All posts by dragonlife

Robert-Gilles Martineau hails from Bourgogne/Burgundy, France and presently resides in Shizuoka/Japan

Gastronomic Destinations: Brunch at Coffee House Maki in Kyoto!

September 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and very attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. excellent wahroom. Completely non-smoking on Sundays
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Morning/brunch sets/ sandwiches/fine coffees/take-outs.

Coffee House Maki in Kyoto is an extremely popular cafe in Kyoto for many reasons. First of all,in my own biased opinion, it has successfully preserved its “Showa Era” atmosphere over the years to the point you definitely experienced a time slip every time you enter the establishment! Having lived 40 years in Japan it certainly brings back many memories!
interestingly enough the smoking half area (oh well….) consists of long sofas against the wall while the non-smoking half consists of tables and chairs.
Fortunately Sundays are completely non-smoking!

Another reason is that they add seasonal sets on top of a an already long menu (for a cafe) and it is no wonder that the place is mainly, on weekdays that is, patronized by locals and regulars who all seemed to be known by name by the smiling staff!

Incidentally, this is still a place where slow food is the name of the game, so do take your time!
As we had had no time for breakfast, we decided to order two different sets as brunches!
Dragon opted for the hot sandwich set!

Served with salad and coffee!
Special for the coffee by the way! Dripped coffee of course!

For all its apparent simplicity the hot sandwich was succulent ( I stole a portion of course!) with fluffy eggs and three more fillings!

As for me, I ordered the “Chiri Kon Kan Dogu”, that is the Japanese for Chili con Carne Hot Dog!

Simple enough again, but they make a point of creating their very own chili sauce and use locally grown vegetables!

Just the right size and taste for breakfast or a light brunch!
Satisfying but not overfilling!
No wonder the place is always crowded!

COFFEE HOUSE MAKI

〒602-0822 Kyoto City, Jyoukyou Ku, Kawahara Cho, Imadegawa Agaru, Seityuu Cho, 211
〒602-0822 京都市上京区河原町今出川上ル清龍町211
Google map
Tel.: 075-222-2460
Opening hours: 08:30~19:00
Completely smoking on Sundays
HOMEPAGE

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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
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French Cuisine, Fusion Cuisine, Kyoto, Restaurant

Gastronomic Destinations: Dinner at Ikariya Shokudou in Kyoto!

September 20, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: overall very clean. Small but excellent washroom
Prices: reasonable (for Kyoto)
Strong points: French and fusion bistro cuisine with a Japanese accent. Veranda in summer overlooking Kamo River

Veranda seating.

We had been wishing to visit Ikariya Shokudou on our previous trips to Kyoto but every time it was full. At long last we somehow managed to get a table on the veranda by coming a bit later than usual on a week day

They classify themselves as a bistro and I agree although I would prefer to say they are a typical Kyoto fusion bistro!

Their bilingual menu is easy to read and in any case like in many establishments in that city the staff speaks enough English to make all customers comfortable!

And they do have a reasonably-priced wine list!
naturally they cater for all kinds of drinks!

So, what did we have?

Seasonal white-flesh fish carpacccio!

Light and delicious five-mushroom terrine!

Turbo shellfish gratin!

Succulent duck confit and French lentils!

Peperone scampi pasta!

A very reliable address in a too often overvalued city!

IKARIYA SHOKUDOU

〒600-8012 kyoto Fu, Kyoto City, Shimohara Ku, Mokuya Cho, Kuribashi Sagaru, Saito Cho, 138-2
〒600-8012 京都府京都市下京区木屋町団栗橋下ル斎藤町138-2
Google map
tel.: 075-276-2067
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00, Limited lunch sets on Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
Reservations highly recommended
Credit cards OK

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Dominique Corby, French Kappo Dominique Corby, French Restaurant, Tokyo

Gastronomic Destinations: French Kappo Dominique Corby in Tokyo!

September 18, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling, attentive and so kind
Equipment and Facilities: Overall spotless clean, beautiful washroom
Prices: Slightly expensive (this is Shinjuku in Tokyo!)
Strong points: refined French fusion cuisine mainly based on perfect seasonal Japanese products. Rare sake. Superb wines and champagne. Sublime pairings either with Japanese sake or wines.

A simple and exquisite noren/Japanese entrance curtain decorated with its Japanese crest!

I’ve always had the ambition to visit Dominique Corby’s first own restaurant he finally opened on March 19th, 2015 in Tokyo after years spent in some of the top establishments in France and Japan including la Tour d’argent in Paris and memorable stints as the Master Chef de l’école Le Cordon Bleu Japon, Chef at la Tour d’Argent in Tokyo, and Chef du restaurant Sakura de l’hôtel The New Otani. Dominique is not only a chef of enormous repute here in Tokyo and all over Japan but also a true gastronomic monument who is always in search of a new and seasonal produce to add to his already infinite palette, be it vegetable, seafood, meat, fruit or spirit/sake/wine.

For more details about Dominique, check the following website (in French)!

The Man of The House!

In spite of his unnumbered appearances on TV, media and magazines, he has always kept his inborn simplicity and authentic kindness for the utmost pleasure of his clients and friends.
He is never satisfied with his immense knowledge and is always ready to board a plane, train or car to discover new products all along the Japanese archipelago such as the high mountains in Shizuoka in search of real wasabi and green tea, the rugged land of Kochi for its vegetables and a myriad of other locations where his friends, producers, hunters, fishermen or simple citizens, Japanese and foreigners alike, ensure that his kitchen never lacks any ingredient his restaurant is so celebrated for. When you add his rare sake and sublime wines, you nurture the certainty that you will never be disappointed!

Starting the festivities with a flute of Champagne is naturally a must and what would be better than a nectar by R. L. Legias with his own Japanese crest on the label!

Prawn mousse with oba/sort of large perilla leaf!

White Bourgogne, Santenay, Clos des Champs Carafe, by Antoine Olivier!

Namazu/catfish and sawara/Spanish mackerel seared with shio konbu/salted Japanese seaweed!

A glass of rare sake called “Kamenoo Kurabu”!

Created with Kame Sake Rice Grown by five different farmers by Takeno Brewery in Kyoto. Bottled on January 27th 2015. Alcohol: 16 degrees!

Chilled kabocha soup, kurozu/black rice wine, kogashi, ikura and amago trout roe!

White Bourgogne: Domaine de la Bongran, Cuvee E.J. Thevenet by Thevenet & Fils in Quintain, Saone et Loire!

Shark fin chawanmushi/Japanese salted pudding with momiji ororoshi/grated daikon and chili pepper!

A red Bordeaux with an original label sporting a crane made with folded paper in origami style!

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Bordeaux Origami by Famille Capdevielle Proprietaire!

Sauteed calf liver and ballantine!

Steamed rice and scallops paired with its sake!

Mitake Honten Brewery in Hiroshima Prefecture: Jinriki Kimoto junmai! Jinriki Sake Rice milled down to 85%. Unfiltered. Genshu (no pure water blended in). Bottled on July 16th, 2013!

And the dessert: Nanashi japanese pears, Kyoho grapes, kyoho grapes sherbet, tomadillo on Fromage Blanc Mousse!

Fusion cuisine at its best! A real adventure!

FRENCH KAPPO DOMINIQUE CORBY
(フレンチ割烹ドミニク・コルビ)

160-0007, Tokyo To, Shuinjuku Ku, Araki Cho, 9-7, Nao Building, 1F
〒160-0007 東京都新宿区荒木町９−７ナオビル1階
Google map
Tel.: 03-6457-8899
Opening hours: 18:00~24:00
Dinners until 21:30 (last orders), Wine and a la carte bar until 24:00
Fixed menus at 8,000, 10,000 and 15,000 yen
Reservations highly recommended for dinners. Do make a point to call beforehand!
Holidays: indeterminate (check on the phone, first!)
Credit cards OK

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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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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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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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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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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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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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!

Some top-class shochu from other parts of Japan!

Sake from all over Japan!

Japanese fruit liqueurs!

More shochu from all over Japan!

More sake from all over Japan!

Craft beers from Shizuoka prefecture and Japan!

Sake, sake, sake!

Sake from all over Japan all with supplementary tags for more information!

And of course Shizuoka Prefecture sake, some really rare and hard to find!

SHINODA LIQUEUR SHOP/篠田酒店　ドリームプラザ店

Owner/Manager: Mrs. Kazuko Shinoda/経営者：萩原和子さん
424-0942 Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Irifune Cho, 13-15, S-Pulse Dream Plaza, 1F
Tel.: 054-353-6171

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese Restaurant, Restaurant, Shizuoka City

Japanese Restaurant: Kappa Dokiya In Shizuoka City!

July 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but smiling and very attentive
Equipment & facilities: spotless clean. Superb wasroom. Entirely Non-smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: donburi lunch sets! Traditional Japanese cuisine

No, “kappa dokiya” has nothing Turkish about its name!
“Kappa” stands for “河童/Water Goblin” and “Dokiya/土器屋” means “Potter”!

This popular Japanese restaurant used to be located in Shimizu Ku before it moved to “Gofuku-Cho, just behind the City Hall in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City a few years ago.
It is very popular, especially the lunch crowds, but its interior is comfortable enough, even when crowded. If you are on your own, take a seat at the counter!

The menu, although written in English only is easy enough to understand thanks to the photographs!

And if you are hungry, move to the right of the menu for a full set at a very reasonable price!

But there many other interesting offerings!

And bear in mind that the menu changes every day!

For that particular visit the Dragon ordered the Fresh Fish Sashimi Donburi Set!

Topped with no less than 7 different ingredients including tuna and sweet prawns!

Served with miso soup, tempura, pickles and cooked seawweed!

And some cute tempura!

As for me I ordered the Tempura Donburi Lunch Set!

Very generous portions including prawns, fish and vegetables!

Served with some succulent seasonal sashimi!

With miso soup and cooked seaweed!

Very satisfying!

KAPPADOKIYA/河童土器屋

420-0031 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 2-5-3
Tel.: 054-252-8232
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 11:00~21:00 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
Closed on Monday (next day if Monday is a National Holiday
Cash only

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Chinese Cuisine, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Restaurant, Shizuoka Prefecture, Wine Bar

Gastronomic Wine Bar: “BEBER” in Hamamatsu City!

July 25, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Smiling, friendly and very attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall spotless clean. Small but beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable~a little expensive
Strong points International wine list. Japanese whiskeys including one from Shizuoka Prefecture. High standard Chinese cuisine. Bistro gastronomy

With the ever increasing number of visitors, the City of Hamamatsu City is quickly changing and you do need local friends’ help to keep abreast of the new developments!
One such establishment is BEBER which opened only a few weeks ago!
Incidentally “beber” in Portuguese means “drink”!

A good friend, himself restaurateur, took us there last Thursday just before it got crowded by all kinds of customers, some of them really influential citizens in Hamamatsu City.
It does not prevent the Master of the Place, Mr. Toshio Iguchi/井口敏郎さん, to be equally attentive and welcoming to all his customers, whatever the status!

As it is first of all a wine bar, it does have a fine international list!
We started the celebrations with a “vino tinto” from Argentine, TERRAZAS de los Andes, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005!
Lots of red fruit! A discovery!
Have a good look at the drink menu as it also includes some fine whiskeys, even featuring “Fuji Sanroku” distilled in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

Chinese-style fresh salad!

Although they have all kinds of bistro favorites from terrine to foie gras, their chef is a talented Chinese Cuisine specialist whose creations are simply perfect with wines!

Juicy Xiaolongbao/小龍包!

A exquisite steamed dim sung with lettuce!

Cold spicy ramen!

The wine was quickly disappearing and we ordered this reliable Bourgogne Chardonnay (20139 by Jean Bouchard, not far from my very own birthplace!

Now, this deep-fried chicken in sweet and sour sauce was definitely way above average!

Talk about global gastronomy: Chinese-style fish and chips with cheese!
The British cannot come up with such a fine rendition!

A first but very short visit which will definitely warrant many more!

BEBER

430-0944 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Ta Machi, 331-13
Tel: 053-452-5711
Opening hours: 18:00~last customer
Closed on Sunday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK

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