Art, 観光, Heda, Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Mount Fuji Photographs from Heda in Izu Peninsula (Autumn/Fall)

August 30, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

With fall/Autumn coming soon we shall be able to admire Mount Fuji from a long distance again as the skies will gradually clear up.
There are many spots where you can enjoy great views of the most famous mountain in Japan, but I have a special weakness for one very precise spot!

Heda, now merged with Numazu City, is a harbor tucked away inside an almost closed cove, the epitome of what Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture has best to offer to any tourist, be he/she Japanese or from more distant shores!
-A resort off the beaten tracks.
-A spa renowned for its thermal hot springs.
-A major fishing harbor part of Numazu City, one of the main providers of seafood to Tokyo.
-Arguably one of the best spots to admire Mount Fuji in the whole of Japan!
-A gastronomic venture with its deep-sea fish and marine life including the largest crab in the world, Takaashigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crab!
-History: It was visited in 1854 by the Russian frigate Diana of the Imperial Russian Navy, the flagship of the Russian explorer Yevfimy Putyatin when it was damaged in a tsunami, following the powerful Ansei-Tōkai earthquake of 23 December 1854. The Diana sank while sailing from Shimoda to Heda for repairs!

First of all, Heda is a paradise for photographers, amateur and professional alike, who can take innumerable shots of Mount Fuji from various view spots all year round as the sacred mountain is changing its robes daily!
In Autumn, one may sight Mount Fuji as a dark and mysterious figure shrouded in mists looming beyond the sea.

Sometimes it does look as surging out blue expanses!

At dusk it will be blurred out of the sky by magnificent sunsets irreverently crossed by returning squid fishing boats!

This last picture was taken from the beach!
Look foward to more pictures this year. Winter promises some beauties!

Do visit the following for mre fantastic view pictuers and precise access!
HEDA TOURISM ASSOCIATION & BUREAU
410-3402 Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Heda, 289-12
Tel.: 0558-94-3115
HOMEPAGE (English)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Agriculture, Culture, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Culture & History: Oomura Family House and tea Fields in Shizuoka City!

August 29, 2013 dragonlife 5 Comments

if you know where to look or if you keep your ears (and other senses) open, there will always be a time for a new discovery in Japan. The deeper in the country you venture the better chance to discover true history in the guise of a farmhouse for example!

Oumura Family House is located up the Abe River in Shizuoka City perched high above the water by its own green tea fields.
It has been an official Shizuoka Prefecture designated (and protected) cultural asset for ages.
But the House and the (restored) farm and its original tea fields have been there since Edo Era, that is more than 150 years!

Green tea has been grown there for even longer, for hundred of years!

It is heaven for photographers as pictures are possible from an infinite number of angles, be they at ground level or from above!

All the walls and roofs have been preserved or restored all the time to reveal the grand house of a rich farming family of yore!

Traditional Japanese carp pond! At such an altitude, it is a wonder!

Under the thatched roof eaves…
We cannot visit the inside but from I could judge from outside it was full of antiques!

This wall was built in the Edo Era manner. How old could it be?

But now this is a very old and authentic wall of the Edo Era. i was told it was more than 200 years old!
Pity we couldn’t visit the place as the family still lives inside and grows green tea!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Agriculture, レシピ, 美食, Drink blogs, Drinks, 観光, 農業, Food, Food and Drink Blogs, Food Blogs, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japan drink Blogs, Japan Food Blogs, Japanes Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Life in Japan, Rayu, Restaurants, Tourism

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (amended Fall 2013)

August 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Japan-Hub.Com
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with Dominic
Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Tokyo Food Page
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo (in Japanese)
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan
Ramen By Shoe
Rameniac
In Praise of Izakaya
Onsen Addict

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (English & French)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto
Kyoto Food Page
Osaka/Kobe Food Page

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
San’in Monogatari by Buri Chan in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere
Alishan on the Move in Fukuoka

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食 Drink Blogs in Japan 静岡 Food and Drink Blogs in Japan Foof blogs in Japan Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Tourism World Cuisines

Agriculture, レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Humor, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Humor, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Tourism, Wild boar, Yuugashima

Weird Japan (34): Beware of the Wild Boars at Bus Stops! (real!)

August 28, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

I discovered that sign inside a bus stop shelter in Yuugashima, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture!

“Beware of the Wild Boars!”
It’s not a joke!

Mind you, they make for good food, too! Wild boar buns are a local specialty!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Humor Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Weird japan Wild Boar World Cuisines

Agriculture, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mirin, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism, 味醂

Shizuoka Mirin Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Atsukayama

August 28, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

This is the very first time I felt compelled to write a tasting report on a mirin (cooking sweet sake)!
But Atsukayama brewed by Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City has nothing in common with even the best mirin used in Japanese cooking!
I recently used it for making umeshu with plenty of it and shochu distilled by the same brewery, with the diffrence I didn’t have to use any sugar!
Mind you, it is pretty famous all over the country and not easy to obtain but I can assure you this is a must if you want to enjoy a sweet drink away from the beaten tracks at your next repast!

Atsukayama
Junmai Hon Mirin (true mirin made with junmai sake!)
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Essence: 44%
Bottled in July 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Rich golden
Aroma: Strong and assertive. Fruity. Oranges, loquats, almonds, honey.
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very sweet attack backed up with junmai petillant.
Complex and fruity. Apricots, plums, nuts, honey.
Disappears more quickly than expected on a surprisingly drier note with hints of nuts and almonds.
Especially enjoyable at all temperatures.
For all its sweetness drinks more like a mellow sweet sake or a liquorish white wine with such an incredible complexity.

Overall: A mirin for cooking? That would be extremely extravagant unless you use it on its own to accentuate a dish.
A rare “dish ingredient” that should be ignored as such and drunk on its own at a temperature of your liking as an aperitif, a digestif or as a night cap.
Chilled, it reveals itself as a superb nectar. Would do marvelously well in cocktails, too.
You must sample it with blue cheese!

More than a discovery, a blessing!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食酒酒造静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Liqueur Mirin Sake Breweries Shizuoka City Shizuoka sake World Cuisines

Agriculture, フランスレストラン, フランス料理, レシピ, Buckwheat, 美食, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Galettes, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Galettes (Buckwheat Pancakes) at Henry Galette in Shizuoka City!

August 28, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Kind and easy-going
Facilities: very clean overall. Clean washroom (shared with anothet shop)
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points True French-style galettes and crepes! Cidre available. Local vegetables used.

A small restaurant-cafe as recently opened in Takajo, Shizuoka City, in what used to be a small boutique. Although it is open solely for lunch and cafe time until 18:00 (after that it becomes a record shop!), it is always full at lunch 7 days a week.

See the records above the kitchen window?

Although French galettes made with buckwheat flour originate from Western France in Bretagne, the atmosphere is reminiscent of that in small cafes in Paris of Southern France.

The cafe offers a set lunch with a galette (recipe changing every week) with salad, dessert and one drink for 1,200 yen which is good enough value by Japanese standards.

One can also order 3 diefferent tyoes of galettes and 3 different types of sweet crepes made with wheat flour for 1.100 yen or at 1.200 yen as a set!
This means you will have at least 5 more reasons to come again!

French Bretagne Cidre is also available!

Bolee d’Armorique. At only 2 % of alcohol can be enjoyed at lunch time!

On that particular day I ordered the lunch ste of the week!

Bear in mind this slow food and all galettes are made from scratch after order!
Also bear in mind that they make for a copious enough lunch!

The vegetables are seasonal and locally grown.

But the egg is more a specialty of the cafe than that of a French galette restaurant as it comes deliciously soft and running under the knife. And the seasoning is certainly more elegant! Mind you, all the staff are young ladies which explains the extra care for details!

A small but crispy and delicious salad!

And a cute dessert of the right size!

This what I had two weeks later from the same menu!

That time it included stir-fried chicken!
Yummy, fulfilling and so healthy!

See you there next time for dessert!

HENRY GALETTE
470-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-12-1, Aobaen Bidg., 1F
Tel.: 054-260-6116
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Buckwheat Crepes 美食静岡 French Gastronomy French Restaurants Galette Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Restaurants Shizuoka City Tourism World Cuisines

ビール, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Gotemba Koogen Brewery-Tamori Cup Beer

August 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Tamori Cup Beer” is a limited/private label to commemorate a famous Yacht Race called Tamori (famous Japanese Comediann/TV MC) Cup by Gotenba Kogen Beer Co Ltd. (actually the brewery itself owned by Yonekyu Company is located in another location in Gotenba City).

Gotemba Koogen Brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Product name: Tamori Cup Beer
Unfiltered, unpasteurized.
Ingredients: barley and wheat malt, hops, yeast
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Deep apricot orange
Foam: Thin longish head. Fine bubbles
Aroma: Dry and fruity, assertive, sharpish. Bread, oranges.
Taste: Deep ale-like attack. Refreshing.
Bread, oranges.
Lingers for a while before disappearing on a slightly nutty dry note.

Overall: Very refreshing but deeper than a thirst-quenching low alcohol beer.
Its ale-like approach makes it both fit to drink on its own or with food any time of the year.
Although quite japanese in approach, should please European tasting buds

Gotenba Kogen Beer Co., Ltd.
719, Koyama, Gotemba-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 412-0033
Tel 0550-87-5500
Homepage (English/also exists in Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Beer Beer Breweries 美食酒酒造静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Hamamatsu City Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Shizuoka Beer Shizuoka City World Cuisines

Agriculture, ビール, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/08/20): Seasonal Release — Baird Rauchbock

August 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release — Baird Rauchbock

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Fall is in the air. We have the perfect beer to greet it — Baird Rauchbock.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Baird Rauchbock (6.5%):

Rauchbier is an old German beer style, its origins go back to the 1500s where it was a prominent style in the district of Franconia and the town of Bamberg. ‘Rauch’ means ’smoke’ and this is the signature flavor characteristic of a Rauchbier. The smoked flavor is derived from drying green malt over a beechwood fire. Bock is a strong lager of German origin.

Baird Rauchbock is a strong, malty, velvety smooth take on this old Franconia smoked style. 100 percent of the malt bill comes from Bamberg-based specialty malting company Weyermann (63% of which is beechwood smoked malt). The hopping is extremely light — just enough Halletau Tradition and Czech Saaz to balance the rich malt flavor. Rauchbock was brewed back in December 2012 and has been conditioning in our cellar for the past 8 months. This long maturation has brought the assertive smoke character into perfect balance.

Brewmaster’s tip: Get yourself over to the Bashamichi Taproom, order a plate of the low and slow cherry wood smoked brisket, and enjoy it with a glass of Baird Rauchbock. You will want at that moment for nothing else in life!

Baird Rauchbock is keg only and is available for immediate release. It begins pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Tuesday, August 27).

We also have an additional early autumn beer treat for our loyal Taproom patrons. Today we are tapping two more in our ongoing lineup of single-hop ales (beers brewed to the exact same recipe and specs save for the use of a different hop variety). The hops featured in this taste comparison are relatively high alpha-acid American varieties Nugget and Millenium. These are very similar hops as Millenium was actually bred from the Nugget. Spicy, herbal, floral — these are all descriptors often associated with these hops. What say you? Can you taste a difference?

Nugget Single-Hop Ale (4.6%) and Millenium Single-Hop Ale (4.6%) are available only on draught and exclusively at Baird Taproom pubs.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer Beer Beer Breweries Crafstbeer brewery 美食酒静岡 Food Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Numazu City World Cuisines

Agriculture, Asparagus, Asparaguses, アスパラ, イタリアレストラン, イタリア料理, フランスレストラン, フランス料理, レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Asparagus Gastronomy in Shizuoka City!

August 27, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

French white asparaguses with Italian Summer Truffles at Solio!

Asparaguses have been a favorite at Japanese, French and Italian Restaurants in Japan and Shizuoka for such a long time that we tend to forget that they came late in this country in spite of Japan being the 3rd largest importer of the vegetable after the United States and the European Union. They were first used as ornamental plants in the 1800’s. The first cannery appeared in Hokkaido in 1920. The Japanese developed a taste for green asparagus and consumption of the latter exceeded tahat of white asparaguses in 1978. Now, Japan produces a lot of its own white and green asparaguses to the tune of 24,000 tons in 1998!
Restaurants in Shizuoka City have the choice to use green or white asparaguses grown locally or white asparaguses imported mainly from France and Italy in spite of China being the biggest exporter in the world.

Here a only a few examples of what to expect in Shizuoka City alone! If I find more I7ll make sure to add them to this article!

TETSUYA SUGIMOTO (French Restaurant)

I was served these white asparaguses from Hokkaido as an appetizer by Chef Tetsuya Sugimoto/杉本哲也さん in his typically artistic but so simple-looking manner!

Boiled to perfection and served with a light sauce made with Shizuoka-bred pheasant bouillon and Japanese (yes, you read it well!) fermented butter!

SOLIO (Italian Restaurant)

French white asparaguses with Italian Summer Truffles at Solio!
Note the very generous amount of finely shaved Italian Summer Truffles offered by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦!

A beautifully-prepared half poached egg with a very soft white and a yolk just past running point!
Mixing your asparaguses, truffles and egg is just such little sin!

PISSENLIT (French Restaurant)

This was part of a fish dish that Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん concocted with vegetables represented by green asparaguses served topped with Hollandaise sauce!

The whole dish!

White asparagus with scallops!

Seasoned with local grated karasumi/Boutargue/Botarga/mullet eggs!

With a simple butter sauce liaising the juices of the asparagus and scallops!

Still looking for more as promised!

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 (do make a call first!)
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely 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
Entirely non-smoking!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Asparagus Asparagus Cuisine 美食静岡 French Gastronomy French Restaurants Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Italian cuisine Italian Gastronomy Italian Restaurants Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Restaurants Shizuoka City Tourism World Cuisines

Agriculture, イタリアレストラン, イタリア料理, リゾット, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Desserts: Royal Milk Tea Panacotta & Ciccolato Fondente at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

August 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

Yesterday was one of those very rare Sunday evening when we go out together to enjoy a repast on that particular day of the week.
Although this is the second time we visited Solio in less than 2 weeks this had been planned for some time.
Now, we had the occasion to enjoy two cute little desserts I have the pleasure to introduce here.
Note that good Italian restaurants in Japan come up with far more simple and sophisticated desserts than in Italy!

First: Royal Milk Tea Panacotta!

Adding seasonal fruit contributes so much to elegance, colors and taste!

This Royal Milk Tea is both rich and light as the Japanese do not add as much sugar as we Europeans.
The result is a light and sophisticated panacotta that leaves such a nice fianl not after a rich dinner!

Ciccolato Fondente, the Italian cousin of a Fondant au Chocolat!

Once again seasonal fruit add so much to balance and also health!

The cake itself is so cute and small enough not to worry you about the calories!

I surprised everyone when I asked for a knife, but is there a better way to make you discover the little treasure out of its trove?
Absolutely succulent! A sin!
Once again a big thank to Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食 Desserts 静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Italian cuisine Italian Desserts Italian Gastronomy Italian Restaurants Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Restaurants Shizuoka City Tourism World Cuisines

Agriculture, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery-Shusseijyo Homare Fuji Muroka Nama Genshu

August 26, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

August usually sees some extraordinary limited brews taken out some secret nook of breweries for the utter pleasure of sake lovers in pursuit of unusual nectars.
Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery in Hamamatsu has just put one out with another long name!

incidentally “nakakumi/中汲み” means that only the middle part of the pressed sake was considered whereas 24BY means Year 2013.
This a very local sake as the rice is Homare Fuji, a shizuoka-grown variety and the yeast also a Shizuoka-developed yeast.

Muroka means it was unfiltered, Nama that is was unpasteurized and Genshu that no pure water was added to lower the alcohol contents.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka Yeast
Bottled in August 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Silvery golden
Aroma: Deep and fruity. Pears, apples, pineapple
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very rich and fruity attack with puissant alcohol.
Extraordinarily assertive pears reminding La France variety grown in Japan!
Pears, pineapple, apples, oranges.
Lingers only for a while ending on a rich dry fruity note with the same fruits accompanied by dry almonds.
Complex as it almost wildly starts on a fruity sweetish note to rapidly escape on a very dry deep note revealing more fruits.

Overall: Little need to drink such a sake with food!
Makes for the perfect aperitif and even digestif.
Shows its qualities best when chilled.
Splendidly marries with cheese if you must absolutely enjoy it with food!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食酒酒造静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Liqueur Sake Breweries Shizuoka City Shizuoka sake World Cuisines

Agriculture, ビール, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery-Porter Ieyasu Kun

August 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery have come up with new labels for its 3-beer range!

First of all they have changed the name of the beers to Ieyasu Kun, the new mascotte of Shizuoka Prefecture in remembrance of Tokugawa Ieyasu Shogun who retired to Shizuoka in the first half of the 17th Century!

As shown until next week at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City the label picture Mount Fuji which has just been accepted as the new UNESCO World Cultural Heritage!

Ieyasu Kun!

Product Name: Tenjingura Beer-Porter/Ieyasu Kun
Unfiltered
Ingredients: Grain malt, Hops
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 4.5%

Clarity: opaque but very clean
Color: very dark rich dark brown/coffee
Foam: Thin head but keeping longer than expected
Aroma: light. caramel, roasted grains
Taste: Well-rounded rich dry attack:
Complex: roasted grains, whole bread, roasted nuts, hints of macadamia
Pleasantly lingers inside the palate with a fizzy feeling before ending on a drier note.
Thoroughly enjoyable on its own chilled or even at room temperature.
Marries well with heavy food thanks to its dry lighter than usual taste for a porter.

Overall: A highly pleasant craftbeer which will be enjoyed by both gender of any age. Can be used as a thirst quenching porter.
I particularly enjoyed it as an aperitif with a potato and bean salad! Should go well with cold meats, too!
Do not forget to collect the label!

Tenjingura/Hamamatsu Brewery Co. Ltd.
430-463-3851 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Tenjin Machi, 3-57
Tel.: 053-4616145
Fax: 053-463-3851
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Business hours: 10:30~21:00
Closed on Tuesdays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Beer Beer Breweries 美食酒酒造静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Hamamatsu City Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Shizuoka Beer Shizuoka City World Cuisines

ファッション, 観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanes Culture, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 51: Have a care or I’ll bite!

August 23, 2013 dragonlife 5 Comments

This one is for Quizoxy!
Note the sushi standing bar in front of the girls!

In these times of waist-high cinched tutu-like skirts and dresses, this young girl almost stands out as an anachronism!

Mind you, compared to her friend that fashion is utterly practical although the white pants might get dirty vey quickly!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fashion Fashionistas Japan Japanese Fashionistas Shizuoka Tourism

Agriculture, イタリアレストラン, イタリア料理, リゾット, レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner (2013 summer) at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

August 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

The team: Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子 and Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦!

I have already introduced Solio, one of the very top references in Itlian Gastronomy in the whole Shizuoka Prefecture therefore let me talk immediately about we had during our last and very quick visit!

Mini tomatoes from Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦’s own garden and mozzarella cheese salad to help our patience!

We noticed in the glassed display this locally-grown enormous David Cross okra with such a beautiful pattern!
We couldn’t help and ask for another simple but so elegant appetizer!

Absolutely beautiful and the seeds are really scrumptious!

Then it was dish of local pork cooked on the grill!

Shizuoka Prefecture is rapidly becoming famous for its pork and there must be more than 12 different varieties in our Prefecture alone. This particular pork is called “mugiton/From pigs fed with grain” and is raised in the Western part of Shizuoka!

Shizuoka has certainly contributed to the letters of nobility attached to such a seemingly common meat!

The more for it when it is “dressed up” with succulent local vegetables!

I’ve already said and still claim that Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦makes the best risotto in town!
This time we just could not resist the Italian summer truffles risotto!
Simply extravagant (but so reasonably-priced!)!

Instead of dessert we had to utter pleasure to sample a new creation by Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子: home-made limonicello liqueur!

Lucky they don’t serve it in a bottle or it would be temptation difficult to resist to just for a second (and third?) glass!

Now, I will have to convince someone to accompany me there soon or it will be a torture! LOL

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食静岡 Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Italian cuisine Italian Gastronomy Italian Restaurants Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Restaurants Shizuoka City Tourism World Cuisines

Agriculture, フランスレストラン, フランス料理, レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Fish, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka marine products, Tourism

French Gastronomy: 4 More Fish and Seafood Dishes at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

August 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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 and caught fish.

As I said time and time again Shizuoka Prefecture is blessed with Suruga Bay arguably the richest sea in Japan, especially when it comes to variety!
The other other Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん wrote a “music partition” with fish and vegetables in particular. Except for one fish, they are all found in Suruga Bay and the vegetables are organic and grown here in Shizuoka Prefecture!
So what did we have?

An elgant appetizer concoted with cubes of seared bonito/katsuo from Omaezaki, lightly seasoned with garam masala, cubes of raw “mizu nasu” eggplants,all in a salt jelly equivalent to sea water and a sprinkle of golden sesame seeds!

Edomae no Anago/Conger eel from Tokyo!

The fish was poele/skillet-fried to a crisp and served with a fried basil on top astride a ratatouille of confit vegetables.

A view of the vegetables all grown organically in Kitayama farm in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Gateau de poisson poele sauce pamplemousse/Skillet-fired fish cake with grapefruit sauce!

Now, what’s inside that fish cake?

Aji/Horse mackerel from Kurasawa fishing harbor in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
No need to mention that Shizuoka Horse mackerel is simply extravagant in Japan!

Amadai/Sweet seabream from Sagara fishing harbor in Western Shzuoka Prefecture!
This particular seabream is known for its fine nad soft scales. Instead of scraping them off, Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん brush them back and fry the fish on its skin creating a crispy “hairstyle”!

The tiny vegetables are also grown in Kityama Garden!
Ratatouile with David Cross okra and black shishito pepper!

The tiny vegetables are white goya/bitter gourd and green okra
As for the sauce, it is a beautiful red sweet pimento coulis accentuated with fennel oil!

No need to travel for me when it comes to fish!

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!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食 Desserts 静岡 Fish French Gastronomy French Restaurants Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy seafood Shizuoka City Tourism World Cuisines

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