Category Archives: 野菜

Hiyaoroshi Sake Gastronomic Party by Team Kumagusu & Nagashima Wine Store in Shizuoka City!

On Monday October the 15th Team Kumagusu, an association of Shizuoka Chefs, and Nagashima Wine Store, who all work very hard to promote the Shizuoka Gastronomy and producers, held a gastronomic party at Baker’s Market in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City to celebrate Hiyaoroshi sake/new sake by three breweries and introduce local products from all over the Prefecture!

Mr. Nagashima of Nagashima Wine Store!

Mr. Tozaki of Hana Oto Restaurant and Mr. Sano of Kamoshibito Restaurant!

Mr. Shimura of Narusei Restaurant and Mr. Yoshimura of Uzu Restaurant.
Mr. Nakada of Hiro Sushi Restaurant could not come but his cuisine was also featured!

With 54 guests they certainly needed all the help they could muster!

Some of the appetizers being prepared before the guests made their entrance!

Precise work!

Mr. Takashima Of Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Mr. Sugii of Suginishiki Brewery in Fujieda City!

Mr. Doi of Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City!

Some of the sake brought by Mr. Takashima:
Yamahai Junmai Hiyaoroshi
Nigori Junmai
Kimoto Junmai (not on sale yet!)

The mystery sake!

Some of the sake brought by Mr. Sugii:
Kimoto Junmai Hiyaoroshi
Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo (brewed in 2010)

Sake brought by Mr. Doi:
Junmai Ginjo Koshu ((brewed in 1995!)
Junmai Ginjo Nama (brewed in 2010)
Junmai Hiyaoroshi

The chefs tasted the sake before the guests arrived, naturally!

All the water on the tables came directly from the breweries’ wells!

Guests attentively listening to the pre-dinner explanations!

The guests patiently waiting for the festivities to start!
Now, what was on the menu?

A lot actually: Grilled eggplant and trout in konbujime style with sesame oil By Hiro Sushi.

Varied appetizers including:
Jumbo boiled peanuts from Fujinonomiya City by Hana Oto
Small turnip and persimmon marinated by Kamoshibito
Matsunaga tofu marinated in sake malt and crackers by Uzu
shinju Scallops brochette by Narusei

Frogfish liver/ankimo steamed in Seikyousuke style by Uzu

Herring and herring roe by Uzu

Avocado and Scallops in egg yolk umeshu dressing by Uzu.

Fresh mozuku seaweed from Miyako Island in Okinawa.

Organic vegetables from Matsuki Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City steamed by Uzu.

These beautiful vegetables were served with three different sauces!

More beautiful vegetables!
Natural salt was also on hand!

I just couldn’t stop looking at them and asking for more!

Amagi Shamo Chicken from Horie Farm in Izu Peninsula and seasonal vegetables sauteed Chinese style by Hana Oto!

Magenton pork from Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City fried with maitake/Broomstick mushrooms in daikon in daikon sauce by Kamoshibito!

Smoked sawara/Spanish mackerel by Narusei!

Ebihimo and eringe mushrooms in walnut sauce by Kamoshibito!

Mackerel and barracuda pressed sushi by Hiro Sushi!

Fried rice vermicelli by Hana Oto!

A feast!
Looking forward to the next event!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Japanese Izakaya: 2012 Autumn Shizuoka Products at Uzu-Shizuoka City!

Service: Excellent and very friendly. Very Japanese atmosphere.
Facilities: Excellent washroom facilities. Great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong Points: Great sake from Shizuoka and Japan Great Shochu. Home-made umeshu. Mainly local products, especially organic vegetables.

As I mentioned time and again, Uzu is the reference when it comes to all izakaya in Shizuoka Prefecture!
The reason is simple enough: The greatest combination of local anf Japanese gastronomy you could expect anywhere!

A truly traditional, but very comfortable, Japanese atmosphere!

If you can reserve or take seats by the window facing the small garden!

Keep an eye open for the small interesting details! (Where did I find that?)

The gastronomy is truly wide-ranging: gaspacho appetizer made with local tomatoes, eggs and potatoes!

Always have a good look at the menu of the day handwritten on a separate sheet!

“Neba neba kaisen sarada/Sticky seafood salad”!
A salad composed of sashimi, seaweed and sticky vegetables such as okra topped with chopped leeks.

So tasty and healthy!

Rainbow trout sashimi plate!
The fish is raised at Kunugi Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Note that the wasabi root (grown by Mr. Sugiyama in Umegashima) is not grated but finely chopped! Extravagant!

Also served with finely chopped myoga ginger!

Now, what else did we have?

“Mangenton no negiton”!

Mangenton pork raised by Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City serves as tonkatsu with plenty of chopped scallions!

Half-raw tsukune made with Amagi Shamo Chicken bred by Mr. Horie in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula!

It might be half-raw, but it is safe, healthy an yummy!

Fried organic potatoes, the Uzu way! All organic from Matsuki Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

For once I wanted a dessert!
Now, what did I have?

Now, you will get this dessert only in Japan!
Vanilla ice-cream topped with chopped ume/Japanese plum out of umeshu made with brown sugar left to mature for more than a year!

To be continued…

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (amended, October 2012)

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with DominicTokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Japanese Iazakaya: Another Quick Visit at Waga (Fall 2012) in Shizuoka City!

What are these?
See below!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going! Slow food!
Facilities: Very clean overall. Large and clean washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great list of sake and shochu. Typical izakaya gastronomy with a personal touch!

When you don’t have much time, back at night from a long trip and still too hungry to go straight away back home where you don’t want spend time cooking and what else, there is only one solution: stop by in an izakaya as there are plenty still open very late.
Now, if you happen to know one better than average near your place, there is no hesitation!
So once again we visited Waga in Shizuoka City!

Now, what can you expect, even in such a hurry?

A great range of sake at the very least! They also have wine, shochu, beeer, etc.

Talk of a cute sake label!

Late at night food ought to be light:
pickled myoga ginger salad!

Maguro tataki/Seared tuna!

For a closer look of a Waga’s specialty!

Daikon Katsu, another Waga’s specialty!

Pickled shiro uri/white gourd salad!

Pickled cucumber salad with fresh spicy miso paste!

Deep-fried yama imo/Japanese yam as it is!
So light and crunchy!

Beautiful madai/True seabream sashimi!

Katsuo/Bonito sashimi salad!

Assortment of pickled fish and squid!

Baked stuffed eggplant!

Another Waga’s specialty: Tori Nankotu Karaage/Deep-fried soft chicken cartilages!
A must-try!

A great comfort dish before going back home:
“Yasai ga Tappuri Kata Yaki Soba/Hard-fried soba in soup with plenty of vegetables”!

Come winter and the cold weather, I will want that again!

To be continued…

WAGA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-1-20, Kuroyanagi Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-271-7121
Business hours: 17:30~23:30, 17:30~26:00 (on Fridays, Saturdays and National Holidays)
Closed on Mondays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Prefecture Gastronomic Week Lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizauok City has been designated by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government as one of the top chefs promoting the gastronomy of our Prefecture.
The same Prefecture has designated the last two weeks of Septmber as the “Shizuoka Shoku no Bu Shigotonin Week/静岡食の部仕事人ウイーク/Shizuoka Gastronomy Craftsmen Week (although it lasts two!)”

The official poster printed by the Government!
Toru therefore conceived a special full lunch course menu for the occasion for 7,000 yen/70 Euros, extremely reasonable considering the quality!

The special menu also celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the opening of Pissenlit!

The restaurant was offered some magnificent bouquets for the occasion!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

The menu!
Actually it was more of a guideline as some items were changed according to the products available that day.
In fact two friends of mine who visited the place the following week-end were served two different versions!
Lucky ones!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん also initiated a great idea by offering local tea in lieu of alcohol for people who cannot drink or may not like on that particular day!
You can either have one variety prepared in two different ways for 200 yen or the whole set of three teas for 500 yen!

The first glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea”!

Eggplant/Aubergine Mousse! The aubergine came from Hirokawa garden in Mishima City
Most other vegetables on that day were organic and grown at Kitayama Garden in Fujinomiya City!

The second glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Marinated rainbow trout and iwana/Japanese char bred by Kakishima Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Note the iwana skin baked to a crisp and the edible perilla/shiso flowers!

From another angle to show the vegetables placed between the fish including menegi/leek sprouts!

The first glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea”!

A French classic with a Japanese/Shizuoka twits: (Shizuoka-grown) buckwheat pancake/galette with Amagi Shamo chicken (Bred in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula) liver, heart and gizzards and poached egg with Utogi wasabi leaves!

For a better view of the delicate fine pieces of liver, heart and gizzards!

The poached egg!

The wasabi leaves!

Fresh buckwheat seeds!

Itoyodori/Golden threadfin bream from Suruga Bay, poele and served atop fine mashed potato cream and served with red paprika sauce and steamed/fried organic vegetables!

The fish was caught off Sagara in the western part of the Prefecture!

Shikaku mame/Square beans are getting increasingly popular in our Prefecture!

The second glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Amagi Shamo Chicken bred in Horie Farm in Shuzenji, Izu peninsula, prepared in three different manners!

The thigh and its skin poele and baked, served with a wine sauce!

Breast, steamed and served with an unctuous Bleu d’Auvergne cheese sauce!

Half-raw sasami/breast fillets, cooked in “tataki” style!

Earl Grey Tea jelly before the next dish!

The first glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea!

The second glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea prepared in a slightly different manner!

The dessert!
It is a millefeuille but the contents are quite unusual!

The red fruit in the middle is actually eggplant/aubergine cooked in red wine!
Absolutely delicious and incredibly elegant!

Creme Chantilly and custard sauce!

Peach Sorbet with its fresh organic mint!

And coffee served as it should be with its mignardises!

Someday i will have to attend one of their wine-tasting dinners!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Halloween Kabocha Coconut Milk Muffin

using a rice cooker can be so useful for creating cakes when you don’t have an oven!
For this particular muffin use a rice cooker with a capacity of 5 “go”/900ml/4 and a half cups!

INGREDIENTS:

Kabocha: 200 g (without the seeds)
All-purpose: 160 g
Baking powder: 5 g (1 + 2/3 of teaspoon)
Sugar: 85 g
Salt: 2 pinches
Egg: 2
Coconut milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
Raisins: 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon: a little

RECIPE:

Cut kabocha in 2 cm side pieces. Wash in clean water . Cook inside microwave for 2 minutes at 600 W or until soft.
In a large bowl mix flour and baking powder.
Add sugar and salt and mix well.
Coat the inside of the rice cooker dish with salad oil.

Break the egg in the middle.
Pour in the coconut milk.
Mix starting from the middle and incorporate the rest little by litle.

Add salad oil and mix well.

Add kabocha and raisins am\nd mix roughly.

Pour the mixture inside the the rice cooker dish.

That is how it should look once cooked.

Turn it over onto a serving dish.

Cut and serve!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Halloween Baby Kabocha Gratin

The witches are gathering for the coming Halloween.
They told they love to concoct magical recipes inside pumpkins, especially the small kabocha the Dragons bring them from the Isle of The Rising Sun!
They seem to take a lot of pleasure out of baking them in hellish ovens!

INGREDIENTS: (for two baby kabocha)

Baby kabocha: 2
Onion: 1/2
Fresh Mushrooms (of your choice): 50 g ~
Chicken breast fillets/sasami: 2
Butter: 30 g
All-purpose flour: 30g
Milk: 300 ml/ 1 1/2 cups
Cheese (melting cheese, pizza cheese or cheese of your liking: as appropriate
Salt, pepper, spices: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Cut the top of the kabocha as to form a lid.
Scoop off the seeds and make a small “pot”.
First heat the kabocha inside a microwave oven for 3~4 minutes or until soft enough. Do check from time to time.

Cut onion, mushroom, chicken in equal bite size pieces.
Fry them all in a little olive oil, salt and pepper over a low fire until soft.

Prepare the white sauce/bechamel (it will be as liquid as a stew sauce. Over a low fire melt the butter. Once melted add the flower and whisk. Once the mixture is smooth add the milk in about three times whisking all the time for a smooth sauce. Once you have attained the wanted smoothness switch off fire.

Add the fried chicken and onion with their juices into the white sauce and stir gently for a uniform stew. Check the taste and add salt, pepper and spices according to your taste and priorities.

Fill the two baby kabocha with the stew and cover with melting cheese.

Bake until the top has melted and cooked to a nice brown color.

Serve immediately with its lid for decoration.
Sprinkle a little chopped green herbs for better effects.

Great comfort food in the cold nights!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Vegetable Hot Cake Steamed in Rice Cooker/Pancake aux legumes dans un cuiseur a riz

Have you ever tried steaming a hot cake/pancake in a rice cooker?
It is easy and certainly healthier than the fried version!
Here is a simple recipe that will help you kids and adults alike to eat vegetables!

INGREDIENTS: For 1 large pancake (to be divided! Don’t fight over it!

Hot cake mix: 1 standard pack
Egg: 1
Milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
Carrot: 40 g, (finely chopped)
Kabocha: 40 g, (first boiled, cooled and finely chopped)
Spinach: 40 g, (first boiled, thoroughly drained and finely chopped)

RECIPE:

Get everything ready!
Pour the hot cake mix inside the rice cooker dish.
Chop the carrot finely.
Boil or steam kabocha (or cook in a microwave oven) until soft. Let cool down and chop finely.
Lightly boil the spinach. Drain/press out water thoroughly and chop finely.
Break the egg.
Get the milk ready.

Add everything into the rice cooker dish.

Mix everything thoroughly.
Taste and add salt and spices according to your liking.

Set the rice cooker, switch on and cook!

Once cooked take hot cake at once or it will get hard.
Serve it hot or lukewarm.
Serve together with some dressing if desired.

Note: the vegetable choice is endless!

Avez-vous déjà essayé de faire un pancake dans un cuiseur à riz ? C’est possible et certainement plus plus sain que la version à l’huile !

Voici une recette simple qui pourra satisfaire les petits et les grands !

INGREDIENTS: Pour un gros pancake, n’oubliez par contre de le partager !

Mélange à pancake : Un pack

  • 1 oeuf
  • 100ml de lait
  • 40g de carottes finement découpées
  • 40g de citrouille (bouillie ou cuite vapeur, refroidie et découpée finement)
  • 40g d’épinards (bouillis, bien égouttés et finement découpés

RECETTE:

Préparez tout dans des récipients séparés, mettez la mixture à pancake dans le cuiseurà riz. Découpez le carottes finement.

Vous pouvez passer la citrouille au four microondes si vous n’avez pas le temps ni l’envie de la bouillir. Quand elle est refroidie découpez la.

Pour les épinards il faut les bouillir légèrement, faites-les bien égoutter pour qu’il ne renferment pas trop d’eau.

Cassez l’œuf et préparez le lait !

Versez tout dans le pot de la machine

Mélangez soigneusement, goûtez et épicez en conséquence selon votre goût

Réglez le timing du cuiseur si nécessaire et appuyez sur start.

Quand il est cuit, retirez le rapidement sinon il sera trop dur. Servez le chaud de préférence ou un peu tiède.

Bien entendu le choi des légumes est sans limites si ce n’est celle de votre imagination.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

French Gastronomy: Lunch at Hana Hana (2012 Fall) in Shizuoka City!

Seared Foie Gras in black truffles sauce on Porcini risotto!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. large superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Typical French, Southern French and Italian Fusion gastronomy. Great products. Excellent wine list.

I have known ever so laughing Chef Jirou Hanabata/花畑次郎さん for what seems like an eternity.
It was such a pleasure to meet him again in his cosy restaurant Hana Hana in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Such a simple and welcoming facade and entrance!

The walls inside are decorated with paintings of Southern France and signed by all kinds of people!

The kitchen and his magician!

A small private corner near the kitchen!

Choose your table according to your priorities!
I usually take one by the bay windows!

Jiro’s cuisine is a happy singing mixture of French, especially Southern, and Italian homey gastronomy.
Generous and so reasonably-priced!
For that long overdue lunch I started with chilled seasonal kabocha vichyssoise soup!

A typical Southern French starter: poelee/sauteed scallops salad!

Enormous scallops cooked to perfection!

Plenty of local vegetables for beautiful balance and colorful design!

The star of the day featured a traditional marriage of French and Italian gastronomies: Sauteed Foie Gras in black truffle sauce atop Porcini mushrooms risotto!

Blast the calories! The foie gras was sauteed to a sublimely unctuous extravagance accentuated by the black truffle (plenty of them) sauce!

The lightly baked risotto! All Italy for you!

Another French classic: Cotes d’Agneau/Lamb cutlets!

So tender and beautifully supported by its deglasse sauce made up of the cutlets juices, Madeira and a touch of butter!

Simple but perfect accompaniment: Southern French Ratatouille!

And at last one of Jiro’s simple but so delicious desserts!

Peach compote and home-made raspberry ice-cream!

Important detail: Coffee as it should always be served, even for lunch!

Looking forward to visit the place again when the weather gets colder to warm myself up!

HANA HANA
420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado Cho, 1-3-12
Tel.: 054-221-0087
Business hours: 11:30~14:00 (LAST ORDERS), 17:30~21:00 (last orders)
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Italian Restaurant: Autumn Lunch (2012) at Aquavite in Shizuoka City!

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Small but beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable to expensive.
Strong points: Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people

It was about time I paid a long overdue visit for lunch at one of the best Italian restaurants in Shizuoka City and Prefecture, namely Aquavite in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, and check what Chef Masaru Aoki/青木優 was creating with products mainly from our Prefecture!

Great new board introducing the team!

Lunch menus according to your budget!

I always eat at the counter for a good reason!

But tables and chairs are more comfortable!

All these vegetables are organically grown in Shizuoka!

Now, what was I served?
Japanese-style grilled eggplant with Serrano Jamon Ham from Spain!
All vegetables organically grown by Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City!

Naturally all bread is home-baked!

An unctuous cold organic corn (from Ikawa, Shizuoka City) soup conceived only with olive oil and salt. No dairy products! A vegan treat!

Corzetti pasta in creamy daikon leaves and bacon sauce!

For a closer view!

The corzetti pasta stamp!

Madai/True Seabream poelee with organic vegetables!
Let’s have a look around that dish!

Can you see the delicious fish from Shizuoka?
The Trevise is Italian but the other vegetables, including the violet potato, are all organically grown at Shizen no Chikara Farm (Shizuoka City) and Matsuki Bio Farm (Fujinomiya City)!

So yummy and well-balanced!

The fish! So soft and juicy!
And so artistically presented!

Time for dessert!

Can you guess?

Watermelon granite atop vanilla custard ice-cream!

Soft almond tart!

And for once, I had tea!

To be continued (count on that!)….

AQUAVITE
420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00 18:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Non-smoking private room available!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Halloween Kabocha Gratin!

Halloween will be soon with us again this year!
Have you ever thought of cooking all these pumpkins?
In Japan Kabocha is the most popular pumpkin as it is very solid, therefore easy to prepare in many ways!
How about a Halloween Kabocha Gratin, then?
A great comfort food for the whole family!

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

Kabocha: 300 g
Onion: 100 g
Bacon: 60 g
Garlic: 1/4 teaspoon, grated
Olive oil: 2 teaspoons
All purpose flour: 2 teaspoons
Pizza cheese: as appropriate
Dried chopped parsley (or fresh, then chopped): as appropriate

For the white sauce (Bechamel)
Milk: 250 ml
Consomme powder: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 2~3 pinches
Nutmeg: a little
White pepper: a little

RECIPE:

Cut the kabocha into 7 mm thick slices (cut them in halves after that if too big). Place on a oven dish. Cover with cellophane paper and cook in microwave oven for 3~4 minutes at 600 Watts
Slice the onion thin.
Cut the bacon into thin 1 cm wide strips.

In a large skillet pour olive oil and fry bacon first.
Add sliced onoin and grated garlic. Fry until onion has taken on a nice light-brown color.

Lower the fire to minimum.
Add flour and mix well. Add milk and mix. Add salt, consomme powder and white pepper.
Mixing all the time cook until the sauce bubbles up.
Add kabocha and cook for 3 more minutes.
During that time heat oven to 250 degrees Celsius.

Transfer the whole into a gratin dish.
Cover with pizza cheese.
Bke for 10 minutes at 250 degrees Celsius.

When cheese has become a nice color, take the dish out. Sprinkle parsley over the cheese and serve!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Vegan Japanese Recipe for the coming Winter: Vegetables and Yuzu Casserole

I’m neither a vegetarian nor a vegan although I eat heaps of vegetables but many of my friends are.
It is always a problem for them to vary their food coming winter, unless they want to fill themselves with beans and potatoes all day long!
Here in Shizuoka we are blessed with a mild winter replete with citruses, winter vegetables and the like and it does become a paradise for such priorities.
Here is a very simple and very Japanese dish prepared with vegetables and yuzu/lime that you might often encounter in homes and restaurants.
This is the basic recipe you can expand at will.

Note that for better and more even cooking the use of Le Creuset-type pan/casserole is best!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2 persons)

Small turnips: as appropriate
Lotus root: as appropriate
Taro root/Sato imo: as appropriate
Cauliflower: as appropriate
Yuzu lime skin: 1/2 a fruit
Salt: as appropriate
Olive oil: as appropriate
Water: a appropriate

RECIPE:

Use a thick wrought iron pot (with lid such as a Le Creuset casserole).
Cut vegetables to size of your preference, but try to make them roughly the same size.
Place the vegetables inside the casserole.
Cut the yuzu lime skin in 1 cm long strips and place them evenly on the vegetables.

Pour the water gently on the vegetables. Cover with lid.
Steam for 3 minutes on a medium fire. Lower fir to minimum and keep cooking for 15 minutes.
Switch off fire.
Do not take lid off!
Leave as it is for another 15 minutes.

Open the lid.
Place vegetables on serving dish with natural salt and premium olive oil you will sprinkle or pour over the vegetables before savoring them!

Simple is best, isn’t it? (Well, most of the time!)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Vegan Japanese Dessert: Kabocha, Sweet Potato and Apple Pound Cake

The Japanese seem to have a natural way to come up with vegetarian and vegan dessert recipes as they originally didn’t use dairy products in their traditional confectionery, although it has much changed recently.
But you still can find interesting recipes in their gastronomic lore!

Here is one suggestion for a solid dessert which should please any priorities!

INGREDIENTS (For 2 pound cakes)

Sweet potato: 250 g
Kabocha (or similar pumpkin): 250g
Raisins: 1/2 cup
Fresh apple: 1
Walnuts: 1/4 cup
All purpose flour of your choice: 1 cup
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Vegetable oil: 1/2 teaspoon
Apricot paste: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Oil the inside of the pound cake molds and sprinkle with sieved flour.

-Peel the sweet potatoes and kabocha (although you can leave a bit on the later for better design. Kabocha skin is edible!). Steam till the vegetables are 80% cooked. Cut into 1cm squares.

-Chop the raisins and wet them with a little water finely spryed on them.

-Cut one quarter of the apple small cubes. Grate the remaining apple. Crush the walnuts into small bits.

-In a bowl pour the sieved flour and salt and mix well.

-In a separate bowl drop all the other ingredients and mix roughly to your liking. Mix in the flour gently and evenly. try not to make blobs!

-Pour the ckae into the molds and bruch with apricot paste.

-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake for 30 minutes.

-Let cool and serve at room temperature!

It is only a basic recipe. One can add spices and the like and decorate it!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Japanese Recipe: Sauteed Vinegared Summer Vegetables (with vegetarian/vegan versions)

Summer, and the Fall in the case of Shizuoka. means an enormous supply of fresh vegetables and it would be a shame not to make the most out of it!
The Japanese love to use vinegar, especially rice vinegar and kuro su, black rice vunegar, with many dishes. It basically replaces the role of lemon juice in western cuisines.
Here is a simple recipe that should please all members of the family and also serve as a great snack!
For vegetarians and vegans just ignore the meat!

INGREDIENTS: (For 4 persons)

Meat (pork or beef thinly sliced) 100 g
Cabbage: 4~5 leaves
Carrot: a little
Onion: 1/2
Shishito/thin green peppers: 6
Cucumber: 1 (japanese style. If not use a small one)
Egg plant: 1
Zucchini: One 6-cm long piece
Mini tomatoes: 10
Edamame: a few

Vegetables for flavoring:
Garlic: 1 clove, chopped
Fresh ginger root: One cube (2x2x2 cm), chopped
Leek: 2 tablespoons, chopped
Red chili pepper: 1~2

Others:
Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
Vegetable oil: as much as needed for frying

Sauce:
Water: 100 ml (1/2 cup)
Soy sauce: 5 tablespoons
Black rice vinegar (“kuro su”): 1 + 1/2 tablespoons
Sugar: 3 tablespoons
Slat: 1 pinch
Cornstrach: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

Cut/break cabbage leaves into bite size.
Cut the carrot into strips.
Slice the shishito peppers in halves or quarters lengthwise. Discard the seeds.
Slice the onion into 1 cm thick slices.
Cut the cucumber lengthwise into four strips and slice into bite size.
Cut the eggplant lengthwise and slice into 6 mm thick slices.
Cut the zucchini into 3 mm thick half moon slices.
Cut the red chili pepper in halves. Discrad seeds.
Boil the edamame (unless you can get them in cans) and take beans out.
Slice the meat into bit size.

Bear in mind that vegetables that cook easily should be cut into bits bigger than vegetables that take more time to cook.
Prepare everything beforehand for practicality, easy access and speedy cooking!

Mix the ingredients of the sauce well beforehand.

Pour 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok. drop the finely chopped vegetables for flavoring. When smell comes starting coming out, add meat and fry (skip the meat step if you are vegan/vegetarian and proceed to next step!)

Add and fry zucchini, eggplant and carrot first. If oil becomes insufficient add a little.

Add all the other vegetables and fry.

Add the sauce (stir it again to make sure that the cornstarch has dissolved) and pour over vegetables as oon as they are cooked to your satisfaction. Stir/sautee the lot for 5 seconds. Add sesame oil and stir only once. Pour the whole into serving dish.

Enjoy this Japanese-style Chinese food!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Takuan Recipe: Japanese Cold Takuan Pasta (with Vegan Version)

Takuan in Japan is usually eaten at the end of the meal with rice and miso soup, but there are ways to accomodate it Western-style!
Here is a suggestion for a cold pasta recipe for a light refreshing dish during the summer heat.
As for a vegan version use vegan pasta!

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

Pasta (or vegan pasta): 200 g
Takuan: 50 g (cut into thick filaments)
Cucumber: 100 g (cut inot thick filaments)
Salted konbu seaweed: 20 g (cut into thick filaments)
Roasted sesame seeds: A little

RECIPE:

Boil the pasta to your liking in 2 liters of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.

Prepare aside the takuan and cucumber (small and crunchy Japanese style) cut into thick filaments and salted konbu seaweed.

Transfer the boiled pasta into a bowl full of icy water.
Drain well.

In a bowl drop the pasta, takuan, cucumber and seaweed and mix well.
Note: Use your imagination if you want to add taste and seasoning but keep in mind you don’t need any more salt!
Suggestions: sesame oil, umeboshi meat, gomadare/sesame dressing, etc.

Serve in a plate and sprinkle wit roasted sesame seeds!

For more color and taste you could add thinly cut pimento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery