Double Over Rice, Shizuoka City, Tequila's Diner

American Gastronomy: Double Over Rice Lunch at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

June 30, 2019 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Shy but very attentive
Equipment and Facilities: Overall very clean. Superb toilets. “Veranda seats” by fine weather in warm season
Prices: Reasonable considering the size of the portions!
Strong points: Hamburgers and other American favorites

Slow food prepared on order!

Tequila’s Diner, although they have acquired fame far beyond our Prefecture, is not all about hamburgers, be it lunch or dinner!
They have super lass rice dishes including double over, triple over, dirty rice and garlic rice! Perfect for people who fancy a change from bread/buns and an easier way to eat basically the same food!

And don’t forget to check all the drinks available, especially the small fridge near the entrance full of canned craft beers!

My order of the day: Double Over Rice Avocado & Cheese!
Now, talking of cheese thus is definetly far better than some vauted places who served their fare with suparmrket sliced cheese! And the avocado is big and soft, the chips plentiful!
The patty is cut by knife everyday for a superb bite and grilled over charcoal! Extravagant!

Another (hamburger) article coming soon!

TEQUILA’S DINER

New address: 420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyoda Cho, 2-4-9
Tel.: 054-255-7595
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~23:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit cards OK for dinner on bills over 10,000 yen
Parties welcome!
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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,

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-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

Cafe, Green Tea, Kakegawa City, Organic Tea, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yoshiharu Matsushita

Organic Green Tea Cafe: TEA TIME MARUHA by Yoshihara Matsushita in Kakegawa City!

June 26, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling, kind ans very attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall spotless clean. Completely non-smoking
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Organic Green tea and gelato/ice cream!

Yoshiharu Matsushita/松下芳春さん (on the right) has been growing tea in organic fashion as long as he can remember and actively continues not only growing it but conducting continuous research to ever improve quality.
Some ten years he decided to reach more people and customers by opening a very original Cafe called Maruha near his faraway tea fields in Kakegawa City!

The concept has a multiple purpose. Not only it introduces customers to top class organic green tea, but it also offers a space to enjoy it at leisure in the middle of rural Japan!

It also sells utensils, souvenirs and history!

A very spacious cafe with direct view on Japanese nature!

The menu is short but solid: Maruha New Green Tea set with green tea biscuits and green tea gelato, Cold macha Shiruko Japanese dessert, Maruha Zensai Japanese dessert and two types of green tea gelato! And also 4 different tea milk shakes!

The gelato/ice cram on offer!

I ordered the new green tea set with green tea biscuits and matcha gelato!

Delicious matcha gelato!

And superb top class new green tea!

Definitely worth the drive!

TEA TIME MARUHA

436-0011 Shizuoka Prefecture, Kakegawa City, Tamari, 592
Tel.: 0537-22-6528
Opening hours: 10:00~17:00
Closed on Wednesdays
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YOSHIHARU MATSUSHITA/松下芳春
Matsushita Tea Garden (JONA Certificated)
436-0011 Shizuoka Prefecture, Kakegawa City, Tamari, 181
Tel.: 0537-22-6528
Fax: 0537-23-4331
Tea Fields direct phone number: 080-3468-7750
WEBSITE
E-MAIL: suppin@gmail.com

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California Diner JACKAL, Shizuoka City

American Gastronomy: American Hamburger at California Diner JACKAL in Shizuoka City!

June 25, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very attentive
Equipment and Facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: American hamburgers, Tex Mex cuisine, American craft beer and good variety of drinks.

This was my first visit because it had been recommended by an American friend of mine (from Mid West, not California! LOL). For me it was on he other side of town but I bravely rode my bicycle and reached the place 20 minutes later. It is a bit away from the hubbub of Shizuoka City but it has a car park and it is busy for both lunch and dinner!

The lay out is simple with a counter bar and tables and seats but comfortable enough.

I went there for lunch but night owls will be happy to learn that there a good enough variety of drinks from American craft beers to very powerful spirits !

The lunch menu! Only in Japanese but the language is the same! I am pretty sure they manage enough English for explanations!

As it was my first visit I kept my order simple: Cheese and bacon hamburger!

With one of my favorite American carft beers: Anchor Brewing!

Served with salad!

Plenty of French fries (chips in England!)!

The hamburger! Reall appetizing!

When it comes to eating a hamburger I do not follow “tradition”! I do not insert in a paper wrapping and eat it whole. I just like to to open it and it element by element!

Tasty meat with a good bite as it should be!

Now, there were many other tempting things on the menu! I surely don’t mind cycling again to sample the other tidbits!

CALIFORNIA DINER JACKAL

422-8007 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Ijiriisshiki, 421-3 (apparently it has moved to the present address recently!)
Tel.: 054-297-5018
Opening hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~23:00
Closed on Mondays (on Tuesdays if natiional Holiday)
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Japan, Kenta Birukawa, Shizuoka City, sushi, Sushi Art, Sushi Design, Sushi Millefeuille, Sushi Shokunin Birukawa

“AKITA” Sushi Millefeuille by Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Shokunin Birukawa in Shizuoka City!

June 24, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but extremely attentive and kind
Equipment & Facilities: overall very clean. Excellent washroom. Non-smoking private room possible
Prices: reasonable (that is for true sushi!)
Strong points: Sushi mainly created with local seafood. 3-year old wasabi root exclusively used. Grilled and deep-fried fish, tempura. Excellent list of sake and shochu.

The other day as usual knowing that the place would be full before 6pm I called beforehand at 5 and barely managed to grab two seats at the counter of Sushi Shokujin Birukawa Sushi Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
In spite of its location away from Shizuoka JR Station it is a busy place filled with faithful regulars. Nobody is privileged to their own seats so it is better to reserve or try your luck at opening time! That is unless the place is already fully booked!

Anyway, we once again challenged our good friend, chef Kenta Birukawa who moved some 16 years ago to Shizuoka from his native Akita Prefecture to another Sushi Millefeuille! It is not listed on the menu, but if you are recommended in person by your servant he will be happy enough to concoct you an original one according to your taste and priorities!

The “seafood side”!

Kenta’s Akita Prefecture is famous for its wild mountain vegetables and as he had just received some he included them in this millefeuille to call it “AKITA” Sushi Millefeuille!

All kinds of seafood on the top including tuna, seabream, sole and squid!

Plenty of fresh vegetables on one half of the sides!
One could easily make such a sushi millefuille a vegetarian one!

And so much more inside!
Did I mention that there were some more special “decoration side servings”? lol

Can’t wait for the next one!

SUSHI SHOKUNIN BIRUKAWA/寿司職人尾留川

420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-Cho, 2-5-8
Tel.: 054-251-9787
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations highly recommended
Credit cards OK

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Bars, Craft beers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Craft Beers and Tex Mex Gastronomy at Golden Nectar in Shizuoka City!

June 23, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly and attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom.
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Craft beers! Tex Mex gastronomy. Craft beer tasting sets/

Golden Nectar has deservedly established its name in Shizuoka City for a couple of years now, and it is increasingly becoming busy especially on week ends be it sunny or rainy!
It consists of a high stool bar counter where you can see all the craft beers served on the tap. Bear in mind they change regularly! I would advise to try a full sample drinking set of them!

Check the list of the day!

Tables are available for small groups and customers wanting more comfort or less exposure!

Now, it is not all craft beers on the tap but there are plenty of other American craft beers in bottles and cans inside the refrigerated display near the entrance! Choose your bottle or can and it will be served in glasses by the staff!. Pictures are welcome!

North Coast Brewing Acme IPA!

Aurora Koppyalis from San Diego!

Hazy Little Thing IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing!

Amarilla Gorilla IPA by Smog City Brewery!

Deftones Phantm Bride IPA by Belching Beaver Brewery!

Another IPA by Smog City Brewing!

now, look at the menus! Plenty of salads for the health conscious!

My personal favorite, Texas caviar carefully made with local fresh vegetables and buritos!

As for food, I do have a suggestion: first go to loaded fries and choose the cheesy fries!

Scrumptious fries by themselves,…

But order them together with fish fritters!

And you have a Tex Mex fish and chips!

Excellent fried fish on its own, actually!
But check the rest of the menu!
Always something to discover!

GOLDEN NECTAR

420^0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogaecho, 2-16 (along the north side of Aoba Park Street/Aoba Kouen Doori!)
Tel.: 054-275-2759
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
WEBSITE
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Mochimune, seafood

Local Seafood Bowls at Jiroumaru in Mochimune Harbour, Shizuoka City!

June 20, 2019 dragonlife 1 Comment

Service: rough but friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent shared washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Local seafood!

Mochimune and its harbour in Shizuoka City are going through a real revolution since CSA Estate Agents have taken on the task to renovate the whole harbour area, hotels, restaurants and even hotsprings!
One particular spot is the new Minato Yokocho/Harbour Alley sheltering all kinds of restaurants. Incidentally it will mean more articles!
At the very entrance of the alley is a restaurant specialising in local seafood bowls: Jiroumaru!

Tidbits served with some of the bowls!

Mochimune is the most famous shrasu/sardine whiting fishing harbor in Japan, so the shirasu will appear in many guises, but there are great produce of the sea!

During our last visit one chose the ‘susume donburi/Choice of the day donburi! It is served with miso soup and tidbits!

Featuring raw and cooked shirasu/sardine whiting, raw and boiled sakuraebi/Cherry shrimps, raw maguro/tuna, and tamagoyaki/ Japanese omelet!With chopped scallions, grated ginger and pickled ginger!

As for me I had an even more extravagant (but reasonably-priced!) Kakiage donburi/deep-fried seafood bowl with tidbits including pickles and boiled shirasu!

Perfect with a beer!

Enormous kakiage mainly including local sakuraebi and chopped vegetables!

Plenty more left to explore at day and at night!

JIROMAU

Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 2-11, Minato Yokocho Alley (in front of harbour)
Tel.: 054-2564956
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 11:00~14:00 on Tuesdays
Closed on Wednesdays

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Bento, Izu City, Izu Peninsula, Lunch, Shuzenji

Bento Lunch at Meshiya Mizu in Shuzenji, Izu Ciy, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture!

June 14, 2019 dragonlife 1 Comment

Service: Shy but very kind
Equipment and facilities: very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: bento lunch and Japanese traditional lunches!

Although Shuzenji is increasingly becoming an international touristic spot locals still have many places tucked away from the crowd where they can still enjoy authentic traditional Japanese cuisine left alone by modern trends.
Such a place is Meshiya Mizu!
Actually Meshiya means eatery in Japanese!

They are open only at lunch and serve basically two types of set lunches, although a good look at the menu might entice you to something else!
One is a bento style lunch with boxed lunch and side dishes!

The great majority of vegetables and other ingredients are local!

Traditional Japanese dessert!

The other set is based on soba/buckwheat noodles, a very popular offering with the locals!

Local vegetables!

So healthy!

Enjoy!

MESHIYA MIZU

410-Shizuoka Prefecture, Izu Shi (Izu City), Shuzenji, 765
Tel.: 0558-72-0546
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00
Closed on Tuesdays (on Wednesday if Tuesday is a National Holiday)

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Sushi Dinner at Miyako Sushi in Shizuoka City!

June 6, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and informative.
Equipment & facilities: old but very clean. Traditional but clean Japanese washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: great products, local and from all over japan. Great sake list.

In Shizuoka City, you do not need to be near the sea to find great sushi and fish products. The latter probably follow you along your trips!
The other day I was invited by a local regular for dinner at Miyako Sushi on the other side of the Abe River and as far as Abeguchi Shinden, in the middle of the country, not far from the tea fields.
Miyako Sushi is what you call a true traditional country sushi restaurant.
No pretense here. The marine products a top-class and the selection of sake a discovery!
And most customers are local so you know you are coming to a great place, maybe old fashioned but so laid back!
Not only sushi,and sashimi but also cooked food await you there!

Superlative “Nanbu Bijin” sake from faraway Iwate Prefecture!
Check with the staff as the sake list tends to change quickly!

O-toshi/snack served with first drink, featuring otaru ika/lucciolla squid!

Traditional kappa maki/cucumber roll for the kid among us!

First superb sashimi selection!

Deep fried kuro hanpene/sardine paste cake and kisu/sillago!

A rare sake, Sawa no I for Tokyo of all places!

The second superb sashimi selection!

Grilled shishamo/literally leaf fish! A typical Japanese specialty!

Sushi nigiri galore!

And instead of dessert we had Chyawanmushi/Japanese salted hot pudding!

Go and explore the country along the Abe River! Surprises await for you there!

MIYAKO SUSHI
Address: Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Abeguchi Shinden, 517-5
Tel.: 054-296-4171
Working hours: indefinite. Better call and reserve first as the place tends to be crowded!

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