Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

June 26, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The interesting things with Sanwa Brewery in Shizuoka City is that they can come up with two different sake with exactly the same specs but a totally different taste as shown with this Garyubai Junmai Ginjo and the precedent limited edition, Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in May 2015
Clarity: very ;ear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Strong bananas.
Body: fluid, a little sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with pleasant junmai petillant.
Complex: bananas, custard, hints of nuts and greens.
Lingers for a while before disappearing with drier bananas, custard and faint notes of dark chocolate.
Varies little with food but for a drier note and more noticeable greens.
Late appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: very straightforward dry and pleasant sake obviously conceived to be enjoyed with food.
Eminently enjoyable on its own slightly chilled.
Should be drunk at room temperature with food, though. Will the show more facets!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, 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, Pie
rre.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: 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

Japan, Japanese Plums, Organic Agriculture, Shizuoka City

Organic Japanese Plums Harvesting in Higashimine, Shizuoka City, with Marufuku Seicha Co.!

June 23, 2015 dragonlife 3 Comments

Last Sunday Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん, the young owner/manager of Marufuku Tea Company/丸福製茶株式会社 in Shizuoka City invited once again to participating to the harvest of organic Japanese Plums/Ume/梅 in her family-owned land up in the mountains of Shizuoka City!

The weather was not that great, what with fog and drizzle, but it was more comfortable than last year when it blazing hot!

Higashimine/東峰 is up in the mountains of Shizuoka City along the Abe River, not far from Umegashima.
It does take some time to reach it by car, but the trip itself is a joy whatever the weather with all the grand unadulterated views along the way!

There is even a small ancient Shinto Shrine to look after you there, at 1,000 meter altitude where the highest tea fields in Japan can be found!

It is a very steep way down from there but Japanese farmers are well equipped with these gasoline driven “mountain tracks” to carry heavy equipment and crops!

A real free fall, I can guarantee you!

Asami invites every time to ride down with her, and I refuse every time!

The rest of us just walk down.
Mind you, you do have to be fit and cautious!

Japanese cedars (cryptomeria) everywhere!

Walking past lone neighbors’ farmhouse!

We can stop at a nice little traditional farmhouse built by Asami’s late father!
In need we could stay there overnight!

Very traditional Japanese atmosphere!

The field in front of the house with many old plum trees which haven’t seen any fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides for the last 25 years!
The place is regularly invaded by wild boars, monkeys, civets, deer and even bears!
They will not show up with all the noise we make, but we do have to look out for the occasional leech!

The baskets used for the harvest!

Asami and her younger sister plucking the trees under the drizzle!

The plums have to be picked just before they ripen, otherwise they will naturally and very quickly ferment!

Japanese plums are not edible raw, but are used to make umeboshi/salted plums, umeshu/ume sake, ume jam and so forth!

Harvest piling up!

Still not complete.
We must have harvested about 80 kg that day, although the crop was not impressive this year!

The only “monster” of the crop!

Once the crop finished we sorted it we put it on the “railway”!

It was time for lunch while the watermelon was cooling down!

Like last year I was the one in charge of cutting it!

Great dessert!

Cleaning up and getting ready to climb back to the car park!

Asami starting the train and going ahead of us!

By then, it was almost pouring, but the mountain views were beautiful!

See you there again next year!

Marufuku Tea Factory (Owner: Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
Fax: 054-271-2010
Mobile: 090-3250-4188

CHA-O (Director, Ms. Asami Itoh/伊藤麻実さん)
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel: 054-253-8421
Fax: 054-253-8413
HOMEPAGE

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French gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka City

French Gastronomy: Dinner at KAWASAKI Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

June 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities & Equipment: Spotless clean. Superb “bilingual” washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Extensive use of local products, especially organic vegetables, game/gibier. Wines and local sake.

At long last I had the opportunity to re-visit KAWASAKI restaurant in Shizuoka City for a full dinner!
The restaurant is located along the Aoba Street in Aoi Ku on the second floor of a cute red-brick building!

You can’t miss it!

The entrance on the second floor!

Take your time and check this board past the entrance!

The specialties of the day!

Can you guess what it represents?

Home-cured meats and hams, including game/gibier!

Very decent and well-chosen wine list bu the glass or the bottle!

Some of the Top-class vegetables organically grown under Mount Fuji!

The restaurant holds seats at a counter and three tables. It is always a good idea to reserve in advance!

One can order a la carte but we opted for the “Menu Terroir” for 6,200 yen mainly dedicated to vegetables.
Two other set menus are available, a “Menu Saison” for 4,200 yen and a “Menu Degustation” for 8,000 yen (on reservation only)
As for lunch, 3 set menus at 1,200, 1,800 and 2,400 yen!

The first appetizer: wild venison rillettes on mushroom grown by Mr. Hasegawa in Fuji City!

The second appetizer!

Shellfish and burdock tart!!

The third appetizer!

Cauliflower Mousseline and broad beans in broad beans jelly!

The fourth appetizer!

Home-cured ham, wild duck and vegetables salad!

The fifth appetizer!

Chicken mousse filled zucchini flower!

Beautiful colors!

The vegetable dish!

All vegetables are locally grown (mainly Fujinomiya City), exclusively seasonal and organic!

Beautiful palette!

The main dish!

Veal raised at Okamura Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Once again mushrooms from Hasegawa Farm i Fuji City!

Pre-dessert: citruses in hibiscus (roselle) jelly!

The dessert!

Chocolate and walnut terrine and citruses sauce and jam!

Coffee and mignardises served as they should be!

See you there again for lunch!

KAWASAKI French Restaurant
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki/川崎芳範さん

420-0034 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 1-8-5, BROOKLYN SQUARE 2F (Along Aoba Street just before junction with Showa Street)
Tel: 054-272-0066
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~22:30
Closed on Sundays and 3rd Monday of the month
Credit Cards OK
Private parties welcome
Entirely non-smoking!
HOMEPAGE
KAWASAKI Facebook
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki facebook

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Alt (June 2015 Version)

June 17, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Without being beforehand announced another Aoi Brewing Co. (Shizuoka City) “regular” craft beer is being served on the tap with quite a few modifications!

Alt!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Crystal malt, Munich malt, Black malt, Chocolate malt, Australian galaxy Hop, Sylva hop, Select hop,live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles Longish, white color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown (color deeper than previous Alt)
Aroma: Deep, almost fruity. Bread, light caramel
Taste: Deep and pleasant approach. little acidity and plenty of dryish fruit (less dry and with more fruit than previous Alt).
Bread, biscuits, light caramel, coffee beans, dry chocolate.
Full body. drinks vey easily.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more coffee beans and chocolate.
Stays true to first impression all the way through.

Overall: The kind of beer all genders will appreciate all year round.
Refreshing, complex and utterly satisfying.
Great on it own but would superbly marry with salty and fermented foods!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK
FACEBOOK

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake” (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

June 14, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time I tasted another brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, whose particular label is known even in the States!

It does make for an another long name!
Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: +5
Acidity: 1.3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity.green melon, asparagus, dry vanilla, custard, string beans
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and flowery attack backed up by discreet junmai petillant.
Complex. Greens, asparaguses, dry watermelon.
lingers only for a little while on palate before departing on a dry note with late appearance of walnuts and faint coffee beans.
Dark chocolate appears with rise of temperature.

Overall: very elegant, dry and complex sake for such a simple gohyakumangoku rice.
Drink it first chilled before experiencing new facets as the temperature rises inside the glass.
Roll it around the glass to make it breathe.
Perfect for summer evening meals.
Marries beautifully with any cuisines as long as they include greens and fish.
Recommended pairings: katsuo tataki, cold pork shabu shabu, yuudofu, asparaguses in hollandaise sauce.

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Ise Ebi, Japanese Gastronomy, Spiny Lobster

Japanese Crustacean Species 4: Ise Ebi/Japanese Spiny Lobster

June 12, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Ise Ebi/伊勢海老, or Japanese Spiny Lobster is one the Spiny lobster varieties so popular all over the World.
The Japanese variety is smaller, or more precisely is more popular under a certain size.

Also called Kamakura Ebi, it is caught off the shores of Chiba, Wakayama, Mie and Shizuoka Prefectures.

The best specimens are aught in Winter, although imported lobsters can be found at other seasons.

The annual catch is fairly stable at 1,000 tonnes a year.
Imprted specimens account for 10,000 tonnes, mainly from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.
In the case they are also called Minami/South Ebi.

The Japanese appreciate their lobsters raw.

As o-tsukuri/sashimi plate they are quite spectacular!

For a closer look!

And of course as sushi nigiri!

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Crustaceans, Japanese Gastronomy, Pink Shrimp

Japanese Crustacean Species 4: Amaebi/Alaskan Pink Shrimp-Pink Shrimp

June 10, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Amaebi (in Japanese) or by its Latin name Pandalus borealis (also called Pandalus eous) is a species of shrimp found in cold parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Many different English names are used, with little consensus (deep-water shrimp, cold-water shrimp, northern shrimp, Alaskan pink shrimp, pink shrimp, northern red shrimp, Greenland prawn (UK)). Often the word shrimp is replaced by prawn, albeit incorrectly.

In Japan, it is also known as Hokkoku Akaebi/North Country Red Shrimp, Nanban Ebi or Tongarasahi.

The season in Japan is Winter, although it can be found all year round thanks to large imports from Greenland and Canada. Yearly domestic catch amount to 2,000 tonnes in Hokkaido and 800 tonnes in Ishikawa Prefecture.

It is a species famous for its sexual properties: the shrimps are hermaphroditic. They start out male, but after a year or two, their testicles turn to ovaries and they complete their lives as females. However, if there is a predominance of female Pandalus shrimp, the males will delay their transformation. Likewise should there be a shortage of females, the male shrimp will begin their transformation earlier, all for the sake of maintaining balance for procreational purposes.

They are called “Ama Ebi/Sweet Shrimp” in Japanese as they will turn very sweet after a couple of days in the refrigerator, whereas they will show no sweetness at all when fresh!

They are great as sashimi on their own, in salads or as part of a larger sashimi plate！

Of course, as sushi, they are a superb morsel!

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Suruga Elegant Oranges Ale

June 10, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

At last the long-awaited Aoi Brewing Co. ‘s new fruit beer made with local oranges is available on tap at AOI BEER STAND, BEER GARAGE and Beer Junkies Motel in shizuoka City!

Suruga Elegant Ale!
Suruga Elegant are a variety of !Amanatsu” oranges grown in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Bear in mind that it is extremely limited:
only 2 barrels each at AOI BEER STAND and Beer Junkies Motel and 9 more at BEER GARAGE.
They won’t last until the end of the week, so hurry!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Pilsner malt, Topaz hop, Willamette hop, Suruga Elegant oranges peels and juice live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 4.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles Longish, white color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark lemon/light orange color
Aroma: refreshing, dry oranges
Taste: very refreshing attack with beautiful and fruity acidity.
Complex. Oranges, lemon, orange peels.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more lemon and orange peels.
Stays true to first impression all the way through.
No need to drink it with food!

Overall: very refreshing and elegant (no pun!) fruit beer enhanced by beautiful acidity.
So easy to drink and the more for it that the alcohol content is moderate.
Will appeal to both genders at any tine of the day during the hotter days.
Pity that it is so limited in production!
Another craft beer to look forward to next year!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture

4 Craft Beers from Izu No Kuni, Gotemba and Kannnami Shine at Asian Beer Cup 2015!

June 9, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pictures and original article courtesy of Shizuoka shinbun.

The East of Shizuoka Prefecture honored at the Asia Beer Cup 2015 organized by the Japan Craft Beer Association!

The medal-awarded craft beers!

In an event featuring 276 craft beers by 79 breweries from 8 countries including China and Australia, 3 Shizuoka Prefecture Breweries were awarded medals:
Gotemba Kougen Brewery (Gotemba City) obtained a silver medal with its Weissen Bock in the Weizss Beer Section.
Izu No Kuni Brewery (Izu no Kuni City)was awarded 2 bronze medals with their Dark Latte Stout in the Dark Ale Section and Pilsner in the Free Style Section.
Orache Brewery )Kannami, Mishima City) got a bronze medal with its Kaze no Tani Beer Pilsner in the Light Lager Section.

Great PR for Shizuoka Craft beers in a Prefecture housing no less than 12 micro breweries (4th in Japan)!

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Canned sardines, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka Prefecture

Canned Sardines by Suzuko Co. (Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui)!

June 9, 2015 dragonlife 5 Comments

There are many excellent canneries in Shizuoka prefecture, especially in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City and they do make very tasty and elegant appetizers of main dishes.

I thought it was about time to introduce them in a new series starting with sardines canned by Suzuko Co.! They produce a set three different canned sardines in a simple but elegant design. It would make for a good contribution to these canned food dinners that that urban Japanese are so fond of!

The first can I sampled was the “Sardines X Curry”!

At least plenty of meat and not too much sauce inside for good value!

The sardine flesh was very firm and the bones very tender like in the best French canned sardines. The curry sauce is very mild and really tasty. I ate them all cold, but they certainly would turn out delicious cooked. My impression that this type can be equally enjoyed cold or heated. Make sure you get some bread to scoop the elegant sauce! Serve seasoned with a little chili powder for those who like their food hot!

The seond can I sampled was the “Sardines X Soy Sauce”!

Once again, plenty of flesh for very good value!

I ate it cold, but because the soy sauce is sweeter than expected, it would do well heated on top of hot white rice! Definitely aimed at Japanese palates. I would serve it topped with finely chopped daikon sprouts!

The last one was “Sardines X Tomato”!

One very good sign is that the cans contain only the largest part of the fish! The tail ends are probably used for another type of can!

The tomato sauce is really elegant if somewhat a little sweet. You could easily season it either with chili pepper powder or some black pepper. Cold, they would be tasty as sandwiched inside some crusty French bread, hot, they would marry well with hot potates! Cold or hot, as they are or seasoned, on their own or as an accompaniment they are very good food and very healthy what with the high amount in calcium and vitamin omega! A treat! Suzuko Co. 421-2103 Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui, 584-1 Tel.: 054-376-0008

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, 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, Pie rre.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: 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

Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Slight Stout (July 2015 new version)

June 9, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

AOI BEER STAND has just started a new craft beer completely unannounced as it is a bit of a “revenge” craft beer version of a stout which never satisfied the master brewer’s exacting standards!

Slight Stout!
As it bears no special name, I called it (with Aoi Brewing’s agreement) “July 2015 New version”!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Maris Otter malt, Crystal malt, Low Step Valley malt, Australian Galaxy hop, Sylva hop, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head, creamy, milk coffee color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown
Aroma: very dry. Dry coffee beans, bread
Taste: very refreshing attack with plenty of pleasant acidity.
Complex. Coffee beans, dark caramel.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a gentler note.
Stays true to first impressions all the way through.
Varies little with food.

Overall: True stout and such an improvement on already excellent craft beer!
Aoi Brewing’s beers are definitely coming to maturity!
Should please both genders at all times of the day and year, but especially in late afternoons with food or on its own.
Would beautifully pair with meats, meats in sauce, sweet and sour pork!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Japanese crustaceans, Shako, Squilla

Japanese Crustacean Species 3: Shako-Squilla

June 7, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Squilla or “Shako” (蝦蛄in Japanese) is a delicacy that appears on the sushi bar counters from April to Summer, although different varieties can be found in Hokkaido markets (Otaru City in particular) almost all year round.
You will discover it under names such as “Shaku” and “Gazaebi”.
They are actually caught in almost all Japanese seas, but the best are supposed to originate from Hokkaido.

Like any crustaceans, they can be eaten in many ways.
The Japanese favour the small kind with a violet back. I had the opportunity to buy some very large specimen in Otaru, and eat them just boiled and served with rice vinegar mixed with a little Japanese mustard, or in salads.
They almost disappeared from Tokyo Bay in the 1960’s but reappeared in the 1970’s. Most fishermen in the Kanto area will place them in boxes themselves to sell them directly at fish markets. The market value can vary wildly, but look for the genuine harbour markets and buy them yourself.

Naturally, they are most popular as nigiri sushi. Customers jokingly ask for “garage” (in English) as “shako” also means (different kanji, of course) “garage”!

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Botanebi, Japanese crustaceans, Prawn

Japanese Crustacean Species 2: Botan Ebi-Large Prawn

June 5, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Botanebi/”Botan” Prawn, or “Pandalus nipponesis” for the specialists, is a large prawn found in all seas of Japan at depths varying from 300 to 500 metres. They are caught at 200~300 metres depth in Suruga Bay and along the Western coast of Izu Peninsula In Shizuoka Prefecture. Once abundant, they have become scarce and only small specimens are found, whereas Hokkaido produces up to 20cm-long prawns.

They are known under different names: “Toyamaebi and Kijiebi”.
It is not a cheap morsel in Sushi bars. But it is interesting to note they are essentially eaten raw as like “Amaebi”. They become very sweet after some time in the refrigerator.

Now, if you are lucky enough to find them fresh with their eggs, ask your chef to dress them as above, or even better, put the eggs on top of a “gunkan nigiri”!

And one more thing, if they are fresh again, don’t forget to ask for the heads deep-fried!

Incidentally, botanebi change sex (gender) with age to end up as big juicy females!

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Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japanese crustaceans, Shiroebi, White Shrimps

Japanese Crustacean Species 1: Shiro Ebi-White Shrimp

June 4, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Having obtained more information and species, I decided to restart the Series on Crustaceans for the sake of secure information!

Shiroebi or White Shrimp is not as known as other shrimp/prawn varieties. However, it is a very popular crustacean in Japanese cuisine.
Also known under the the names of “Shiraebi, Hirataebi and Bekkoebi”, it is mainly caught between depths of 40 and 200 metres off the coasts of Toyama Bay on the other side of Japan and Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture.

It is mainlly served as sashimi with some ponzu and grated fresh ginger

as “gunkan” topped with a dash of grated fresh ginger.

It is possible to serve it as “nigiri”, although one would need large specimen, as the usual length is only 7 cm.
Shiroebi appears on our tables between April and November in many guises:

The picture above shows on the right the shiroebi in its natural flesh whereas on the left it has been kept between two sheets of wetted seaweed for a while as “kombu-jime”, another very popular way to prepare all kinds of sashimi/sushi.

White Shrimps also enter in the preparation of a kind of “Tamagoyaki”/Japanese Omelette when they are first processed into a paste and mixed thoroughly with beaten eggs, sieved and then cooked.
The Japanese also love them as soft sembei/rice crackers.

The annual catch has exceeded 600 tonnes in recent years, half of them in Toyama.
They are also exported whole.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Belgian Subtle IPA!

June 3, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

New craft beers are coming out thick and fast from Aoi Brweing in Shizuoka City!

The latest one is a version of the recent Subtle IPA: Belgian Subtle IPA!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Munich malt, Crystal malt, Australian Galaxy hop, Kent Holding hop, Belgian Trappiste Yeast, Hoegarden Kindan no Kajitsu yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 6.3%
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head, creamy, light orange white
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: deep orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Oranges, bread
Taste: deep and dry fruity attack with pleasant acidity.
Complex. Oranges, bread.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on a drier note with more pleasant acidity.
Varies little with food.
Oranges make a regular and strong appearance with every sip.

Overall: very refreshing, deep, satisfying with plenty of welcome acidity.
Splendid fruity IPA!
Another intriguing version of already a superb IPA.
No need for food!
Bear in mind that Aoi Brewing is coming up now with two types of IPA great for comparison!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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