Category Archives: Gastronomy

美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Osteria Porta Porta in Shizuoka City (May 2012)

June 1, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Squid Ink Pasta!

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Mainly local vegetables. excellent wine list.
Non smoking at lunch time!

Osteria Porta Porta and his young chef, Hidetake Suzuki/鱸秀武 are slowly and surely achieving a well-deserved fame in Shizuoka City for the homey but inventive Southern Italian gastronomy served in a very informal and so friendly, if a bit shy, manner!

I make a point to pay them regular visit as they use only seasonal products mainly from Shizuoka, but also from Italy and Europe!

My favorite place at the small counter by the window!

The pasta served at Osteria Porta Porta!

Even at lunch look at the “carte” on the blackboard!
You will get tempted away from the regular menu!

Interesting traditional pasta making tools!

A painting of Puglia houses!

Reasonable Italian red wine and beautiful home-baked bread!
I was very hungry at that particular lunch so I ordered the biggest lunch menu!

Antipasti misto plate!
Always so generous at Osteria Porta Porta!

If I hadn’t been so hungry that would have been enough, what with caprese salad, pork terrine, fish escabeche, quiche, ham, and vegetable salad!

Squid ink pasta with plenty of local squid! So fresh and delicious!

Fujinomiya RYB Ton (pronounce “Louis Vuiton!) pork steak and vegetables!

From another angle to show you the attention to details!

I love lentils!

The dessert!

What do we have there?

Non wheat flour hazelnuts cake!

Home-made dry fruit cassata ice-cream!

And coffeee served asit should be!

Alright, alright, i promise another report at dinner next time! LOL

Osteria Porta Porta
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-13-11, Topia Takajyo, 103
Tel./fax: 054-266-7320
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30^22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK

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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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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

Bistro, Brasserie, Chicken, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy at Patina in Shizuoka City-Poached Chicken Salad

June 1, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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.

The shy but ever-smiling lady Chef!

I do have a special fondness for Patina in Shizuoka City for the simple reason that they serve delicious French-style Bistro/Brasserie food in such an easy-going but elegant atmosphere!

And they have the immense merit to serve both red and white wine from my hometown/village Givry, Cote Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, France!

Their lunches are a real bargain and they change every week!

The Lunch plate is particularly interesting with two main dishes to choose from every week!

The Plate Lunch menu includes a soup + 1 main dish + the pickles of the day, a salad, bread or rice and one drink!

They started their own (Japanese) Blog!

I often order from the carte but this time I ordered the Plate Lunch!
What did I have?
First a hot bacon and vegetables consomme soup.

Of course I had a glass of wine (extra) with it!
Poached chicken salad with bread!

Actually they write it “boiled chicken” in Japanese but it is definitely poached chicken ham!
Very tasty and healthy!

Beautiful bread and Red Moon potatoes!

Delicious potato and kabocha mash with fresh vegetables!

I couldn’t resist and extra order when I had a look at their desserts!

Apple and banana Tarte with vanilla ice cream to accompany my coffee!

I still haven’t had dinner here yet! LOL

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 10:00~15:00, 17:00~20:30 (last orders)
Holiday not decided yet
BLOG
Non-smoking but for a small table away from the other patrons at the end of a long hall before the washroom

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美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, 御殿場市

Sushi Restaurant: Myouken in Gotemba City!

June 1, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Oshizushi, local sake, traditional Japanese gastronomy.

The other day when I went to interview a local soy sauce maker in Gotemba City (article coming soon) I found myself with plenty of time at noon and decided to explore the vicinity of the Gotemba JR Station!

A few minutes walk away from the station I found this sign announcing Myouken/妙見, a local sushi restaurant…

Gotemba City at the foot of Mount Fuji is quite far from the sea, but you never know, so let’s have better look…

Founded in 1935! Now, that sounds as a venerable establishment but it had obviously been recently redecorated…

I had noticed one very important detail which encouraged me to enter the restaurant… but let’s take a picture first!

Remarkable decoration of the “lobby” created with real local rice stalks!

Now, these are delicious-looking take-aways!
Remember that Gotemba City is famous for its outlets with a lot of visitors from Tokyo!

Modern seating at the wide counter!

Beautiful Japanese tatami mat room!
Actually, there are more private rooms, some of which can be made non-smoking!

The lobby decoration has the added advantage to offer some privacy even at the central table I had chosen!

The all-important detail which encouraged me to discover the restaurant: Myoken has its own sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Now, apart of the delicious sake, what did I have for my first visit?
An enormous Hamaguri/蛤/Clam soup!

I opted for the sushi lunch set and one more local specialty!

The local specialty, a must: Fujinomiya no Benimasu Bougata Oshi Sushi/富士宮市産の紅鱒棒形押し寿司!
Rainbow Trout from Fujinomiya City served as pressed sushi, whole!
The founder of Myouken had come all the way from Nara City in 1935, a city famous for its pressed sushi!

For a better look!
I ate the lot, head included (I was complimented for that last detail!)!

The sushi lunch set!

From left to right: Chutoro Maguro/Tuna Chutoro, Tennen Hirame/Wild Sole-Flounder, Maguro Akami/Tuna lean Part and Aji/Horse Mackerel!

From left to right: Uni Gunkan/Sea Urchin as gunkan/mothership sushi, Ikura Gunkan/Salmon’s Roe Gunkan, Akagai Nigiri/Blood Clam Nigiri and Ebi Nigiri/Slightly seared Prawn Nigiri!

And for dessert: Local Japanese-style Yuzu/Lime Jelly!

Simple but perfect dessert!

As I have to visit Gotemba City regularly, expect another visit!

MYOUKEN
412-0043 Gotemba City, Shinbashi, 1983 (2 minutes walk from Gotemba Station Mount Fuji facing exit)
Tel. & fax: 0550-82-0142
Opening hours: 09:00~14:00, 15:30~20:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Car park available

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Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/26): After the Rain Leftovers Bento!

May 31, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

After two days of extraordinarily foul weather with torrential rain and hail, thunderbolts striking everywhere and flash floods, farmers and fishermen had to stay home as most housewives did.
So, the bento had to be made with whatever could be found in the fridge and pantry!

The Missus first steamed rice and served it with all kinds of leftovers!

She mixed the rice with “Chikaka/mixture of wet bonito flakes and cheese” and put some on top as well with thinly chopped dry seaweed. Very tasty rice!
She also included pickled ginger made by her mother for extra zip.

She then boiled some stringbeans and carrots and seasoned them with ground black sesame before adding them to the rice.
She baked some salmon and then fried it in soy sauce. She let it cool before placing it atop the rice.
Finally she decorated the lot with her special half-boiled marinated egg sprinkled with black sesame seeds!

As for the salad and dessert box the Missus arranged together fresh lettuce, pickled mini melon wedges, pitted prunes, cherries and orange wedges!

A bento to perk you up in bad weather!

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Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/25): Teriyaki Vegetable Chicken Rolls and Tamagoyaki Bento!

May 29, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

I called this bento “Teriyaki Vegetable Chicken and Tamagoyaki Bento”, but I could also have called it “Oyako/Parent and Child” Bento as they call any combination of chicken and eggs here in Japan!

The Missus prepared an interesting mame mazegohan/rice mixed with various beans by adding salad beans, and boiled green peas and broad beans leftovers with freshly steamed rice.
Great colors and very satisfying!

The side box was also very satisfying and for once I took my time to savor it instead of wolfing it down!

The Missus concocted two types of rolls with chicken breast fillets/sasami:
One containing mini green asparaguses,
the other containing carrots and pickled wasabi stems and leaves.
She fried them whole first before cutting them to size.
As for the teriyaki sauce I’m afraid this was a secret I’m not privy to!

She added some plain tamagoyaki (for dessert?) and plenty of vegetable with fresh lettuce and some sauteed green and red pimentos.

Very satisfying as I said above, yummy and so colorful!

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美食, 魚海の幸, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Scallops, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese-style Butter and Soy Sauce fried Scallops and Asparaguses

May 28, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Green asparaguses are still on the market and cheaper fresh small (“baby”) scallops are readily available.
Here is a very simple snack that should please even kids all over the world!

INGREDIENTS: for 2 people

-Baby scallops: 16
-Gree asparaguses: 4 thin to medium thickness
-White wine or Japanese sake: 2 tablespoons
-Butter: as appropriate, about 10 grams
-Soy sauce: 1~1.5 tablespoons
-Salad oil: as appropriate

RECIPE

Boil the asparaguses lightly (60%) and cut in small trunks.

pour some salad oil in a frypan.
Drop in the baby scallops and fry for a lttle while. Add white wine or sake. Turn fir to low. Cover with lid and steam fry for a while.

After the wine or sake has almost completely reduced, add the asparaguses, soy sauce and butter.
Stir or sautee a couple of times and serve!

So simple and delicious!

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美食, 酒, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kakegawa City, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Yamanaka Brewery-Aoitenka-“Jin”-Junmai

May 27, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Yamanaka Brewery and its main brand, Aoitenka, are not much known in Japan and little away from the Western part of our Prefecture, but they certainly deserve all their praise in spite of their rarity!

This particular limited sake is called Jin/陣. “Jin” is a military term meaning “camp” or “position”.
In the old days the “jin” was marked with banners bearing the Arms/”mon” of the army overlord or commander.
The label features some of these “mon” for a beautiful design!

The “mon” represented with the bottleneck label is that of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to retired to Shizuoka (called Sumpu at the time) at the beginning of the 17th Century!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku 100% grown in Shizuoka Prefecture
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 2.0
Acidity: 1.4
Yeast: No 1401
Bottled in March 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Fruity and fleeting. Nice alcohol. Cocoa, cherries
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by junmai petillant.
Complex. Dark chocolate, coffee beans, oranges.
Starts soft to finish on a very dry note.
Becomes a lot drier with food with a predominance by oranges.
Dark chocolate making a strong comeback away from food, adding a soft note again all over the palate.

Overall: A sake obviously designed to be enjoyed with food but worth tasting both away and with food for interesting comparison.
Could be drunk at all temperatures for more fun and more discoveries.
A solid and dependable sake for all seasons in spite of its limited production!

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豚肉, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Pork, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese-style Pork and Asparagus Rolls

May 27, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

Green asparaguses are still in season and combined with meat they make for a such a tasty snack or appetizer!
And there is nothing difficult about it!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Thin slices of pork belly: 200 g
-Asparaguses (medium size): 9
-Japanese sake: 50 cc (1/4 cup)
-Soy sauce: 50 cc (1/4 cup)
-Mirin/Japanese sweet sake: 50 cc(1/4 cup)
-Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
-Water: 1 tablespoon
-Sesame oil: as appropriate
-Salt & Black pepper: as appropriate

RECIPE:

First boil the asparaguses to 90% tender and then fry them for 2 minutes.

Divide the pork belly slices into 3 batches and stretch them side by side according to the length of the asparaguses.

Sprinkle the pork with salt and pepper. Roll three asparaguses in each batch of pork belly slices. You should come out with 3 big rolls with the indicated proportions.

Heat sesame oil in a frypan and fry the rolls all over their surface until they reach a nice cooked color.

Add sake, soy sauce and mirin and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes over alowered fire and under a lid.
Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to rolls.
Cut and serve as soon as the sauce has attained a nice texture!

So easy!

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美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Abekaido Tokubetsu Honjozo

May 26, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Abekaido” which means “Abe River Route” was part of the old “Tokaido/East Route” which ran from Edo to Kyoto.
People then had no recourse but to cross the Abe River in Shizuoka City, then called Sunpu, unless they wished the country beyond the Southern Alps.

The Abekaido brand was originally created by the defunct Yoshiya Brewery that the present Suruga Brewery acquired upon the retirement of its last sake masterbrewer!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 5~; 8
Acidity: 1.0~1.2
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Banana, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity strong attack backed by pleasant alcohol.
Warming up the back of the palate. Complex.
Lingers for a while on a dry note.
Dark chocoleate, banana, dry almonds, oranges.
Fairly strong but pleasant.
Assertive but attractive.
Gets drier with food with a stronger accent on oranges and almonds with an appearance of lemons.
Dark chocolate reappears away from the food with a sweeter note.

Overall: A sake definitely conceived for food as it doesn’t vary much.
Marries very well with any food, even curry!
A bottle you could keep carrying around as you never know… a B.B.Q., a new friend, an old one, or…

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Local Food Stands at 2012 Shizuoka-Cannes Week in Shizuoka City!

May 25, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Now, what should I fancy more, the Basque ham or the Ladies? LOL

From Friday May 25th to Sunday 27th, as part of the events held during the 2012 Shizuoka-Cannes Week, a Marche/Market is held in Aoba Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City where many producers and shops, especially dealing in food and drinks, sell their specialties in open stands!

Shizuoka City and Cannes in France have been sister cities for quite a long time and citizens have taken into their hands the yearly celebration featuring a cinema week and many other events!

Still in preparation at 16:00!

Local food will be available in stands in Aoba Street on Friday 25th from 17:00 to 20:00, and on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th from 11:00 to 20:00!

Accordingly I came early on Friday to run a pre-report on the event!

French hot dogs! Not poodles!

Basque food and French drinks with Restaurant Las Tapas in Shizuoka City!

French organic wines by Lavigne Co. in Shizuoka City!

Great rusks and chocolates by Chocolatier Theo in Shizuoka City!

Ice creams/gelato by mi-so et ma-co in Shizuoka City!

Ganmo.burger in Shizuoka City!

Vegetable quiche and pound cakes by e-pou in Shizuoka City!

Plenty of drinks by HUG coffee in Shizuoka City!

Great cakes and desserts by Austrian Cake factory in Fujieda City!

Authentic, healthy and absolutely delicious Kugelhof!

Tuna gastronomy by Maguro Monya Oomasu in Fujieda City!

Patisserie Gouter in Yaizu City!

I must interview them for their beautiful Madeleines and Financiers!

Great vegetarian gastronomy at Cafe CAPU in Shizuoka City!

BBQ gastronomy at French B.B.Q. Brochette in Shizuoka City!

Can’t wait to sample these enormous sausages with a beer!

Prized French bread at DONQ in Shizuoka City!

The event featured an artist painting beautiful creations live!

Omu-raisu/omelet rice at LEMONeD in Shizuoka City!

Tortilla sandwiches by Ristorante & patisserie Nave Noel in Shizuoka City!

Herb teas at Seiryo in Hamamatsu City!

Great cakes made with local ingredients by Sansuka in Makinohara City!

Bread and baked cakes by TROTIX in Shizuoka City!

Great snacks and drinks by THE HIGE in Shizuoka City!

Authentic Pakistani gastronomy by SPICE 6 in Shizuoka City!

I will have to come back tomorrow or on Sunday for these!

And last, but not least, plenty of music!

See you there!

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Beche de Mer, 美食, 観光, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Namako, sashimi, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, 海鼠

Japanese Seafood Species 4: Beche de Mer-Sea Cucumber-Namako-海鼠

May 24, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

NAMAKO-RED

Red Sea Cucumber

Beche de Mer in French, Sea Cucumber in English, Sea Rat (海鼠) in Japanese, this marine creature has been called all kinds of names in many different countries over the ages.
French sailors were catching them and trading them with the Chinese as far back as the XVIIIth Century.
They are presently the most poached single creature in the Japanese seas by illegal fishermen from China, North Korea and Russia to the tunes of thousands of tons every year.

NAMAKO-GREEN

Green Sea Cucumber

NAMAKO-BLACK

Black Sea Cucumber

Quite a few varieties are found in Japanese markets, but the highest quality specimen are the red sea cucumbers.

The best season is Winter, although they are sold over the counter well beyond Spring in Japan.
They ave many names in Japanese: Namako, Manamako, Akako, Aoko, Kaiso and are caught almost all around the Japanese islands.
They lay eggs from late Spring to early Summer, hence their best taste in Winter when the Japanese find them almost sweet.
Choose red ones as they are softer and tastier. Choose specimens with firm flesh and healthy skin.

NAMAKO-BACHIKO

Namako Bachiko

The Japanese eat them in many ways. Like the Chinese they eat them in their dried form, or “Bachiko”.

NAMAKO-GREEN-TEA

They are popular boiled in green tea!

NAMAKO-SASHIMI

Of course you will find them as sashimi!

NAMAKO-NIGIRI

Or as sushi nigiri!

NAMAKO-KONOWATA

Their innards, called “konowata”, are considered a delicacy!

NAMAKO-KONOWATA-GUNKAN

Sakura Shrimps Fisherman in Yui: Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!

May 24, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

A samurai of old? Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!

The cherry shrimps spring catching season will be finished in three weeks before being resumed in late fall.
So yesterday, 23rd of May, it was high time I went looking for an old friend working half of the year as a cherry shrimps fisherman in Yui, Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

The cherry shrimps entry gate!

Although Yui has lately been incorporated into Shizuoka City it is still a bit far from the center of Shizuoka City, 5 stations away along the Tokaido Railway Line.
Once you get off Yui Station turn immediately to the right where you will see the Cherry Shrimps Gate at the entrance of Cherry Shrimps Street!

Have a look at the map conveniently set up near the station entrance!

Looking at the pictures you will discover there is lot to see in this little fishing village!

Now, be a bit nosy and you will find copies of old pictures on vending machines!

A fisherman’s life was really hard toil not so long ago, but they already knew how to enjoy themselves!

If you do not miss the entrance to the small (but nationally-known!) harbour past under the railway track you will notice this signboard!

It features a map of Suruga Bay between Omaezaki and the Izu Peninsula.
Every two days the departure time is clearly indicated, varying between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.!
The ships will be back between 10:30 and 12:00 p.m. depending upon the catch.

The ships, all owned by the Yui Cherry Shrimps fishermen Association are divided into four groups with a new destination every two days as well as a different departing order!

You will find two kinds of fishing ships inside Yui harbor:
The smaller cherry shrimps boats.

And the larger differently-equipped shirasu/sardine whiting boats.
The season and departing times are different for those and they do belong to another Association.

A grand view of the highly protected harbour from its land’s end!

The shirasu boats and private vessels are moored at the end of the harbor.

The Yui Harbor Fishermen Association building where the morning auctions are conducted! I will report there as early as 6:30 a.m. for my next interview!

The exit to the sea under the Tomei Expressway!

A view of the harbour from the sea’s end!

Both quays are dotted with accesses to fuel from where the ships can pump in their individual needs directly!

Ice is brought in bags in small trucks.

I finally found my man: Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!
Hiroki is now a very young 43-year old samurai figure.
After graduating from Tokai University in Yokohama 23 years ago he decided to come back home and work as a cherry shrimp fisherman in Yui half of the year and spend the rest of the year abroad, Bali these days, to enjoy his passion: surfing!
He actually lost half of his right thumb this year in a surfing accident and still wears a plaster around his right hand and wrist!

It doesn’t matter how long you have been in the business, but you still have to go through a lot of very important chores such as oiling the machinery!

Checking the nets!

A last check to ensure the good unfurling of the nets!

Hiroki’s ship: Dai Ichi Wakamiya Maru!
Dai Ichi stands for “First” as the ships always work in teams of two with six crew on each ship!
“Maru” means “Ship”!

This little box is the privies!
They didn’t have it a long time ago!
The ships have been equipped with siphons only ten years ago to haul the shrimps from the nets held between ships!
The work had to be done with large baskets, ropes and pulleys before.
Hiroki assured me that the fishing has definitely become easier on the body!

Each ship is equipped with a stove constantly burning as the nights are cold at sea!
Hiroki’s crew mates, all great lads, invited to join me in the near future! I’m definitely tempted although the Dragon at home will probably disagree!

Checking one’s wet suit and personal belongings for a last time.

Waiting for the official start always announced over a loudspeaker.
Fishing is done only in the evenings of Spring and Fall when the shrimps rise from their usual depth under 200 metres to up to 50 metres below surface.
In Spring fishing is concentrated in the eastern half of the bay whereas in the fall it will be done in the Central part of the Suruga bay.

Still some time left to share a joke and a rumor!

Some mooring lines are already loosened and taken away.

Some of the crews are already putting on their fishing wet suits. Hiroki does seem to need his yet…

What may such men laugh about at such a time?

Our samurai does seem to be an old hand!

Getting the ice ready in the proper place!

Putting some of the protective buoys back aboard.

All ships are equipped with powerful radio and radar!

A last call to the girlfriend?

The last ships leaving!
Hiroki’s was one of the last that day as his ship would work in the nearby sea!

Hiroki’s ship leaving at last!

Speeding away!

Good luck guys, and have a good catch!

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Bento, 美食, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/24): Color Orange Bento?

May 24, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

Now, why did I call this bento “Color Orange” (nothing to do with “Agent”!)?
Well, the color was obviously present not only in the picture but also in the ingredients! Just remember that one way to translate “orange” in Japanese is “daidai/橙”!
Incidentally, orange is the official color of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The Missus (did I tell you her nickname is “Dragon”?) introduced the color in the “mazegohan/mixed rice” which included finely chopped carrot. She just filled one box with the lot sowing plenty of boiled (from her family’s garden) green peas for added taste and design.

Can you guess the element “orange” in the side box?
Actually one is invisible as an ingredient?

The orange color is obvious in the Missus’ half-boiled egg atop a salad consisting of potatoes, red onion, black olives and pink pepper flanked with lettuce grown at home.
I always try to entice the Dragon to include as much of her potato salad as possible! LOL

Beside the delicious plum tomato lies an interesting concept for a salad: thinly sliced cucumber, sesame seeds, natsu mikan orange wedges and boiled prawns, the lot seasoned with Daidai Koshio pepper, the invisible “orange” element!

If the Missus continues in the same vein, her bentos will not only be great to eat, they might become a photograph essay of its own!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

Bento, 美食, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/23): Egg Ribbons and Beef Chirashi Sushi Bento!

May 23, 2012 dragonlife 10 Comments

The Missus loves to make Chirashi Sushi for my bentos (and her own lunch!) but this might be the last for some time as “she is running out of ideas”!
Well, this particular one was a good idea!

The chirashi Sushi was designed in a two-color concept with a neat third coloration provided with violet daikon sprouts!

The Missus did prepare egg ribbons first while steaming the rice. They are not so difficult to make although they are very spectacular!

She stir-fried fine beef ribbons in ha sauce of hers (she wouldn’t disclose the ingredients!) and let them cool down.
Once the rice was steamed she added vinegar and a little sugar to turn it into sushi rice and finally mixed it with some fried beef and boiled green peas for more impact.
She then filled the box with the sushi rice mixture and topped half with egg ribbons, the other half with stir-fried beef and boiled green peas and drew a separation with fresh violet daikon sprouts!

A spring time side box with vegetable and fruit salad!

Boiled broccoli and marinated mushrooms lined with fresh lettuce and topped with plum tomato!

For dessert “Natsu Mikan” orange and yellow kiwi fruit with imported cherries!

Very satisfying, pleasant to the eyes and so yummy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Beer, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/05/23): May Hop Madness Continued: Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils and 4-S Belgian Blonde Ale

May 23, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

May Hop Madness Continued: Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils and 4-S Belgian Blonde Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The May month of Hop Madness continues with today’s general release of two more hop-crazy brews: Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils and 4-S Belgian Blonde Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils (5.7%):

A Bohemian Pilsner is one of the world’s most noted beer styles. In its historical form, it is a clean and refreshing lager that enjoys a wonderful floral hop character, derived most notably from the famous Czech aroma hop, Saaz. The Baird May Hop Madness take on this classic style is unique — we dry-hop this Pilsner on three separate occasions using a blend of three wonderfully aromatic continental hops (Saaz, Tettnanger and Spalter). This is not your grandfather’s Pils!

Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils is available for immediate general release in both kegs and bottles (630 ml).

*4-S Belgian Blonde Ale (5.5%):

Crisply fruity, dry and refreshing are descriptors that come to mind with mention of a Belgian Blonde Ale. Our version is also very hoppily aromatic. We brew (and dry-hop) 4-S with a combination of four hop varieties all beginning with the letter ‘S’: Sterling, Santiam, Saaz, Styrian Golding. The result is a light yet intricately complex ale.

4-S Belgian Blonde Ale is available also for immediate general release in both kegs and bottles (630 ml).

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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