Shizuoka Prefecture Patisserie: Jour Du Muguet with Toshiyuki Nakanishi in Okabe, Fujieda City!

Toshiyuki and kazumi Nakanishi!

Toshiyuki Nakanishi had a lot of courage when he decided to open his own patisserie quite a few years ago in Okabe, Fujieda City with his wife Kazumi whi hais from the same place.
But it handsomely paid off because of the dearth of good cakes in this seemingly off the beaten tracks village part of Fujieda City.

The patisserie looks like a small shop in the French countryside!

Truth to tell, Toshiyuki had already made his name before moving to his wife’s home village, including a winter stint at Chez Allex, a patisserie which earned no less than two MOF in Chalon sur saone, Bourgogne, France!

“Jour Du Muguet” means “Lily of the Valley day”, a celebrated family festival day back in France!

In fact the choice of Okabe proved to be a weapon in disguise as the shop is located near a main thoroughfare and a regular bus station, and has its own car park, meaning that the locals are very happy to ride, walk, drive there to buy cakes they would have to travel far to find the same quality!

The small kids playplace seen from outside1

Although the shop itself is barely bigger than the kitchen, it is big enough even including a small shelf with toys for kids to play with!
And of course it is spotless clean!
Kazumi lokks after the shop while Toshiyuki keeps busy in kitchen!

Note that the place is closed on Tuesdays and on the 3rd or 4th Monday.
Come early as cakes disappear quickly!

half of the fresh cakes are seasonal although they include permanent features such rolled cakes and succuent petit choux/chou cream (definitely for adults)!

Interestingly enough there quite a few expats with a sweet tooth living in the area and don’t be surprised if you suddenly discover a loud speaking Ozzie there!

Classic macarons!

More cakes!

And more cakes!

For the kids while their mothers are having a hard time choosing their cakes!

Toshiyuki’s cakes are simply put first class but a big bonus comes with his bicuits, pound cakes and what other delicacies, either sold individually,…

or in nice wrappings for presents!

And Toshiyuki has the great merit to advertise and sell local products of great quality and originality!

Every visit is definitely worth the long way (in my case, especially!) and I know so many people, Japanese or expats, who agree!

JOUR DU MUGUET

〒421-1131 Shizuoka Prefecture, Fujieda City, Okabe, Uchigaya, 900-4
Tel: 054-667-5104
Opening hours: 10:00~19:00
Closed on Tuesdays and 3rd or 4th Monday
Car Park available
Custom-made cakes orders welcome!

GOOGLE MAP

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BON APPETIT TOKYO
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, 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: 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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hamamatsu Brewery Shussejo Tokubetsu Junmai Homarefuji

The other day I had with my good Quebcquois friend, Jonathan Barnabe, to taste a brew by one of my favorite breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely Hamamatsu Brewery!
Shussejo Tokubetsu Junmai Homarefuji!

I bought it for a few reasons:
It is so easy to find it in Shizuoka City.
The brewmaster is a lady!
It was a practical 300ml bottle, perfect for tasting together with a friend!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture) 100%
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in February 2020

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry, fruity, complex. pineapple, vanilla, wheat, flowers, almonds.
Tasting: slightly sirupy. dry and smooth attack. Very easy on the palate.
Complex. Plums, almonds, roasted nuts.
Lingers for a while before ending on a drier note with faint coffee beans.
Turns sllghtly drier with food.
Goes back quickly to initial state once away from food although mikan make an appearance.

Comments: both elegant and strong-minded sake! definitely for both genders who will have a great time opposing their views!
Great on its own. I actually tasted with my good friend in the afternoon!
dangerous as it disappears quickly! LOL

Recommended pairings: chocolate, cheese, fried potatoes.

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

West Coast Brewing Beer Bar “12” in Shizuoka City!

From outside!

From the standing bar!

Service: very friendly and informative,. English and Spanish speaking staff on hand.
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clean. Superb gender separated washrooms. Completely non-smoking.
Prices: reasonable to slightly expensive (Craft beers are never cheap! LOL)
Strong points: Own craft beers, regular and limited editions. Collaboration beers from time to time. Great craft beer explanations on hand! Beer bar food well above average.

“12”, the leading West Coast Brewing (Mochimune, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City) bar was moved to a new address on March 12th, 2020, to accommodate more faithful customers in a more spacious multi purpose locale almost next door to the smaller original bar behind Ogushi Shrine, not far from Shuzoka JR station in Koyamachi!

Friends of mine sitting at one of the live evenings space tables!

The present concept is vastly different and the accent is on space and comfort for all tastes!
There is a very long counter for those who prefer to stand and move according to the presence of friends!
There are tables of different sizes with comfortable sitting for more sedentary customers.

Plenty of sitting space in front of large bay windows which be left open in the better season!

A very long standing bar by Shizuoka City Standards!

And a luxury in Shizuoka City: an open air veranda!
You can be sure that for all my love of standing bars I will grab a seat there in the hotter season!

Big screens advertising beers on the taps!

For the canned beer lovers there is plenty to choose among beers and ciders from Seattle!

Do not worry, for the non beer drinking customers/friends there plenty indicated on a very practical menu book!

The craft beer part makes for great reading!
below is a sample of the craft beers i have recently tasted!

Star Watcher IPA!

White Wizard!

White Wizard explained!

Not Enough Bass!

Not Enough Bass explained!

Don’t worry, when I have more time I will come up with tasting article1

Now, when it comes to food, it is definitely well above average!
make sure to read the bilingual menu!

A favorite of mine: Fish and Chips with real fresh cod!

Between you and me, better than in Great Britain!

And from April top-class hamburger!
But this is for the next article!

Until then Cheers/Sante/Salute/Kampai!

“12” by WEST COAST BREWING

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi, 7-14,, Ogushi Bldg dai 2-102, 1F
Tel.: 054-2048188
Opening hours: 11:00~24:00 (Tuesday~Saturday), 11:00~2000 (Sunday)
Closed on Mondays
Free live concerts on Saturdays (note that they will be resumed after the Coronavirus Epidemics)
Credit Cards Ok
Parties welcome

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery (Yui) Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

I have said it time and again, when it comes to tasting local sake I often do it In La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City in the company of Hiromi Hasegawa as it is cheaper and certainly more entertaining! That is at least for only a part of the vast array of nectars being brewed in this Prefecture! LOL

This time I tasted an Eikun Brewery (Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui) sake with a very long name!
Eikun Junmai Ginjo Muroka nama Genshu, meaning a junmai ginjo which went through no modification ever!

Rice: Bizen Omachi (Okayama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka yeast
Alcohol: ;17 degrees
Dryness: -2
Amino acids: 1.7
Bottled in March 2020

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: discreet, dry fruity.
Green apple, flowers, pineapple

Tasting: Very fruity attack. Complex. Plums, raisins, flowers, almonds.
Very soft on the tongue in spite of its high alcohol contents. Stays longer on palate and tongue than usual. Finishes on a sweeter note with the appearance of melons.
Tends to turn drier with food with appearance of mikan, grapefruit and tamagoyaki.
Very complex, probably because of its nama/unpasteurized and muroka/unfiltered status.

Comments: very elegant, notwithstanding the fact it is nama genshu/unpasturized and no water blended.
Very easy to drink. Should please both genders at any time of afternoon or evening.
Might be best appreciated as a digetsif.

Recommended pairings: cheese, chocolate, marinated foods.

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!

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

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Fuji takasago Brewery (Fujinomiya City) Coffee Spirits Takasago

Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City has for some time now venturing in making shochu out of the ordinary!

Their latest creation is anlend of fine rice lees and rice shochu and high quality coffee called Coffee spirits Takasago!

ingredients: rice shochu, rice lees shochu, coffee
Alcohol: 255
Contents: 500m
No 1302 (very limited edition!)

Tasting: strong and pleasant alcohol attack. beautiful dark black coffee.Roasted coffee beans, almost expresso coffee.
Alcohol pleasantly lingering on tongue and back of the mouth.
Tends to somewhat sweeten with the second sip.
lingers for a while before disappearing with a strong and pleasant dark coffee note at the back of the palate.
Strong and dry coffee attack with every new sip.

Comments: very dangerous shochu as it constantly invites/entices you to the next sip making you forget this is indeed a strong spirit!
Best appreciated on the rocks, but still very pleasant on its own at room temperature!
Easily becomes a bad habit. Can actually make for the perfct disgestif without a push coffee!

Recommended pairings: cheese, choclate, ice creams.

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery (Okabe, Fujieda City) Daiginjo!

The other day I had the pleasure to be offered a bottle of rare and expensive sake by Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe, Fujieda City!
Hatsukame Daiginjo!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 45%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Dryness: +5
Amino acids: 1.3
Bottled in March 2019

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: discreet, dry, fruity. Faint pineapple, vanilla, melon, traces of nuts.
Tasting: Dry and fruity attack with strong alcohol backup.
pineapple, vanilla.
Lingers longe rthan expected on the palate before disappearing on a drier note.
Very elusive and elegant.
takes on a drier note with food with the appearance of nuts while staying very dry and probably disappearing faster than when drunk on its own.

Comments: extravagant! The more for it that despite its very elevated status beautifully accompanies food, a rarity for daiginjo!
Constantly calls for another sip while staying silky smooth on the tongue and palate.
A dangerous feeling as it can be appreciated at any time away from or with food!
Makes for the perfect aperitif as well as a enticing nightcap!

Recommended pairings: although it should marry well with more foods and dishes than expected , I particularly appreciated it with tomato salad, oysters, cold pasta and steamed fish.

A hint! The drink to enjoy with the perfect companion or on your own away from it all!

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