レシピ, Chicken, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 茶, 蕎麦, 虹鱒, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 鱒, 農業, Fish, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Ice Cream, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mishima City, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Prefecture Gastronomic Week Lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

October 6, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizauok City has been designated by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government as one of the top chefs promoting the gastronomy of our Prefecture.
The same Prefecture has designated the last two weeks of Septmber as the “Shizuoka Shoku no Bu Shigotonin Week/静岡食の部仕事人ウイーク/Shizuoka Gastronomy Craftsmen Week (although it lasts two!)”

The official poster printed by the Government!
Toru therefore conceived a special full lunch course menu for the occasion for 7,000 yen/70 Euros, extremely reasonable considering the quality!

The special menu also celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the opening of Pissenlit!

The restaurant was offered some magnificent bouquets for the occasion!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

The menu!
Actually it was more of a guideline as some items were changed according to the products available that day.
In fact two friends of mine who visited the place the following week-end were served two different versions!
Lucky ones!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん also initiated a great idea by offering local tea in lieu of alcohol for people who cannot drink or may not like on that particular day!
You can either have one variety prepared in two different ways for 200 yen or the whole set of three teas for 500 yen!

The first glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea”!

Eggplant/Aubergine Mousse! The aubergine came from Hirokawa garden in Mishima City
Most other vegetables on that day were organic and grown at Kitayama Garden in Fujinomiya City!

The second glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Marinated rainbow trout and iwana/Japanese char bred by Kakishima Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Note the iwana skin baked to a crisp and the edible perilla/shiso flowers!

From another angle to show the vegetables placed between the fish including menegi/leek sprouts!

The first glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea”!

A French classic with a Japanese/Shizuoka twits: (Shizuoka-grown) buckwheat pancake/galette with Amagi Shamo chicken (Bred in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula) liver, heart and gizzards and poached egg with Utogi wasabi leaves!

For a better view of the delicate fine pieces of liver, heart and gizzards!

The poached egg!

The wasabi leaves!

Fresh buckwheat seeds!

Itoyodori/Golden threadfin bream from Suruga Bay, poele and served atop fine mashed potato cream and served with red paprika sauce and steamed/fried organic vegetables!

The fish was caught off Sagara in the western part of the Prefecture!

Shikaku mame/Square beans are getting increasingly popular in our Prefecture!

The second glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Amagi Shamo Chicken bred in Horie Farm in Shuzenji, Izu peninsula, prepared in three different manners!

The thigh and its skin poele and baked, served with a wine sauce!

Breast, steamed and served with an unctuous Bleu d’Auvergne cheese sauce!

Halｆ-raw sasami/breast fillets, cooked in “tataki” style!

Earl Grey Tea jelly before the next dish!

The first glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea!

The second glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea prepared in a slightly different manner!

The dessert!
It is a millefeuille but the contents are quite unusual!

The red fruit in the middle is actually eggplant/aubergine cooked in red wine!
Absolutely delicious and incredibly elegant!

Creme Chantilly and custard sauce!

Peach Sorbet with its fresh organic mint!

And coffee served as it should be with its mignardises!

Someday i will have to attend one of their wine-tasting dinners!

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
Entirely non-smoking!

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

笑い, 観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese fashion, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (27): The Punk and The Pinky or The Riot and The Cutie?

October 5, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

I was going to introduce them in the Shizuoka Ladies Fashion Series…

Some girls seem to have just come out of a manga story…

I chose not to take their faces for privacy breach reasons but actually they are cute enough as they are!

Probably just out of high school!

Actually Shizuoka City is famous/notorious for Japanese cutie/punk fashion all over Japan!

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レシピ, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 農業, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kabocha, Muffin, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Coconut Milk Muffin

October 5, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

using a rice cooker can be so useful for creating cakes when you don’t have an oven!
For this particular muffin use a rice cooker with a capacity of 5 “go”/900ml/4 and a half cups!

INGREDIENTS:

Kabocha: 200 g (without the seeds)
All-purpose: 160 g
Baking powder: 5 g (1 + 2/3 of teaspoon)
Sugar: 85 g
Salt: 2 pinches
Egg: 2
Coconut milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
Raisins: 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon: a little

RECIPE:

Cut kabocha in 2 cm side pieces. Wash in clean water . Cook inside microwave for 2 minutes at 600 W or until soft.
In a large bowl mix flour and baking powder.
Add sugar and salt and mix well.
Coat the inside of the rice cooker dish with salad oil.

Break the egg in the middle.
Pour in the coconut milk.
Mix starting from the middle and incorporate the rest little by litle.

Add salad oil and mix well.

Add kabocha and raisins am\nd mix roughly.

Pour the mixture inside the the rice cooker dish.

That is how it should look once cooked.

Turn it over onto a serving dish.

Cut and serve!

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Crafts, 観光, Hobbies, Japan, Japanese Culture, Miniatures, Model Miniatures, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Shizuoka Hobby Square: Miniature Models Heaven!

October 5, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Model plane by Hasegawa Co!

Did you know that Shizuoka City is the leading manufacturer of “plan models”, Model Miniatures”, sclaed own figures and hobby figures in Japan, and as a city in the world?
It is a mind-boggling experience for the fans to visit this city and its companies but you can start right south of Shizuoka JR Station to prepare yourself for a great adventure!

The SHIZUOKA HOBBY SQUARE is a city-sponsored Museum of the hobby industry in Shizuoka City.
It is located in the same building housing the Century Hotel just across the street on the left of Shizuoka JR Station South exit. Just go through the “South Spot” entry and go to the 3rd floor!

Shizuoka City has a long history of civilian engineering and manufacture.
The first-ever civilian Japanese plane took off there in 1923 by Jirou Aoshima/青島次郎!

Invaluable relics for the maiden flight plane!

The Museum is comparatively small but packed to the brim with top-quality samples!
They also include a shop, a workshop where you can try your hand for free and an event room (for a fee).
The entrance is free, so even if you are only mildly interested visit the place on a rainy day!
You will still learn a lot from history to science fiction!

They even have a full-size authentic vintage Harley-Davidson!

Note that that I have hyperlinked to the different companies’ homepages. Even if you don’t read japanese, the pictures will be enough to captivate you all night long!

Star Trek spaceship model by HASEGAWA HOBBY KITS!

The Hasegawa hobby Kits display window!

TAMIYA is the oldest of them all and are famous in Eurpoe and anywhere else for their car models!

But they also an incredible collection of war history models be it Navy, Air Force or Army!

EBBRO MINIATURE MODELS specializes in car and bike models of all kinds!

And in jumbo-sized models!

If you like ships and castles in particular, you must have a good looks at the models of WOODY JOE!

For a closer look!

A rare scene of Japanese artillery in Edo Era!

They have also started WWII ships and planes!

AOSHIMA Co is remarkable for its varied sope!

They are famous for detailed science models representing not only the outside but also the inside view of animals, humans, machines and vehicles!

BANDAI Co is a newcomer to Shizuoka City. Their offices are in Nagoya City but the whole factory has been moved to Shizuoka City a few years ago thus earning Shizuoka City the title of World miniature models capital!

These Japanese comics characters are known all over the World!

And they boast an incredible range!

This Museum is certainly not for kids but for adults who need all their money to indulge in their hobbies!

SHIZUOKA HOBBY SQUARE
422-8067 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Minami Machi, 18-1, South Spot 3F
Tel.: 054-289-3033
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00, 10:00~18:00 (Saturdays & Sundays & National Holidays)
Closed on Mondays
Entrance free except for special events (Separate room)
HOMEPAGE

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Japanese Crafts and Traditional Works in Shizuoka City!

October 4, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

SURUGA HAND DYEING/駿河和染

“The traditional skills of hand dyeing have been passed down through generations of craftsmen in Shizuoka. The sharp, single contrast of indigo and white results in strength of design and austere beauty, a beauty that can be seen today in the many products in which traditional dyeing methods are used”

I’ve known for quite some time that Shizuoka City is a major center for traditional crafts and works in Japan, but I have always been curious how many of such crafts are represented in our city.
Shizuoka City has been officially recognized as a center of traditional crafts, works and even hobbies as far back as 1804 when it was still called 1804 a legacy left by the famous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu when he retired in our city beginning of the 17th Century and brought all kinds craftsmen along!

her is the full compilation including the one above.
If you want more information on individual craftsmen and associations (there 28 of them alone!) don’t hesitate to ask me!

SURUGA LACQUERWARE/駿河漆器

“When Sengen Shrine was built in Kanei Era, about 350 years ago, the best lacquer craftsmen were gathered in Shizuoka from all over Japan. After the construction of the shine was completed, these craftsmen stayed and formed the nucleus of Shizuoka’s lacquerware industry.”

SURUGA SASHIMONO/駿河指物

“Sashimono incorporates traditional cabinet-making techniques to manufacture a wide variety of woodcraft products. The woodworking techniques developed by Shizuoka cabinetmakers over the years have given root to the present-day woodworking industry in Shizuoka, and have made Shizuoka a leading area for cabinet and furniture making in Japan.”

HINA DOLLS/駿河雛具・雛人形

“Shizuoka is the top producing area of Hina Dolls in Japan. This is a traditional household item from ancient times, but the designs have been changed to satisfy present-day consumer tastes. many new items have been added that are thought to bring luck and health to one’s beloved children”.

SURUGA BAMBOO LATTICE WARE/駿河竹千節細工

“Bamboo work is another special product of Shizuoka. Bamboo craft has been an important part of Japanese housewares since the old days, but quality and design have been raised to the level of artwork while still maintaining qualities for practical use. Shizuoka bamboo products were designated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) as a Traditional Craft product in 1976.”

CLOGS/駿河塗下駄・張下駄

“The industry is an offshoot of the lacquerware industry. During the Meiji Era, the techniques and know-how of the lacquerware industry were applied to the manufacturing of traditional wooden clogs and made it the highest quality product in the country.”

SURUGA MAKIE (GOLD LACQUER)/駿河蒔絵

“Suruga Makie got its start in Shizuoka in 1828 when the lacquer artist Senzo Nakagawa, then living in Sumpu (the old name of Shizuoka) introduced and taught makie techniques.”

WOODEN FURNITUE/木製家具

“The furniture of Shizuoka, both Japanese and Western styles, are famous throughout Japan. The products are practical as well as specialized in order to meet the demands of the diversified lifestyles of consumers.”

HOME FURNISHINGS/建具

“The paper and lattice sliding doors and partitions that give the Japanese rooms their characteristic breezy and open peaceful feeling are still made by artisans who make use of traditional carpentry techniques that date back to the building of Shizuoka’s Sengen shrine.”

SANDALS & SHOES/サンダル・シューズ

“The Vinyl Sandal industry is rather a newcomer having started after the war, but with its streamlined production facilities, never-ending technical innovations and eagerness to improve design and quality have brought it to the top level in the country.”

Courtesy of the Shizuoka Hobby Square (Shizuoka City).

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“Leafy” Cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City!

October 4, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

patina is very probably the most authentic French-style bistro/cafe in the whole of Shizuoka prefecture!
Not only they serve reasonably-priced yummy food at lunch and dinner, it is one of those rare (in japan) places where you can sit by a coffee and read a magazine at your ease any time of the day.

I just love their cappucinos.
They come in different patterns on requests but I just love that very creamy version with a leaf pattern!
So nice and so cute (even to a macho French male!)!

Don’t forget to drink up the leaf in the right direction!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00

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Culture, Japanese Culture, Noh, Noh Theatre, Roger Voltz, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Noh Masks Exhibition by Roger Voltz at Chubu Denryoku Gallery in Shizuoka City!

October 4, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Roger Voltz, a French national, who has resided no less than 39 years in Shizuoka City has been establishing his name for quite some time in the Shizuoka and Japan Art World after 20 years of creating Noh masks according to Japanese tradition only in painstaking labor once back home from work mainly as a University lecturer.

He has been holding exhibitions, both individuals and in collaboration, for some time and has become a regular attraction in the local art world.
His latest exhibition started yesterday and will last until the 16th at the gallery inside the Chubu Denryoku Company in Shizuoka City

When asked what drove him to spend so much time and will in his art his answer came quickly enough:
“I would like to leave a legacy for the younger generation to continue.”
That is what art should all be about, shouldn’t it?

Roger being interviewed by the Shizuoka Shinbun Daily newspaper (700,000 copies1). The article actually appeared this morning!

Apart of becoming proficient in martial arts he has been carving Noh masks for the last 20 years.
Noh Theater is one of the oldest forms of theater in Japan (originating out of combination of Chinese performing arts, known as sarugaku, and traditional Japanese dance called dengaku、during the Muromachi Era, 13th~16th Century) and has attained great fame in World Performing Arts for its intricate dances, music and acting.
The actors are exclusively male and usually only the main one wears a mask(s) on stage.
There are five Noh Theater “Schools” all possessing their own original masks.
But the same masks have to be duplicated according to rules and traditions as obviously these original masks are really worn, invaluable relics they are!
So far Roger has carved and exhibited 20 masks under the guidance of his Master, Kishinosuke Atsumi.
This time he exhibits a carefully chosen selection of 9 masks.

Here my 3 favorite. Come and visit the exhibition to enjoy the whole collection at your pace and leisure!

——————

——————

Carving the masks in wood is a long and intricate process taking 8~10 months in Roger’s cas as he can create them only during his spare time.
Each mask weighs 130g~150g for female characters and 150~180 g for male counterparts.
Each mask is carved out of a block of either hinoki/檜/Japanese cypress or kusunoki/楠/camphor tree, both valuable wood in this country.
Ask Roger who is usually on hand between 3:00 and 4:30 to explain them all!
He is certainly a wealth of knowledge to meet!

If you want to contact Roger directly for more information, write to him at rvoltz@mta.biglobe.ne.jp!

Last year’s article THERE!

Exhibition site
Chubu Denryoku Company, Yume Kkyu Gallery
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Magarigane, 6-3-38
Tel..: 0129-985-210
Car park available
Exhibition Schedule: October 3~16th, 09:00~16:30
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

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笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (26): Pirates are becoming radical!

October 3, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Pirates becoming radical in their excitement?

Well, I suppose any pirate would fall for that!

But they might be tempted to vandalize the place with this kind of price tag!

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笑い, 観光, Food, Food Humor, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (25): Don’t call the Fireman!

October 3, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

i didn’t know why, but my eyes were attracted by this signboard in front of a cheap chain izakaya…..

Don’t call the fireman!
Of course they meant “smoked food”!

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笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (24): Killing with a Ray of Love…

October 3, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

I wonder how you can fall in love with a ray and strange English?

That’s how you do it!
When love does not come cheap…..

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Weird Japan (23): Weird Shizuoka Policemen Part 2- Overkill

October 3, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Policemen were on the prowl (patro;) yesterday as it seems that the whole of Japan was on safety campaign.
But there is not much to worry about (in day time) in the City of Shizuoka.
All the policemen disappeared at 17:30 sharp.
At around 16:30 no less than 10 of them were checking a few lost souls in Aoba Park Street…

The poor souls are not even vagrants, but people who refuse to stay in their homes in daytime…
10 policemen for two or three inoffensive loafers… And that in plain view in front of passing crowds… Talk of an overkill!

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Halloween Baby Kabocha Gratin

October 3, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

The witches are gathering for the coming Halloween.
They told they love to concoct magical recipes inside pumpkins, especially the small kabocha the Dragons bring them from the Isle of The Rising Sun!
They seem to take a lot of pleasure out of baking them in hellish ovens!

INGREDIENTS: (for two baby kabocha)

Baby kabocha: 2
Onion: 1/2
Fresh Mushrooms (of your choice): 50 g ~
Chicken breast fillets/sasami: 2
Butter: 30 g
All-purpose flour: 30g
Milk: 300 ml/ 1 1/2 cups
Cheese (melting cheese, pizza cheese or cheese of your liking: as appropriate
Salt, pepper, spices: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Cut the top of the kabocha as to form a lid.
Scoop off the seeds and make a small “pot”.
First heat the kabocha inside a microwave oven for 3~4 minutes or until soft enough. Do check from time to time.

Cut onion, mushroom, chicken in equal bite size pieces.
Fry them all in a little olive oil, salt and pepper over a low fire until soft.

Prepare the white sauce/bechamel (it will be as liquid as a stew sauce. Over a low fire melt the butter. Once melted add the flower and whisk. Once the mixture is smooth add the milk in about three times whisking all the time for a smooth sauce. Once you have attained the wanted smoothness switch off fire.

Add the fried chicken and onion with their juices into the white sauce and stir gently for a uniform stew. Check the taste and add salt, pepper and spices according to your taste and priorities.

Fill the two baby kabocha with the stew and cover with melting cheese.

Bake until the top has melted and cooked to a nice brown color.

Serve immediately with its lid for decoration.
Sprinkle a little chopped green herbs for better effects.

Great comfort food in the cold nights!

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Weird Japan (23): Weird Shizuoka Policemen Part 1-Dicey Behavior…

October 2, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

There were policemen everywhere in Shizuoka City today, apparently on a safety campaign!
Those two middle-aged policemen stopped those three teenage girls (probably high school students on holiday) for the spurious reason of checking the only one bicycle among them…

They spent a needlessly long time checking and checking again, explaining that they were looking for stolen bicycles…
They spent enough time with the girls who did nothing to hide their contempt to allow me an eternity to take a half dozen pics to choose from.

Japan is the safest country in the world, but that kind of behavior (in a crowded street) by two middle-aged policemen towards under age (20 in Japan) girls is just a bit too much…

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レシピ, Cupcakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Muffin, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Halloween Kabocha Muffin Cupcakes

October 2, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some people like muffins.
Some people like cupcakes.
Some people like Halloween.

Let’s combine them all!

INGREDIENTS: (For 6 cakes)

Kabocha: 120 g
All purpose flour: 120 g
Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
baking powder: 1 teaspoon
Milk: 40 ml (1/5 cup)
Unsalted butter: 50 g
Sugar: 50 g
Egg: 1

RECIPE:

Peel the kabocha and throw away their seeds.
Put inside a cooking bowl.
Cook in microwave oven for 30 seconds at 500 W.
Break with fork to make it easier to mix.

Bring butter and egg to room temperature.
In a bowl pour butter and sugar.
Whisk until mixture whitens.
Add beaten egg one third at a time and mix well.

Add kabocha and mix roughly.
Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon and mix.
Add milk one g\half at a time and mix.

Pour mixture inside 6 paper cupcake cups.
Bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.
Let cool completely.

Points: Do not mix all ingredients too much.
If you have too much mixture you can freeze it.
Re-heat muffins inside microwave oven before eating them!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

October 1, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sanwa Brewery in Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, is a bit of a maverick as it is the only one not to use the Shizuoka Yeast as a matter of policy!
I love their retro Garyubai label!

This is the season for all the breweries to bottle “Hiyaoroshi/pateurized only once” nectars!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in August 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Discreet, sweetish, fruity. Vanilla
Body: Fluid
Taste: Soft attack backed by junmai petillant warming up back of the palate.
Fruity and a little sirupy. Complex: pears, coffee beans, cherries. Reminiscent of “cherry bonbon”!
Lingers for a while before taking an exit on a drier and fruity note with nuts, almonds and dark chocolate.
Very pleasant and easy to drink.
Takes a drier path with food with more nuts and dark chocolate.
Marries well with food, although it tends to take a back seat with spicy foods.

Overall: An elegant sake off the beaten Shizuoka tracks.
Very pleasant on its own.
Constantly calling for the next glass/cup.
Marries well with food although gets a bit overwhelmed by spicy or heavy food.
A sake to be enjoyed for its sake!

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