La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Brewery, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Fukurotsuri Shizuku Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 29, 2016 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 we tasted a nectar produced by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

As usual it bears a long name!
Fukurotsuri Shizuku (the sake is filtered through a suspended cloth bag drip by drip) Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Ginjo Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure water blended in) Homarefuji (sake rice grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 5%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in May 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: very dry. Greens, water spinach (kuushinsai)
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and vegetables backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Lychees, faint dark chocolate, star fruit.
Lingers for a while before departing on more notes of sweet and sour vegetables.
Ends up more complex and dry with rise in temperature.
Varies little with food.

Overall: a very unusual sake, difficult to classify and the more intriguing for it.
Taste it first chilled to later discover more and more new facets with rise in temperature.
A discovery!
Suggested pairings: Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines, mabodofu, dry curry rice.

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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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

Okonomiyaki, Restaurant, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture

“Hiroshima Yaki” Okonomiyaki at Okonomiyaki Sakurai in Shimada City!

August 28, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but kind and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Old-style basic Japanese but very clean overall. Non smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Okonomiyaki in many forms, Yakisoba, take-outs

Okonomiyaki Sakurai is a Kansai-Style (Western Japan) restaurant with a history spanning over more than 40 years where his original chef/owner is still officiating although his son Ryuutarou Sakurai/桜井竜太郎さん is looking after the business.

The interior is still very much reminiscent of After War Japan although it is non smoking!

You can either sit at a table or on the tatami especially if you are with company but I do prefer to sit at the counter where I can observe all the action!

Okonomiyaki after their first stage of cooking!
Very big portions!

Yakisoba!
Also big portions!

Okonomiyaki ready to be served!

Drinks of all kinds, alcoholic or soft are available.
I had a sake from Okayama Prefecture!

My order: Hiroshima Yaki Okonomiyaki!
Although lighter than the Osaka-style okonomiyaki, it was still bigger than I thought!

Its bottom consists of thin pork slices topped with yakisoba.

It is topped with a thin layer of batter and a thin layer of omelet!

And the top is pasted with sauce, mayonnaise and green powder with a little pickled ginger on the side!
A meal enough for two!

I will to visit the place with company next time! LOL

OKONOMIYAKI SAKURAI/お好み焼桜井

Shimada City, Ougi Cho, 11-14
Tel.: 0547-37-6777
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 16:30~20:30. 11:30~20:00 on Sundays
Closed on Wednesdays
Take-outs can be ordered on the phone
Parties welcome!

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Fukuroi City, Kokko Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kokko Brewery-Junmai Ginjo (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

For a change this time we tasted a Junmai Ginjyo concocted by Kokko Brewery in Fukuroi City!
Incidentally Kokko Brewery was the first a long time ago to use the new Shizuoka yeast!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Yeast: Shizuoka Ginjyo HD-1
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: +7
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in July 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma dry and fruity. Pears, flowers,herbs
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed gentle junmai petillant.
Complex. Banana, persimmon, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds.
Lingers for a short while before departing on notes of oranges and bitter chocolate and faint coffee beans.
Will finally end up on an even drier note at the back of the palate.

Overall: Superb sake, but not as dry as this brewery uses to.
Probably best enjoyed on its own.
Starts it slightly chilled to discover new facets as temperature rises.
Suggested pairings: salads, grilled whitie fleshed fish, cheese, chocolate.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, sushi, Sushi restaurants.

Sushi Lunch at Uogashi Nagarezushi in Fujieda City!

August 21, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: busy but friendly
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom. Non smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: great choice and fast service

If you are in a bit of a hurry but still are hungry Fujieda Station is a practical place to enjoy some reasonably-priced but still tasty sushi.
Uogashi Nagarezushi is located on the second floor of OLE Building just beside Fujieda Station south exit!

It is a fairly big place but seats are sufficiently separated for necessary privacy.
This is a “nagaraezushi”, that is a system where orders are coming to your table via a computer service. Very quick and efficient and the staff will come regularly to collect away your empty plates.

Plenty of top-class local sake!

What did we have, then?

Whale/kujira/鯨 nigiri!

A set consisting of horse mackerel/aji/鯵 prepared in four different manners!

A set of three white-flesh fish/shiromi/白身 in aburi/seared/炙り style!

A mixed set of twelve diffrenet sushi nigiri!
Gizzard/kohada/小肌, grated tuna/negitoro/ネギトロ, boiled sardine whiting/shirasu/白子, crab salad/kani sarada/蟹サラダ, boiled prawn/yudeebi/茹で海老, Japanese omelet/tamagoyaki/卵焼き, Horse mackerel/aji/鯵, bonito/katsuo/鰹, mackerel/saba/鯖, cuttlefish (squid9/ika/烏賊, seabream/tai/鯛, and tuna red lean part/maguro akami/鮪赤身!

Large horse mackere/aji/鯵 in aburi/seared/炙り style!

And to finish, another set of nigiri in aburi/seared/炙りstyle: horse mackerel/aji/鯵, tuna/maguro/鮪　and cuttlefish tentacles/ika geso/烏賊ゲソ!

All with as much tea and pickled ginger as you want!

Uogashi Nagarezushi/魚がし流れ鮨

Fujieda City, Maejima, 1-3-1, OLE Building (Fujieda JR Station South Exit)
Tel.: 054-634-2880
Opening hours: 10:00~21:00
Credit cards OK
Take-outs OK

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Gifu Prefecture, One Cup sake, Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery

Gifu One Cup Sake Series 2): Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery-Hourai Futsushu

August 15, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

It was about time I opened those two one cup sake by Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery I acquired in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture!

They are both futsushu but with a marked variant.
I started with the one named “Hourai/蓬莱”!

Rice: Hida homare (Gifu Prefecture9
Rice milled down to 63&
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: ; 3
Acidity: 1.4

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Plums
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Plums, almonds, coffee beans
Lingers for a while warming up back of the palate before departing with soft notes of plums, dark chocolate and faint vanilla.
Varies little with food but for a fruitier note

overall: simple, straightforward but highly enjoyable futsushu.
Best appreciated at room temperature.
Ladies might enjoy it more than gentlemen because of its soft and fruity approach.
Suggested pairings: salads, sashimi, yakitori, takoyaki.

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Geppaku Fuusei Ale (2016 version)

August 14, 2016 dragonlife 3 Comments

Aoi Brewing Owner Naoki Mando in center and Master Brewer Kooichi Taka on the right!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to taste the brand new limited craft beer, Geppaku Fuusei Ale, 2016 version, by Aoi Brewing In Shizuoka City!
It is a French Saison ale type craft beer!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Pilsner Malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Opal hop (Germany) Perle hop (Germany), coriander, nutmeg, orange peels, lemon peels, clove, French saison yeast
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5 degrees
IBU: 20
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: smoky lemon/orange color
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses
Taste: very dry, spicy and fruity attack backed up with some pleasant acidity.
Complex. citruses, lemon, coriander,cloves.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing on notes of dry lemon and dry spices, especially cloves.
Dry nuts will appear on the late.
Varies little with food.

Overall: great summer ale craft beer!
Very complex, fruity and spicy with a marked dryness.
Its sharpness makes it a very welcome beer in hot summer!
Will please both genders at any time of the day!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, pickles.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
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 Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

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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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Lingering Summer Ale

August 13, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has come up with another craft beer: Lingering Summer Ale!
But I can assure you it will not linger long at AOI BEER STAND!
Incidentally this tasting was conducted with the help of two good friends of mine, namely Atsuko Kurata and Chiaki Hirano!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt (England), Munich Malt (Germany), Flaked barley malt (USA), Chinook hop (USA), Perle hop (Germany), Sugars, Lingerwood yeast (ale yeast-USA)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 4.5 degrees
IBU: 29
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, creamy, whitish orange color
Color: deep orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Citruses, hop
Taste: dry and fruity attack but soft and light on the palate.
Citruses, bread, dry honey, unripe persimmon.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with dry oranges.

Overall: very easy to drink craft beer in spite of its high dryness,acidity.
A real summer craft beer!
Suggested pairings: sausages, cold meats.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

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 Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

GROWSTOCK

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Ekiban, Gifu Prefecture, Hida Beef, Japan Railway Bento, Takayama City

Ekiben/Japan Railway bento/Lunch Box: Takayama Station (Gifu Prefecture) Hida Beef Roast Beef Sushi!

August 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture is famous all over japan fot its very high-grade “Hida beef/飛騨牛”!
The day I had the opportunity to it as sushi, but just before boarding the first train back to Shizuoka I managed to purchase a great ekiben/railway bento at Takayama JR Station!

Ekiban advertized at takayam Station beside Kinkamekan Company booth!

On the train resting on thee small folding table in a neat vinyl bag!

The ekiben!
Sold at Takayama JR Station on the Takayama Honsen railway Line.
HIda Beef! Roast Beef!
Jigure Sushi!

Inside another hard vinyl box for full protection and super hygiene!

Lid off!

The roast beef!
Top quality meat! Soft and tender!

More simmered beef, omelet strings and sauce!

The sushi rice and the loacal pickles!
A full meal to satisfy anyone!

KINKAMEKAN Co.
Gifu Prefecture, Takayama City, Kawahara Cho, 30-2
Tel.: 0577-32-0184
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture, Takashima Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Homarefuji Junmai Shu, “Natsu”

August 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Summer in Shizuoka Prefecture witnesses the creation of limited or regular editions dedicated to our hot summers and Takashima Brewery in Numazu City is no exception!

Even if you cannot read Japanese you will easily guess it is a sake to be enjoyed in summer!
Incidentally the rice used is Homarefuji, exclusively grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, and takashima Brewery produces only junmai-style sake (no pure rice alcohol blended)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in June 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears, vanilla, melon
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry, assertive and fruity attack backed up with a reasonably strong junmai petillant.
Complex: lychees, pears, custard.
Lingers only for a short while before departing on more dry notes of custard.
Changes little with food but for a softer note of oranges and more dry custard.

Overall: A strong, fruity, complex and extremely pleasant and satisfying summer sake!
Very elegant in spite of its marked dryness.
A treacherous nectar that will disappear before the end of the meal!
Suggested pairings: salads, marinated vegetables, oden, grilled fish.

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Liqueur shops, S-Pulse Dream Plaza, Shinoda Liqueur Shop, Shizuoka City

Shinoda Liqueur Shop at S-Pulse Dream Plaza in Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, S-Pulse Dream Plaza!

August 2, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Veteran Owner, mrs. Kazuko Hagihara/萩原和子さん！

Service: very kind, always smiling
Prices: reasonable~expensive
Strong points: local sake, rare local shochu and liqueurs. Craft beers.

There are many fine liqueur shops in the whole of Shizuoka City, a very large town renown for its drinking all over Japan, but if you happen to be in Shimizu Ku, you must go straight to S-Pulse Dream Plaza where you will find Shinoda Liqueur Shop on the first floor!

Japanese whiskies and Shizuoka Shochu!

It is a big shop by Shizuoka City standards where such establishments are usually smaller than expected.
Its general approach is to introduce as many local products as possible, making for quite a few discoveries!