantayon, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles, Lexi, Culinary Musings, Eats and Everything, Bite Me New England, Heather Sweet, 5 Star Foodie, Frank Fariello, Oyster Culture, Ramendo, Alchemist Chef, Ochikeron, Mrs. Lavendula, The Gipsy Chef, Spirited Miu Flavor
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
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For Vegan and Vegetarians! “Forgotten” Vegetables 23: Purslane

December 15, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

It is my new Foodbluzz Friend, Wizzy, who attracted my attention on this vegetable, being notably forgotten in the States but entertaining a groeing popularity elsewhere.
I decided to investigate further as I recently had the opportunity to taste recently in Japan!

Purslane cultivation

Portulaca oleracea (Common Purslane, also known as Verdolaga, Pigweed, Little Hogweed or Pusley), is an annual succulent in the family Portulacaceae, which can reach 40 cm in height. About 40 varieties are currently cultivated. It has an extensive old-world distribution extending from North Africa through the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent to Malesia and Australasia. The species status in the New World is uncertain: it is generally considered an exotic weed; however, there is evidence that the species was in Crawford Lake deposits (Ontario) in 1430-89, suggesting that it reached North America in the pre-Columbian era. It is naturalised elsewhere and in some regions is considered an invasive weed. It has smooth, reddish, mostly prostrate stems and alternate leaves clustered at stem joints and ends. The yellow flowers have five regular parts and are up to 6 mm wide. The flowers appear depending upon rainfall and may occur year round. The flowers open singly at the center of the leaf cluster for only a few hours on sunny mornings. Seeds are formed in a tiny pod, which opens when the seeds are ready. Purslane has a taproot with fibrous secondary roots and is able to tolerate poor, compacted soils and drought.

Although purslane is considered a weed in the United States, it can be eaten as a leaf vegetable, providing sources can be found which have not been poisoned deliberately. It has a slightly sour and salty taste and is eaten throughout much of Europe, Asia and Mexico. The stems, leaves and flower buds are all good to eat. Purslane can be used fresh as a salad, stir-fried, or cooked like spinach, and because of its mucilaginous quality it is also suitable for soups and stews. Australian Aborigines used to use the seeds to make seedcakes.

Purslane contains more Omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular) than any other leafy vegetable plant. It also contains vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, and some vitamin B and carotenoids), as well as dietary minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron.
It also helps combat ageing as containing antioxydants.

In Greek popular medicine, purslane is used as a remedy for constipation and inflammation of the urinary system.

A common plant in parts of India, purslane is known as “Sanhti”, “Punarva”, or “Kulfa”. In North India it is known to act as a liver tonic and is used in diseases of the liver.

YASAITEI-VEGAN4

I n japan they are called Grapara leaves (grapara/グラパラ)
Can you see them in the middle of this vegetable sashimi served at yasaitei?

YASAITEI-VEGAN6

These grapara leaves are grown in Chiba Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
For people who can read Japanese, check their homepage!

YASAITEI-VEGAN7

Crunchy but with a juicy and tender inside, they are sweet and taste somewhat like pineapple!

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
Seating: 6 at counter + 20 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Japanese cakes/Wagashi 15: Yatsuhashi/O-Tabe

December 14, 2009 dragonlife 1 Comment

Yatsuhashi (八ツ橋 or 八橋) is a Japanese confectionery sold mainly as a souvenir sweet (miyagegashi/土産菓子). It is one of the best known meibutsu/名物 (famous regional products) of Kyoto.
It is also widely known under the name of O-Tabe/お食べ (please eat).

It is made from rice flour (上新粉, jōshinko), sugar and cinnamon. Baked, it is similar to senbei, making suitable for both vegans and flour allergics!

Baked Yatsuhashi

Raw Yatsuhashi

Raw, unbaked yatsuhashi (Nama yatsuhashi/生八橋) has a soft, mochi-like texture and is often eaten wrapped around red bean paste (餡, an), and may come in a variety of different flavours.

Black Yatsuhashi

Most notable to the Kyoto area is the black version of this. The addition of black bean powder and black sesame seed powder to the wrapper and the an give a distinctive black color.

Different flavoured Yatsuhashi

Not so long ago, there were only a few flavours available.
Now, all kinds of flavours are on sale for the pleasur of all:
Cinnamon, Matcha Tea, Ume an (sweetmeats mixed with Jpanese plum), Mandarine, Strawberries, Cherry blossoms, Ramune, Chocolate-banana, Chocolate, Kyoto baked sweet potato, Chestnuts, Green apple, Blueberries, Mango, Orange, Red wine and more seasonal offerings!

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Wine Tasting Shizuoka 4: Alois Lageder (Italy-Sud Tirol), Pinot Griggio

December 14, 2009 dragonlife 2 Comments

Last week i had the occasion to taste a somewhat unusual Italian wine at one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely Trattoria Il Paladino. As for the great meal we had a report is coming soon!
But first the wine!

Don’t expect to find this wine on their “official” menu!
You must ask for the owners of the place to look what they have stashed away/hidden in the cellar at the very back of the restaurant!

Name: Alois Lageder (Italian White Wine)
Place: Sud Tirol, Alto Adige
Grape: Pinot Griggio (Pinot Gris)
Bottled in 2008.

Overall: An unusual wine, very similar to an Alsace of the same grape.
Very pleasant and light. Woth drinking with antipasti misto and fish.
Will prove a great experience for young beginners!

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only)