Category Archives: Health

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 蛸, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Health, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Seafood, Tourism

Sashimi Plate at Nishiki Izakaya in Shizuoka City!

December 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Kind, friendly and attentive if a bit shy
Facilities and equipment: Very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Higher-level izakaya gastronomy. Superb fish, local for most. Great sake and shochu list.

I have known Chef Yoshiyuki Nishitani for quite some time, back to the years before he decided to fly on his own wings.
It didn’t take im much time to create himself a niche in the highly competitive izakaya scene in Shizuoka City.

Nishiki is a little away from the nightlife hubub of Shizuoka City in Aoi Ku acoss the Showa Street and is cozy with a single long counter propitious to a rich conversation with your neighbors and the chef.

I will have to taste those Kansai-style oden next time as I had little to spare on that particular visit!

There are plenty of sake at Nishiki, including local ones, so I treated myself to a small bottle of Shosetsu brewed by Kanasawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

I was given a great snack of re sweet potato and edamame salad while my sashimi plate was being prepared!

The little detail that makes you feel welcome!

The sashimi plate!

Tachiuo Aburi/Seared Scabbard Fish!

Isaki/Chicken Grunt (it’s a fish!)

Kanburi/Winter Amberjack from Northern Kyoto, the only fish of the day not from Shizuoka!

Madago Octopus!

Mebachi/Big-eyed Tuna

Great attention in small succulent details!

Winter Amberjack under skin toro!

And how much did I pay for the sashimi plate, the tidbits and the sake?
24 US $/20 Euros!
At thei level of freshness, quality and variety, izakaya and restaurants in bigger cities will be hard put to serve the same as such a reasonable price!

NISHIKI

Chef: Yoshiyuki Nishitani/西谷喜幸さん

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 2-2-1, Livenet Aoba, 1F
tel.: 054-251-7991
Opening hours: 17:00~02:00
Closed on Tuesdays

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, 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!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

August 16, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

befor opening. Sorry for the fuzzy picture!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See next lunch! LOL

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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

美食, 野菜, 野菜亭, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Sashimi at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City (April 2012)!

April 17, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean, Beautiful washroom
Prices: reasonable
Specialties: Vegan and vegetarian Cuisine, Izakaya gastronomy, local products, oden. Good list of sake, shochu. Wines also available.

With the warm days coming quickly one is always in search of refreshing food and drinks.
Fortunately in Shizuoka City this is not a problem at all with the abundance of vegetables!

Yasaitei, like many izakayas in Japan, puts salt in front of their entrance to ward off evil spirits.
They even asked a oni/goblin to look after them!

A single look at the counter will let you know you have entered vegan and vegetarian heaven although the food is designed for all tastes and priorities!

Although you might have to check the dashi, the first snack coming with my shochu (shochu is vegan by the way!)! People with special priorities will appreciate!

Thick boiled wakame seaweed and new bamboo shoots o-hitashi/japanese-style appetizer!

The main attraction of the day: Vegan Sashimi Plate conceived with local vegetables!

The dressing is made of sesame oil, salt and red miso paste only, so no problems!
Now what did the plate consist of?

“Cindy” orange tomatoes (very sweet) and ice plant.

Small red radish and red pimento.

Juicy and mild daikon on shiso leaves.

Crunchy and juicy cucumber and mini tomatoes.

And finally chopped red onion giving support!
So tasty and healthy!

To be followed…

YASAITEI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 14 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
Individual orders (carte) welcome
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Smoking allowed

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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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Food, Food Health, Health, Japan, Shizuoka

Gastronomic Nightmares in Japan: Calories Count at McDonald’s, Starbucks & Mr. Donuts

March 28, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

McDonald’s at Shinjuku, Tokyo

As demonstrated by many food bloggers, cooking and creating great foods and drinks have become incomplete and unsatisfying when not considering the benefits or adverse effects of the same foods and drinks regardless of their taste.
I do not intend to delve into counselling or consulting, but only to offer some knowledge about the nutrition and health facts in Japanese food.
The Japanese have their own imported diners represented mainly by McDonald’s, Starbucks and Mr. Donuts. Since they are doing good business here, I was curious about the calories intake in their offerings.
Here are the results of my research. Please note that these numbers concern only food served inside Japan. I will let you judge the benefits!

MCDONALD’S

-Double Quarter Pounder Cheese: 825 kcl
-Bacon Lettuce burger: 422 kcl
-Hamburger: 274 kcl
-Cheese Burger: 322 kcl
-Teriyaki Mac Burger: 509 kcl
-Fillet Fish: 352 kcl
-Chicken Mac Nuggets (5 pieces+bbq sauce): 322 kcl
-Cinnamon Melts: 449 kcl
-Mac Fried Potatoes (M size): 454 kcl
-Mac Shake Chocolate (S size9: 211 kcl
-Hot Apple Pie: 211 kcl

Starbucks, Shinjuku, Tokyo

STARBUCKS

Below drinks are all Tall Size

-Matcha Cream Frapuccino: 430 kcl
-Caramel Frapuccino: 307 kcl
-Caffe Mocha: 320 kcl
-Starbucks Latte: 203 kcl
-Soy Latte: 200 kcl
-Mango Passion Tea Frapuccino: 144 kcl
-Caramel Makiart: 189 kcl
-Drip Coffee: 20 kcl

Mr. Donuts, Sendai City

MR. DONUTS

-Cookie Cruller Coconuts: 397 kcl
-Choco Fashion: 307 kcl
-Honey Cello: 192 kcl
-Old Fashion: 277 kcl
-Baked Chou Custard & Whip: 176 kcl
-Double Chocolate: 240 kcl
-Rich Donut Honey dip: 190 kcl
-Bon.De.Ring: 225 kcl
-French Cruller: 158 kcl

As an indication a non-active (physical exercise) lady needs 1750 kcl a day, a moderately active lady needs 2050 kcl a day and a physically active lady needs 2350 kcl a day. Count 20% more for a gentleman.

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The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India
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観光, Health, Japan, Non smoking, Non-smoking issues, Shizuoka, Smoking, Tourism

Non Smoking Rules on Railway Platforms in Japan and Shizuoka City

March 2, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

The smoking and non smoking issue on railway platforms and trains in Japan has been a long saga.
Some time agao the local trains on the Tokaidou Line running through Shizuoka have been made completely non-smoking, but the Shinkasen bullet trains on the same line serviced by the JR Tokai Co. still allows at least two smoking carriages in every train whereas many other companies (they are all regional since the were privatized some time ago) have completely banished smoking from their Shinkansen trains!
Smells/stinks like some Tokyo politicians have a hand into that…
Even the platforms for the Shinkasen have “smoking corners”!

The photo above was taken two days ago in Shizuoka City JR Railway Station before boarding a local train down to Kikugawa City!
Less than a minute later I had to give a big mouthful (in Japanese) to an old guy who was smoking in the next queue!
He did carefully extinguish his cigarette on the platform but placed it back in his mouth with a deregatory wave in my direction…

Mind you, for all this sheer stupidity and unconcern of a single individual, over 99% of the Japanese comply to the rules without a grumble…

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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,
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Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Gastronomy, Health, Izakaya, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Shizuoka, Tourism, Villa D'Est Quisine, 居酒屋

Izakaya Gastronomy: Villa D’Est Quisine in Shizuoka City (Fall 2011)

November 24, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and unassuming
Facilities: old-fashioned but very clean with cute washroom
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Home-style seasonal cuisine. Wines, sake and shochu. Very traditional Japanese atmosphere! Patronized by true izakaya gastronomy lovers!

In a city like Shizuoka, almost notoriously famous for its many hidden gastronomic havens, many true izakaya lovers will keep their own favorite hangout as secret as possible. Personally, I don’t think this is very fair, but at the same time you do not want to advertize too much such establishments for fear that uncaring customers spoil the atmosphere. On the other hand, if you wish to share and promote taste for good food, drink and atmosphere, you do have a duty to make such gastronomic venues better known.

In my case I hesitate to patronize Villa D’Est Quisine too often as it is very near my workplace, and it is not a good idea in Japan to revel too close to your professional address.
Therefore I keep my visits away from the week-ends when too many people are present for comfort. On the other hand, visiting an izakaya at comparatively quiet times will almost surely offer the opportunity to meet and discover like-minded souls!

Villa D’Est Quisine has many reasons to please:
It is located away from the centre of town in one of the few original and still left untouched alleys of fashionable Takajyo District.
It exudes a quaint warm atmosphere, almost taking you back ages away with its unusual architecture all of dark aged wood with a counter, large table and an elevated tatami, original ceramic tableware, hand-brushed daily menu, potted plants and wall pictures.
The food is eclectic, concocted with mainly local products to satisfy any taste, be it Japanese or of whatever country.
The short and very efficient list of Japanese sake, shochu and wine will ensure that your food marries well with your drinks.
The Chef, Toshiharu Matsuura, has an unflappable will to please customers with a quiet respect for privacy, although you will always find him ready for a great conversation.

Two nights ago, we decided to flee the city noisily celebrating a coming holiday and enjoy some welcome slow life there. It proved momentous as we had the luck to make acquaintance with two new like-minded friends!
The tone was immediately set with the first drink, a nectar from Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City, served in original pottery with a simple but succulent o-hitashi/lightly cooked and marinated appetizer made with vegetables including chrysanthemum petals!
The only reproach I would make is that although the place is comfortably dark it is not very propitious to photography!

You will be surprised to find out that the single sheet menu will take you longer to peruse than expected, so take your time before ordering!
Now the menu featured as its very first item “koshiodai/こしょう鯛/Peppered Seabream (litteral translation!)” sashimi.
I asked Toshiharu where he found the fish and he had a hard time evading my question. I suspect he caught it himself in Suruga Bay or acquired it in a market I know he patronizes!
The sashimi was not as soft as most as that of seabream but proved a great combination of fine taste and bite!

Amitake Oroshi daikon Ae/アミ茸下ろし大根和え/Jersey cow mushroom-suillus bovinus served with freshly grated daikon.

The above dish will endear vegetarians! Actually, if you have such a priority talk to the Chef and he will help you!

Tebasaki to yasai no kuriimu shityu/手羽先と野菜クリームシチュー/Chicken wings and Vegetables Cream Stew

Now, the above should please Westerners especially on a cold night! Very typical Japanese Izakaya offering in spite of its obvious Western inspiration!

Kaki fuwafuwa mushi/牡蠣ふわふわ蒸し/Steamed oysters with a light sauce served with grated wasabi.

The above is more typical of the Japanese treats concocted by Toshiharu! A discovery for oyster lovers!

An Izakaya Classic: Yurine to ebi kakiage/ユリ根と海老かき揚げ/Deep-fried lily bulb and shrimps!

When it comes to kakiage and tempura tha Japanese are simply the best!
Have you ever tried yurine/ユリ根/lily bulbs? A must!

Iro Iro Na Potato Furai/色々なポテトフライ/Varied fried potatoes

Another Izakaya classic! Three types of tubers: Thick Sweet Potato Chips, boiled and lightly fried potatoes and again boiled and lightly fried satoimo/里芋/taro!
A true delicacy for vegans and vegerarians!

And to think we only scratched the menu…

VILLA D’EST QUISINE
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 3-10-19
Tel.: 054-251-4763
Business hours: 17:00~24:00
Closed on Thursdays
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
Smoking allowed

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

Must-see tasting websites:

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

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (11/62): Chess Board Bento!

November 23, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Have you ever played chess on a bento? LOL
Well, I could have this time!

This is actually a very popular pattern design for bentos in Japan. And it is very easy to achieve for maximum impression!

As it is also healthy the made two similar layers of it on top of each other.
Having spread the rice inside the box she placed cut squares of nori/dry seaweed on top to form a chess board.
For extra taste she had actually brushed a little soy sauce under each piece of nori!

For extra design, seasoning and fibers she added turnip home-pickled in amazu/sweet red rice vinegar and stir-fried burdock root/gobo with chili pepper for more piquancy.

As usual plenty of colors for the side dish!

For the meat she used salmon pieces she had previously lightly marinated in Japanese sake and what else. She then coated the pieces of salmon with plenty of rice flour/komeko and finely crushed spicy rice crackers before frying them in shallow oil and soaking the oil out on kitchen paper.
She placed them on a bed of lettuce with half a sudachi lemon. Sudachi lemons are vey small but full of juice more reminiscent of orange than lemon. Perfect pressed over the salmon!

She then completed the side box with plain tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette (she actually included more dashi than usual ton make it lighter) and lightly sauteed sliced soft pimentos.
Fresh grapes for dessert.

It was touch and go to either play chess with it or enjoy it right away! You probably have guessed my decision!

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Cafes, Coffee Shops, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Health, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism

Healthy Lunch at Meal MUJI in Shizuoka City!

October 21, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly
Facilities: Great general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Large choice of dishes changing every month. Healthy food. Nice bread and confectioneries.

Mujijirushi/無地印 in Gofuku-cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, is known mainly for its vast range of reasonably-priced articles ranging from towels to whole beds.
But it is also a place worth visiting for a very healthy lunch!

The entrance is located on the basement floor, left of the elevator as you go down.

One can have a good peek at the interior through the large window panes!

Have a good look at their menu!

Great cleanliness and smiling staff!

A very tempting range of freshly baked breads and viennoiseries/Danish pastries!

The system is based on a guided service, meaning that the staff will serve your choice on your tray as you choose your dishes!

This is what I chose for the day for only 980 yen!

The lunch tray consisted of two “salads” and two “main dishes”.
Incidentally, the staff will guide you accordingly if you have any allergies or priorities!

You have a choice between home-baked bread or rice!

It also includes a tasty vegetable soup!

Mackerel simmered with ratatouille-style vegetables.

Stewed taro, mushrooms, burdock root and beef.

Kabocha salad.

Very healthy mixed salad!

Even my big appetite was satisfied for lunch!
There are many more possibilities including soups and some very interesting desserts and drinks!
And it is entirely non-smoking!

Meal MUJI (MUJI JIRUSHI)
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-cho (on the right past Aoba Koen Avenue)
Opening hours: 11:00~20:00
Entirely-non smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Healthy Gastronomy: Croquettes Lunch Set at Cielo Azul Café

October 8, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly but very shy
Facilities: Great general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Healthy lunches, dinners and desserts

This is the second installment of Healthy Lunches in Shizuoka City and Prefecture!
It is a necessity for me as I’ve been fighting the Battle of The Bulge for some time!

Located in fashionable Takajyou Machi in Shizuoka City, Cielo Azul Café looks as if it had escaped from a Pacific Island!

The menu is clearly indicated (in Japanese) at the bottom of the stairs.

Blue stairs with a blue facade…

You will have a hard time keeping away from the sweets dessert!

The furniture is great fun to study: primary school desks from France!

Very feminine in concept!

There are four different lunches on the menu all for a reasonable 950 yen!
I chose the home-made Croquettes Set Lunch!

Healthy rice topped with black sesame seeds.

Local vegetables salad.

Local vegetables soup.

The Croquettes!
Yummy looking, aren’t they?

Corn cream croquettes! Not as easy to make as they look!

Potato & minced meat Croquettes!

A drink was also included in the set but I decided to add one of their cakes!

Beautiful baked peach tart!

You can expect other visits soon as they still three more lunch sets to explore! LOL

Cielo Azul Cafe
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyou, 1-7-8, 2F
Tel. & Fax: 054-255-9509
Business hours: 09:00~22:00 (until 20:00 on Sundays and Mondays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Private parties welcome!

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Health, Non smoking

To smoke or not to smoke: an increasing right for a better environment!

September 12, 2011 dragonlife 5 Comments

Patrick Harrington is a good friend of mine at Think Twice, a blog dedicated to his English students.
Like me he is a dedicated anti-smoker, although I’m only a repented non-smoker!
As we both live in Shizuoka City, Japan, we hope this will bring a little contribution to the betterment of life and gastronomy!

_To smoke or not to smoke_

It’s a battle of rights: the right to smoke against the right to a smoke-free environment.

In the past the right to smoke has been the undisputed winner.
However for a few decades smoking has been banned on public transport, such as airplanes, trains (except the Shinkansen!) and even buses, and this has spread to subway train systems and cinemas. But these bans were because of fire-risk, ie on safety rather than health grounds.
More recently legislation in Europe and North America has required a full or partial ban on smoking in many more public places, such as restaurants and bars. This has been on health grounds, and the pendulum continues to swing.

I must confess that I do not smoke and the new legislation has made an immense difference to my social life back home. No longer do I think twice about going out, no longer do I become disgusted when a stream of smoke envelops my head, and no longer do I worry about the laundry bill.
Most of all though I am content that I am not putting myself into a higher risk group of developing lung or throat cancer.
Incidentally there is some fledgling research which suggests two knock-on effects of this smoking ban.
Firstly, there has been an increase in traffic accidents as tipsy smokers spill onto the streets for a relaxing smoke.
And, secondly, it is predicted that there will be an increase in the incidence of cancer in children, since many smokers are choosing to enjoy their cigarettes in the comfort of their homes, and the rest you can guess.
Worrying as these may be, these effects remain unsubstantiated.

So how is the battle faring in Japan? As far as restaurants and bars are concerned the right to smoke is still certainly winning. Despite the fact that a few Tokyo wards and some city centres have been designated smoke-free, it is very rare to find a place to eat or drink where
smoking is prohibited.
Many establishments, particularly family restaurants, have separate smoking and non-smoking sections, but these are often two sections of the same room, even sharing the same air-conditioning system, so have limited effect.
Some places have separate rooms, often divided by a glass partition, and these work pretty well for the customers, but the staff still suffer.
And there are some places, especially in Tokyo and the major cities, that have prohibited smoking altogether, the Starbucks chain being one famous example.
But in a provincial city like Shizuoka such places are rare. My sister-in-law opened her own cafe a few years ago, and took the brave decision to go smoke-free. It has probably cost her some business, but it has surely preserved her health.

The tide has turned and the current movement toward smoking bans will inevitably come to Tokyo, and then to Yokohama and the provinces, but it is not a great vote-catcher at present. My personal estimate is that we won’t see a full ban for another generation or so, 2020 is my
guess.

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