Category Archives: 静岡市

Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

1) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, blue and yellow with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

I had thought there were only 2 or 3 types of the Tachi Aoi or hemlock type manhole cover in Shizuoka City but the fact I alsways move on a bicycle along the streets and pavements of the city helped me understand it was a bit more complicated!

Apart of color types (more than 3 actually) there are sub-types depending on letter/number codes and central motifs!
It seems to be peculiar to Shizuoka City whose emblem is the hemlock, the flower on the crest of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Japan Shogun/Overlord, who retired to our city in the 17th Century!

2) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and mauve with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

3) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: all white enamel with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

4) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

5) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and pink with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

6) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: medium-sized without the colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

7) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”! But in medium size! I have found only one so far along the Kitakaido!

8) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

9) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

10) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and light blue with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

11) the same type as 8) but in half size and a simpler general dessin with no colors!

12) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color!

13) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-25″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color and inside a larger manhole cover discovered along the Kitakaido!

I wonder if another type exists?

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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Dessert: New York Cheese Cake at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

January 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom in same building separated from the cafe.
Prices: Reasonable for such big servings!
Strong points: Very generous cafe/bistro multi-genred gastronomy. Great variety. Great products. Entirely non-smoking in very modern atmosphere. Great books!

Having just come back from a lot of eating and drinking in Kanazawa City, I skipped lunch on Thursday but decided to pay a visit to my favorite cafe, namely BLUE BOOKS cafe in Aoi kU, Shizuoka City!

in the afternoon the establishment is moderately busy so I had time to talk with staff about the new cafe time menu!

My attention was caught by the New York Cheese Cake!

Certainly yummy looking!

A really thick cheese cake with a thick biscuit base!

Served with a lemon/orange sauce!

baked to perfection!

I can guarantee you it disappeared quickly!

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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French Gastronomy: Boudin Noir (Blood Sausage) at Caravin in Shizuoka City!

January 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: very friendly if a bit shy.
Facilities and equipment: overall very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic French and European bistro gastronomy. Slow food. Excellent and reasonable wine list.

For a long time Chef Onoda at Caravin Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City had promised to challenge boudin noir or blood (pork) sausage!

Back in France it is delicacy you can buy anywhere to eat back at home, but in Japan it is still very much a rarity, especially home-made!

A truly magnificent if somewhat of modest origins with all the extras needed!

Served with an unctuous mashed potato puree I will the pleasure to mix with the boudin later!

Caramelized apples are a must for a perfect balance!

Naturally with some leaf vegetables for a healthy dish!

It is always such a pleasure to cut the thin skin and mix the soft insides with the mashed potatoes!

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

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French Gastronomy: New Year Dinner at Pissenlit (2014) in Shizuoka City!

January 5, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

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 and caught fish. Very inventive French gastronomy.

Due to a double cold and flu we could have our New Year Dinner only last night at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Pissenlit, but it certainly was worth it!

As the first starter we were served an organic Okura Daikon/大蔵大根 (all vegetables last night were organic and grown by Mr. Hiragaki at Kitayama Farm in Fujinomiya City) and marinated herring!

From a different angle!

Satoimo/taro root terrine!

Seasoned with fresh cream and olive oil!

The Missus’ first seafood dish with a marriage of the land and the sea!

Kogamo Duck Ham and Poireau/French leek!

Poele Ako Oyster and Kadaif/Angel hair and caviar!

The kadaif imported from France!

My own first seafood dish was another marriage of the land and the sea!

Okura Daikon mounted with shirako/cod milt poele in meuniere style and decorated with rainbow trout caviar from Fujinomiya City!

The second fish dish!

The whole vegetable, stem, leaves and flowers, is called “Mibuna” in Japanese!

The fish is madai/true seabream from the Suruga Bay, and poele on its skin.
The sauce is Homard lobster bisque!

The Missus’ meat dish!

Yusui To Pork Fillet and organic vegetables, all from Fujinomiya City!

My meat dish!

Ezo venison from Hokkaido and organic vegetables!

Earl

Grey and Darjheeling Tea jelly before the dessert!

Our dessert!

Chilled Akihime Strawberry soup and its sorbet!

And balsamico sauce!

The mignardises served with the coffee are home-made chocolat almonds and Daigakuimo/Sweet potato!

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!

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Japanese Festival: O Taiko Festival at Toyotsumi Shrine in Yui, Shizuoka City!

January 3, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Yesterday I spent the whole day in Yui to have a look at the Toyotsumi Shrine and the O Taiko/Japanese Drums Festival in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Although it is a small, if not tiny festival, it is nonetheless important as it might be the oldest living Festival in Shizuoka Prefecture since it has been held since 977!

For all its small size the district (formerly a city of its own!) is still very proud of it!

Most participants these days belong to families tied with Yui fishing harbor and the sakura ebi/cherry shrimps and shirasu/sardine whiting trading!

Such families hang a paper lantern ourside their homes as the festival is held until late at night!
Unfortunately I had to back to to Shizuoka City by 6 p.m.
Next year I certainly plan to attend the last part of the festival held between midnight and half past midnight even if it means I have to sleep in the station until the first train in the morning!

The entrance to the Toyotsumi Shrine!

Big Drum Festival!

Thanks to the pictures you can’t miss it!

The “torii/鳥居/Shrine sacred bird gate (you will not find them at temples)!

Note the stone lanterns!

Old style stone plaque with the name of the shrines!

A monument marking the 1200th Anniversary of the Festival erected quite a few years ago!

I arrived there at 12:00, still 2 hours before the kids’ procession, which gave ample time to talk with the locals!

This kid actually volunteered for the picture!

The well of the shrine!

For the history buffs!
This shrine was erected by a local nobleman to thank the gods for a battle victory in 971 and the first festival was held in 977!

The shrine main building!

The “mon/文” of the shrine!

This mon representing a fan was the mon of the nobleman who erected this shrine!

The main drum used for the festival!

Japanese sake is an important feature at shrines at is originally meant “Food of the Gods”!
This particular sake “Shosetsu/正雪” is produced by Kanzawagawa Brewery in Yui!

More information for the history buffs!

The fountain you will find in any shrine to wash your hands before praying for good fortune!

One of the two lion guards!

Some of the trees there are truly enormous and ancient! I wonder how many generations they have witnessed passing by!
I truly wish some of them could talk!

After the visit to the shrine I had lunch with a friend to sample the local sakura ebi kakiage.
When I came back the kids procession had already started under tight supervision as the main road is narrow and cars are a certain risk!

The kids certainly didn’t mind being hemmed in!

Cute little girls!

Adults taking part in the second procession were giving a hand!

The kids said hello to me in English! One of them even said, “this is Japanese samba!”!

Kids took turns to lustily hit the drum!

A volunteer warden!

While the kids were holding thier procession the adults had a drink or two inside the shrine!

The kids finally arriving back at the shrine after a two-hour procession!

These two young adults carried the drum for them all the time!

Some kids were still willing to hit the drum!

A fire was waiting for those sensitive to the cold!

At around 4:30 the participants got ready for the adults evening procession!

Some practice for the photographers!

The evening procession finally taking off!

The procession moving on to the encouraging chants of the older participants!

A great way to keep yourselves warm!

Coming out of the shrine street!
The procession turned into the street to greet the houses of the participatat and sponsors!

Taking turns at the drum!

Food and drinks being prepare at the abode of one of the sponsors!

Waiting for the procession!

Japanese soul food!

Greetings!

Great concept for a party!

See at midnight same day next year!

Toyotsumi Shrine/豊積神社

The exact address is 静岡県静岡市清水区由比町町屋原185/Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimizu Ku, Yui Machi, Machiharaya, 185.
Get down at Yui JR Station and walk down the road on your right hand side. Walk past the harbor, turn left after Ando Dental Clinic and walk up all the way.

Held from January 1st at noon to the 3rd at 00:30 a.m.!

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Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 7

January 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

I was reporting on a local festival in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, when I discovered two more kuras!
Actually there are many of them in Yui, especially along and the Old Tokaido Road where they were the first refuge against typhoons and tsunamis.
But most of them have now been transformed into hangars, shops and abodes with their second floors shaved off and using only the solid first floor as a base.
Therefore there only a very few with their roof intact!

I noticed this one by pure chance as it was completely surrounded by buildings of all kinds!

It was obviously used either as an abode or as a storeroom, and I managed to a peek at this window as the inhabitants seemed to be away during the New Year Holidays!

I found this old one along the same street. As it was surrounded by a car park I had an easier access to it!

The entrance was being repaired but the whole building, although small, seemed very till very solid!

The window and the roof were in good repair!

These iron supports are found in most kuras. They are there to keep the roof securely onto the walls in case of stong winds. Typhoons can easily send the tiles flying!

For all the lack of color and decoration it was very well-preserved!

Now, that window lock really looks ancient!

Now some of these kuras can very small indeed!
I found this one near my home!

Small but very old as shown by all the rust on the window!

At first I didn’t think that this long building was a kura!

I nonetheless decided to investigate!

For all the imposing solidity the large steel windows were old!

No openings at the back!

They had reformed the entrance, though!

It is effectively used as a kura by the local fire station!

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Soul Food: Pork & Winter Vegetables Pot au Feu at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

January 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The days have sensibly gotten colder, even here in mild Shizuoka City, and that is when you really a body and heart-comforting hot food!

Not accounting for the weird grammar and the mixture of French and American this pot au feu was really tempting!

Another very good value lunch set!

As usual plenty of Caesar salad with local leaf vegetables for good balance!

And what I had called carrot bread all the time is succulent corn bread! mea culpa! mea culpa!

All the contents practically bred and grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

All stewed in expensive French Staub iron-wrought ware!

The pork belly must have been stewed in two stages as it was as soft as “kakuni”!
Note the burdock root for a typical Japanese touch!

Vegetables included cabbage, broccoli, carrot, onion, burdock root to form a succulent soup!

When simple food becomes gastronomic soul food!
I’ll have it again anytime this winter!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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Koike Village Chief House in Yui!

January 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Because Shizuoka City and Prefecture were more an area of intense travelling than Kyoto or Tokyo where people gathered and built according to the size of their population (and money), it seems that our region lacks in historical and cultural assets.
Actually, until Tokugawa Ieyasu made his retreat at the beginning of the 17th Century in Sumpu (Shizuoka City) travelers had still to stay there overnight and eat and drink. Accordingly, many old houses and lodgings can still be discovered along the Old Tokaido Route.
Tourists should not overlook them as their smaller size, easier access and cheap/free entrances provide them with a rare glimpse of life of past times. Sometimes such sightseeing off the beaten tracks is more rewarding than grandiose but crowded monuments!
One house worthy of a visit lies along the Old Tokaido Route in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, only a few minutes away on foot from Yui JR Station: Koike Village House which was incidentally registered as a National Important Cultural Asset in October 1998.

The entrance!

Note the “namako/seaslug wall”!

Time to study Japanese! Don’t worry most of what is written on the board is mentioned in this article! LOL

The entrance and the noren/暖簾/entrance curtain!
Such a village house would also serve as a registar house in Edo Times hence another historical source of importance!

A small room has been refurbished into a small museum you will get into through another noren!

Take time to look at old pictures of Yui Village!

Through the bay window of the small museum you will discover a tiny but adorable Japanese garden!

Important documents are still preserved there!

Life articles of a time past!

The modest size of the very well preserved living quarters will give you a chance for great photogtraphy of a true Japanese abode of yore.

You actually may walk inside if you take your shoes off! That will permit you to not only take great photographs but experience a real feel under the soles of your feet!

Contrary to the interminable lodgings of ancient nobles, it has the merit to introduce you to a real size living house!

If you are am antique buff you will be surprised to find this very heavy antique shave ice machine worth a fortune at auctions!

Take all your time to admire the small exquisite garden full of surprises!

I have never seen that lantern-supporting sumo wrestler anywhere before!

Every season will offer you a different glimpse!

Very unusual moss!

An ancient well!

Having a second look before departing…
Irori/firplace!

Mobile partition!

Old hanging scroll!

I would advise you to take a good camera along as the place is dark inside, but you must have also a look at the raftings, the ceiling and theattic!

KOIKE VILLAGE CHIEF HOUSE/小池邸

421-3112 Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui, Terao, 464-9 (10 minutes on foot from Yui JR Station. Proceed left of the Station exit!)
Tel.: 054-376-0611
Opening hours: 09:30~16:30 (March~October), 09:30~16:00 (November~February)
Closed on Mondays and National Holidays (except if happening on week-ends), December 26th~January 5th
Entrance: free
Parking for 6 cars

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Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 1

December 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A direction guide pavement sign just before entering Shizuoka JR Station!

Cities in Shizuoka, and I’m sure in many cities in Japan have an interesting, artful and subtle way to advertise their tourism as well as to introduce their many symbols: pavement signs!
I can guarantee you it could develop into another urban art photography album!

You will find those two signs together in Miyuki Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

“Touristic Shizuoka”!

“Miyuki Street”!

Shizuoka Prefecture symbol bird, “Sankochou/Paradise Fly Catcher”!

Shizuoka City symbol bird, “Kawasemi/Kingfisher”!

Shizuoka City symbol flower, “Tachiaoi/Hollyhock”!

Shizuoka City symbol tree, “Hanamizuki/Flowering Dogwood”!

Shizuoka Prefecture Flower, “Tsutsuji/Azalea”!

Shizuoka Prefecture symbol tree in Miyuki Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, “Mokusei/Fragrant Olive Tree”!

Shizuoka City does not seem to agree on its symbol tree as demonstrated in Komagata Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, “Keyaki/Japanese selkova!

Yaizu City symbol flower, “Satsuki/Satsuki azalea or Rhododendron indicum”!

Yaizu City symbol bird, “Yurikamome/Black-headed Gull”！

Yaizu City symbol tree:”Matsu/Pine Tree”!

You will this multiple tile sign on the basement pavement leading to the Shizuoka JR Station elevator!

You can’t miss it!
Now, what does it say?

“Welcome to Shizuoka”!
Note the oranges and strawberries which Shizuoka is famous for!

The kanji in the middle stands for “Tatsumi-yagura”!

Direction to Tokiwa Park and Aoba Symbol Road!

Sumpu Park was originally the location of the castle of Tokugawa-Ieyasu. Tatsumi-yagura (rebuilt to celebrate 100 year history of the City of Shizuoka　in 1997).

Direction to Sengen Street!

Direction to Shizuoka JR Station!

The City of Fujieda City reminds visitors it is the birthplace of soccer in Japan!

A mejiro bird in Izu Nagaoka, Izu no Kuni City in Izu Peninsula!

Care to join the chase in other cities?

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Mount Fuji Winter Urban Sites in Shizuoka City!

December 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Winter is probably the best time to take pictures of Mount Fuji as you can see it hundred of miles away!
In Shizuoka City it practically jumps out in front of you if you look to the east!

I was riding my bicycle along Route One in the east direction on my way to Gokoku Shrine when Mount Fuji looked at me in the distance!

Above the private Shizutetsu Railway Line!
Do you notice the train on theleft?

You could also see it driving a car but I very much doubt you could stop along the pavement like I did on my bicycle letting the traffic flow by!

So many aerial cables!

Peeping from under an overhead bridge!

Interesting spot for a rope walker!

Just before turning int Gokoku Shrine!

The last view ofthe day!

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Japanese High Gastronomy: Dinner at Kamoshibito in Shizuoka City!

December 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly and informative
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Superb washroom
Prices: Slightly expensive but appropriate and very good value
Strong points: Authentic Japanese High Gastronomy mainly achieved with local seasonal products. Great sake and wines! Entirely non-smoking!

Kamoshibito is arguably the best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in the Prefecture for many reasons: most of the ingredients ar locally grown, bred or caught. Although the menus are set, the food is both modern and traditional with no ostentation and in true harmony with seasons and local gastronomy.
When you know that Chef Shigeharu Sano/佐野茂治さん is no less than a former apprentice and disciple of Toru Okuda, owner-chef of 3-Star Michelin Restaurant in Ginza. Tokyo, from the years in Shizuoka City to the time Toru Okuda moved to Tokyo in 2003 and beyond, you stop wondering why such high gastronomy exists in Shizuoka City!

When you realize that Kamoshibito is entirely non-smoking, you come to realize that Chef Shigeharu Sano does care about the true aromas taste of his creations!

The establishment is small with only a maximum of 4 seats at the counter and 5 more inside the dining room.
You do need to reserve in advance or at least check on the phone well in advance!

The menus are all sets from 3~4000 yen to 8~9000 yen. We cose the medium-priced one, which Shihgeharu said would be enough by a distance!

Right from the first appetizer you understand where you are!
Sea urchin with tofu sheets, simmered cod roe, Home-made roastbeef with Shizuoka-bred beef, and oyster escabeche!

Snow crab chawan mushi (Japanese-style salted pudding)!

When Shigeharu, who knows me well, saw me slowly scooping the the snow crab away he gently scolded and advised me to eat together with the pudding under it!

he was absolutely right when I discovered plenty of tidbits contained inside the pudding while the very bottom of it was a mixture of pudding and snow crab brains/kanimiso!

Although the tiny kitchen is a bit overflowing with utensils, it is a joy to sit at the counter and watch the sashimi being prepared!

The fresh grated wasabi root is naturally from Shizuoka City, but grown by Mr. Masahiro Sugiyama In Umegashima!

The sashimi plate!

Tuna/maguro, sole/hirame/lightly pickled mackerel/shimesaba and octopus/mizudago!

Shizuoka-bred beef steamed with vegetables and home-made ooba miso!

You certainly don’t need forks or knives with such a tender meat!

More Shizuoka-bred beef!

This time as hot roastbeef seasoned with home-made kinsanji miso!

A favorite Japanese delicacy of mine!

Foil paper grilled shirako/cod sperm sacs!

Now, this is true fusion gastronomy with Japanese and french influences!

Snow crab on chigensai/green pak choi with a sauce combining gomadare/sesame sauce and mild blue cheese!

From another angle!
Now, where could you find this in France?

I know that Shigeharu has all kinds of sake from Shizuoka and beyond hidden in various parts of his establishment, and for once I opted for a superb sake not from Shizuoka Prefecture: Hakurakusei/伯楽星 Tokubetsu Junmai from Miyagi Prefecture!

Served both in a tasting glass and drinking earthenware!

Pickled vegetables and cuttlefish!

A superb light broth soup to warm you up ebfore going back into the cold!

Containing jidori chicken balls, scallops and turnips among others!
I like the notion (Chinese by the way) to be served a hot soup before dessert!

Yes, Shigeharu concocts his own desserts!

Chocolate and vanilla gateau de savoie with Shizuoka City-grown Bennihoppe/Red Cheeks strabweery mousse!

Must definitely pay another visit in early spring!

KAMOSHIBITO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryougae Cho, 304, Ryogae Cho ST Bldg., 1F
Tel.: 054-653-2300
Opening hours: 17:30~
No fixed holidays
Cash only
Entirely non-smoking!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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My best 10 Best Risottos in Shizuoka City!

December 25, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baked Milanese saffran risotto at Solio!

Shizuoka City being in the middle of a Prefecture benifiting from the greatest variety of ingredients in the country is replete with great restaurants, especially Italian establishments that could well have a lot of famed chefs blushing of envy!

This means that the average level is high and the competition fierce.
I do not complain as this state of affairs allows me to enjoy my favorite Italian dish, namely risotto!

Foir gras risotto at Caravin!

Spring chrysanthemum leaves and oyster risotto at Contorno!

Foie gras risotto at Pissenlit!

Broccoli and peas risotto at Piatto!

Winter Piemonte truffles risotto at Solio!

Mussles risotto at Solio!

Wild boar sausage risotto at Solio!

Foie gras risotto at Hana Hana!

Spinach risotto at Solio!

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Leek Oil For Ramen, Okonomiyaki, Mabodofu, Yaki Meshi and Goya Chamburu Recipe

December 25, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Leek oil/negi abura/ネギ油 is a seasoning widely used in Japan to be be added fro extra taste to ramen, okonomiyaki, mabodofu, aki meshi and goya chamburu in particular!
I’m pretty sure it can be used in many other Asian dishes so keep some within reach all the time!

According to personal priorities and taste the amount of the ingredients can be easily fiddled with so the following recipe is only a guideline! have a good lookat the photos for a better understanding though!

INGREDIENTS:

Leeks
Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Lard and sesame oil

RECIPE:

The present recipe includes long leeks (green), onion, fresh ginger root, lard and salad oil, but you can make it simple (especially for vegans and vegetarians) with salad oil only, or if you want to make it more sophisitcated also use sesame oil!
In any case those basic ingredients should provide for plenty of scent and taste!

Chop all ingredients finely.

In plenty of oil cook all the ingredients on a low fire until they acquire a rich orang-brown color. Keep an eye on it all the time as it can change quickly!
I actually mixed plenty of salad oil with first a little lard, and a little sesame oil at the end for best taste!

Once the leek has shown the first signs of scorching the oil is ready. Take off the fire immediately.
Sieve the oil and let cool down completely before pouring it in a jar for later use.
Do not through the leeks and others but use them as topping for ramen!
Naturally you can keep the leeks in the oil if you do prefer so!
Do not be shy from experimenting!

A few recipes using this leek oil to come soon!

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American Gastronomy: Meat Loaf with Mashed Potatoes and Demi-Glace Sauce Lunch at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

December 24, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

It is cold these days, even in in Shizuoka City, the second mildest area in Japan after Okinawa, and to top it all I had been fighting off my regular Atumn/Winter cold when I needed something hot and fulfilling for lunch the other day!

It was only natural that I took refuge at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, as it is one of the biggest and warmest cafe/restaurants in town!
Someone might comment that I’m becoming American in Winter when I chose the Meat Loaf with Mashed Potatoes and Demi-Glace Sauce Lunch Set (I didn’t have the courage to point out the typos!)!

Simple, appetizing, healthy and fulfilling, just what I needed!

The meat loaf was definitely American comfort food in spite of the French (?) demi glace Sauce!

But being French, I love mashed potatoes when I can mix them with the sauce!

It might look very simple but the carrots, beans and egg contribute to good balance!

Especially with plenty of fresh Caesar salad!

I must apologize to my American friends: what I had thought all the time to be carrot bread is in fact corn bread!
Incidentally, delicious!

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Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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Vegan Christmas Cakes & New Year Confectionery: Japanese Wagashi!

December 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!