Category Archives: 農業

美食, 酒, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Izakaya: Hachokura in Shizuoka City JR Station!

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Service: Friendly
Facilities: Clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Lots of fresh local fish and produce. Great range of sake and shochu.

If you happen to be hungry but still limited in time, be it for lunch or dinner, Shizuoka City JR Railway Station will offer you plenty of reasonable and decent enough establishments that will serve you either fare found all over Japan, or for the more adventurous, ingredients mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Hachokura in the western building of Asty Mall is such a place.
You cannot miss it with its big board describing local fare!

Even if you are in a hurry, take the time to have a good look at all the seafood and sake on offer. You are bound to make some interesting discoveries!

You can choose a seat at the counter or in a private room.

Traditional Japanese country atmosphere?

You may also sit at tables by the window.
I paid them a visit at lunch time when it is quieter. Evenings are really busy!

Sitting at the counter can turn into a lot of reading!

Tuna Carpaccio is really reasonably-priced!

Local fish and local sake!

Again, a lot to choose from!

You can always choose one of their lunch boxes/plates but their lunch sets are a real bargain when you consider that the beer is included!

So my lunch set started with beer and a snack.

Sashimi plate (tuna, horse mackerel, salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp, tamagoyaki). Note the freshly grated Shizuoka-grown wasabi!

Tuna and horse mackerel.

Salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp and tamagoyaki.

Potato and minced meat croquette and deep-fried chicken “nankotsu/cartilages”!

The croquette!

“Karaage niwatori nankotsu”, chicken soft cartilages deep-fried with some of their meat attached. Great snack for beer!

Simple, tasty and reasonably-priced traditional local fare!

HACHOKURA/八丁蔵
Shizuoka City, Kurogane Cho 48 (inside Shizuoka JR Railway Station), Asty West Building
Tel.: 054-255-8180
Opening hours: 11:00~22:30
Credit Cards OK
Parties welcome
Smoking allowed

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: End of The Year Dinner at Soloio!

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Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

End of the year parties and dinners are a tradition in Japan before the New Year when people meet at families’ homes.
These can either be very private or quite raucous affairs with enormous crowds in the latter case.
For private reasons the Missus and I had decided to limit ourselves to a group of three (the two of us and a special friend) and have our dinner at our new favorite Italian restaurant, namely Solio in Shizuoka City!
I don’t need to introduce any more Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 and Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子, so let me just show you what we had the pleasure to savor!

The first (the others were forgotten in our conversations!) bottle of wine was a Red Chianti, Panizzi 2008 Sangovese grapes.
Very solid and fruity!

Our first appetizer was Shizuoka Suruga Bay madai/true seabream carpaccio!

Very fragrant thanks to the fresh herbs!

Second appetizer: Italian raw ham and salami with pears and liver paste!

As pasta, Genovese-style pasta with Shizuoka-grown broccoli!

Very light and tasty pasta dish making use of all the parts of a branch broccoli!

As for rice, a dish famous all over the city: Milano oven-baked saffron risotto!

As it comes out of the oven!

Very much lighter than you might expect!

And then we switched to fish: Suruga Bay kanpachi/環八/Amberjack pan-fried with Shizuoka vegetables!

Extravagant simplicity with such fresh local products! No wonder some local celebrities also start to patronize the establishment!

The meat dish was an “imported” affair: Venison/Deer foreleg from Nagano Prefecture stewed in red wine!

It was so tender you had no need for fork! Mind you, it took no less than seven hours to prepare!

Italian restaurants are not famed for elaborate desserts, but Solio’s desserts are irresistible in their simplicity!
Tiramisu!

So light and unctuous!

Pudding with almaretto caramel sauce!

Don’t bring your kids along! LOL

Panacotta with Shizuoka strawberry coulis!

I had a hard time resisting the impulse to lick the whole plate!

See you next year, or more aptly said, next season!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Cafes, 美食, Dessert, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Wagashi, 和菓子

Japanese Vegetarian & Vegan Cakes: Wagashi/和菓子 18: Sweet Potato Wagashi Recipe

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Sweet potatoes or Satsuma Imo/薩摩芋 in Japanese are a popular vegetable throughout the world as it can be accomodated both as a vegetable dish or a dessert!
The Japanese make a great use of it in Wagashi/和菓子/Japanese cakes, especially in home-cooking!
Here is a very simple and easy to adapt recipe that will please vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike, kids and adults!
The style is ohagi/おはぎ!

SATSUMA　IMO OHAGI/薩摩芋おはぎ　RECIPE

-INGREDIENTS (for 6 balls)
Sweet potato (steamed): 70g
Marmelade or yuzu (Japanese Lime) jam: 1 tablespoon
White miso paste (shiro miso): 2.5g (small teaspoon)
Sweetmeats/Anko/餡子: 120=150g
Ground sesame seeds: as you like

-RECIPE

Steam the sweet potato or soften it ina microwave oev. Mix it well with the white miso and the jam.

Form 6 balls of equal size.

Divide the sweetmeats into 6 equal portions.
Spread one portion over a piece of cellophane paper into a circle large enough to wrap around the whole sweet potato ball.

Place a sweet potato ball in the center of the sweetmeat circle.

This is the only “difficult” part you will master easily enough: bring the cellophane paper sides up and twist them together so as to form a ball by bringing the sweetmeat around the sweet potato ball.

If you think that the ball is too warm to unwrap easily after all this work, leave it in the fridge until before serving (not in the freezer!).
Unwrap the balls over a serving plate and sprinkle them with ground sesame seeds.
Naturally it is open to your imagination!

Have the kids make them!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Nama Moto Junmai Nakatori Genshu

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What I like about Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City is that they are never short of words when it comes to explaining the manufacture and the ingredients of their nectars!

“Nama” means that it was not pasteurized.
“Nakatori” means that the sake was collected some time after the beginning of the pressing and only until some time before the end, meaning basically the best part of the pressed sake.
Finally “genshu” means that this is original sake with no later addition of pure water.

“Nama moto” means that the sake was made according to old traditions with natural lactic acid.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: + 4.5
Acidity: 1.5
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Sharpish, fruity and complex. Pears, oranges, dark chocolate and banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dryish, fruity and complex attack backed up with a pleasant combination of alcohol and junmai petillant.
Very deep pleasurable acidity.
At first reveals oranges and a faint note of dark chocolate while warming up the palate.
Lingers on for a while before disappearing with dry mandarines. Coffee beans peek out later in further sips with a junmai petillant comeback along with notes of greens and dry almonds.
Varies little with food. Marries well with izakaya-style or European stew-like food.

Overall: Unusual by Shizuoka standards, but eminently drinkable on its own. Marries well with food.
Does not linger that long, thus inviting you to the next glass.
A sake perfect for hot winter food!
Its deep and pleasant acidity combining with complex fruitiness define its character.
A sake for people who love the izakaya gastronomy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Rice, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Risotto Symphony at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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Milano Oven-baked Saffron Risotto!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

Many local gastronomes consider that Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 concocts the best risotto in Shizuoka City and Prefecture!
Since it is possible to visit Solio just for a glass of wine and a dish, risottos are perfect by this cold weather!
Here is a collection of the risottos I’ve had the pleasure to savor!

Fresh Italian Porcini Risotto!

Unfortunately it is already not on the menu any longer as Takehiko uses only seasonal products, but it will be there when the season comes back!

Mussles Risotto!

Actually, it was never on the menu but prepared as a special request of mine!

Home-made Sausage and Chestnut Risotto!

Another seasonal dish which has already disappeared from the menu!

Italian Black Truffle Risotto!

Beautiful truffles!

This is an offering that will disappear from the menu as soon as the truffles are exhausted! Hurry up!

Milano Baked saffron Risotto!

The rizotto as it looks out of the oven!

Don’t worry, Takehiko intends to serve this risotto all year round!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/12/28): The Dawn of a New Year

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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The Dawn of a New Year

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

It has become a Baird Beer tradition to greet the dawn of each new year with a special “First Brewed” (Hatsujozo) seasonal specialty beer. At the stroke of midnight on the evening of December 31, we — along with a host of other Baird Beer retailing pubs/restaurants in Japan — pour this commemorative Hatsujozo and share it with our fellow beer enthusiasts in a toast to the New Year.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Hatsujozo 2012 Strong Belgian Gold (ABV 8%):

This year’s “First Brewed” is a take on a Belgian-style strong golden ale: a base-malt grist (Maris Otter, Pils, Munich, Sour) buttressed by a mammoth addition of Japanese korizato sugar that yields a strong 17.3 Plato wort; a moderate hopping regimen (30 IBU) that is conducted in five separate additions and combines nine different hop varieties (Motueka, Tradition, Perle, Vanguard, Glacier, Sterling, Hersbrucker, Saaz, Tettnanger); warm fermentation with our house Belgian ale yeast; and secondary fermentation and natural carbonation in package with the same Belgian ale strain. 2012 promises great things; Hatsujozo 2012 Strong Belgian Gold is the first it will deliver!

Hatsujozo 2012 is available this year exclusively in kegs. It is meant to be enjoyed at a fine pub or restaurant on draught and in the company of friends, family, colleagues and all the great people we count as beer enthusiasts.

Kampai to 2012!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Vegetarian Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes in Shizuoka City in 2011!

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Vegetable Sashimi Plate at Yasaitei (Japanese Izakaya)!

Although I’m neither a vegetarian or a vegan, the City of Shizuoka is a superlative venue when it comes to vegetable gastronomy thanks to the innumerable products grown by dedicated farmers in Shizuoka Prefecture!
I was going to make it a Prefecture compilation when I realized the City was far more than enough!
I sincerely hope all those pictures will entice you to visit our City!
I made a point to specify the cuisine genre to give you a better idea!

Fennel Gratin at Porta Porta (Italian Restaurant)!

Vegetarian Plate at Locomani (Japanese Health Restaurant)!

Skillet-baked Vegetables at Solio (Italian Restaurant)!

Bania Cauda Vegetables Plate at Piatto (Italian Restaurant)!

Steamed Vegetables Plate at Cham (Chinese Restaurant)!

Daikon Katsu at Waga (Japanese Izakaya)!

Vegetable Steak at Testuya Sugimoto (French Restaurant)!

Red Moon French fries at Chez Satsukawa (French Restaurant)!

“Goro Goro” Salad at uzu (Japanese Izakaya)!

If you need the addresses and contacts of all the establishments I’ll be glad to oblige!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box: The Dragon’s Best 10 in 2011!

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Oyako /”Parent & Child” (Salmon) Bento!

“Dragon” is the Japanese nickname for the Missus and I can guarantee you she deserves it! LOL
Here is a very personal selection among the 69 bentos she made for me this year!

Kegani/Hair Crab Bento!

Sakura/Cherry Blossom Bento!

Chess Board Bento!

Soboro Oyako (Chicken) Bento!

Quail Scotch Eggs Bento!

Ume Inari Sushi Bento!

Umeboshi Chicken Roll Bento!

Dry Curry bento!

“Funny Face” Roll Bento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Cakes, 美食, Dessert, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

My best 10 Desserts in Shizuoka in 2011!

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Dessert plate at Contorno, Mochimune, Shizuoka City!
Chocolate Cake, pear compote and blueberry sauce, sweet tomato, lemon sauce and organic mint.

People have a sweet tooth in Shizuoka Prefecture, but since the region is extravagantly rich in agricultural products real Shizuoka desserts are very much on offer in superlative restaurants!
These are the best ten in my biased opinion.
Note that there is no particular order to them!

Sakekasu/Japanese sake white lees sorbet at Cham, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

Dessert plate at Il Castagno, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
Fig tart, “Pone” expresso coffee and chocolate pudding, peach and plum sorbets!

Dessert plate at Orta, Naka Ku, Hamamtsu City!
Blueberry cheese cake, chocolate cake and mango ice-cream

Fig compote and Darjheeling tea jelly at Pissenlit in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Pheasant eggs (Hamamatsu City) and sugar cane brown sugar caramel (Kakegawa City) and sugar cane brown sugar sorbet at Testuya Sugimoto in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Soy sauce (Gotemba City) mousse, frozen mikan orange and lemon sorbet at Tetsuya Sugimoto in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Peach Compote and vanilla ice cream at Ninosa in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

“Splendeur” by Bernard Heberle at Abondance Cake Shop in Naka Ku, Hamamatsu City!

Carrot Creme Brulee and organic mikan orange caramelisee at Pissenlit in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!

If you need the addresses and contacts of all the establishments I’ll be glad to oblige!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/68): Shijimi Mazegohan Bento!

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Shijimi/蜆 is a small bivalve shellfish called Corbiculidae of the Cyrenidae family with the common name of “basket clam” abroad. That is for its scientific explanation!
They are a very popular shellfish in Japan and elsewhere, mainly used in soups. One can buy them already cooked and seasoned at supermarkets here.

The Missus used a small pack that she spread over the rice before steaming it. The preserved shijimi will give a lot of great taste to the rice as their flavors will mix quickly with the water.

Once the rice cooked, the Missus mixed the whole with the addition of her own pickled Japanese pepper/山椒/sanshyou.
She finally decorated the dish with some pockled fuki/蕗/giant butterbur stems from Nagano Prefecture for extra seasoning.

Pity there is no country with a flag bearing the colors green, yellow and mauve!

As we have just received mounds of spinach from the Missus’ family garden, she lightly boiled them before seasoning them with gomadare/sesame dressing.
As for the tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette she included fine strips of ham and cheese to the eggs!

The pink/violet/mauve potatoes (not sweet potatoes!) from her family garden make for great salad with chick peas!
As for the last touch she added lettuce and plum tomato for colors and nutrients!

Another satisfying and yummy bento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass, Einfach Bento,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/12/22): A Time for Jubilation

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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A Time for Jubilation

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Life is a fleeting thing. Each of us is here but a very short time. The older we get, the more clearly we comprehend this inexorable reality. And despite the sometimes awful travails and the always regular monotony of life, it remains a mysteriously beautiful thing. The end-of-the-year holiday season provides wonderful occasion for reflection and appreciation of the joy of living.

At Baird Brewing, 0ur appreciation of this joy is manifested in a celebratory Christmas-New Year season holiday ale which we call Jubilation Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Jubilation Ale 2012 (ABV 7.5%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character primarily from the addition of two wonderful local ingredients: (1) fully ripened and freshly picked figs (ichijiku) and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a Japanese nikki tree. The full bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale will be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) throughout Japan beginning Friday, December 23. Consumer purchases of bottles direct from the brewery are possible through our online E-Shop.

Holiday Season Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Hot Appetizers at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

Great Italian cuisine is a hit here in Japan due to the abundant supply of vegetables, especially in Shizuoka Prefecture which boasts the largest number of varieties in Japan.
But come winter, customers are expecting to start their gastronomic escapade with something light, healthy and hot!
Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 knows that too well and always has a seasonal appetizers menu on hand!

Even if you are an expat the title of the dish will give you a good indication of what to expect!
As for the Japanese customers (and expats who can read it) the abundant explanations are a real bonus!
I’ve had the pleasure recently to sample three of them:

Polenta e Gorgonzola, an appetizer popular in North Italy!

This polenta is white polenta made with corn flour and lighter than the more common yellow polenta found in many Mediterranean countries.

The hot combination of corn and blue cheese Gorgonzola with the raw ham results in an explosion of flavors inside the palate!

As you can see the polenta is very soft and easy on the palate.
Sommelier Mieko Ozawa/小澤美恵子 recommends a solid white wine to accompany it!

The second one had no special Italian name and was called “Various vegetables from Mr. Kato’s (the Chef!) garden cooked and baked in a Nanbu Tekki (from Iwate Prefecture) wrought iron skillet”!

Cooked only with olive oil, salt and pepper (there might be a supplementary secret…), the shape, color and taste of the vegetables are beautifully preserved in spite of the intense heat!
Let me show you more detailed photos!

Red carrot, red daikon, leeks…

Sato imo/taro! The skin was so fresh and crispy that I ate the whole of them!

Garlic, turnip, leek, broccoli…

The third appetizer was Ribollita.
You could describe it as a fine vegetable stew!

Really appetizing Toscanan dish by a cold winter night!
The toasted home-baked bread is the attention to details of a worthy Chef!

All these finely cut vegetables including Romanesco cauliflower and tubers contribute to a sophisticated dish of its own!

What’s next?
A symphony of risotto!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Cuisine: Lunch at Osteria TiaLoca in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly
Facilities: Very clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Traditional Italian Country Cuisine. Very good value. Very interesting list of Italian wines at reasonable prices

We used to have an acute problem here in Shizuoka, that is great restaurants and superlative cuisine and mediocre establishments, and little in-between!
But the recent years have seen many young chefs vigorously establishing themselves with restaurants offering high quality cuisine at reasonable prices without any ostentation but always in comfortable and original settings.

One of them, Masataka Araki/荒木雅貴さん, a young and shy talented chef who spent 4 years learning his trade in Italy in Toscana, Umbria and Lazio has just opened TiaLoca in Shizuoka City right by Cenova Department Store inside a former izakaya.

But all those Italian wine bottles outside will convince you this is an Italian restaurant indeed!

Lunches and prices are clearly indicated outside. If you don’t understand Japanese, Masataka will tell you the meaning in Italian!

Lunch and dinner menus are also clearly indicated on blackboards inside. I already know what I will order next time I come for dinner!

And smoking is completely prohibited!

I love the combination of Italian brand signs in an izakaya decor!

The wines stand right in front of you with ample explanations!

Lunch sets always come with a nice cup of soup and bread.

As well as a fresh salad.

Italian country fare: Chicken and potato herb roast.

A dish that will please the ladies!

They always serve three kinds of pasta for lunch, but I recommend gentlemen to sample the Rigatoni in meat sauce!

Served al dente, a true country dish!

Do try and accompany it with a glass of Montelpucino!

And if you are still hungry and have a sweet tooth do sample their cakes!

Home-style chocolate cake!

See you next at dinner!

Osteria TiaLoca
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-7-8, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-260-0217
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 18:00~22:30
Closed on Mondays from 2012
Reservations recommended
HOMEPAGE/BLOG
Completely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/67): Chicken & Umeboshi Roll Bento!

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It seems that rolls must be one of the most popular way of cooking in the world with words like maki, roulade, Imperial Rolls and so on!
The Missus being a very cosmopolitan lady when it comes to cooking could not resist making one of her own with chicken with a Japanese twist!

But let’s start with the rice!
You can see that one can wrap o-musubi/rice balls with something different for better colors and balance!

After having steamed the rice the Missus mixed it with hijiki/sweet seaweed and golden sesame seeds and shaped it into triangular o-musubi. Instead of wrapping them in nori/dry seaweed she used large shiso/perilla leaves! Very tasty!
The pickles are all home-made: mini melons, radish and Japanese pepper.

Beautiful colors again!
Not as difficult as you might think! (The Missus is going to kill me for that comment!)

For the chicken rolls she used sasami/breast filets that she first flattened to stretch them. She filled them with shiso and sweet umeboshi/Japanese pickled plums, and shaped the whole into a large roll with cellophane paper. She fried the whole (without the cellophane paper!) over a moderate fire with the lid on until perfectly cooked. She let it cool down before slicing it.
She then secured the pieces inside the box with lettuce.

She kept things simple for the salad: coarsely grated carrot and walnut salad and a separate bean salad.

Plenty of colors to appeal to your appetite and reward the latter with great satisfaction!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Chicken, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka

Chicken Ham: The Japanese Recipe

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CHICKEN-HAM-SALAD

Following renewed queries about the Missus’ chicken Ham included in some of my bentoes, I decided to post again the recipe for my friends’ benefit!

CHICKEN-HAM-ROLL1

Now, the following recipe is for Chicken Ham in the shape of a “ham”.
Naturally, you can, like the Missus, keep the original shape of the chicken breast.

CHICKEN-HAM-SALAD-2

You can slice or shred the chicken as shown above in the combination chicken/avocado salad. Variations are almost endless!

INGREDIENTS:
-One large chicken breast: 250g
-Sugar: 1 large tablespoon
-Coarse salt-black pepper mixture: 1 large tablespoon

RECIPE:

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-1

Get rid of all skin and fat.
“Puncture” chicken shallowly on both sides.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-2

Sprinkle sugar on both sides and

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-3

throughly brush it in on both sides.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-4

Repeat procedure with coarse salt-black pepper mixture.
Water will start oozing out.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-5

Tightly seal inside zip-lock type vinyl envelope and leave it 48 hours inside the fridge (get as much air out as possible before sealing!).

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-6

After the first 24 hours inside the fridge, throw out the water that has accumulated, reseal and put back inside the fridge.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-7

That’s how it looks when you take it out of the fridge after 48 hours.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-8

Take chicken out, clean lightly under running water, and then let it rest in clear water for 30 minutes to get rid of the excess salt.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-9

Take out of water and carefully get the chicken rid of water with kitchen paper.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-10

“Roll” the chicken breast into a “ham” shape and secure it with a wooden toothpick (avoid any contact with naked metal!).

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-11

Bind the chicken with cooking thread tightly until you have attained a ham shape. Take toothpick out and discard it.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-12

Wrap tightly into cellophane paper.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-13

Wrap into foil paper twice.
NOTE: the Missus does not wrap it into anything and just slowly and directly boil the chicken into chicken bouillon/stock.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-14

In a big enough pan bring water to boil.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-15

Put the foil paper-wrapped chicken inside water and switch off fire.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-16

Cover with lid and leave it as it it is for 7~8 hours.
Take chicken out with its foil paper and let it rest inside fridge for 24 hours.
NOTE: The Missus will put the chicken and the whole broth inside a Tupperware box before putting it inside the fridge.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-17

Get Chicken ham out. Discard foil paper and thread.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-18

Cut it to your liking.

CHICKEN-HAM-RECIPE-20
Serve.

That is when the fun starts!
Great as salads, in sandwiches and of course bentoes!

NOTE: The Missus sometimes, as an extra last step, smokes the whole chicken in green tea leaves!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery