Category Archives: Italian Restaurant

Great Pizza after a strollin at La Papi‐ge(ラ パピージェ) 藤枝 蓮華寺/

LA PAPI‐GE

Today I decided it was time to take all my courage to go out for a small walk in Renge -ji, Fujieda.

Renge-ji is is a haven of peace in Fujieda city. Since the last years it got a lot of construction works within its compound : A more wide strolling alley, a shared place for small restaurants owners, more big toboggans !

Well today is not the day for talking about Renge-ji but do not forget to come there in any seasons, you may see cherry blossoms, wisterias, autumn colors and fantastic lotus flowers.

One may take care also about the giant hornets !

LA PAPI‐GE(ラ パピージェ) 藤枝 蓮華寺 is hard to miss, as it has a wide roof dominating the intersection of two roads. The italian(hish) colors may also giving you some clue about its position ! Not so far from the Starbucks, which is also close to the huge parking space for cars.

I didn’t had time to eat slowly in the restaurant, so I choosed the take out option.

I threw myself into two pizzas : The fungi Panna Cotto mais. Do not be surprised I ordered 2 pizzas, as I shared it with my family, the new years holidays did enough damages to my belly to not try to involve it in more unnecessary feast.

The pizza menu

Menu of the day

It should also be noted that in Japan at contrary than in France, where I am from and contrary in a lot of other countries, the japanese pizzas are pretty small. I never went to Italy but it is said that it is more close to what the traditionnal pizza is.

The prices are the following :

1060 yens for the Fongi,

1180 for the Panna Cotto Mais

The Fongi

For this one I was not sure about how much I could get satisfied with it, as it seemed to have few toppings on it. I was impressed by the perfect balance between the oignons, mushrooms and the really tasty tomato sauce.

The pizza dough was thin enough to not steal the taste of all the toppings and each mushroom was crunchy enough to give you the feeling that these few toppings will satisfy your stomach and have a mouth full of ingredients every time.

The Panna Cotto Mais

This one really impressed me by the basil taste reaching instantly once you put it on your taste buds. There was few basil leaves on this one but I could fin out there potential was fully used. A technical feat considering it is the winter season !

The cheese was also tasty and the combination of the basil, oil, and cheese is in the mouth was really fulfilling.

I would suggest to go there and have a cup of red wine to enjoy at its maximum the richness of the aroma of theses pizzas.

Note that I choosed the take out menu so my pizzas where cold. I guess the hot ones are really a treat. I totally recommend this place which is also widely recommended by the local people of shizuoka prefecture.

It warmly recommend as the prices are also under average for this quality of pizzas.

1 Chome-2-19 Nyakuoji, Fujieda, Shizuoka 426-0014 or 〒426-0014 静岡県藤枝市若王子1丁目2−19

Open for lunch and diner !

I suggest to make a booking as the place maybe crowded due to the popularity of the park.

Italian Trattoria Lunch at Terra Costa in Shizuoka City!

Service: kind, smiling attentive
Equipment and facilities: very clean overall. Excellent separate gender wwashroom. Car park
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points:
fine Italian style trattoria. Excellent local products. Large portions.

I must admit it was a surprise to find this uncomplicated, modest and above average Italian trattoria along the sea shore in South Shizuoka away from the crowds and even surprised to find it crowded!
If you go there for lunch make a point to reserve your seats (actually you will be offered a plate of fried potatoes for the effort! good hospitality!)!

They do have a long enough menu but before you check the other menu know that the best deal is to choose a “set menu” as in above picture!
If you are two, three of more you will be able to choose all different dishes to share together!
The three of us opted for the 1,630 yen (tax included) menu with an original ice tea, a starters plate and a choice of pizza, pasta and risotto each! Plus a choice of desserts and coffee!
Very reasonable when you consider the size of the portions!

Incidentally there is also an enormous set lunch for two at 3,700 ye, tax included for two persons!

Let me show the menus for complete perusal!

The pizza menu!

The Pasta menu, part 1!

The pasta part 2 and risotto menu!

The sweets and cakes menu!

Now, what did we share?

The plate of starters/antipasti misto!
This was the main reason we ended up with full stomachs at the end! Well above average and excellent fresh produce!

Quatro formaggio/four cheese pizza!

Crab tomato sauce spaghetti!

Porcini mushrooms cream risotto!

Chocolate cake, tiramisu and creme brulee for dessert!
And coffee to wash it down.
Pity we were driving, otherwise a glass of wine would have been welcome! LOL

TERRA COSTA

〒422-8034 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Takamatsu, 3093-33
Tel.: 054-238-1126
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 18:00~23:00, 11:00~22:00 on Sundays
Credit cards OK
Car park

GOOGLE

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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, Pie
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, 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

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Il Dritto in Shimada city!

Service: Kind, attentive and very informative
Equipment and facilities: Overall spotless clean. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: inventive modern Italian cuisine making use of many local products. Interesting and reasonable Italian wine list including wines from Kumamaoto Prefecture!
Doubles up a gastronomic bar in the evening!

Succulent and elegant Italian cheese amuse!

I have always thought that Shimada City deserved better when it came to food. They are already blessed with some of the best sake in Japan and when it comes o Japanese gastronomy they are blessed with a couple of very good restaurants/izakaya. But when it came to Western cuisine they definitely missed higher class Italian Restaurant.
Now, they have it with the arrival of Il Dritto a few months ago!

Check he specials of the day!

It is not only a restaurant but also a wine bar (with food if desired) at a small counter until last orders at 22:00!
Otherwise it does not sit so many guests,and I recommend to reserve in advance unless you want to try your luck at opening time at 18:00. As for the week ends it is definitely crowded!
This was our first visit so I don’t know what happens at lunch time on week ends but you expect crowds and single set menus!

As for the evenings it is real fun reading and choosing from the menu board!
Do take your time! You will discover a very interesting fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine definitely served in the Italian fashion, I would say high fashion!


I know some Italian friends who would be very intrigued and tempted by the “Aburi Ankimo/Hal grilled monkfish liver”
A real fusion creation using ankimo/monkfish liver first steamed the japanese way and then slghtly grilled served an Italian-concept fish sauce! Very, very unusual which the the creative talent of young owner chef Daisuke Hirabayashi

Of course the herb bread is exclusively home-baked!

Aburi/haf grilled Sanma/Pacific saury wits liver sauce and fine vegetables!

Another fine marriage of Japanese and Italian cuisine!
Pacific saury is a Japanese fish par excellence and again my Italian friends are in for another surprise!

Kumamomoto Prefecture Horsemeat Carpaccio!
As a frenchman I just couldn’t ignore that morsel! Mind you, my Italian friends will have a pleasure to dispute that!
Smiling Owner Sommelier Megumi Hirabayashi shy (Daisuke’s wife) actually hails from Kumamoto Prefecture and you can expect some rare wines from her own Prefecture!


Talking of wines we had this reasonably-priced and very fine Valpolicella!

We had a bit of a fight to choose either pasta or risotto for our visit, but I lost the jankenpon/stone paper scissors and we opted for this beautiful seafood pescatore linguine with prawns, squid, scallops and cockles!
Don’t have to mention the little ensuing fight! LOL

Consequently I was “allowed” to choose one of my favorites for the next dish: Roasted duck breast with red wine sauce and fine vegetables! A dish that has made the French and Italian friends forever! LOL

It was time for dessert, then? Then, what did I choose to satisfy my male chauvinistic preference?

Hazelnut Catarana!
Who said the Italian are limited when it come to dessert? So sweet! corny comment, sorry!)

My only regret? I could sample all the dishes!
But I will have my revenge soon!

IL DRITTO
Owner Chef: Daisuke Hirabayashi
Owner Sommelier: Megumi Hirabayashi

427-0022 Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada City, Hontoori, 1-9-1,Marichi TAC 1F
Tel: 0547-330790
Opening hours:
Lunch 12:00~14:00 8 Saturdays and Sundays only)
Dinner: 18:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays and 4th Tuesday
Credit cards OK
GOOGLE

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Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, 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, 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: Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: 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

Gastronomic Destinations: Yokohama City-Piatto Bianco In Minato Mirai

Service: Smiling and kind
Equipment & Facilities: very clean overall. Shared washroom, superb.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Oysters and seafood. Parties

PIATTOBIANCO-2

Piatto Bianco is not that easy to find on the 2nd Basement Floor of Landmark Plaza Dockyard Garden Building in Minato Mirai in Yokohama Harbor, but it worth the search if you want to get away from the crowds and still enjoy a laid-back meal and drink.

PIATTOBIANCO-3

The outside is a bit typical of a garish American-Style Italian Tratorria but the smiling service is definitely Japanese!

PIATTOBIANCO-4

The staff was certainly extremely accommodating when we requested to change seats to get as far away as possible from some smokers.
It opens late by the building standards and their oysters make for a great snack with a good bottle of Italian wine.

PIATTOBIANCO-5

And the big jar of olives you can eat as much as you want provided with the drinks is a great bonus!

PIATTOBIANCO-6

We visited the place only for a quick fix, but we ended up staying longer for a full meal started with a very tasty smoked oysters salad!

PIATTOBIANCO-8

Now, I must admit that the grilled oysters were very good, and I should know, being a Frenchman! LOL

PIATTOBIANCO-9

We had quite some wine and we decided to sample one of their seafood dishes.
This plate of deep-fried prawns on a bed pf potato mousseline and tomato sauce wa a superb ide that the Dragon decided to emulate!

All in all very good value!
One of the very rare “chain” restaurant I would recommend!

PIATTO BIANCO

Yokohama City, Nishi Ku, Minatomirai, 2-2-1, Landmark Plaza Dockyard Garden Building, B 2F
Tel.: 045-227-8577
Opening hours: Monday~Friday: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00, Saturday, Sunday & National Holidays: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Pie
rre.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