Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Beppin Kara Kara Junmai Ginjo

March 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Don’t ask me where I tasted it! It is my kakureya/隠れ屋/secret waterhole!

I was shown this bottle by hatsukame Brewery in Okabe, Fujieda City, and i just had to conduct a tasting!
“ppin” stnag\ds for “somthing else” and “Kara kara” means “very dry”!

If you are cognizant with Japanese food and Shizuoka City you might have an inkling of where I enjoyed it!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Dryness: ;10
Acidity: 1.45
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in December 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Discreet, dry and fruity. Apples, chestnuts
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack backed up junmai petillant.
Very complex and elusive
Fruity: chestnuts.
Disappears fairly quickly warming up the back of the palate.
Takes on an even drier turn with food with more chestnuts and oranges.
Insistently calls for the next cup.

Overall: A sake obviously conceived to superbly accompany food, but definitely and eminently enjoyable on its own.
Do not be fooled by the dryness, it is a very complex and elegant sake!
For the dry sake, I mean the elegant ones, lovers, be they gals or lads! A bit dangerous as it lures you into
the next cup!

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Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, 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!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-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

French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomic Photography, Shizuoka City

French Gastronomy: Asparaguses and Fukinoto Beignets in Fukinoto Sauce at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

March 6, 2014 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. Very inventive French gastronomy.

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

the steamed white and green asparaguses cultivated in Shimo, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City by Mr. Enomoto and the Yaizu City-grown fukinoto beignets (fritters)!
Fukinoto/フキノトウ is Giant Japanese butterbur, a very popular sanasai/笹井/wild mountain vegetable in Japan which appears on the market end of February~beginning of March!

My Asparaguses and Fukinoto Beignets in Fukinoto sauce!

The fukinoto sauce consists basically of white butter, olive oil, chopped fukinoto and herbs!

As for the beignet/fritter, it is basically the same concept as for zucchini flower fritters!
So tasty and so healthy!

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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Fukuroi City, Shizuoka, Wall Painting

Wall Paintings in FuKuroi City!

March 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was walking along the Oida River in Fukuroi City in search of sights when I espied these seemingly old paintings along the bank shoring!
Technically not a wall, these large concrete shoring had been obviously painted for some kind of city promotion.
I decide to have a closer look!

If I remember well these blue drawings are Mount Fuji mascots used all over the Prefecture!

I wonder why one is smiling and the others not.
What could have been the message?

now, I know that the owl, “fukuro” is the unofficial bird of Fukuroi City because of the almost identical pronunciation, although the kanji characters are completely unrelated!

my impression is that these painting date back to when the Soccer World Cup came to Japan as the drawing celebrates Ecopa Stadium which was used for the World Cup in Fukuroi City!

Oranges, of which Shizuoka Prefecture is the biggest producer in Japan and an owl again!

Basket ball? At the time the Japanese Professional didn’t exist yet…

Pity that the years and water have made it difficult to discern from far away!

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Japan, Kura

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 13: Kura & Old Japanese Houses in Fukuroi City!

March 5, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

the other day as I was walking along a main street at a walking distance from Fukuroi JR Station I found myself facing at a scene of another era right across from the sidewalk!
I can’t imagine how long it will survive so I decided to the whole for posterity!

It is actually very much of a sprawling property whose land will eventually interest developers along this newly paved road and pavemnent!

At times bygone it must have been the property of a rich trading family as a wide river flows not far from there!

The kura is certainly big and so full of tradition with a dry stone foundation and a “namako design” style lower wall!

This must be very old and only a rich family could afforded that! It must date back to well before the WWII and probably far more!

The walls, roof and tiles are still in good repair but the rain water piping is about to crumble down!

Looking at the state of the entrance and front wall it must have been locked up for quite a while!

Mysteries, mysteries….

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Japanese Gastronomy, Okonomiyaki, Shizuoka

Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki Izakaya: Quick Dinner at You-To In Shizuoka City

March 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly. Great explanations and true hospitality.
Equipment & Facilities: Old-fashioned but very clean. Superb genre-separated washrooms!
Prices: Reasonable:
Strong points: Great use of local ingredients. Hiroshima-style and Kansai-style okonmiyaki. Shizuoka oden. Great local sake list. Local microbrewery craft beer on tap!

The other day a friend and I needed to eat something appropriate before visiting and interviewing a new beer brewery and bar in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
It had been a long time we had enjoyed some great okonomiyaki, so we knew where to go!

As far as I know, You To in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City is the only place in town serving authentic okonomiyaki, both Osaka/Kansai and Hiroshima style, all in front of you!

I just love their noren/entrance curtain!
Bear in mind this is a very popular place. Make sure to call them before to reserve your seat if available! I always gear myself before entering the place as I’m sure to meet at least one or two acquaintances there!

You To is a great place if you want to taste many a Shizuoka-Brewed sake (there is alist and a secret hoard!). But they also serve craft beer from the tap brewed by Stephan Rager in Fujinomiya City!

And it comes with explanations!
The one we had that night was A Traum(“dream” in German)!
An extremely fruity and complex limited brew!

This time we ordered a simple seafood Osaka-style okonomiyaki!

So simple, light and so tasty!
A favorite for both Japanese and expats!

Thin and juicy home-made sausages!

And hot plate-fried mushrooms before we took our leave, but be assured it is only to go back there again soon!
Okonmiyaki, the Japanese soul food!

YOU-TO/湧登
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Minami Cho, 7-5 ( 5 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station South exit)
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended!
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)

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French gastronomy, Restaurants

French gastronomy: Lunch at FIGARO Food & Wine in Shizuoka City!

March 4, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Shy but very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Superb washroom. Entirely non smoking at lunch time!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French bistro-style gastronomy. Reasonably-priced wine list.

Finally I found the time and opportunity to visit Figaro Food & Wine Restaurant established in Tokiwa Cho in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, by Aoba Park Street and the Tokiwa Garden and Fountain, an area increasingly getting fashionable with new small restaurants in a relatively open area of Shizuoka City!

It is actually Chef Toshiharu Matsuura/松浦敏春さん’s second venture who after a deserved break opened his new restaurant with Sommelier Yoshinori Shimizu/清水芳則さん last year in April.

They also provide a take-out menu for customers in a hurry or busy housewives/office ladies or whoever does not want to cook but wish to enjoy tasty delicatessen back home!

Although customers are proposed two different set menus there is plenty to choose from at dinner both from the carte and the day’s special. Actually the dinner menu will be totally revised next week, a good excuse for me to pay them a visit late in the evening next time!

Extremely clean and bright atmosphere!
You can either eat at the counter or away from the crowd in the room at the back!

A very reasonably-priced menu carte for lunch!

I opted for the boxed lunch!

It comes with a cup of hearty and healthy soup (the wine was a separate order!)!

Home-smoked duck, carrot salad, pate de campagne/pork terrine and greens!

Smoked salmon, pickled vegetables and seafood salad with French bread!

A French bistro classic: Petit sale stewed lamb and lentils! A little gem!

Scallops in cream sauce!

I decided to add a little extra order: dessert and grapefruit juice!

Caramel pound cake and vanilla ice cream!

The expresso was service but don’t tell anyone!

See you at dinner there next time!

FIGARO FOOD & WINE

Chef Toshiharu Matsuura/松浦敏春さん
Sommelier Yoshinori Shimizu/清水芳則さん
420-0034 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa cho, 2-4-5
Tel: 054-255-7430
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 16:00~24:00
Closed on Sundays
Prties welcome
Cards OK (dinner only)
Entirely non smoking at lunch!

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Buses, Japan

Postage Stamps Bus in Iwata City?

March 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Buses are not decorated for advertisement only in Shizuoka but more or less everywhere!
I found this private bus in Iwata City the other day!
Tourist spots it was advertising looked very much like stamps!

It was even promoting local products in one instance!

I couldn’t figure out what animal that mascot represented but it is called “Shippei”!

But one thing is sure: this bus company is based in Iwata City as it sported its emblem, dragonflies!

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Japan, Manholes, Shizuoka

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 28: Iwata City & Fukuroi City

March 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday as I had to go there for many reasons I took plenty of pictures in Iwata City and Fukuroi City which are neighbors in Wsetern Shizuoka Prefecture!

These colored dragonfly manhole covers are found only south of Iwata JR station. Unfortunately this was the only one still unscathed so hurry up!

The uncolored dragonfly, the symbol of Iwata City, come in different types and sizes.
The above is the largest type!

Medium-sized dragonfly cover!

Small-sized dragonfly cover!

Different type of a small-sized dragonfly cover!

Iwata Firefighters are fans of the Iwata Jubilo Soccer Team!

Older firetruck type cover!

The same with a yellow circle painted around for easier access to the fire hydrant at night!

A great geometrical design for a fire hydrant manhole cover!

A sewer-type manhole cover!

A municipal Iwata City sewer manhole cover!

A rectangular fire hydrant cover!

A common fire hydrant type found everywhere in Japan but with the Iwata City motif!

A very ancient fire hydrant manhole cover in Iwata City!

An unusually uncolored gas valve pit cover in Iwata Cuty!

An unusually large water valve pit in Iwata City!

The same as above but of a more usual and smaller type!

The same but with a Japanese inscription signifying “locked left”!

Strictly not a manhole cover but a beautifully decorated sewer cover!

The same with symbol flower of Iwata CIty!

Fukuroi City manhole cover!
I couldn’t find the colored one!

The same in a smaller type!

I found by chance this manhole cover before the road was laid down!

Another fine geometrically designed fire hydrant manhole cover!

Again but without the colors!

A similar but more ancient type!

An old type, probably a sewer manhole cover!

Rectangular fire hydrant access with the Fukuroi City motif!

An older fire hydrant access type with the Fukuroi City motif!

Still another type found elsewhre but with the Fukuroi City motif!

Same in blue but for pressurized air access!

Strictly not a manhole cover but a fine sewer cover!

Blue valve pit with the Fukuroi City motif!

Another water valve pit with the Fukuroi City motif!

A very large rectangular manhole cover used by Shizuoka prefecture!

Related with traffic information!

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Fujisan No Hi Asa Shibori Homare Fuji Junmai Genshu

March 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

February 23rd is Mount Fuji Day in Shizuoka Prefecture and elsewhere!
Takashima Brewery in Numazu City made a point to press this special sake on the morning of February 23rd this year!
And the label is very special with a wood block print depicting a sake woman peddler!

Not only it was pressed on Mount Fuji Day, it was also brewed with a Shizuoka-grown rice including the name of the famous mountain, Homare Fuji!
It is also a genshu/unpasteurized, junmai/not pure water added, origarami/gently pressed to allow some white lees/sakekasu to stay inside the sake!

Rice: Homare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Bottled on February 23rd, 2014

Clarity: Very clean but smoky due to the white lees
Color: Whitish
Aroma: Fruity. Pears
Body: Slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong alcohol-enhanced very fruity deep attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Pears, white grapes.
Complex.
White lees add a very dry finish on the tongue and palate with hints of greens.
Both elusive and elegant for such a origarami-style sake.
Takes on an even drier turn with food.
Superbly marries with any food, especially izakaya fare.

Overall: Although obviously designed to marry with food, is eminently enjoyable on its own.
Such a high quality origarami requires very special skills and inventiveness.
I’m no too fond of white lees, but this is different and would bring to any party, especially a BBQ
A brew for the earthy sake lovers!

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Beer, Beer Brewery

New Bar & Brewery in Shizuoka City: Shizuoka Brewing! Latest News!

March 1, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Very shy and quiet, but very attentive!
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Excellent washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Adequate
Strong points: Japanese and foreign craft beers. Own draft beer added beginning of July!

Things are starting to progress fast these days as a new beer bar was not only opened on December 21st, 2013 south of Shizuoka JR Station under the name of Shizuoka Brewing, but it will also starts brewing from June 8th when its license will be valid under the name of Shizuoka Beer!
It will become the second brewery in Shizuoka City and the 12th one in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Expect quite a few reports on its progress in the coming months!

The bar and the brewery are set into a very compact space with a single lounge a long counter you can either sit or stand by!

You can also sit at chairs, stools and tables.
Incidentally the whole place is entirely non-smoking, a great environment for tasting craft beer!

Hop lamp shades!

Brewer/owner Satoshi Yamamoto/山本哲史さん, a very shy man who will lighten when talking about brewing, not only intends to brew his own original beer but is already working in association with local farmers!

Hops organically grown in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

For the moment he is serving Japanese and overseas craft beer from 9 taps, but from July we shall be able to start with 3 of his own brews including American Pale Ale and whatever the tax office will allow him to as he will also bottle part of his brands.

Mash tun and open-style copper.

He kindly allowed me inside the “brewery” itself which is very compact and taking little space, making it arguably the smallest brewery in Shzuoka Prefecture, although he will have to brew at 6,000 liters a year!

Hopback and fermentation vat!

From June, the “brewery” will be off-limits!

The bottling machine!

The beer kegs behind the taps!

The last step before the tap!

Expect the next report soon as this will also prove a congenial place with craft beer lovers (and no smoking!)!

SHIZUOKA BREWING

422-8062 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Inagawa, 108029
Tel.: 070-6588-6041
Opening hours: 17:30~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Cash only
Entirely non-smoking!
FACEBOOK

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