Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Haru Chisen

About this time of the year Tokaiken Co. offers a seasonal ekiben at Shizuoka JR Station called “Haru Chisen/春千扇”, or “The Thousand Fans of Spring to celebrate the most important season in Japan! It is slightly more expensive (1,000 yen), but it is certainly worth it!

The box is the color of cherry blossoms, the symbol of Spring!

The contents are clearly indicated as usual!

As you lift the cover you will find another film of transparent paper protecting the food inside.

Now, what do we have?

Sansai maze gohan: Rice steamed together with wild mountain vegetables. Another indication that we are in Spring!

Shiozuke sakura no hana: edible cherry blossom preserved in salt!

Let’s have a look at the section on the left… beautiful colors!

Flower-shaped daikon pickled in sweet vinegar on na no hana/rapeseed flowers and umeboshi-pickled daikon.

Tara no me/a Japanese wild mountain vegetable.
Tofu edamame fuwafuwa: deep-fried tofu cake containing edamame and other vegetables.
Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette.

Now, let’s turn to the right section: More colors!

Nimono/simmered vegetables: Carrot, taro, shiitake mushroom, green peas in their pod, bamboo shoot and cherry-blossom-shaped jelly.

Now for the “main dish”: pork shuumai/dim sung, sawara/young Spanish mackerel (from the Suruga Bay) and deep-fried chikuwa/fish paste roll stuffed with umeboshi paste.

By now you should know the color of Spring in Japan!

To be continued…

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Non-Smoking & Partially non-Smoking Restaurants List in Shizuoka Prefecture

I agree that this particular article has been long overdue.
Not only my expats friends, but many Japanese friends have been at pains at finding restaurants, bars and cafes where they wouldn’t have to put up with the hazards and stink of smoke inhaled and expelled by uncaring customers.

This is of course not an exhaustive list, but it will be regularly updated as I visit establishments for work!

One more important point: Non-smoking is not the only criterion, good food is, too!

ENTIRELY NON-SMOKING ESTABLISHMENTS:

TETSUYA SUGIMOTO

Ranking
Service: Highly professional and friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices:~
Strong points:Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables. Seasonal food only

Map (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
420-0038 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,, 2-13,1F
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours:11:30~14:30,17:30~21:30
Holidays: undecided
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE
————————————
PISSENLIT

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.
no-smoking-logoentirely non-smoking!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
————————————-
IL CASTAGNO

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: clean
Prices: reasonable
Specialty: Central and south Italian-style cuisine. Home-made pasta. Very reasonables prices. Progressive wine list.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking!

IL CASTAGNO
420-0843 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Tomoe Cho, 48 (along Kitakaido Street)
Tel. & Fax: 054-247-0709
Business hours: 11:45~14:00, 17:30~21:00
Closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays
Lunch: 1,260 and 1,860 yen
Dinner: 4,000 and 5,000 yen
A la Carte menu and wine list available. Wine by the glass ok
Reservations recommended.
Credit Cards OK (evening only)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
————————————-
VENTY-DUE

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Specialty: Real Napolitan Pizza baked on wood fire
no-smoking-logo1 Completely Non-smoking!

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.
————————————
CONTORNO

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong points: Many local products be they from the land or the sea. Organic vegetables. Car park.
no-smoking-logo1 Entirely non-smoking!
Map

CONTORNO
421-0122, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 5-1-10, Sunrise Mochimune (5 minutes walk from Mochimune JR Station. Second stop after Shizuoka)
Tel.: 054-2565877
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG
—————————————-
LAVIGNE (French Wines & Food Stand Bar)

OC-1

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Facilities: Very clea. large beautiful Washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French wines only. Great snacks.
no-smoking-logo1 Entirely non-smoking!

LAVIGNE
420-0852, Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Kutsunoya Cho, 17-2, 1F (2 minutes walk from JR Station)
Tel/fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

—————————————–
LOCOMANI

Ranking
Very friendly and relaxed
Equipment: Very clean
Prices: Very reasonable
Strong points:Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables. Seasonal food only

Entirely non-smoking!

LOCOMANI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo machi, 1-10-06
静岡市葵区鷹匠町1-10-06
Tel.: 054-260-6622
opening hours: 11:30~20:00
Closed on Wednesdays

Blog: http://rokomani.exblog.jp/
—————————————-
CHAM

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness overall
Prices: very reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Great use of local Shizuoka Vegetables and products. Great Chinese Teas!
no-smoking-logo non-smoking at lunch time/Fully non-smoking!strong>

Cham
Shizuoka Shi, Suruga Ku, Minami Cho, 6-7, inside Irifune Yokocho
Tel.: 054-285-71115
Business hours: 17:00~24:00; lunches on order only (1 day advance)
HOMEPAGE
———————————
ANNAM

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Very clean and beautiful washroom.
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Authentic Vietnamese cuisine prepared by all-vietnamese staff!
Great use of local products.
Entirely non-smoking!

Owner: Ms. Le Thi Hong Vinh
Chef: Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Mai

ANNAM
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-250-2266
Fax: 054-250-2323
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Monday (or next day if National Holiday)
HOMEPAGE
Credit Cards OK
——————————————————-
BEER NO YOKOTA BAR

Service: very friendly
Facilities: very clean
no-smoking-logoNon-smoking!
Strong points: The beer! Especially Baird Beer!

Beer No Yokota
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-Cho, 2-5-22, Social Kadode bldg 2F (behind the City Hall)
Tel.: 054-255-3683
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00 (15:00~24:00 on Saturdays)
Closed on Thursdays
HOMEPAGE
——————————————————
SOBA SAKE KAWAKATSU

Service: Friendly
Equipment: traditional. Clean. Beautiful toilets
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Very fresh ingredients. Most ingredients not only local but sef-grown or self-raised! Local sake and shochu!
no-smoking-logoentirely non-smoking!

Sake Soba Kawakatsu
426-0034, Fujieda Shi, Eki mae, 1-8-4
Tel./Fax: 054-645-1770
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Mondays, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
————————–
SOBA NO MI

Service: Friendly
Equipment: a bit old but clean
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Very fresh ingredients. Old-fashioned atmosphere
no-smoking-logoentirely non-smoking!

Soba No Mi
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Kawabe Cho, 2-2-3
Tel.: 054-251-8000
Business hours: 11:00~21:00 (or until soba are exhausted)
Closed on Tuesdays and third Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE
————————————-
BISTRO OGAWA

Service: Friendly
Facilities: old but very clean. Very clean washroom!
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points: excellent French cuisine without ostentation. Great local products from the land and the sea
no-smoking-logoentirely non-smoking!

Bistro Ogawa
411-0856, Shizuoka ken, Mishima Shi, Hirokoji Machi, 1-37, 2F
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~
Closed on Sunday, Thursday lunch and Saturday dinner
Tel.: 055-972-5040
Cards OK (+5% handling fees)
—————————

PARTIALLY NON-SMOKING ESTABLISHMENTS:

TOMII

Service: Professional & Friendly
Facilities: Very clean overall, beautiful toilets
Prices: reasonable to expensive
Strong points: great choice of Shizuoka sake. Seasonal cuisine only. Shizuoka oden. Top-class Japanese food at reasonable prices
Non-smoking at counter

TOMII
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg, 1F
Tel.: 054-274-0666
Business hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
—————————————
IL PALADINO

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.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made entirely non-smoking!

————————————
OSTERIA PORTA PORTA

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Mainly local vegetables. Good wine list.
Non smoking at lunch time!

Osteria Porta Porta
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-13-11, Topia Takajyo, 103
Tel./fax: 054-266-7320
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30^22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK from July
—————————
UZU

Mixed salad of organic vegetables from Matsuki bio Farm

Service: excellent, easy-going and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: very reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Very fresh local ingredients, especially organic vegetables extensively used. Local sake. Home-made umeshu. Great shochu list.
Non-smoking on Sundays and National Holidays!

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Lunch on reservation only
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
——————————–
AQUAVITE

First appetizer from the side.

First appetizer from the side.

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at counter! Private room can be m,ade completely non-smoking!

AQUAVITE
Address: 420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00 18:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
——————————-
CAPU

Service: Very friendly
Facilities: old but clean
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Vegetarian and ethnic cuisine. Easy-going atmosphere for all ages and trends. Home-made umeshu and biscuits.
Non-smoking on Second Floor!

Food & Craft cafe CAPU/カフエカプ
3-6-13, Tokiwa-cho, aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, 静岡市葵ときわちょうー6-13
Tel.: 054-252-5343
Business hours: 12:00~21:00 (Sat. & Sun. ~22:00)
Closed on Wednesdays.
Private parties possible.
HOMEPAGE
——————————–
HANA HANA

Service: Very friendly. Slow food
Facilities: Very clean all over. Enormous beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Classical French/Italian Cuisine of very good value. Good list of wines and Japanese sake. Great lunches!
Non smoking at lunch!
Map

Hana Hana
〒420-0037Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-cho, 1- 3-12
静岡県静岡市葵区人宿町1丁目3−12
Tel.: 054-221-0087 ‎
Business hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK
————————–

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Italian Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural products as Appetizers: Osteria Porta Porta!

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Mainly local vegetables. Good wine list.
Non smoking at lunch time!

Chef Hidetake Suzuki/鈴木秀武 is back with a vengeance after opening his new Italian Restaurant, Osteria Porta Porta on the 28th of March in Takajyo machi, Shizuoka City!

I’ve always been a great fan of his simple and delicious recipes from Southern Italy.
This is the kind of place you can visit either at lunch or dinner and ask for wine and a plate of appetizers and be more than satisfied!

The restaurant used to be a Japanese establishment and it has been reformed into a clear clean place with a bright atmosphere.

Next time I shall sit here for lunch!

But make sure to have a good look at the specialties of the day!
You are certainly in for a good surprise or two!

Great choice of pasta! Take your pick!

And also check the wine list. Wines come at 2,900 yen to 25,000 yen a bottle. I can assure you there some very decent offerings at very good prices!

For this first quick lunch visit I ordered a plate of appetizers with my wine!

The vegetables are all from Fujieda City In Shizuoka prefecture.
The pork is from Italy for the most part but Hidetake also makes his own!

Scrumptious crostini and all!

Now, this is a surprise: the first artichoke of the year (they take one and a half years to grow) grown by a farmer in Yoshida-Chi. The same farmer also grows fennel! Hidetake and I will interview him before the end of the month!

great plate of cheeses with Italian honey for the Italian gorgonzola!

For another view!

I’ve already said that an Italian restaurant which serves real sugar and fresh cream for lunch is always a telltale of good quality!

Next time see you at dinner! I want to try that fennel gratin!

Osteria Porta Porta
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-13-11, Topia Takajyo, 103
Tel./fax: 054-266-7320
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30^22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK from July

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Shizuoka Tokusei Okonomi

It seems I still have to round up quite a few more ekiben at Shizuoka (City) JR Station before I can move to another station! LOL

This particular regular bento is called Shizuoka Tokusei Okonomi/静岡特製お好み, meaning that it is a specilally made bento with the rice coming with a different topping according to season.


A plain “obento/おべんと” is written on the box but the slightly retro designs are inviting!

Tokaiken Co. as usual describes the contents in detail!

Now, what do we have here?
Notice that the rice is protected by a sheet of paper.

Endou mame gohan/エンドウ豆ご飯, steamed rice and green peas.

Bottom left: pickled daikon
Bottom center: Grilled mackerel
Bottom right: Nimono/steamed vegetables: carrot, taro, shiitake, string bean and yuuba hiroisu/tofu cake.

Middle left: Ingen goma shirae/boiled string beans with sesame dressing
Middle center: Shrimps tempura with a small bottle of soy sauce

Top left: Niwatori Karaage/deep-fried chicken (Japanese style)
Top center: Daifuku/Japanese wagashi/cakes made with rice flour and sweetmeats.
Top right: Shrimps and coleslaw salad

Great balance again and reasonably-priced!

To be continued…

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/05/06)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

Nakameguro Taproom 3-Year Anniversary; Debut of Saison Sayuri 2011

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The greater Tokyo area has always constituted the primary market for Baird Beer. In fact, even though our brewery and first Taproom business (Fishmarket Taproom) were started and are based in Numazu, Shizuoka, it would be no exaggeration to state that we survived our first decade because of the fan base in Tokyo.

It was three years ago this month that we decided finally to bring our Taproom concept to where the action was: Tokyo. We opened the Nakameguro Taproom on May 10, 2008. We will be celebrating the 3-year anniversary of our Nakameguro Taproom this Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8.

Upcoming Taproom Events:
*Nakameguro Taproom 3-Year Anniversary Celebration (Sat-Sun, May 7-8, Noon-Close):

This third birthday party promises to be a culinary treat as Ishikawa-san and his kitchen staff are planning a special menu of items featuring ingredients from both Numazu (including fresh fish and freshly picked produce) and the Tohoku region (including sansai tempura and Iwate prefecture shoulder bacon). All of these items, of course, will be expertly paired with various Baird Beer. Beer and cuisine set cards will be available for purchase during the celebration and patrons who turn in completed cards will be eligible for a raffle awarding various fun beer prizes.

As a special beer treat, we will be unveiling in a sneak-preview debut the 2011 batch of Saison Sayuri. It will begin pouring from the Nakameguro taps at noon sharp on Saturday, May 7. The official Japan-wide release of Saison Sayuri will take place on our matron saint’s birthday: Tuesday, May 10.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Saison Sayuri 2011 (ABV 5.6%):

Saison is an idiosyncratic Belgian-style beer of moderate strength that tends to be spicy and highly refreshing. Sayuri, of course, is my wife and partner and matron saint of Baird Beer. Saison Sayuri is my annual birthday tribute to this lovely woman. The 2011 version is brewed with small spice-like additions of the peels and fresh juice of local dekopon citrus fruit and is fermented with our house Belgian yeast strain. The result is a piquantly quenching brew that still manages a great, albeit understated, depth of character. The 2010 version, of course, garnered a gold medal in the Belgian- and French-Style Ale category of the prestigious World Beer Cup 2010 competition.

Saison Sayuri will be available both in kegs and bottles (633 ml) beginning Tuesday, May 10.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE


The Japan Blog List

———————————
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Sunday Sunny Marché

Organic vegetables fro Shizuoka Prefecture.

Sunday Sunny Marché (The Japanese love to mix French with English) was held for the 3rd time today on the last day of the Golden Week may 5th.
Today was not a Sunday but Thursday, but this has been arranged specially for the Boys’ Day. The real Sunday event will take place on Sunday June 19th!

This event was held at Ogushi Shinto Shrine in front of Parco department Store.
It is a combination of flea market and local producers direct sales event.
In the future the event might concentrate more on the local producers because of the growing consciousness of helthy food!

Free tasting of great Fukuroi Musk melons!”

Lovely tomatoes. I’d love to pinch those black-red ones!

Organic vegetables from MOA Garden (same as top picture!)!

Wasabi zuke/wasabi pickles from up the Abe River!

Yomogi Kintsuba cakes (vegan) from the same area!

Organic vegetables from Shizen no Chikara Garden. Sorry for the blurry oic, but somebody bumped into me!

Cakes (organic) from the same garden. This time nobody bumped into me!

Bread and pastries made with natural yeast!

Macrobiotic cakes!

More organic vegetables. Organic is real big in Shizuoka Prefecture!”

Top-class kanamihime strawberries!

These strawberries were some of the organic vegetables and fruit marketed by Shizuoka Bio Farm Chain!

Organic herbs!

More macrobiotic cakes on offer!

And macrobiotic sweets!

The ladies were nice… Unfortunately their wares were not much from Shizuoka….

Another stand of macrobiotic sweets and cakes!

What did I tell you?

A whole range of organic products from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Alright, this was only a short introduction!
I was very busy exchanging business cards (while avoiding being bumped in!) and I shall be able soon to interview all these good people for better introduction soon!

Sunday Sunny Marché by Sunny Sunday Picnic
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Shizuoka Ekiben/Railway Station Bento: Shizuoka Monogatari

Even if the many ekiben/Raliway bento/Railway Box Lunches at Shizuoka JR Station are all prepared by the same company, Tokaiken Co., they still have to satisfy not only a great variety of individual tastes but also “multiple tastes”.
Some people don’t want rice only or not one kind of the latter.
Shizuoka Monogatari/静岡物語 (Shizuoka Story) is a typical example of an ekiben conceived to satisfy an eclectic customer!

Orange is the official color of Shizuoka Prefecture!

As usual everything is clearly indicated!

No, the picture is not blurry. It is only that the food is protected by a film of hard transparent paper!

Now, what do we have here?

Due to the design of the ekiben I will have to repeat myself!
The rice at the bottom is topped with deep-fried cherry shrimps/sakura ebi, only found in Shizuoka Prefecture!
The spaghetti are peperocino style!

The rice at the right has been steamed with Shizuoka green tea!

Bottom left: Nimono/stewed vegetables: carrot, bamboo shoots, string beans.
Bottom right: Yaki saba/grilled mackerel and sweet beans dessert (called “uguisu mame”)
Top left: Unagi kabayaki/broiled eel with pickled leaf ginger and lettuce
Top right: Maguro Kakuni/stewed tuna cubes, Kuro hanpen/Sardine paste (both Shizuoka specialties)

Bottom right: Shuumai, soy sauce bottle and apricot preserve dessert
Top right: Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette (containing minced meat) and pickled daikon

To be continued….

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Vegan & Vegetarian Sushi In Shizuoka Sushi Restaurants

Vegan Sushi plate at Sushi Ko

The Missus and I visited our favourite Sushi Restaurant last night, Sushi Ko. it might not be the most expensive or sophisticated sushi restaurant in our Prefecture but you get the best food at the best price.
It certainly far better value than some vaunted establishments in Tokyo or New York where you pay ridiculous prices for tiny pieces of art in outrageously expensive surroundings!
Moreover, Mr. Oda is one of those very few true chefs who take pleasure in tackling any challenge thrown at him by customers.
He knows that I will always ask him to come with a vegan sushi plate not only to demonstrate that such gastronomy exists, but also to lure more customers to his business, which is quite flourishing.

Here what he concocted for us. Sorry for the slightly fuzzy pictures, but I had to contend with an impatient Missus!

These rolls were made with thin wide strips of daikon that mr. Oda quickly marinated in lemon water instead of using dry nori/seaweed.
Inside he rolled sushi rice (shari) with trefoil stems, umeboshi/pickled Japanese plum meat and shiso/perilla leaves!

Buckwheat sprouts/Hime Soba Me/姫蕎麦芽 Nigiri!

Thin leek sprouts/Me Negi/芽葱 Nigiri!

Trefoil/Mitsuba/三つ葉 Nigiri!

What is Mr. Oda going to come up with next time? LOL

Sushi Ko
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho. 2-3-1 (Aoba Koen)
Tel.: 054-2512898
Business Hours: 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 (Sundays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
————————-
Vegan Sushi at Sushi Ko

SUSHIK-09-08-31-12

On Monday August 31st, my birthday, the Missus invited me to our favourite sushi restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Sushi Ko!
There are many reasons for Sushi Ko to be our favourite sushi restaurant that I have mentioned many a time before: supreme fish and vegetables (and even meat), great side dishes, including cooked dishes, originality, great service and willingness to tackle customers’ challenges! On top that add a great list of sake, shochu and even wines! As for the icing the prices are more than reasonable and clearly indicated!
Omnivores should check HERE for the full article!

Although neither of us is vegan, mr. Oda and I have this little game every time of a challenge consisting of a plate featuring at least four vegan sushi.
Here is what the chef came with this time:

SUSHIK-09-08-31-13

Himenegi/young thin leeks reminiscent of French ciboulette.

SUSHIK-09-08-31-14

Kaiwaredaikon/Japanese radish sprout, lightly boiled and topped with some umeboshi/Japanese pickled plum.

SUSHIK-09-08-31-15

Betarazuke/daikon lightly pickled in sweet vinegar. In this cases served with a piece of shiso/perilla leaf between the shari/sushi rice and the neta/topping. Some lime skin was grated ontop making for a sweet sophisticated taste!

SUSHIK-09-08-31-16

Mitsuba/Trefoil: the stems and leaves were slightly boiled and sparated, making for a bicolour combination accentuated by finely cut kyuri/cucumber!

Sushi Ko
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho. 2-3-1 (Aoba Koen)
Tel.: 054-2512898
Business Hours: 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 (Sundays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
—————————
VEGAN & VEGETARIAN SUSHI IN SHIZUOKA

iroha-2.jpg
(from top to bottom and left to right: Konnyaku/Devil’s Tongue Tuber, Celery marinated in Amazu/sweet vinegar and pickled Japanese plums, Shiro negi/White leek, Na no Hana/Rape Blossoms, Gobo/Burdock roots, Satsuma Imo/Sweet yams, Daikon/Long Japanese radish)

Whenever I can convince there is Japanese food fit for Vegans and Vegetarians (I’m neither!), I make a point of posting articles that might help friends with different culinary priorities!
I have recently received more requests about recipes and examples.
Therefore I decided to re-post a former article with the addition of more discoveries!

There is vegan and vegetarian sushi in Japan and elsewhere!
As a proof have a good look at the picture and explanations above. The pic was taken at Iroha Sushi, a small but extremely renown sushi restaurant in Iwata City, an area celebrated for its vegetables!

vegan-sushi1
Kyoto is a renown place for Vegan & Vegetarian Sushi!
From right to left, top to bottom:, Yuuba (tofu sheets), Takenoko (Bamboo shoots), Myoga (myoga ginger), Zenmai (Spring vegetable variety), Ki no mi (Spring vegetables), Awafu (grilled tofu sheets), Kamo Nasu (kamo egg-plant), Hakusai Maki (Chinese cabbage).
Print a copy of this pic, show it to your local Sushi Restaurant and challenge him/her into preparing your favorite tidbits!

vegan-sushi2
From bottom to top: Takenoko (boiled bamboo shoots topped with a sprig of sansho/Japanese pepper plant)), Kabu Tsukemono (pickled turnip), Sugiku no Ha Maki (sugiku Chrysanthemum leaves)
And what about these? Not only tasty but fulfilling!

efbd8befbd81efbd8defbd90efbd99efbd8fefbd95efbd8daki
“Kanpyou maki”/dry gourd shavings: here is one that any sushi restaurant will serve you!

vegan-sushi3
That small one is my personal favourite: “menegi”/thin leeks sprouts!

24-24-24-311
Vegan/vegetarian Te-maki: natto, shiso, ume/Japanese pickled plum.
(Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!)

24-24-24-33
Another Vegan/vegetarian Kanpyo-maki/dry gourd shavings roll for second dessert!

24-24-24-8

Menegi/leek sprouts, Soba no Shinme/buckwheat sprouts, Mitsuba, avocado, Takuan/pickled daiko and shiso nd cucumber gunkan, mizuna gunkan.
(Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!)

sobasushimaki

And how about Soba Sushi maki?

I’ll still keep looking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Vegan Sushi Recipe Suggestions (updated & amended)

MYOGA/MYOGA GINGER

I already have introduced Vegan and Vegetarian Sushi, but following further requests and questions by my vegan (I’m not!) friends, I decided to contribute a small series of postings to give them more detailed suggestions and ideas!

Now, please check sushi rice recipe HERE to make things more practical!

The first vegetable amenable to sushi I would like to introduce is Myoga, or Myoga Ginger.

Please check Myoga HERE on Wikipedia!

Myoga is a very interesting vegetable as not only the shoots but also the flowers are edible!

The flower in its natural state!

As bought at the market.

Interestingly enough, as Japan makes an enormous consumption of them it has to import a lot from New Zealand and Australia. I’m sure you can buy it at local Asian markets. It could prove an interesting cultivation for some, too!

Myoga sushi roll.

Now there are two basic ways of presenting myoga as sushi.
First, as shown on above picture, as a roll.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just chop the myoga in strips and fill the roll with it accompanied by some wasabi.

Myoga Sushi nigiri.

The other basic way is present it as sushi nigiri on top of a small ball of sushi rice previously smeared with a little wasabi.

You can prepare the myoga in two basic ways,too:
The first one would would be just to wash it and use it raw.
The second would be to pickle it in rice vinegar and sugar for a while, press it and serve it in both sushi styles as explained above.

There are other interesting possibilities when you let your imagination go free as in above picture where the rice is replaced with a small cube of tofu and the topping is made with chopped myoga, tofu and wasabi all mixed together!

To further convince you, look at the picture above:
All vegan sushi:
from top down: Cucumber, egg plant/aubergine and myoga. The last are pickled daikon!
———————————
2) DAIKON

Daikon Nigiri as served at Sushi KO, Shizuoka City, Japan!

SYNOPSIS:

I already have introduced Vegan and Vegetarian Sushi, but following further requests and questions by my vegan (I’m not!) friends, I decided to contribute a small series of postings to give them more detailed suggestions and ideas!

Now, please check sushi rice recipe HERE to make things more practical!

————————————

The second vegetable amenable to sushi I would like to introduce is Daikon, or Japanese Radish/Daikon Radish.

Please check DAIKON HERE on Wikipedia!

Daikon seems to be known only in its big white shape with a green top.
Actually, not only it is a versatile vegetables, but it does come into many shapes and colors as shown in picture above.

Once cut, look at these beautiful colors.

Daikon sushi, especially served as nigiri can be made very simple as in above picture where the daikon was sliced very thin and marinated for a while in lemon added water.

For more sophisticated preparations and presentations browse below!

The same as the top picture. The daikon was marinated for a while in yuzu juice and rice vinegar then derved with grated yuzu zest/skin.

Simple but so sophisticated. The other one is rape blossom.

Daikon can be pickled Japanese-style into “takuan/沢庵”, making for great colors and combination!

Takuan & Beni Shoga/takuan and red ginger temari sushi!

Great color afain with Koushin Daikon/紅芯大根!

The possibilities are infinite. Can you imagine the takuan above on a rice ball. The whole daikon was first pickled then peeled/cut into a sheet, rolled with lettuce and cut across!

And how about a daikon millefeuille sushi for dessert!
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3) Veggie Sushi Tray, Box & Plate Presentations

Veggie Sushi Box for bento/Lunch box!

SYNOPSIS:

I already have introduced Vegan and Vegetarian Sushi, but following further requests and questions by my vegan (I’m not!) friends, I decided to contribute a small series of postings to give them more detailed suggestions and ideas!

Now, please check sushi rice recipe HERE to make things more practical!

————————————

This particular posting is designed to help you with designing Veggetables sushi tray, box or plate presentations!

Asparaguses, Kabocha and Okra Sushi Nigiri.

Mushroom, maountai Vegetable, Myoga Ginger, Bamboo Shoots, and Leek sprouts Sushi nigiri.

White leek, Sprouts and yam,fresh or seared (repeated) Sushi Gunkan.

White asparaguses, myoga ginger, corn (gunkan) and tomato sushi nigiri.

Sorry, the pic is small, but the tray isquite sophisiticated:

Top: tomato. Second row (from top down): Rice ball wrapped in shiso/perilla leaf, pickled aubergines and myoga ginger. Third row: Tomato and kawaire daikon sprouts. Fourth row: Rice ball wrapped in shiso/perilla leaf, pickled aubergines and myoga ginger. Fifth row: bamboo shoots.

Here the rice is white and violet rices mixed.
Shhitake mushroom, broccoli, pickled yam and fuki.

Small pic again, sorry.
Goya, daikon pickled in sweet vinegar, okra, bamboo shoots and chopped mountain vegetables.

Pickled aubergine, Okra, Myoga Ginger, Plain rice, Burdock root and pickled aubergine.

Ice plant, Avocado and radish, Leek shoots, Myoga Ginger and Shiitake Mushroom.

Leaf sprouts, pickled aubergine, yam and red sweet pimento cubes, green aspargus tips and seared eringe mushroom.

From top:
Ippon Shimeji mushroom (grilled), Myoga Ginger, Pickled celery, Tomato gunkan with cucumber instead of seaweed/nori and Leek sprouts.

Sorry for the fuzzy picture:
From top: orange and its peel marinated in sweet vinegar, Tomato, Onion marinated in sweet vinegar, Kawaire daikon sprouts (lightly boiled), Tomato and okra gunkan and pickled cucumber.

From left: green leaves gunkan, Chinese cabbage (boiled and topped with grated ginger), red seet pimento (lightly grilled), Na no han/rape blossoms (boiled), Bambooo shoot (boiled), and trefoil (lightly boiled).

Okra, celery, myoga ginger and three different pimento.

Green pimento (lightly grilled), na no hana/rape blossom (boiled) and pickled aubergine.

From bootom upwards:
Leek sprouts, bamboo shoots, Myoga ginger and na no hana/rape blossoms!

Still looking around and ordering!
————————
4) Natto & Sesame Seeds Sushi Roll!

Some time ago, I did come some Vegan Sushi suggestions.
Since I have started postings (Lou Ann; , keep your eyes open!), combining it with vegan is only natural!

Natto & Sesame Seeds Sushi Roll!

INGREDIENTS:

-Natto: 1 standard pack
-Dry seaweed/nori: 1 standard sheet
-White (actually yellow!) sesame seeds: 8 tablespoons
-Rice: 1 “go” (180 cc/ml
-Konbu/seaweed (hard type for cooking): 3×3 cm piece

●Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
●Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
●Japanese mustard: as appropriate
◎Rice vinegar: tablepsoons
◎Sugar: 1 teaspoon
◎Salt: 1/3 teaspoon

RECIPE:

-Wash the recipe and steam until still a little firmer than usual.

-Drop “◎” ingredients in a small and gently heat until all is dissolved. Try to keep it lukewarm.

-Add “●” ingredients to natto and mix.

-Mix in “◎” liquid with rice by “cutting ” it in.

-Line a sushi roll mat with cellophane paper and sprinkle the whole surface with sesame seeds.

-Spread the sushi rice evenely over the sesame seeds covered cellophane paper. Cover with the dry seaweed sheet.

-Spread the natto mix along one side of the sushi rice and on the seaweed.

-Roll in carefully by lifting the cellophane paper at the same time.

-If you think that the roll is not round enough to your taste, pinch each cellophane paper extremity shut and press into shape.
When cutting the sushi roll, you can do it across the cellophane paper with a sharp knife and then delicately unwrap it.
Wipe your knife clean after each cut!
—————————–
5) Vegan Natto & Cucumber Sushi Rolls

Here is another simple suggestion for making sushi rolls with natto for all to enjoy!

Vegan Natto & Cucumber Sushi Rolls!

INGREDIENTS: For 1 roll

-Nori/dry seaweed sheet: 1
-Rice: 1 bowl Check RECIPE
-Roasted sesame seeds: 1 teaspoon

-Beni shooga/pickle red ginger: 1 tablespoon
-Natto: 1 standard pack
-Cucumber (Japanese style, thin and crunchy): 1/2
-Thin leeks: 1~2

RECIPE:

-Chop the beni shooga finely. Add to rice with sesame seeds. Mix well.
Cut the cucumber into long thin strips.
Do the same with the leek.
Mix natto with its seasoning well (if not sold together, use soy sauce, sesame oil and mustard).

On a sushi roll pad, spred the nori/dry seaweed sheet. Cover it evenly with the rice.
As shown in picture above, fill the roll (starting fromabout 1 quarter of the width) with cucumber, leeks and natto.
Roll delicately first, then firmly.
Leave inside the pad until you serve.

Before serving, unroll the sushi roll and cut it with a sharp knife.
Wipe the knife cleanly after each cut!

Enjoy!
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6) Vegan Sushi at Sushi Ko

For once, thatis last Thursday, the heat has somewhat abated.
We even had welcome rain almost all day long.
The Missus and I did not need more encouragement to pay a belated visit to our favourite sushi Restaurant in Shizuoka Cyt, Sushi Ko.
We did have a lot I will describe in the next posting but I thought my vegan and vegetarian friends would like to see a separate article about vegan/vegetarian sushi!

Mr. Oda seved us 5 different types.
The first two are menegi/芽葱 or thin leeks sprouts topped with a little yuzukoshio paste.
The second one is himesoba/姫蕎麦 or buckwheat sprouts secured with a small band of nori/dry seaweed.
Both were serve raw.

The third one was kaiwaredaikon/貝割れ大根 or daikon sprous, boiled and topped with some umeboshi/梅干 pickled Japanese plum paste.
The fourth was raw mitsuba/三つ葉 or Japanese Honeywort secured with a thin band of nori/dry seaweed.

The fifth was mitsuba/三つ葉 or Japanese Honeywort again but slightly boiled and served as gunkan shushi/軍艦寿司 style.

Looking forward to the next visit!

Sushi Ko
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho. 2-3-1 (Aoba Koen)
Tel.: 054-2512898
Business Hours: 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 (Sundays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Sushi & Sashimi: The Basics 4/5: Sushi Presentations-Te-Maki Zushi/Cone Sushi (updated & amended)

Te-Maki Zushi/手巻き寿司, Hand-rolled sushi or more appropriately said “Cone Sushi). like Te-mari sushi that I have already introduced, are the perfect way of making your own sushi at great informal sushi parties!

Now, if you decide to organize a Te-Maki Sushi Party, make sure that you have plenty of “neta”/fillings ready for your guests to easily choose from.
Bear in ind the priorities of your guests. Vegan and vegatarian sushi are very easy to provide for. If need be prepare different plates of ingredients.

Next you need nori/海苔/ dried sheets of seaweed. Cut to the size most appropriate to your te-maki. keep in mind the appetite of ypur guests. Some might want them small, others large. Do experiment!

Prepare enough sushi rice for all to fill their te-maki with.
I would suggets you make at least 3 large bowls of them:
One seasoned with sesame seeds like the Missus does all the time, one plain, and another one seasoned with an ingredient of your choice: finely chopped pickle, chopped cooked shiitake, and so on.

TECHNIQUES:

The above te-maki includes three ingredients: avocado, katsuo/bonito and fresh salmon sashimi.

Spread a triangle of sushi rice on the left half of the nori/dry seaweed.
The seaweed sheets ought to be cut in half along their length first.

Place the ingredients over the rice as shown in picture.

Start rolling from the left.

Keep turning until you have completed the cone!

FILLINGS SUGGESTIONS:

Hera is a group of four different te-maki as a combination suggestion with ingredients that should please both Japanese and non-Japanese.
Do experiment!

Kimchi, tuna flakes, mayonnaise and sesame seeds!

Crab meat and mayonnaise. You could add some green leaf vegetables, too!

Asparaguses (boiled), tuna flakes and mayonnaise. You could include some curry powder in the mayonnaise!

Salmon roe. Season the roe with a little soy sauce first! Some wasabi would be welcome, too!

SAMPLES:

Here are more samples to help your imagination:

Chili sauce shrimps and kawaire daikon sprouts.

Tuna, shiso and ikura/salmon roe.

Roast beef, omelette and vegetables!

Lettuce, surimi, omelette and cucumber.

Fried pork, shiso and kawaire daikon sprouts.

Nato and hijiki seaweed for vegans!

All vegetables again!

I’m going to Sushi Ko with the Missus tomorrow. I will ask mr. Oda tothink of something!LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Homare Fuji Rice Junmai Nama Genshu

Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City, in spite of the strong earthquake in March is actively producing all kinds of sake (and shochu) brews!

They are also one of the 19 (out of 28) Shizuoka Breweries experimenting with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji Sake Rice (“sakamai”)!
This particular brew is a nama genshu junmai, meaning it is the very original product with no addition or alteration!

This time I had the perfect snack to enjoy the tasting!

Shizuoka-grown crispy small cucumbers with wasabizuke/wasabi stems and leaves pickled in sake white lees/sake kasu!

Fuji-Takasago Brewery-Homare Fuji Rice Junmai Nama Genshu

Rice: Homare Fuji (100%)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in March 2011

Clarity: Very Clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Light and fruity. Complex. Pineapple
Body: fluid
Taste: Strong dry attack with marked junmai petillant and nama genshu punch combining for a marked first impression.
Complex. Pineapple with hints of caramel and apricots
For all its strength, disappears fairly quickly with dry pineapple spreading over the palate with notes of almonds and apricot.
Changes little with food.

Overall: Intereting strong sake designed for food.
The dryish overall taste combines well with izakaya food.
Noteworthy sake for strong sake officionados!

Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Vegetarian Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural Products at CAPU

Service: Very friendly
Facilities: old but clean
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Vegetarian and ethnic cuisine. Easy-going atmosphere for all ages and trends. Home-made umeshu and biscuits.
Non-smoking on Second Floor!

In Shizuoka City (and elsewhere in Japan) many young people come up with interesting small cafes/bars/restaurants reminiscent of the hippy (and happy) years that most people have either forgotten or never experienced (I’m becoming to feel like an old, but happy, geezer!).

One such place is CAPU. It is not easy to find as the facade does not really reveal the interior and the purpose of the cafe. Actually it advertizes itself for food and craft.
The first floor is a real bric a brac with only a few seats.
But if you want to eat or drink away from the smokers go to the second floor (don’t forget to take off your shoes!) where you can consume at any time of the day.

Alone or with friend(s) you can choose your own (small) seating and read while you eat or drink (a good place to bring your own book!).

Lunch can be very busy, and as this is slow food par exellence you might do well coming in the afternoon.

Slow food and slow life. Not only ladies, but a few gentlemen do patronize the place.

CAPU both serves vegatarian and omnivore food, most of it ethnic (from Thailand to Western Africa and Mexico).
This time, a friend and I concentrated on vegetarian food.
I chose the above, Vegetarian Thai Curry.

All vegetables are cooked with coconut milk. Vegans can surely ask for their own priorities there.

Rice is always mixed with almost half a dozen cereals, making for a very healthy offering!

Cooked and raw vegetables are all seasonal from Shizuoka.

My friend opted for the West African maffe with couscous. Couscous and chick peas are obviously improted but it still contains plenty of vegetables from Shizuoka!

These very tasty vegetables reminded me of soft Indian curry.

But the couscous is defeinitely African. Great mixed with the vegetables!

Plenty of greens and Vitamin C for a well-balanced meal!

The dessert comes with the set menu and I know a lot of ladies who will find enough space for it!

Food & Craft cafe CAPU/カフエカプ
3-6-13, Tokiwa-cho, aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, 静岡市葵ときわちょうー6-13
Tel.: 054-252-5343
Business hours: 12:00~21:00 (Sat. & Sun. ~22:00)
Closed on Wednesdays.
Private parties possible.
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Sushi & Sashimi: The Basics 4/3: Sushi Presentations-Donburi (Amended & Updated)

donburi-09-02-13

Donburi made by the Missus:
-She marinated thin slices of raw tuna in ponzu, sake and what else. The leftover marinade was poured over the rice to season it before she placed the pieces of tuna on top.
-Smoked salmon with capers.
-A spoon of “tobikko/flying fish roe”
-A generous portion of locally-made (up the Abe River in Shizuoka City) “Wasabi zuke/chopped wasabi stems and flowers fermented in “sake kasu/sake white lees” (all from Shizuoka Prefecture!)

There is another form of sushi, partly similar to Chirashizushi called Donburi Sushi.
It is popular not only at sushi restaurants, especially in Hokkaido Island, but also in Japanese homes all over Japan!
The moment you know how to prepare sushi rice, it is great fun!
You can make donburi vegan, vegetarian, seafood or even meat.
It is entirely up to your imagination!

Here is another example by the Missus:

DONBURI-HOME

Plain steamed rice topped with slices of “akami”/ lean tuna part, avocado salad with mayonnaise and wasabi pickles (the latter provided a nice balance with a spicy touch), boiled sirasu/whitebait sprinkled with “hijiki” seaweed and “tobikko”/flying fish roe.
The tobikko added a nice colour finish touh. It is quite cheap down here in Shizuoka City.
I poured a little Shizuoka-made wasabi dressing on top. This dressing is a lot milder than pure grated wasabi with a little sweetness which combines well with the fish!

I go very often to Hokkaido and have collected quite a few samples of Donburi:

The following three were taken near Abashiri a short distance from Shiretoko, one of the Japanese World Nature Heritage in the far North:

DONBURI-HOKKAIDO-1
“Oyako” Donburi/”Mother and Child”. In this case it means Salmon and Salmon Roe!

DONBURI-HOKKAIDO-2
“Uni” Donburi, Sea Urchin Donburi. Absolutely extravagant!

DONBURI-HOKKAIDO-3
Uni to Ikura Donburi, even more extravagant!

The next four were savoured in Sapporo City, the capital of Hokkaido:

DONBURI-SAPPORO-1
From bottom, clockwise:

“Uni” (Sea Urchin), “Kani Tsume” (Crab legs), “Maguro” (Tuna), “Nanban Ebi” ( large prawn variety)

DONBURI-SAPPORO-2
From bottom, clockwise:

“Hotate” (Scallops), “Uni” (Sea urchin), “Ika” (Squid), “Kani Tsume” (Crab legs)

DONBURI-SAPPORO-3
From top middle clockwise:

“Ikura” (salmon roe), “Kazu no ko” (herring roe), “Kampachi” (Amberjack), “Tako” (octopus), “Sake” (raw salmon), “Hotate” (scallops), in the centre, “Uni” (sea urchin)

DONBURI-SAPPORO-4
From bottom, clockwise:

“Hotate” (Scallops), “Ikura” (Salmon roe), “Kazu no Ko” (Herring roe), “Kampachi” (Amberjack), “Uni” ( Sea Urchin), “Kani Tsume” (Crab leg), “Ebi” (Boiled prawn)

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Sansai/Japanese Wild Mountain Plants (updated)

“Sansai/Wild Mountain Plants” are around the corner so I thought it might be a good idea to draw people’s attention back to them for easier reference! They also include wild fruit that can be eaten both as vegetables and fruit with various preparations.
Some can be boiled, others fried, prepared as tempura, cooked in soup, prepared as pickles or jam, etc.

As it would become far too big (already massive, but inexhaustive) a posting if I wrote everything, please pick up one item at a time if you want more explanations and I will write an individual article for your pleasure!

Here we go:
(No particular order)

ainu-negi-alium-victorialis
AINU NEGI: ALIUM VICTORIALIS

akebi-chocolate-vine
AKEBI: CHOCOLATE VINE

amadokoro-polygonatum-odoratum
AMADOKORO: POLYGONATUM ODORATUM

azami-thistle
AZAMI: THISTLE

fukinoto-giant-butterbur
FUKINOTO: GIANT BUTTERBUR

hamaboufuu-glhnia-littoralis
HAMABOUFUU: GLEHNIA LITTORALIS

hangonsou-senecio-cannabifolius
HANGONSOU: SENECIO CANNABIFOLIUS

hasukappu-lonicera-caerulea
HASUKAPPU: LONICERA CAERULEA/HASCUP

hikagehego-flying-spider-monkey-tree-fern
HIKAGEHEGO: FLYING SPIDER MONKEY TREE FERN

irakusa-urtica-thunbergiana
IRAKUSA: URTICA THUNBERGIANA

itadori-japanese-knotweed
ITADORI: JAPANESE KNOTWEED

katakuri-dogtooth-violet
KATAKURI: DOGTOOTH VIOLET

kiboushi-plantain-lily-hosta-fortinei
KIBOUSHI: PLANTAIN LILY HOSTA FORTINEI ( a variety of Hosta Montana)

kogomi-ostrich-fern
KOGOMI: OSTRICH FERN (exists as green and red)

koshiabura-ascathopanax-sciadophylloides
KOSHIABURA : ASCATHOPANAX SCIADOPHYLLOIDES

kuko-chinese-wolfberry
KUKO: CHINESE WOLFBERRY

kusagi-harlequin-glory-bower-peanut-butter-shrub2
KUSAGI: HARLEQUIN GLORY BOWER PEANUT BUTTER SHRUB

matatabi-silver-vine
MATATABI: SILVER VINE

mitsuba-japanese-honeywort
MITSUBA: JAPANESE HONEYWORT

nirinsou-anemone-flaccida
NIRINSOU: ANEMONE FLACCIDA

nobiru-alium-macrostemon
NOBIRU: ALIUM MACROSTEMON

oyamabokuchi-synurus-pungens
OYAMABOKUCHI: SYNURUS PUNGENS

ryoubu-clrthra-barbinervis
RYOUBU: CLERTHRA BARBINERVIS

sarunashi-actinia-arguta
SARUNASHI: ACTINIA ARGUTA

seri-japanese-parsley
SERI: JAPANESE PARSLEY

suberiyu-common-purslane
SUBERIYU: COMMON PURSLANE

takenoko-bamboo-shoots
TAKENOKO: BAMBOO SHOOTS (SPROUTS)

tanpopo-dandelion
TANPOPO: DANDELION

tara-no-me-aralia-elata
TARA NO ME: ARALIA ELATA

tsukushi-horsetail
TSUKUSHI: HORSETAIL

tsuroganeninjin-adenophora-triphylla
TSUROGANENINJIN: ADENOPHORA TRIPHYLLA

udo-aralia-cordata
UDO: ARALIA CORDATA

yamaudo
YAMAUDO: same as UDO (above)

urui-hosta-montana
URUI: HOSTA MONTANA

warabi-pteridium-aquilinum
WARABI: PTERIDIUM AQUILINUM

yamabudo-crimson-glory-vine
YAMABUDO: CRIMSON GLORY VINE

yamawasabi-wild-horseradish
YAMAWASABI: WILD HORSERADISH

zenmai-osmunda-japonica
ZENMAI: OSMUNDA JAPONICA

—————————
Still have to find the English names for the following ones!

aiko
AIKO

akamizu
AKAMIZU

aomizu
AOMIZU

inudouna
INUDOUNA

shidoke
SHIDOKE

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
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Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Japanese Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural & Marine Products at UZU!

Mixed salad of organic vegetables from Matsuki bio Farm

Service: excellent, easy-going and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: very reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Very fresh local ingredients, especially organic vegetables extensively used. Local sake. Home-made umeshu. Great shochu list.
Non-smoking on Sundays and National Holidays!

I just can’t stop re-visiting Uzu. I just have too many reasons for that: the food there is exclusively seasonal and so healthy.
For once I was lucky to have dinner there on a National Holiday, meaning that smoking was completely prohibited!

Uzu is off the beaten tracks away from the bustling centre of Shizuoka City, a small haven of Japanese tradition.

But it is safe to say that their sign is modern calligraphy art!

The day’s specials are always hand written on paper posted outside.

They are written by Chef Yoshimura’s wife. Bring a Japanese friend with you to help you understand the menu. It is worth it as all the farmers and breeders of the food served inside are clearly stated!

The snack coming with the first drink included Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimps tofu! A great way to serve the specialty from Yui!

We first had the haru Yasai Gorogoro salad, a salad made with all kinds of organic Spring vegetables grown at Matsuki Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

From another angle to show the beautiful raw mushrooms. The dressing was also vegetarian!

For once we didn’t have a sake from Shizuoka Prefecture but Hitakami/日高見 from Miyagi Prefecture. We had to pay cash for this sake as part of it woill go to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Miyagi Prefecture! What a great way to contribute!

For the sashimi we had a combination of the sea and the land!

Benimasu/salmon trout from Fujinomiya City!

Isaki/Chicken grunt from the Suruga Bay.
The freshly grated wasabi is from Umgashima, Shizuoka City!

Amagi Shamo Chicken bred in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula: Amagi Shamo Chicken innards and leaf Ginger in Shichuan style/Amagi Shamo Naizou to Ha Shouga, shisen style.

For a closer look!
This dish has been inspire by a friend of Mr. Yoshimura’s. I will dine there soon!

A cute serving on a beautiful earthenware dish!

We did drink fresh water, with the difference that all the fresh water served at Uzu come from the well of Hatsukame Brwery in Okabe!

Amagi Shamo thighs grilled to perfect balance served with fresh wasabi sauce!

Now, I know a lot of people who would like to try this dessert:
Vanilla and brown sugar ice-cream topped with umeshu and its chopped ume! Ume is Japanese plum, and ume shu is made with ume, sake and shochu!

Don’t worry, there will be many other reports on this great Shizuoka Izakaya which is the epitome of our Prefecture’s gastronomy!

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Lunch on reservation only
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
With a Glass,
Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!