Category Archives: Food Health

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Natto, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Natto Cha Zuke・納豆茶漬け

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I’m not a vegan and never will be, but I do have many friends who are and when I can find a recipe for them it os always a pleasure to put it online!
Now beans, especially fermented beans/natto/納豆 comes with a lot of healthy ingredients for such a priority.
Rice (you may use it whole of course and tea have also plenty!
Chazuke/茶漬け is a Japanese way to accommodate cold leftover steamed rice by basically warming it up through pouring hot tea over it. A cold version is also possible, especially in summer!

INGREDIENTS (I leave the proportions to your appetite!):

Cold steamed rice (leftovers)
Hot tea
Natto
Soy sauce
Chili pepper powder
Finely chopped scallions/white leek
Optional: sesame oil, grated ginger, etc.

RECIPE:

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Pour some plain natto inside a bowl.

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Mix/stir natto with chopsticks or fork long enough to see natto completely linked with sticky filaments. As a criteria stir it a hundred times!

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Season it with soy sauce (and sesame oil as an option) and chili pepper powder and stir.

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Add finely chopped scallions/white leek (and grated ginger as an option) and mix well.

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In a bowl place enough cold teamed rice and natto on top.
Pour hot green (or oolong) tea over the rice up to the top of the ice.
For the cold version pour ice-cold tea.
Enjoy!

So simple and healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-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

レシピ, Bento, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 弁当

Bento: Shizuoka Bento 1: Tofu Hamburger Bento at Matsuzakaya

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Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of almost 4,000,000 souls, practically the same as New Zealand or Ireland, and Shizuoka City counts from 800,000 of them.
Many workers in Shizuoka Prefecture are of the white-collar sort who have little time to prepare or eat lunch at a restaurant.
But Japan has developed the concept of a portable lunch to a perfection reached nowhere else: bento!
It is no wonder that one can find so many of them in mind-boggling variety and price range, especially in large cities from the cheap ones sold at convenience stores to the very specialized ones concocted by restaurants as extravagant take-outs.
At least this makes for a hopefully unending series of articles even if I shun the mountain of run-of-the-mill found in convenience stores or company cafeterias!
At the same time I can help you discover all about local gastronomy through a very practical, reasonable and tasty way to spend your lunch or dinner back home, on a park bench or at your hotel!

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Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City offers an incredible number on its basement floor and I had to survey the whole floor twice before I decided to acquire one at a small shop run by Matsuoka Company.

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Matsuoka Co. hails from Nagoya city in neighboring Aichi Prefecture but the ingredients are obviously from Shizuoka Prefecture. They presently offer a bento limited to 20 boxes whose ingredients comprise tofu hamburgers!

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At 12:00 a;ready half of them had been sold!

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it was packed again in a cellophane paper bag with disposable chopsticks, toothpick and tartare sauce before being placed into another vinyl bag for transport! Talk about Japanese hygiene!

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befor opening. Sorry for the fuzzy picture!

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At 680 yen very reasonable!
Every ingredient is clearly printed!
Made on the 16th of August 2013 at 11:45 and to be sold before 16:45!
The hygiene rules are pretty strict in Japan!

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Once opened it not looks appetix\zing but also colorful and artistic in spite of the simple ingredients!

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Kyoto-style red cucumber pickles, tamagoyaki and boiled/steamed broccoli.

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Simmered eggplant, yellow sweet pimento and blanched lotus root slice.

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Fried shishito pepper, simmered eggplant, red sweet pimento blanched lotus root slice and fried kabocha pumpkin slices.

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The deep-fried tofu hamburger coated with sweet and sour sauce and sprinkled with golden sesame seeds.

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Shredded dry seaweed/nori between the rice and the toppings for extra taste. And so healthy!

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The tofu hamburgeres1
Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was really hungry!

See next lunch! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-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

レシピ, Buckwheat, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Soba, Tourism, Vegan, Vegetarian cuisine

Soba Restaurant: Tsudono in Shizuoka City!

9 Comments

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Service: Very kind and a bit shy
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clean. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Soba! Very Japanese atmosphere.

Soba or buckwheat noodles must be one of the healthiest staple food in this world.
And it complies with almost with any dietary requirements be they those of vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free dieters and what else!
And to top it all it is simply delicious!

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The other day after interviewing a local wasabi grower in Umegashima, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, my chef friends and I decided to visit a local soba restaurant up in the mountains among farms.
You certainly need a navigator to drive there!

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The windows of Tsudono Restaurant overlook a landscape of fields, farms and mountains, and nothing else!

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Very traditional atmosphere where you can sit either at a table and chair or on the tatami straw floor!

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Definitely worth looking at in detail, even the superb washroom!
And it is all non-smoking!

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Don’t forget to take your shoes off before venturing on the beautiful parquet!

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Ordering is very simple:
They serve only one kind of soba and one miso yaki!

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Mind you, they have no less than three kinds of Japanese sake available!
Don’t forget that not so long ago people had to go to the local soba shop to drink Japanese sake!

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Your simple but beautiful tray served with soba tsuyu/soupstaock, chopped scallions, grated daikon and grated local wasabi!

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Delicious miso yaki to go with our beer!
Miso yaki, a typical offering at a good soba restaurant is a mixture of miso and buckwheat grilled on a wooden spoon! A must-try!

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Don’t forget to mix these ingredients in the tusyu/stock soup before dipping your buckwheat noodles!

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The soba are made on the day only, served exclusively at lunch and the restaurant will close as soon as the soba have been all served! So come early!

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Pour plenty of soba-yu/water in which the soba were cooked/ in your soupstock vessel to make a very healthy drink!

TSUDONO Zaru Soba
421-2121 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tsudono, 514-2
Tel.: 054-294-1005
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00 or until the soba are sold out!
Closed on Mondays (except on National Holidays)
Car parking available
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Tourism

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (updated March 2013)

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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
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere
Alishan on the Move in Fukuoka

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, 美食, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Non-smoking restaurants, Panckakes, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

American Gastronomy: Pancakes at Takajyo PANCAKES in Shizuoka City!

2 Comments

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Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Superb wasroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Pancakes! Local vegetables. Healthy food.

As opposite to crepes which are French, pancakes must be definitely part of American gastronomy unless the British claim it first!
Now, if such a simple comfort food can be created and presented as gastronomic health food, I shall be the first to enjoy it despite my Gallic origins!

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Only 1 minute walk from Cenova Department Store on the right side of Kitakaido Street it is within very easy access!

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Takajyo PANCAKE is the first pancake-specialized restaurant in Shizuoka and is owned by Cafe Studio @ Shizuoka!

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And the restaurant is all non-smoking!
If you absolutely wish to indulge in your life-threatening habit, you may smoke in the back-yard terrace which is completely locked out in the cold, and that with some restrictions!

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The environment is simply spotless clean!

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You are constantly reminded of the menu offerings on samll screens and the music is all soft American jazz!

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Very cute menus for lunch!
Actually the place is open all day!
And you may indulge in drinking all day, too!

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Don’t worry if you can’t read Japanese…..

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The picture menus will make your choice easy!

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The lunch menus include a soup and a soft drink!
Let’s dicover some of their offerings!

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All vegetables, including those in soups and salads are all local and suprbly fresh!

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Great and tasty hot comfort for the winter!

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The black tea is actually made in Kawane, Shizuoka Prefecture!

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Herb pancake set lunch !

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Seasoned with a delicious herb dressing!

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Beautiful and crunchy salad!

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All this smoked salmon and vegetables are so healthy!
Mind you, it is highly satisfying!

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Actually, most of the leaf vegetables are also organic!

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And a beautiful soft-boiled egg (local) for exquisite balance!

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Millefeuille pancake lunch set!
I suppose any truly gastronomic American diner meust feature something in French on their menu! LOL

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Beautiful salad again!

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French “Millefeuille” sounds better than British “sandwich#! LOL

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Home-made roast beef!

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Now if you have some space left, try the mini pancake dessert set!

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I’m sure you will be tempted!

Who said there was no such thing as American gastroonomy?

See you at dinner next as there is a lot more to discover!

Takajyo PANCAKES by Cafe Studio
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-3-2
Tel.: 054-266-4804
HOMEPAGE
E-mail: cafe-s@rx.tnc.ne.jp
Opening hours: 11:30~21:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Cards OK (from April 2013)

NON-SMOKING… unless you wish to feel like a recluse locked outside!

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables, Wines

Party with Bourgogne Wine Producers at Le Comptoir de Bio-S in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A palette of Shizuoka Prefecture Products! Great use of organic vegetables, fish and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy! Excellent wine list!

On Friday February 8th Le Comptoir de Bio-S witnessed the visit of three wine producers from Bourgogne, France, who introduced their creations to wine lovers in Shizuoka in the company of gastronomy based on local products!

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Arnaud Chopin, a fourth generation producer in Nuits Saint-Georges who contributed:
Cotes de Nuits Villages Rouge 2010
Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bas de Combe 2010

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Rodolphe Demougeot, who has been producing wines since the age of twenty in Beaune contributed:
Beaune Clos Sainte Desiree Blanc 2009
Beaune Les Beaux Fougets Rouge 2009

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Georges Lignier, whose family started their trade back in the 19th Century in Morey saint Denis contributed:
Morey saint Denis 2008
Gevrey Chambertin 2009

Quite a palette as you can imagine!
Arnaud, Rodolphe and Georges, ably helped by their interpreter/guide Ms. Emi Tanabe, proved the model of gastronomic ambassadors who helped so much on that night make some very lucky guests discover the marvels of Bourgogne (my home, incidentally!)!
Their wines married splendidly with the repast concocted by the chefs which proved a discovery for the French wine producers themselves!

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Tartare of root vegetables, Suruga Beef and wheat and its green organic salad!

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All organic vegetables are grownin Fujinomiya City by Matsuki Bio Farm whose owner Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩さん organised the festivities in the company of wine importers!

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Charcoal grilled winter vegetables from Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

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The wine producers themselves confided me they were so happy enjoying truly delicious healthy food and discovering Shizuoka’s products!

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Grilled venison, “Honshu Shika/本州鹿１” raised at the foot of Mount Fuji with red wine Balsamico sauce!

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With more splendid organic vegetables!

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A rare dessert!
Organic taro/sato imo ice-cream!

A big thanks to Chef Kouji Okukumura, Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki, Producers Arnaud Chopin, Rodolphe Demougeot, Georges Lignier and Ms. Emi Tanabe for a truly memorable night!

Le Comptoir de Bio-s by Bio Farm Matsuki
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya machi, 12-8, Sankousha Bldg, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-221-5250
Business hours: 11:30~15:00 (Last orders 14:00), 17:00~23:00 (Last orders 22:00)
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
This is MY LIFE by Ashley Harvey

Bars, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Wines

French Organic Wine Bar & Retailer: La Vigne in Shizuoka City!

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Shop Manager Hidetaka Satoh/佐藤大高さん & Staff (calling themselves the “Nice-Looking Boy and beautiful Damsel”!)

Service: Very friendly and caring. Great explanations!
Facilities and equipment: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom. Whole establishment non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French organic wines. Higher grade wine cellar. Drinks and light food at standing bar.

The Japanese love their wines, and French wines in particular!
But they also have a care for their health.
And what’s a more healthy drink than organic wine!

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You will find La Vigne very conveniently located right across the street from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit!

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It almost looks like a street side cafe back in France!

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“自然のワイン/Shizen no Wain” means “Natural/Organic Wines”!

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The wine and the producer of the month!

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Wine recommendations for coming Christmas!

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A suggestion for a present for an important person!
Actually today was exactly the Fourth Anniversary of the opening of La Vigne in the 18th of December 2008!
The mother company is located in Nagoya while the most recent and third shop stands in Higashi Ginza, Tokyo!

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The shop was first conceived as wine retailing establishment that offers plenty of organic wines from France.

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More suggestions for Christmas!
All purchases can be wrapped as presents for a small fee!

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They do offer a lot to eat with those wines: terrine, pate, sauces, jams, olives and the like!

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And also plenty of cheese, hams, sausages, and other appetizers you can eat on site if you wish.

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Photographs and signatures of the producers whose wines are featured at La Vigne!

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The standing bar which has proved to be best investment of the establishment!
Many customers, including many local chefs, taste their wines there before acquiring them by the bottle (s)!

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La Vigne also sells some great breads concocted by a local baker that find their way onto the counter more than often!

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Great map of French wines to give all information and conversation topics of the day when needed!

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Take your time, glass in hand , and take a good look at all the wines!

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The wines to be drunk and purchased by the glass at the standing bar regularly change.
You pay your orders, be they wine or food in cash as they come, or you can before leaving either cash or by credit card.

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Great explanations for each wine!

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My order of the day!
Wines and food can be consumed all day long, but coffee and mineral water is also available!

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Plenty of food and snacks available.
No cover charge or extra fees!

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If you find a canned food of your liking just take it from the display tables, bring it to the counter and ask the staff to open it for instant consumption as it is or with bread and so on!

LA VIGNE
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 17-2, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 10:00~22:00 (Monday~Saturday), 12:00~20:00 (Sundays and National Holidays)
Credit Cards OK
Private Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Takuan Chahan-Takuan Fried Rice

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here is another recipe for vegans, hungry ones in this case!
You need very little and can used leftover rice!

INGREDIENTS: (For two people)

Takuan: as appropriate
Steamed rice (cold leftover is best!): 2 Japanese bowls
Finely chopped scallions or leeks: as appropriate
Sesame seeds: as appropriate
Sesame oil: as appropriate
Salt: “shokoji/塩麹” if possible. If not available salt of your choice. As appropriate.

Optional: Herbs, vegetables and spices of your liking!

RECIPE:

Chop the takuan finely.

In a large fry pan pour some sesame oil. Fry takuan first for a little time.

Add rice and mix with takuan and fry all the time.
Add chopped leeks (and optional herbs), mix and continue frying.
Add sesame seeds. mix and continue frying.
When rice is properly fried add salt and spices (optional), mix quickly and serve!

Easy and very healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Oh Bento by Keith in Hull, UK, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, 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, PepperBento, Hapabento , Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Daikon, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Vegetarian & Vegan Japanese Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes (and extras!) in Shizuoka City in 2012!

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Roasted organic vegetables plate at Le Comptoir de Bio-s, all vegetables grown by Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Shizuoka Prefecture is a haven for vegetarians and vegans, and I will never tire to repeat it!
Although I’m neither, I do appreciate the needs and priorities of my friends who take the time to visit our region.
The reasons why Shizuoka is blessed land for my friends is 1) that the climate allows for vegetable culture all year round, 2) Shizuoka Prefecture has always been a research center for agriculture resulting in the greatest number of vegetables (and fruit) varieties in a single Prefecture in Japan, 3) that it is also the most active Prefecture when it comes to organic agriculture.

All the photos represented in this article were all taken in restaurants in Shizuoka City (except for the last two!), demonstrating that with a little research you can find restaurants catering to your priorities and pleasure!

The title mentions the number “10” for appeal, but I included more to convince you!

Cold corn soup (Vichyssoise) at Aquavite Italian Restaurant!
The corn was grown in the mountains of Ikawa in Shizuoka City.
It includes only a little salt, olive oil and water used to boil the corn!

Vegetable appetizer at Yasaitei Izakaya!
It includes shiso/perilla leaf, finely sliced myoga ginger and fresh ginger, sweet hijiki seaweed, sesame seeds and a simple dressing based on olive oil and amazu sweet vinegar!

Vegan sushi at Sushi Ko Restaurant!
Menegi/leek sprouts nigiri.
The one on the left is not vegan/vegetarian as it includes katsuo bushi but the latter can be easily not included for a real vegan/vegetarian sushi.
Secured with a thin band of dry seaweeed/nori and topped with umeboshi/pickled salty Japanese plums!

Another vegan sushi at Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant: Manganji chili pepper nigiri!
Manganji chili pepper is a long soft green variety of chili pepper.
The one at the left is topped with yuzu kosho, the other one with umeboshi/pickled salty Japanese plums!

Boiled jumbo peanuts at Taihei Izakaya!
These jumbo peanuts are at least three times the size of “normal” ones and are grown only In Shizuoka and Gunma Prefectures (until now!) and incidentally are eaten boiled only in these two Prefectures! A must-try!
These were grown in Fuji City.
Some organic varieties have also appeared on the Shizuoka tables!

Waga-style cucumber salad at Waga Izakaya!
Waga uses thin and crunchy Japanese cucumbers sprinkled with crushed peanuts and served with sweet miso dressing!

Daikon Katsu at Waga izakaya!
The picture above is not vegetarian/vegan but here is the vegan version:
Simmer a small daikon (peel it first but simmer it whole!) in vegan dashi, soy sauce and a little sake until it has got soft and beautifully colored.
Drain and cool down completely.
Wipe water/humidity off the surface.
Roll it plenty of cornstarch dissolved in a little lukewarm water.
Roll it in vegan breadcrumbs to cover it completely.
Deep-fry to a nice brown color.
Leave it for a couple of minutes over some kitchen paper to soak off excess oil.
Cut it as shown in picture above and season it with a vegan dressing!

Potatoes are staple food for vegans and vegetarians!
Here are a few examples!
The above is Yutoo Style fried potatoes at Yutoo Izakaya!
The potatoes are organically grown at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Roasted potato gnocchi at Le Comptoir de Bio-s!
Note that the gnocchi contain only potato, flour and salt!
Made with potatoes organically grown by Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Belgian Fries at Caravin French Restaurant!
Note that potatoes were first fried in Belgium! French fries are a historical mistake!
The fries are served with mustard (not ketchup nor mayonnaise!) and fine premium chili pepper!

Uzu-style fried potatoes at Uzu Izakaya!
Note that potatoes are not all white!
Potatoes organically grown at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Greens and mushroom salad at Le Comptoir de Bio-s!
The mushrooms are organically grown in Fuji City at Hasegawa Farm while the other vegetables are grown organically at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Simmered tougan/winter melon at Kagatsu Japanese Restaurant in Fujinomiya City!
The vegan version would be to simmer in vegan dashi! Served with fresh organic okra!

Vegan yuzu jelly cake at Myouken Sushi Restaurant in Gotemba City!
The jelly was made with local agar agar and yuzu!
A dessert fit for any vegetarian/vegan repast!

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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cafes, Coffee, 美食, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

“Smiling Frog Cappucino”at Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

Today I had another cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City because I’m steadily getting addicted to them, and also because I wanted to check a question asked by Sissi at “With A Glass”!

Cute Saori/沙緒里さん told me she uses only her fingers and imagination!
So, what did she create for me this time?

A smiling frog!
Actually she got a bit miffed when I guessed it wrong at first. I must admit I didn’t look carefully at first!

Those bulging eyes…. A frog indeed!
Mind you usually they don’t smile, they just croak!

Saori is fond of this leaf pattern!

It didn’t matter how much I drank, the smiling frog refused to disappear!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00

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

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: “Amago”-Red Spotted Masu Trout Simmered in Wine by Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

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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.

Today I was actually called by Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん who told me he was preparing a fish bred in our Prefecture!

The fish is called Amagi Amago.
Amagi stands for the place where it is bred.
Amago/あまご translates as Red Spotted Masu Trout in English.

Shitayama Fish Farm in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula!
The Fish Farm is located beside wasabi fields for the best natural environment.
Wasabi leaves are actually introduced in their feed!

Pissenlit Restaurant and Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん were awarded the title of Shizuoka Prefecture Recognized Restaurant and Chef last year!
Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん never misses an opportunity to experiment with new ingredients, especially if they are local!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work as I arrived at his restaurant today after lunch service had been finished!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん had first fried the fish in olive oil before gently simmering them in wine with local organic nameko mushrooms!

Dressing the fish on a plate!

The sauce before it was further reduced!

A beautifully sauteed local organic shiitake mushroom being added!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん pouring the reduced wine sauce and mushrooms on the fish!

Waiting for the finishing point!

Golden eggs from the same trouts! Absolutely delicious and extravagant!

A few sprigs of local organic leek sprouts!

Et voila!

Absolutely delicious and extravagant!

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

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Lotus Roots, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Easy Recipe: Lotus Root and Pork Balls

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Lotus root can be used with meat to make delicious and easy to prepare balls/meat balls!
A comfort food appreciated everywhere and a great snack if you like beer!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2 people)

Minced pork meat: 200 g
Lotus root: 60 g
Salt: one pinch
Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
Ginger: 1 fresh cube 2x2x2 cm
Cornstarch: As appropriate

RECIPE:

in a large ball drop the minced pork.
Grate the lotus root over it.
Add salt.
Mix until you obtain a smooth paste.
Grate fresh ginger over it and add soy sauce.
Mix well.

Prepare one-bite sized balls and coat hem with cornstarch.
Deep-fry at 170 degrees (the best temperature!) until they have a attained a crispy brown color.

Serve at once with some leafy greens for best balance.

So simple and so yummy!
Naturally you can add spices of your liking to the recipe!

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

美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tofu, Vegan, vegetables

Vegan Japanese Recipe: Lotus Root Hamburger 2-Tofu version

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lotus roots, or renkon/蓮根in Japanese, have been a popular vegetable for eons.
Shizuoka prefecture is quite famous for the quality of its lotus roots all over japan!
Here is the second version of a vegan recipe for yummy lotus root hamburgers with tofu!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2^3 people)

Tofu: 300g
Lotus root: 200g
salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
Salad oil: 2 tablespoons
Grated fresh ginger or wasabki: as appropriate
Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Place the tofu inside an oven bowl.
Heat in a microwave oven for 3 minutes at 500 w.
Transfer into a bowl with small holes to drain it of water.

Peel the lotus roots.
Grate the whole into the bowl containing the tofu that has been completely drained.

Add cornstarch and mix well.
Add salt (don’t make a mistake in the order!) and mix well into a paste.

make patties 5~6 cm diameter. Don’t make them too or they will break easily. You can make s
them small, too.
Pour oil in a fry pan and cook slowly over a low fire.

Fry them well until both sides have attained a nice brownish color.

Serve with a light sauce and grated ginger or wasabi!

Serve them with some green for better presentation!

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

レシピ, Bistro, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 農業, Food, Food Health, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Terrines, Savouries and Cakes at Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

Due to various reports, meetings and what else, I visited Patina no less than three times within a single week!
This has become an opportunity to show you what to expect in our good city of Shizuoka City!

The entrance by a very shiny day!
It is large by Shizuoka standards!

they have been actively specializing in terrines and pates recently! The real French comfort food!

They have also increased the number of wines you can drink by the glass!

You must try the Cremant de Bourgogne, so much better than Champagne, yen for yen!

Vegetable terrine and herb cream dressing!

Just love the bacon included with it!

Delicious and elegant herb cream dressing!

And plenty of leaf vegetables for great balance!

Zuwagani/Snow crab terrine!

So fine and light!

Sanma/Pacific saury and potato terrine!

The fish and the potatoes married to perfection!

At Patina they serve French cider in a bowl as it should be!

Marinated mackerel salad!

Another comfort (Norway?) food so nicely presented!

Pork and chicken liver terrine de campagne!
As yummy as back home in Bourgogne, France!

No need of bread! Just fork it together with leafy vegetables!

Quiche Lorraine!

I doubt they make it so elegant even in France!

Their cakes are always tempting!

If you ca read Japanese it says “Figs and Cheese Cream Baked Tart”!

A little beauty!

The tart!

And the home-made ice cram with the custard and caramel sauces!
Another sin! LOL

Far Breton, the elegant way!

Now, what would be bast with it, a strong coffee or glass of Calavados? LOL

To be continued… You bet!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00

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

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Vegan Japanese Recipe: Lotus Root Hamburger 1-Plain Version

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lotus roots, or renkon/蓮根in Japanese, have been a popular vegetable for eons.
Shizuoka prefecture is quite famous for the quality of its lotus roots all over japan!
Here is the first version of a vegan recipe for yummy lotus root hamburgers!

INGREDIENTS: (for 4 small patties/hamburgers)

Lotus root: 300 g
Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Oil: 1/2 tablespoon

RECIPE:

Peel the lotus root.
Wrap the lot into cellophane paper and cook insode a microwave oven for 3 minutes at 600 W.
bear in mind that the lotus root contains a lot of water. It will be very hot out of the oven. Don’t burn your fingers!

Grate the lotus root once cooled down enough.
Cut finely with a knife the parts you couldn’t grate.
Once mixed with the grated root they will provide a crunchy bite.

Add cornstarch and salt and mix.
Make four patties out of it,
Bear in mind that the mixture will be sticky.

Heat a fry pan.
Pour oil and heat.
Place the patties on the fry pan and fry. press the patties to make them flat.
Once cooked to a satisfying color turn over and cook the other side to a nice brown color.

Serve them hot with fresh vegetables seasoned with a dressing of your choice.
As for the patties their salty taste should be enough for seasoning but you can sprinkle them Japanese style witha little ponzu and momiji oroshi (grated daikon with chili pepper powder)!

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