Category Archives: Japan

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Shidaizumi Brewery-Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki

May 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

The toji/brewmaster at Shidaizumi brewery in Fujieda City is of the Noto School, that is from Noto Peninsula in Ichikawa Prefecture.
Ichikawa and Shizuoka Prefecture sake arevery similar in concept and many are made for sake tasting competitions.

Elegant presentation!

plenty of explanations but this is the very top!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 15^16 degrees
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Dryness: + 4.0
Acidity: 1.3

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Fleeting, elegant. Rice
Body: Fluid
Taste: Soft well-rounded attack backed up by junmai petillant.
Abruptly turns to a very dry note at the back of the palate upon swallowing.
Complex:
Pears, hints of green apple, grapes. Late appearance of dry nuts.
Elegant and sophisticated. There is no point to drink it with food although it changes little.

Overall: A sake obviously conceived to be tasted on its own.
A great and so elegant aperitif when chilled.
But is eminently enjoyable at any temperature.
A sake to impress your friends or important people!

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: 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

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

Shizuoka sake Tasting: Morimoto Brewery-Sayogoromo Junmai Koshu Roman

May 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Morimoto brewery is not only “notorious” for its sake away from the general Shizuoka trend but it also produces extraordinary “koshu/old sake”!

But the more extraordinary is that that particular koshu had been matured at room temperature for the last 12 years!

And there were only 3 bottles left in the whole brewery!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Bottled in 2001

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Golden
Aroma: Chinese old spirits, very dry, sherry
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong pleasant dry attack.
Very complex.
Reminiscent of a dry sherry at first, but turns sweet on the palate before disappearing on a drier note.
Very fruity. Mandarines, apricot, loquats, dry persimmon.
Changes little with food although junmai petillant asserts itself.
So easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.

Overall: A rare treat as usual!
To think that every year sees a new sake crafted to be left in the same spot for years and years!
Makes for the perfect aperitif although it would definitely make for a very dangerous proposition late at night!
For connoisseurs and gastronomes only!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/05/16): Two More Hoppy Spring Seasonal Beers

May 20, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Two More Hoppy Spring Seasonal Beers

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

May is our ‘tribute to the hop’ month and we are pleased to announce the release of two more wonderful hop-character seasonal brews: Fire in the Belly — Doug’s Red Ale and Belgian Pale Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Fire in the Belly — Doug’s Red Ale (6%):

Doug Benning was what we would consider a ‘founding customer’ in our Fishmarket Taproom. He first made an appearance the second or third weekend of our operation, visiting together with his wife, Miyuki, and fellow ‘founding customer’, Jason Block. That Doug was a curiously inquisitive and passionate person was revealed to Sayuri and me within minutes. That he was to be a life-long fan of the Taproom and Baird Beer, a future owner-partner in our business, and, most of all, an intimate and fiercely loyal friend, became apparent over the coming months and years.

Sadly, Doug passed away one year ago today, in a fashion as sudden as his life was intense. I understood Doug’s intensity perhaps better than most; we shared what my mother would have called ‘fire in the belly.’ We love Doug and Fire in the Belly is our beer memorial to him.

Fire in the Belly — Doug’s Red Ale is an explosively flavorful ale, richly malty with a bright hop character. The aroma is piny and pungent and comes courtesy of dry-hopping with two American varieties: Chinook and Simcoe. Doug, this Baird Beer is for you!

*Belgian Pale Ale (5.2%):

Pale Ale is the Pilsner of the ale world — myriad versions of it are brewed by ale breweries around the world. In this take, we ferment with our house Belgian ale yeast (a witbier strain) and incorporate a unique blend of fruity, grassy, herbal hop varieties (Galena, Santiam, Motueka, Styrian Golding, Saaz), all of which are used in dry-hopping. The flavor is fruity and full in the mouth, finishing with a very pleasant spicy dryness.

Both Fire in the Belly and Belgian Pale Ale are available for immediate release in kegs as well as bottles (360 ml).

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/05/10): 2013 Release — Saison Sayuri

May 11, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

2013 Release — Saison Sayuri

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

I am a big fan of Belgian-style Saison beers and so is my wife Sayuri. In 2007 I brewed this style for the first time as a birthday present for Sayuri. She liked it so much that we now brew it annually and release it on her birthday. Today is her birthday and we are pleased to release Saison Sayuri 2013.

Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Saison Sayuri 2013 (ABV 6%):

Saison means “season” and this family of beers is thought to have originated in Wallonia in southern Belgium. Saisons were brewed in the winter at farmhouse breweries for summer consumption by
thirsty farmhands. While there is no exact flavor profile or processing technique that define Saison stylistically, common traits exist (e.g. relatively pale in color, moderate in alcohol, refreshing in a dry or sour type of way, etc.). Often spices and ingredients uncommon to beer but otherwise readily available on the farm are incorporated. Saisons are thus typically Belgian in their funkiness and individuality.

Saison Sayuri is like its namesake — a fascinating admixture of down-to-earth simplicity and understated complexity. As with the 2012 version, this year’s Saison Sayuri is brewed with small spice-like additions of the peels and fresh juice of local aoshima mikan fruit from the local orchard of our carpenter and friend, Nagakura-san. The citrus character of the mikan fruit is complemented beautifully by bright fruit flavors imparted from three varieties of New Zealand hops (Motueka, Wakatu and Cascade). The result is a piquantly quenching brew that still manages a great, albeit understated, depth of character.

Saison Sayuri is available for immediate release in both in kegs and bottles (360 ml). It will be pouring from the taps of each of our Taproom pubs today, May 10, in honor of the birthday girl.

Sayuri and I will be at the Nakameguro Taproom tonight to celebrate her birthday together with the 5-year anniversary of the Nakameguro Taproom. Of course no Taproom birthday celebration would be complete without a special commemorative batch of Baird Beer. This year, our brewers are honoring the Nakameguro Taproom with NT-5 Wheat-Hop Ale. This is a hop-forward wheat-based ale that is dry-hopped with a unique combination of six hop varieties (Summit, German Magnum, Centennial, Citra, Saaz and Tettnanger). NT-5 Wheat-Hop Ale will be tapped at the opening of business tonight and is available on draught exclusively at the Nakameguro Taproom. We hope to see you there.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kyoto, Tourism

Weird Japan (32) Petanque on the Kamogawa River Bank in Kyoto!

May 9, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Now, what game are they playing?

No, you are not in Southern France or even New Caledonia if you prefer a nearer destination!
You are on the bank of the famed River Kamogawa in Kyoto!

The Japanese, especially senior citizens have the knack to adapt traditional French and other countries’ games such as croquet into “gate ball”.
But I couldn’t hide my admiration when I espied those happy senior citizens spending their weekday afternoon playing petanque exactly like they back home in France!
And they were really skillful at it, especially the grand ladies who would put many a French matron to shame!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kyoto, Tourism

Weird Japan (31) Pain Clinic!?

May 9, 2013 dragonlife 5 Comments

Just came back from a short stay in Kyoto where among the usual great settings i found a few interesting hidden sights!
Have you ever heard of a “pain clinic”?

You will discover it on Karasumaru Street.
Dragon, my worst half, explained to me that the establishment meant they are a general practice hospital covering all sicknesses, hence the mention of “pain”!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shuzenji, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Bandai Brewery-Izu Banyo Homare fuji Junmai Ginjo

May 6, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Bandai Brewery is a bit away from anywhere in Shizuoka Prefecture as it is located in Shuzenji the last stop along the private railway line starting from Mishima City into Izu peninsula.
Its brews are not always easy to find but they have increasingly become worth the search!

All pink presentation for the ladies!

The rice is 100% Homare Fuji grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Junmai ginjo is increasingly becoming the norm, proving that the new rice has come of age!

Rice: !00% Homare Fuji
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Light and fleeting. Fruity. Rice
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Fruity, dry and deep attack.
Well-rounded with only a little junmai petillant warming the back of the palate.
Soft and complex.
Nuts, almonds, coffee, dark chocolate.
Very easy to drink and soft on the palate.
Disappears fairly quickly ending on a sweeter note of dark chocolate.
Changes very little with food apart of an accentuated junmai petillant.

Overall: In the best sense of all a straightforward and eminently pleasant sake, very feminine in approach.
Can be enjoyed at any temperature at any time of a meal and away from a meal!
Bring it to a party and please everyone!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/05/01): More Spring Seasonal Releases

May 5, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

More Spring Seasonal Releases

Dear Baird Beer Enthusiast & Taproom Friend:

Welcome to May and to Japan’s Golden Week holiday season. We are excited to kick both off with today’s release of two terrific spring seasonal brews: Pawa-Hara Golden Ale and Hop Havoc Imperial Pale Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Pawa-Hara Golden Ale (6.5%):

Last year I learned of a new and interesting Japanese cultural construct which is essentially the polar opposite of bureiko jikan. Japanese call it pawa-hara which is short for “power harassment”. This is a situation in which someone on the top rungs of the hierarchical relationship ladder invites underlings out for a drink and a bite with the express intent of bullying and berating them. Alcohol, it seems, fuels this newly coined social custom too.

Well, if this is going to take place, we feel there needs to be a good beer suitable to the occasion. Our answer: Pawa-Hara Golden Ale. The recipe is pretty much the same as Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale, only a lighter (14.4 Plato) less potent (6.5%) version. The result is a beer of seductive but not overwhelming strength; ideal for buttering someone up for the lambasting to come!

Pawa-Hara is available in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

*Hop Havoc Imperial Pale Ale (6%):

As you know, hops are dear to the hearts of the brewers of Baird Beer. We simply love hop character in beer. Last year we designated May as ‘Hop Madness Month’ and released sixteen different varieties of hop-forward beer to celebrate this beloved perennial plant. This year too we will be releasing several hop-centric seasonal brews during the month of May as a gesture of our love. We start off with a hop bomb — Hop Havoc Imperial Pale Ale!

We limit the release of Hap Havoc to once a year as it will take a complete year for the imbibers’ taste-buds to fully recover from the hop assault. The malt bill here is one that would constitute a strong pale ale (starting gravity of 13.7 Plato), but the hop charge is one you would find in a double IPA (85 BUs in the kettle and whirlpool and then double-dosings of dry-hops using a combination of Citra, Simcoe, Sorachi Ace, Centennial and Chinook). Put simply, this is Hop Madness!

Hop Havoc Imperial Pale Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

Upcoming Taproom Events:
May is also the month in which we celebrate two important Baird Brewing birthdays — the Nakameguro Taproom will turn 5 on May 10 and Sayuri will be 26, I believe. We will be killing two parties with one weekend blowout at our Nakameguro Taproom (Friday, May 10 – Sunday, May 12). The birthday girl will be at Nakameguro on the 10th, drinking copious amounts of her birthday beer — Saison Sayuri. This year’s Nakameguro Taproom birthday beer is a unique wheat-based hop-forward ale that we call NT-5 Wheat-Hop Ale. It will debut on May 10 and be served exclusively on draught at the Nakameguro Taproom.

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for a festive birthday weekend of great pizza and beer. You can learn more details about the weekend celebration as the date approaches by visiting the Nakameguro Taproom blog on our website.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Soba, Tempura, Tourism

Soba & tempura at Setsugekka Restaurant in Shimada City (Spring 2013)!

April 29, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: High quality soba. Beautiful tempura. Great local sake

Soba and Tempura are two of the most representative foods of the Japanese gastronomy but it is not easy to find a restaurant serving both separately or together with equal skill and quality.
Luckily enough, thanks to an incredible wealth of fresh products, shizuoka boasts some of the best restaurants you could find in Japan.

The other day we thought it was about grand time to visit Shimada and Setsugekka again. Actually, I wouldn’t mind visiting the establishment as they serve only seasonal tempura!
Incidentally as they take their holidays in Hawaii every year they can manage English!

WE always inside the little cozy room by the entrance with a window onto the street!

I ordered the menu with three different soba, all 100% buckwheat.

The soba tofu which comes with the first drink! A real delicacy!

The tray as it is served before the tempura are brought to you one at a time!

The salt!

The grated daikon!

The chopped scallions and grated wasabi for the soba!

Stick senior broccoli and hard mouth sardines tempura!

The fish is also called “shirasu”!

The slender stick senior broccoli!

A beautiful tempura assortment!

Sakura cherry blossoms, cuttlefish and spring onion!

Brussels Sprout and Fukinoto tempura!

Paprika and cauliflower tempura!

Cold yuzu soba!

“Dark” soba!

Plain soba!

The sobayu/soba boiling water to add to the rest of the soba sauce as a soup!

Red grapefruit and fruit for dessert!

looking forward to the next visit in early summer!

SETSUGEKKA/雪月花
Shimada City, Hontouri, 2-3-4
Tel.: 0547-35-5241
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Monday and third Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking for lunch!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/04/24): Seasonal Release: Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale

April 29, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Have you told your boss at work lately what you really think of her? Do you need some liquid encouragement? We have it for you in Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale (ABV 8.5%):

The inspiration for this refreshing yet potent brew is the renowned Belgian classic, Duvel. The key attributes of Duvel are light body, high alcohol, and spritzy effervescence. We aim for the light body and strong alcohol through a high starting gravity (18 Plato) that contains a large amount of Japanese korizato and akato sugar (20 percent). High attenuation and natural carbonation through secondary fermentation in package provide the sprite, refreshing character. A touch of spicy-floral hop flavor and aroma (Sterling, Saaz, Styrian Golding) helps to round out the character.

Bureiko jikan (literally, “time for impertinence“) is a classic Japanese cultural construct: it is a moment when, generally fueled by alcohol, the strict bonds of hierarchical relationships melt away and individuals on the lower rungs of those relationships can let their true feelings and frustrations out without threat of later recrimination. It is a cathartic venting mechanism that effectively preserves the hierarchical system of relationships here. So, invite your boss or senpai out for a Baird Beer, order up a glass of Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale, and let it fly!

Bureiko Jikan Strong Golden Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml).

And if you need to work your way up to a Bureiko, just stop into one of our Taproom pubs for a handpump pull of a delightful session ale: Munich Malt Ale (ABV 4.0%). As the name implies, the base malt in this smooth mahogany ale is 100 percent German Munich malt. A generous addition of specialty caramel wheat malt adds body and color. The hopping is lightly spicy (Santiam) and softly fruity (Ahtanum). Munich Malt Ale is available beginning Thursday, April 25 exclusively at our Baird Beer Taproom pubs.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Fish, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Non-smoking restaurants, Recipes, Restaurants, seafood, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Sushi bars, Sushi restaurants., Tourism

Sushi Restaurant: New Concept at Sushi Ko-Miue in Shizuoka City!

April 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very kind and easy-going[
Facilities: Impeachable cleanliness. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Unusual and happy combination of Sushi and French gastronomies. Shizuoka sake and even shochu!
Entirely non-smoking (extremely rare for a sushi restaurant!)!

Only a few weeks ago Chef Yukitoshi Oda/小田幸寿さん, formerly of Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant opened this new sushi restaurant in an entirely new concept for Shizuoka: A traditional sushi restaurant combined with a French restaurant!
The establishment is divided into two distinct adjoining parts: a 8-seat sushi bar-counter where customers who are interested in sushi should sit and a room with holes built in the floor to sit easily under low tables where one should sit if he/she wishes to enjoy a combination of both cuisines or only French gastronomy. The kitchens, althoug tiny, are clearly separated and they don’t interfere with each other.
The food, naturally is top-class with a strong accent on local fish and vegetables in particular and of superb freshness. As for drinks, sake, beer, wine and even local shochu are available!

And the icing on the cake, it is totally non-smoking!

To cut a long story short let me show you what we had for dinner the other day, a combination set of both cuisines!

The o-tooshi/snack coming with the first drink: naga-imo/long taro root and hotaru ika/tiny フィレｆｌｙｓくいｄ。

Basashi/馬刺し/horsemeat sashimi coming into two varieties: lean and fat!

The fatty variety.
Served with olive oil and grated garlic!

Sashimi plate: kinmedai/Splendid Alfonsino, hotaruika/firefly squid and madai/true seabream!

Minami magurao/South Pacific tuna, tachiuo/Scabbard fish, sayori/Japanese halfbeak, sakura ebi/cherry shrimp and hotate/scallops!

Nanban-style deep-fried chicken!

Japan and France meeting: maguro oshiri/tuna tail with cabbage, tomatoes and renkon/lotus roots!

the tuna is also minami maguro and sauteed.

Shizuoka City is famous for its succulent lotus roots!

The sushi plate!

Kuruma ebi/large prawn and minami maguro.

Minami maguro and uni/sea urchin! The latter, a creamy beauty!

Hime soba/buckwheat sprouts!

Buri/Japanese Amberjack!

The desserts are also a fusion concept: banana omelette/pancke and vanilla ice cream!

Dekopon oranges with their jelly and sorbet!

You can bet this is only the first (actually second, but it is a secret!) visit!

Sushi o Miue/寿し幸実宇栄
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, kooya Machi, 13-6
Tel.: 054-221-3888
Opening hours: 17:30~indeterminate
Closed day not yet decided
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/04/17): Annual Release: Temple Garden Yuzu Ale

April 17, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Annual Release: Temple Garden Yuzu Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We have been avid fruit beer brewers for over a decade now. It all started with the first crate of mikans handpicked and brought into our original Fishmarket Taproom brewery by the carpenter, Nagakura-san. Since then we have been incorporating local, in-season whole fruit into our brewing regimen every chance we get.

Temple Garden Yuzu Ale is one of the staple brands in our seasonal fruit beer brewing schedule. We are pleased to announce today’s release of the 2013 version.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Temple Garden Yuzu Ale 2013 (ABV 5.5%):

Yuzu is a Japanese citron fruit the aroma of which is gorgeously spicy and the flavor lemon-like tart. This sprite, snappy ale is fruited with yuzu and hopped in a complementary way with a combination of NZ Motueka, US Cascade and US Santiam varieties. Small additions of wheat and rye to the malt grist help accentuate the piquant and aromatic character of the yuzu fruit. We add the fresh fruit in two forms (as peel shavings and as freshly squeezed juice) and at two separate stages (one at wort production before primary fermentation and one during beer maturation before packaging and secondary fermentation). Thus, we achieve a nuanced depth and complexity of yuzu flavor as well an exquisite fruit bouquet. Temple Garden Yuzu Ale is a perfect spring libation.

Temple Garden Yuzu Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml). It begins pouring from the taps of our Taproom pubs on Thursday, April 18. Be sure to come in and enjoy a pint while quantities last.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Shidaizumi Brewery-Nyan Cup Junmai Ginjo

April 15, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City has the particularity to be the first to produce a sake in a cup with the name “Nyan/Pussy” character painted on the glass cup.

Both the name “Nyan Cup” and the design are registered copyrights! The fact it is directly “painted” on the cup make it impossible to copy!

Yes, this cute design is copyrighted!

And it is certainly not a cheap sake!

Although the marketed price is ridiculously low!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: 0
Alcohol: 15.8 degrees
Contents: 180 ml
Bottled in February 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Rice, white lees, banana
Body: Fluid
Tasting: Very fruity attack backed by junmai petillant.
Elegant and complex.
Lingers on very little and departs on a very soft note.
Pears, melon, almonds, hints of banana.
Changes little with food but for a little more pronounced dryness.

Overall: Absolutely extravagant for a sake cup sake. I would venture as far as to averring it is arguably the best sake sold in a cup in japan!
It would make for the perfect souvenir/present to a sake-loving lady! Now, if she does like cats, you’ll become a darling!
The soft elegance will appeal to any true sake lover. Almost sweet by Shizuoka standards.
Don’t bring too many with you! Danger! LOL!
I personally consider it as a great aperitif lightly chilled!
Next time I go to France, I’ll take a bunch with me!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

French Dessert: Green Unripe Peaches Tart at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

April 8, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

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.

Peach growers in Japan proceed through a lot of thinning (fruit pruning) in early Spring to keep and develop only the best fruit. But all those unripe green peaches are not wasted and find their way into many recipes!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at french Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizuoka City has found a great way to accommodate them as a scrumptious dessert!

Green unripe peaches tart!

Toru cook the small green peaches in compote first and places over marzipan inside a tart made of pate sucree and coats them with a thin layer of translucent jelly of his own.

The beautiful caramel ice cream and creme anglaise make for the perfect marriage!

And the Shizuoka-grown organic flowers are not only beautiful but edible!

i forgot to mention that I sampled with beauty with coffee during a short visit to talk business with Toru!

My waist line is going to scream but I don’t care!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

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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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Senju Brewery-“Kiwami” O karakuchi + 20 Honjozo

April 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

The toji/brew master in Senju Brewery, Iwata City, is the only Echigo School toji in Shizuoka Prefecture and it shows when creating limited brews!

This is a very dry sake even by Shizuoka dry standards!
Incidentally “kiwami/極” means “very good”!

At + 20 it must be a record here or very near it!

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees (low alcohol)
Bottled in March 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Fragrant, dry, oranges, banana, pineapple.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack but very fruity and easy to drink.
Warms up back of the palate in a gentle but insistent manner.
In spite of the elegant fruitiness the dryness tends to conceal the multiple facets of this sake which nonetheless appear on the tongue and palate once the dryness has receded.
Oranges, nuts, chestnuts, hints of coffee beans.
Lingers on only for a while.
Marries beautifully with any dish or food without interfering with the latter, almost taking a back seat.

Overall: An intriguing and very dry but still gentle sake.
Its multiple facets are difficult to catch, which entices you to the next sip and glass.
For dry sake lovers, be they ladies or gentlemen!
In spite of its dryness it is very elegant and soft as the alcohol level is somewhat low by Shizuoka standards.
Makes for a mysterious love affair with dark chocolate!
I personally think you could eminently enjoy it on its own at any temperature or with any food, be it a vegetable appetizer, a meat stew or a dessert.
A sure value!

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