Category Archives: Japan

Buckwheat, 美食, 蕎麦, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Soba

Japanese Gastronomy: Soba-The Basic Recipe (Buckwheat Noodles)

March 16, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

soba-saru

I’ve been asked for some time how to make your own soba/buckwheat noodles at home.
It is not that difficult, although you might need some particular tools.
Here is a simple recipe from which you can freely improvise.

INGREDIENTS:
Enough for 5 people
Buckwheat Flour/Soba-ko: 400g
Wheat flour (normal): 100g
Cold water: 250g
Some additional buckwheat flour for folding

TOOLS:
Large pan
Wooden rolling pin
Large Chinese/Japanese-style chopping knife
Wooden working surface/board
Board for guiding knife

RECIPE:

First step:
soba_1
Pour buckwheat flour and Wheat flour into a large basin/pan and mix well.
Pour in one third of the water slowly in a thin flow. Mix with tip of fingers.

Step 2:
soba_2
Break eventual hard lumps between fingers.

Step 3:
soba_3
Repeat step 1 twice again until you obtain a fine mixture.
Work as fast as possible.

Step 4:
soba_4
Once satisfied with the uniformity of the mixture, press hard with your knuckles.

Step 5:
soba_5
Once the flour has changed into one lump, fold and press with palm of the hand.

Step 6:
soba_6
Repeat Step 5 until lump has become shiny. Fold into a ball.

Step 7:
soba_7
Shape the lump into a pyramid.

Step 8:
soba_8
Turn pyramid onto its tip and press hard as to form a saucer.

Step 9:
soba_9
Start spreading lump with wooden roll pin. first angle by angle as to form square.

Step 10:
soba_10
Once you have spread the lump until the square has diminished to a 2 mm thickness, first sprinkle some buckwheat flour all over the surface and fold in two.

Step 11:
soba_11
Sprinkle with buckwheat flour and fold again (4 layers).

Step 12:
soba_12
Cut soba lump with the heavy chopping knife, using the wooden guide board for even cutting by shifting the guide board slightly after each cut.

Step 13:
soba_13
Bring a large large pan of water to boil, drop noodles into water separating them between your fingers as they fall out. Boil for 2~3 minutes stirring with long chopsticks.

Step 14:
soba_14
Take noodles out of pan (the soba tsuyu/soba soup can be used hot later) with a sieve and coll down under running cold water. Drain.

Step 15:
soba_15
Serve onto plate with or without dry seaweed, wasabi, soba soup or whatever you feel like.
You could also make maki with the same soba.
Variations are many!

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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

玉子, 美食, Eggs, 野菜, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Organic Rape Flowers and Egg in Meurette style at Pissenlit-Shizuoka City!

March 16, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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.

Last Saturday since I needed to talk with Chef Touru Arima/有馬亨さん at pissenlit in Shizuoka City, I took the opportunity to eat a late lunch there.
In fact I was too late for the specials of the day which all gone by then…

Side view!

But I had noticed some beautiful rape flowers resting inside a bowl in the kitchen when I walked past the large glass windows which allow a full sight of the chef’s lair!
I asked if an “appetizer” could be done with them…
Right-O! was the reply…

A “riding” view!

The rape flowers were organic from Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City.
Rape flowers, na no Hana/菜の花, also go by the name of Broccolini and Tenderstem Broccoli.
Actually I wonder if i should call them rape flowers at all also they are also of the Brassica Family!
Chef Arima simply gently boiled them, then fried with a minimum of seasoning.
He placed an enormous poached on top with a generous portion of wine sauce according to my homeland, Bourgogne, recipe for oeufs en meurette!
The egg comes from Mr. Hotta farm in Okabe, Fujieda City and are branded under the name of “Yuseiran/有精卵!

This is what happens when you cut across the egg, releasing a delicious golden flow over your dish!

This promises to be the best appetizer of the year!

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)
E-Mail: pissenlit2008@ybb.ne.jp
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

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美食, 饂飩, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Udon

Japanese Gastronomy: Udon-The Basic Recipe

March 15, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Udon/饂飩/うどん, although not suitable for wheat allergics, can be easily turned vegetarian or vegan, depending on the soup and seasonings/accompaniments.
It is fullfilling and healthy and can be eaten hot in soup or fried, or cold, especially in salads!

INGREDIENTS (basic):

-Wheat flour: 1 kg (fine, light type)
-Salt: 40 g (can be reduced to 30 g)
-Water: 460 ml

RECIPE:

Dissolve salt in water first.
Pour flour in an all-purpose large bowl.
Pour the water onto the flour little by little.

Mix and knead little by little until all the water has been used.
At that time you may think you haven’t added enough water. Don’t worry. Just keep kneading for 10 minutes. it will eventually become smooth.

The following is interesting. In restaurants it is done with a special wooden lever with the chef standing on one end!
Wrap the dough in a cellophane paper and press the whole (wash your feet!) with the whole foot until the dough has spread somewhat flat. Take the dough out of the cellophane paper, shape it into a ball, wrap it again and press again with your foot.
Do that for 15 minutes.
Do not skip that step!
Ask hubby or (big) kids to help if necessary!

Shape the dough in a ball, wrap it in cellophane paper and leave it to rest for a while.

Sprinkle flour on a working table.
Roll the dough out into a 3 mm thick sheet.

Sprinkle flour on the dough sheet surface, fold the dough as shown on pic above and cut every 3 mm to obtain square section noodles/udon.

Shake and separate the udon and gather them as in picture above.
They are ready!

Throw the udon in water heated just before boiling point. Cook (make sure the water does not boil) for 6 minutes.
You can use the udon just after after but it is better to go through the next step:

Drop the udon into a strainer and wash them quickly under cold clear water. They will look far more appetizing this way and easy to conserve until you drop them into soup, fry them or dress them into a salad!

As for the soup, there are many ways to make it, whereas you are vegan, vegetarian or omnivore. If you use dashi, use konbu/seaweed dashi if you are not an omnivore. One can add soy sauce, mirin/sweet sake and sugar.
Serve the udon as they are or with chopped leeks and aburaage tofu and so forth!

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

Vegan Life & Gastronomy in Japan (& Shizuoka)

March 15, 2012 dragonlife 5 Comments

Vegan Fried Avocado

I have always been intrigued by the priorities and needs of my vegan and vegetarian friends. I’m an incorrigible omnivore and will ever be, but I can appreciate other gastronomies, be they even based on vegetables only.
I also hold a deep interest in anything organic, although I don’t make it a tenet of my everyday life.
As a general rule I strive for balance.
Vegans and vegetarians have their reasons to be so, and that is their private concern. Full stop.
On the other hand, I cannot be forced into changing my ways. I did recently have to fend a concerted hate mail assault by a group of slightly misled vegans following an article of mine, but that is not going to stop me from trying to help my friends in this country.

Many vegans and vegetarians harbour doubts as to whether visit Japan, or Shizuoka for that matter.
They should not be wary of the life here. I dare say that it is almost the ideal country for them to live!
Shizuokaisalso a paradise for organic vegetables. I know of one extraordinary farmer who grows more than 190 varieties on 3 ha in Fujinomiya City!
Alright, vegans and vegetarians certainly need to be prepared!

Japanese Vegan Dashi

The very first query I have to field is:
-“But they use dashi everywhere!”
The Japanese certainly do, but there two basic kinds of dashi/Japanese soupstocks: one made with dry bonito shavings and the other made with konbu/seaweed. Check Vegan Dashi Recipe.

Now miso is also vegan, so you can imagine all the soup recipes you can concoct! Just Have a look at Vegan Recipes and you will discover what I’m suggesting!

-“Alright! Now, I have my soup to keep me hot in winter. But I also fancy a drink with my food. Now, what would you recommend?”
Well there is a atriaght easy answer: Japanese Sake!
To cut a long story short, do read what I wrote about the ultimate vegan drink!
Let just me say that true high quality (Shizuoka is the best! Lucky, aren’t I?) is made with pure water, rice, and yeast. That is all! Sometimes lactic acid is used, but it is of vegetal origin.
Incidentally, high quality shochu is also vegan!

Vegan sashimi at Yasaitei, Japan.

Now, that we have covered this important subject, shall we go to our main concern, namely vegetables?
You will be, I’m ready to bet about it, really flabbergasted by the variety of vegetables available in this country and especially Shizuoka, a famed area for organic vegetable cultivation.
The Japanese are even cultivating vegetables that have been forgotten elsewhere!
Check the following:
Vegetables Facts & Tips.
For Vegans and Vegetarians: Forgotten Vegetables.

tomii-veg31

Mountain vegetables at Tomii, Shzuoka City.

Have you heard of the Japanese mountain vegetables/Sansai/山菜?
It is just mind-boggling to discover them all!
Check: Japanese Mountain Vegetables!

Do not forget that tea and soba can be vegan! How about a combination of tea and soba for a quick lunch?

CHAZUKE-1

Chazuke

And how about Somen, Chazuke, and Tofu?

zarudofu

“Zarudofu”

Learn how to make your own Tofu!

tofu-kinds-5

“Tofu Doughnuts” at Shizutetsu Supermarket in Shizuoka City

Ever heard of Tofu Donuts?
Why don’t you try your hand after reading that easy Vegan Tofu Donut Recipe?

Vegan sushi plate at Sushi Ko, Shizuoka City.

-“I want to eat sushi, but how can I get vegan sushi in Japan?”
That should not be a problem.
First why don’t you have a look at the following:
–Vegan & Vegetarian Sushi.
–Vegan Sushi Recipe Suggestions.

Just walk around and try to find a friendly Sushi Restaurant along with some friends first and gently ask for vegetable sushi (without the bonito shavings or mayonnaise!). Keep going to the same place and soon or later the chef will enjoy the challenge and even propose you new creations.
Or check the Sushi Rice Basic Recipe and try making it at home!

And Wasabi is also vegan!

Mozuku seaweed served at Yasaitei, Shizuoka City.

Do not forget all the possibilities offered by seaweed, probably the most ubiquitous gastronomic ingredient in this country!
And ther are plenty of varieties: check Seaweed, the Vegetable of the Oceans!
Actually Shizuoka is not only a great producer of agar but also boasts the greatest number of edible seaweed varieties!

The all-organic vegetables lunch tray at Magokoro in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. They have a vegan version!

I’m not that keen on religion, but if your are a Buddhist, Japanese temples sometimes offer vegan/vegetarian meals! Kamakura is just but an example!

WAGASHI-1

Wagashi Tray.

-“And what for dessert?”
I knew you were going to ask that!
Have you heard of Wagashi?
Just reading about it will make you salivate!

Aright, if you need help, just drop me a line!LOL
At least I sincerely hope I have contributed to the image of Japan you wished to see!

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美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Kyoto, Tourism, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Kyoto Gastronomy: Kyoto Vegetables-Kyoyasai/京野菜

March 14, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

I have just come back from a 3-day “holiday” in Kyoto, a touristic spot famed all over the world.
Kyoto does have its own gastronomy, what with the untold number of temples of different religions and sects.
Vegetables have been the staple of the city for a long time and when they are grown in Kyoto they are simply called “Kyo-yasai” (“kyo” for “Kyoto” and “yasai” for “vegetables”).
There are officially 41 traditional varieties of them including 21 with a registered brand/controlled appelation and 43 more varieties have also been recently recognised as such.

One way to discover them if you do not have the opportunity or time to discover vegetable fields is to visit the long and narrow Nishiki/錦 covered market in Central Kyoto.

Unfortunately, in my own view, the market has turned into a crowded touristic spot with all the pitfalls bound to open under your feet.
The real Kyoto vegetables are the minority and you need to understand Japanese to discern what is real and what is “fake”. I even found anorexic wasabi imported from South Korea!
Moreover, so-called Kyo-yasai are increasingly being grown away from Kyoto, especially in Shizuoka where the single town of Iwata grows 80% of all “ebi-imo”, one of the most representative vegetables of the famed city!

But there is another way to discover those celebrated vegetables for the pleasure of vegans, vegetarians and vegans!
About lunch time or before dinner time, just walk past the restaurants lining the side and back streets!

All izakayas and restaurants proud of their vegetables will display them outside for all to see!

They make for great souvenir photographs to show back home!

For a closer view!
Do you recognize any?

Even in front of Italian restaurants!

Placed in front of the outdoors menu board…

For a more distant view to discover the small Japanese restaurant at lunch time!

In front of another busy Japanese restaurant at night!

But this was my favorite!

Lined between a small cabbage garden and a great queue of Japanese sake!

I hope this will give you another idea as to how visit Kyoto!

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

Japanese Gastronomy: Yuzu Koshio/Lime & Chilies Mix-Recipe

March 13, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yuzu Koshio or lime and Chili mix is prepared with green hot chili (as opposed to red one) and lime skin/zest.
It is quite comnon in Kyushu Island, especially in Oita Prefecture, as well as far as in Okinawa.
It is quickly becoming more and more popular all over Japan, and is even locally produced in our Prefecture, Shizuoka!
It is a very versatile condiment that can be used in all kinds of Asian cuisines by vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike!

Here is a simple recipe. Don’t forget you can replace green chilies with red chilies for two varieties!

INGREDIENTS:

-Green lime: 1 large
-Fresh green chilies: 6
-Salt: to taste

RECIPE:

-Peel the lime.
Wash the lime zests and green chilies in clean cold water.

-Chop lime zests as fine as possible.

-Cut the chilies in two, discard the seeds and chop them all as fine as possible.

-Grind lime zests and chilies with a pestle so as to obtain a paste.

-Add salt (experimentation might be needed there) and mix well.

-Add lime juice (experimentation might be needed there, too) and mix well.

-Wrap the mix in cellophane paper and store in a tupperware box, or pour it inside a small bottle. Keep it in the fridge away from the light.
Consume as soon as possible!

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美食, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, 寿司

Japanese Gastronomy: Steamed Sushi-Recipe

March 12, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

A foodie friend of mine, was just mentioning she could not wait to come to Japan to eat sushi, as it was just frustrating and terribly expensive in her own country.
Well, why not making it yourself, then?
“It’s too difficult and one cannot get the ingredients!”
Really? There must be enough stores all over the world by now which sell the basics. So why don’t you try this simple recipe for a start!

Steamed sushi!

INGREDIENTS: For 3~ people

-Rice: 3 cups/600 cc

Sushi vinegar:
-Rice vinegar: 3 tablespoons
-Sugar: just under 3 tablespoons
-Salt: 1 teaspoon

-Conger eels (anago/穴子): 3 (can be bought frozen)
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/Japanese sweet sake: 2 tablespoons

-Dried shiitake mushrooms: 3~4 (medium-sized)
-Dashi/Japanese soup stock: 1 cup/200 cc/ml
-Sugar: 1 tablespoon
-Soy sauce:1 tablespoon

-Trefoil or Italian Parsley: 1 bunch

-Eggs: 5
-Sugar: 1 teaspoon
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon

-Amazu jinja/ginger marinated in sweet vinegar: as appropriate for decoration/seasoning

RECIPE:

-Wash rice and steam in the normal way

-Unless you can buy the conger eels already cooked and seasoned, cut their heads and tail, cut in half lengthwise and across again into one-bite sized pieces. Fry slowly with soy sauce and mirin/sweet sake until cooked and well-impregnated with seasoning sauce. Set apart.

-In a pan pour the dashi/Japanese soup stock. Add the dried shiitake and stew until the mushrooms have become soft. Add the sugar and soy sauce. Keep simmering until all liquid has disappeared. Let cool. Cut into fine slices. Set apart.

-Drop the trefoil in hot salted water for a few seconds. Drain well and cut into 2 cm long pieces.

-Make a thin omelette with the eggs beaten with sugar and salt. Cut into thin threads.

-Once the rice has been steamed, transfer it into a large vessel (wooden preferably, but a large ceramic dish will do). add the rice vinegar, sugar and salt evenly over it. Mix by “cutting in” the rice with a wet paddle. Add conger eels and their juices, shiitake mushrooms and mix lightly.

-Place an equal amount of the rice into bowls and steam (with a lid on) for 15 minutes over a strong fire. Open the lid, place an equal amount of egg ribbons and steam again for 1 more minute.

-Serve topped with trefoil and sweet vinegar marinated ginger!

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Japanese Gastronomy: Oysters steamed in Rice/Kaki Meshi Recipe

March 11, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Winter means a large supply of fresh oyters in Japan and many other countries! But we certainly need some fresh and simple ideas to consume them, even if raw oysters are the norm.
Oyster chowder is a traditional option for example.
Have you heard of this typical Japanese dish called “Kaki Meshi/牡蠣飯, or oysters steamed in rice?
It has the advantage of being a hearty, simple and very healthy recipe.

Here is the basic recipe. There are plenty of options open for it!

INGREDIENTS: As I often do with basic Japanese recipes, I leave it to you as for exact quantities to accomodate personal preferences and priorities.

-Oysters/蠣
-Rice/米
-Soy sauce/醤油
-Japanese sake/酒
-Dashi/Japanese soup stock/出汁
-Grated daikon/大根おろし
-Ginger/生姜/cut into very fine strips
-Lime/yuzu/柚子/grated zest
-Thin leeks/子葱/コネギ
-Trefoil/Mitsuba/三葉

RECIPE:

Oysters:
Using fresh oysters in their shells (don’t forget to take them out!LOL) is a bit too extravagant for this recipe, and hard work.
In Japan they can be found in any markets sold packed in water. This country being very strict on hygiene rules, I have no problem using them.

Rice:
Prepare the rice before opening the pack of oysters.
3 “go”, or about 540 cc (liquid measure) should be enough. Use Japanese round rice. Check if it has to be washed first or not, as both varieties are available.
(After washing the rice, if necessary) let soak the rice in clear water for 30 minutes.
Drain thoroughly.

Massaging the oysters in grated daikon:
This is a very important step which will ensure that the oysters are properly cleaned.
Prepare enough grated daikon.
If you use oysters just taken out of their shells, massaging them with salt might be better.
Wash quickly under clear clean water and drain thoroughly.

Pre-cooking the oysters:
In pan pour just enough sake and soft soy sauce variety to simmer the the oysters in for 2~3 minutes.
The more sake, the better!
Do experiment!

Sieving/filter the juices:
Take oysters out with a sieve ladle and keep aside.
Strain/filter the juices into the rice cooker.

Preparing the rice steaming liquid/soup:
Add dashi/Japanese soup stock so that the total liquid is the equivalent of the rice volume x 1.2=about 650 cc.

Steaming:
Pour the rice into the steaming liquid.
Place oysters and ginger on top.
Close rice cooker and switch on.

Wait until the rice is cooked.
DO NOT OPEN the cooker at once, but leave it closed for 10 more minutes!
Open the cooker.
Drop in 90% of the chopped thin leeks, grated yuzu zest and cut trefoil.
Mix in quickly.
Serve at once sprinkled with some more thin leeks, grated yuzu and cut trefoil.

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Gastronomic Feast: Spring Dinner by Pissenlit and Nori-Behind the Scene!

March 11, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

On Saturday March 10th a very special dinner organised by two of the best chefs in Shizuoka, Fuminori Nishitani/藤谷文紀 of Nori in Fujieda City and Tooru Arima/有馬亨 of Pissenlit in Shizuoka City was held at Pissenlit Restaurant in Shizuoka City with the help of two great farmers, Mr. Yoshinori Iguchi/井口芳則 in Fujieda City and Mr. Masaaki Hirakaki/平垣正明 in Fujinomiya City who provided the vegetables. most of them organic!

The event was called:
“春の食の都　仕事人ウイーク”スペシャルディナー
“Spring Gastronomy City (Shizuoka) Chefs Week” Special Dinner

For once I was not sitting at the table enjoying the food and drinks but in the kitchen reporting behind the scene(s)!
This report is thus a photography rendition of the event seen from the other side of the fence:

Tooru Arima/有馬亨 and Fuminori Nishitani/藤谷文紀!

The dining room staff planning in the dark…

table setting.

White Asparagus flans were ready.

What are these dried mini carrots for?

We’Il see those again later!

Seasoning the fish.

Was that enough seasoning?
Yup!

The dining room is ready to welcome the guests!

Rainbow Trout from Kunugi Fish Farm in Fujinomya City!

Getting ready for the aperitifs!

Mr. Yoshinori Iguchi/井口芳則 and Mr. Masaaki Hirakaki/平垣正明, the men who made it possible!

Searing the fish beforehand.

Only seared but already beautiful!

Home-made bread naturally!

Organic vegetables!

The aperitif was umeshu flavored with matcha by Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

Brushing pies with egg yolk.

The first (cold) hors d’oeuvre taking shape.

I had a hard time keeping my hands off these!

Adding the Genovese capellini.

The first cold hors d’oeuvres!

Searing the veal caillette in crepinette!

The second (hot) hors d’oeuvres in the starting blocks!

The white asparagus flans on parade.

Almost ready with the leek and spinach pies flavored with truffles!

The second (hot) hors d’oeuvres!

Oura burdock chips.

Oura burdock veloute.

Takinogawa burdock agnelotti being boiled!

The pasta dish taking shape!

Almost ready…

Some Pecorino cheese…

The pasta dish!

Some veal caillette in crepinette still to be prepared.

Fresh bamboo shoots from Fujieda City!

The sasa bamboo leaves to support the fish.

Shiso/perilla flowers for decoration.

The fish course taking shape.

Almost ready…

Rainbow trout on a black plate!

The same on a white plate!

Back to the veal caillettes in crepinete…

The same being seared…

into the oven…

The sauce!

finished with a torch instead of a salamander!

Onto the plates…

A meat dish so simple and so beautiful!

The last touch!

The meat course!

Organic deep red carrot gelato!

Sugar on the dried carrots…

Organic Takinogawa burdock tart!

You won’t find these outside Japan!

Such a healthy and beautiful dessert!

Time to go!

Incidentally, part of the bill was earmarked for charity for the victims of the Fukushima disaster!

PISSENLIT

NORI

426-0204 Shizuoka Ken, Fujieda Shi, Tokigaya, 864-3
Tel./Fax: 054-641-4778
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00; 18:00~22:00
On reservation only for dinner
Closed on Tuesdays and first Monday
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese, but do check it for great photographs of the house and garden!)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Austrian Gastronomy: Austrian Cake Factory in Fujieda City!

March 10, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Yesterday my good friend Pat, a cake lover if there is one, kindly drove me all the way to Fujieda City in Kariyado away from it all to pay a visit to an Austrian Chef and his wife who have been creating succulent Austrian cakes and other desserts for the past three years.

Peter Golbach who plied his trade in Wien, New York, Lyon before meeting his wife Shouko/昌子 in Wien where she worked for Sony Co., came to Fujieda City three years to establish a bakery with his wife in her large parents’ house.

It takes a little bit of driving to reach their place but it is worth the effort as you run across some beautiful land off the beaten tracks!

“Austrian Cake Factory”!

If you plan to pay them a deserved visit contact them on their mobile phone first!

The bakery may be Austrian but this is rural Japan!
Peter and his lively wife Shoko are a model of great hospitality and passion for their trade. It was a personal pleasure to meet them in person, I can assure you!

All the cakes and desserts are created in a very clean, sensible, practical and no-frill kitchen!

The ultra modern oven to bake Peter’s creations!

Peter and his wife create 7 varieties of Kugelhof and 1 Sachertorte as well as Vanille Kiffel crescent biscuits, order-made chocolate cakes and cheese cakes and other desserts.
All ingredients are natural and among them feature their own gyokuro tea macha and yuzu lime!

Some of their succulent and beautiful Kugelhof!

My favorite, the Fujieda gyokuro tea macha Kugelhof, a true Shizuoka Kugelhof!

One of Peter’s specialties: Yoghurt and Yuzu Cake!

An order-made Birthday Cake!

The four of us shared a long talk around coffee and some of their cakes reminiscing about the “joys of Europe”!
I had a hard time wrenching myself off their so hospitable home and table!

But I didn’t take my leave before savoring a magnificent yoghurt and lemon mousse!

Peter and Shoko will be selling their cakes in Aoba Park Street in Shizuoka City for 3 days in May.
I will have the pleasure to interview them again and I will announce it in good time beforehand!

Cakes can be ordered and reserved over the phone or by e-mail. Ask for directions!

Peter & Shoko Golbach at Austrian Cake Factory
426-0001, Fujieda City, Kariyado, 1092
E-mail: shoko-amano@hotmail.com
Mobile phone: 090-1629-3004
HOMEPAGE

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/03/09): Seasonal Release: Second Strike Apple Ale; Upcoming Taproom Event: Lucky 7 Stout Week

March 9, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: Second Strike Apple Ale; Upcoming Taproom Event: Lucky 7 Stout Week

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

March is the month of dynamic transition from winter to spring. As brewers, we try to embody this change with equal dynamism in the lineup of beers which we release. Today we are tapping a seasonal beer whose beauty is fully intertwined with the bounty of nature: Second Strike Apple Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:

*Second Strike Apple Ale (ABV 5.5%): The concept, and the succulent Nagano prefecture apples, for this brisk and refreshing fruited ale, brewed for a third consecutive year, were provided by our friends at the Harajuku-based company Alias. This year we have lowered the wort strength considerably (from 13.6 to 11.9 plato) and lightened the hopping (25 to 15 IBUs) in order to accentuate more fully the wonderful flavor of the Nagano apples we use. We mashed long and low to achieve a very high fermentation attenuation (88.2%) and thus a dry, cider-like character. We fermented this year with our house Scottish ale yeast. The result is our best Second Strike Apple Ale to date.

Second Strike Apple Ale is on tap at each of our Taproom pubs and is available for immediate shipment (kegs and bottles) to Japan-based Baird Beer retailers.

Upcoming Taproom Events:
*Lucky 7 Stout Week @ Nakameguro Taproom (March 17 – March 23):

Each of the past several years we have used the Irish national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), as an excuse to celebrate the quintessential Irish ale style — Stout. Stout, of course, is a wonderful pitch-black ale that enjoys many stylistic manifestations. We serve up seven different interpretations of Stout during our week-long celebration which we call Lucky 7 Stout Week. This year we will be holding Lucky 7 Stout Week at our Nakameguro Taproom, kicking off at noon on Saturday, March 17 and running through Friday, March 23.

The Stout list this year is as follows:

Mama’s Milk Stout
Chocolate Wheat Stout
Smoke & Fire Stout (brewed with smoked base malt and Habanero peppers)
Midnight Oil Export Stout
Morning Coffee Stout
Belgian Chocolate Stout
Dark Sky Imperial Stout
Our wonderful year-round Dry Irish Stout, Shimaguni Stout, will round out the Baird Stout lineup. Additionally, we plan to serve a few specialty guest Stouts from other world craft beer brewers. We also will make St. Patrick’s Day the occasion to tap our yearly ‘real ale’ tribute to Irish beer culture: Luck of the Irish Red Ale.

We will be selling special Lucky 7 Stout drink cards throughout the week and purchasing customers who complete the card during the week will be eligible for a raffle of special Baird Beer prizes. The NT kitchen will be serving seven Irish specialty dishes all week to match the stouts. Please follow the Nakameguro Taproom blog for more Lucky 7 Stout Week details as event kickoff approaches.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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Italian Gastronomy: Late Night Escapade at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

The other day, after an “official function” with chefs, producers and journalists the Missus and I still felt somewhat unsatisfied and at 10:00 p.m. were looking for a decent place before returning home.
This was a bit of a no-winner as the Missus’ radar was already fixed on Italian food and she knew too well that at that time of the night the options were pretty reduced. It was only natural (I still suspect my “worst half” to have it planned all the time!) that we ended up in Soloio, one of the very best Italian restaurants in town, and definitely the best at this time of the night!
Alright, what did we have/savor?

A plate of all vegetable antipasto!
Most of the vegetables are locally grown, naturally!

We discovered the above on the day’s specials: Scampi al Form!

Just beautiful and succulent!

Pan-fried seabream/”madai” from Suruga Bay!

Soloio is fast becoming famous for their great care when it comes to choosing and preparing vegetables!
Vegetarians are welcome there!

The skin of the fish was fired to a perfect crisp. I’m not that fond of fish skin, but I would go for that any time!

Then we noticed something interesting at the bottom of the overhead board! Mind you, you need some reading knowledge!

Wagyu Beef rump Tagliata!

Nothing less than an extravagant variety of carpaccio!

By then the escapade was turning into a full meal!
Finally it was down to a fight between having pasta or risotto. The latter won by a whisker!

Risotto made with the last Piemonte truffles in store!
We’ll have to wait until next year for another one!

We needed something sweet to finish!

Strong expresso coffee poured over vanilla ice-cream!

To be continued…

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Tokubetsu Junmai-Oni Otome Yume

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

She looks cute, doesn’t she?
Actually, you should beware…
Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City is celebrated for its brand “Oni koroshi/Kill a Goblin”, meaning that the sake is so good it would overwhelm a Japanese ogre.
Now, the brewery has come up with a dangerous “partner”, “Oni Otome”/ “The Goblin’s Sweetheart” and topped it with “Yume/Dream”! Brrrr….

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in February 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive, fruity, sweetish and flowery.
Pineapple, vanilla, oranges.
Body: Fluid, slightly liquorish
Taste: A little dry attack backed up by junmai petillant.
Fruity and complex. Elegant. Pineapple, oranges, faint dark chocolate.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate.
Ending on a softer dry note with almonds and cherries.
Turns on a lighter note with food along an accent on oranges.

Overall: A sake probably best enjoyed on its own or as an aperitif.
Light and easy to drink.
Tends to a back seat with food.
A sake which should please the younger generation and ladies in particular.

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Fukushima: The Aftermath

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 12 Comments

Next Sunday will see the anniversary of another catastrophe which happened on the 11th day of a month, namely the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami also called 東日本大震災 in Japanese which wrecked havoc on the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Fukushima prefecture.

A lot has been said, written, filmed and argued about it, but only recently the true images of this sad event are emerging.

I live in Shizuoka City in supposedly the most dangerous zone in Japan when it comes to earthquakes and tsunamis and I have been living through a few of them for the nearly 36 years I have spent in this region, arguably one of the richest in Japan.

ABOUT THE MEDIA COVERAGE

I had just arrived in New Caledonia when the earthquake struck.
The pictures and videos shown on French were that of an apocalypse and repeated at nauseam. Frankly speaking, I believed it was the end of Shizuoka until I noticed in small letters on the screen that Miyagi Prefecture had been hit instead.
We called relatives in Shizuoka who answered that although they did feel the tremors there was no danger there.
Fortunately we had come to New Caledonia through the Kanku (Osaka) Airport, so coming back to Japan was not a problem.
On the other hand the situation at Haneda and Narita Airports was hectic to say the least.
As soon as we arrived some expats asked me why I came back… “Sorry, mate, but this is my home!”…
Naturally the media, Japanese and foreign, were in a frenzy with contradicting, when not outrageously inept reports.
I lost most of my respect and trust for the TV media in particular when I saw Alain de Calvron, a “senior and most respected” reporter for TV Channel France 2 reporting “live” on Fukushima from Osaka (750 km away!) from second or third hand news…!
The media had a scoop and they were going to make the most of it…

THE EMBASSIES REACTION

Of course I found my mail box bombarded with all kinds of messages…
The French Embassy was urging me no less than to evecuate Shizuoka Prefecture (450 km away from Fukushima…) and possibly either momentarily move west or even back home. I was informed that some plane seats were being readied (at a price…) by the French Embassy in case I wished to go back home. I found later that the 900 French nationals who left were for the most related to the staff of the French Embassy…
On the other hand, we were ceaselessly told that volunteers at the Embassy were working like heroes to ensure the safety of their compatriots and their families…
Later when things calmed down and people started realizing that all was not as relatively bad as some people would make us believe, the French Embassador announced officially on TV, Internet media and in personal messages that he and the Embassy should not be held responsible for the panic shown by many French nationals as they had only advised their compatriots to take precautions…
I will not say anythiong about the other Embassies here, or I would have to write a book!

THE PEOPLE OF TOHOKU

Tohoku people are hardy, and most probably the hardiest people in the Japan Archipelago, and their sheer tenacity, courage, resilience and toughness saved the day for the Japanese Government which is still dragging its feet…
I saw more people crying visiting the region than tears on the Tohoku citizens7 faces.
Had it been Tokyo with its large expat community and commuters it would been hell on earth…
We tend to forget what happened during the Great Kansai Earthquake in Kobe when people were seen setting fire to their houses to claim insurance money… Tohoku people are Japanese, but they are also an example for the whole of their country who should take heed in these days of easy life…
As I said the Government was and still is found wanting, but a lot of help came from citizens, Japanese and foreign alike, people who understood the pressing needs of struck fellow humans. I know many Pakistani and Indian and other Asian citizens from near and who immediately travelled by their own means to Fukushima and other struck areas to bring and cook food for free. Dominique Corby, the owner of Michelin-starred 6eme Sens Restaurant in Tokyo summoned help from his fellow chefs and also organised much-needed food on site. I had the occasion to talk to him later and he told me he couldn’t stop crying… he is presently organising an enormous Charity Dinner in Tokyo this month.

My good friend Pat at Think Twice is adding the following comment which I find poignantly to the poiint!
-The hardships of the people of Tohoku continue. Many thousands will probably never be able to return to their homes, and so many families have lost loved ones. The unimaginable sorrow experienced by so many people will be with them all their lives. The tireless work of the local people including city officials, medical staff, the police and firefighters, and even the SDF, continues despite the infighting and inaction of the national government. And there have been so many volunteers from all around the country trying to help in their own way. Help is still needed. Some towns were so devastated that they were faced with the equivalent of 20 years of garbage generated in one hour.
The situation in Tohoku remains bleak, but we can often see the children of Tohoku on TV programs, and there appears to be a sense of pride, a sense of strength in the new generation, many children seem mature beyond their years. It will take one or two generations before Tohoku is restored, but its future is in good hands

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS

Unfortunately there is not much I can say about that!
Kan (“No, he can’t!), the Prime Minister at the time (who was only too happy to pass the hand later), completely panicked to the point of telling all that his studies at University had not trained him to deal with such an occurence!
He left all comments, answers and actions to his subordinates with the express orders not to panic anyone by telling the truth… You should read what some well-informed magazines are at last uncovering about the guilty reaction of the government!
And during that time mayors and public servants who had lost families, friends and colleagues in the struck areas were trying hard to bring solace to their citizens…

TEPCO/TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

A lot has been said about the sheer criminality of this Government-subsidized and protected private company.
A sole example should convince one and all that the people in charge of such a company should be jailed for life:
The wall surrounding/protecting the Fukushima Nuclear Plants was erected 5 meters lower than contracted to save money!

NUCLEAR RADIOACTIVITY

Of course (again), many foreign governments and “NPO’s” were quick to seize the opportunity in their endeavors to cease all producing public electricity with nuclear energy. I will not discuss whether nuclear energy is needed or not and will not answer comments pertaining to it. On the other hand, I would like to point out a few things to set the record straight:
-Since the advent of Chernobyl (and Three Mile Island) the Japanese Government had set the limit for acceptable radioactivity to 500 becquerels.
-European countries were adopting a higher limit of 1,800 becquerels until Fukushima when they hurriedly lowered their numbers to conform with the Japanese standards…
-The Japanese Government will set the limit to 100 becquerels for food this month. What is going to happen if the Japanese Customs decide to check all imported food?…
-Where does Germany buys its own electricity from?
-The Japanese have started drilling methane hydrate off their shores for a promising new source of energy while closing all nuclear plants. Unfortunately, there are such exploitable deposits only in Japan, Siberia, Canada and Gabon, and Japan is the only country capable of exploiting it so far…

HERE IN SHIZUOKA

As I said above Shizuoka Prefecture is considered the most earthquake and tsunami prone region in Japan and the only equipped with an official early-warning and research seismic center.
Shimada City and the Shizuoka Prefecture Government were the first this month to volunteer to burn debris from the affected areas in Tohoku first as a test case. If this proves to be a safe endeavor, it will continue on an accelerated basis.

THE GOOD NEWS: YES!

Cruise finds Fukushima pollution: Good News-Sea radiation levels near Fukushima are not harmful, by Jonathan Amos of the BBC!

Just found this article written by Jonathan Amos for the BBC

Marine organisms were collected for evaluation

Radioactive elements from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant have been detected in seawater and marine organisms up to 600km from Japan.

But the scientists who made the discovery stress the natural radioactivity of seawater dwarfs anything seen in their samples.

The results come from a research cruise in June last year led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

The initial findings were presented to the biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting.

“Just because we can measure radioactivity doesn’t mean it’s harmful,” WHOI’s Ken Buesseler told the gathering in Salt Lake City.

“There’s a pretty good news story in here – that the levels [of radioactivity] offshore are not of significance to human health in terms of exposure, or even if you were to eat the seafood offshore,” he added.

CONTINUE HERE>>>
—————————————————————————————————————-
This is unfortunately a very short commentary on this event concerning all, but I sincerely hope it has brought a few needed precisions and contributed to the truth.

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Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/12): Salmon and Smileys Bento!

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 10 Comments

I try to come up with a name for each bento the Missus concocts for me for the sake of variety.
I had a hard time finding one today! Well, the salmon is obvious and the smileys are to be found with the tamagoyaki!

This bento was made with whatever was found in the fridge and even includes some leftovers from the previous bento!
After having steamed the rice, filled the main box with it and sprinkled it with chopped red pickled cucumber, the Missus fried some slices of salmon and topped them with tartare sauce at the last moment before placing them on top of the rice.
She fried some boiled green cauliflower for yesterday’s bento for more colors and balance and put the finishing touch with some sliced black olive.

Can you see the smileys?
Well, two of them have slanted eyes while the third one is blowing me a kiss!

The Missus had prepared a batch of “kinpira” vegetables with hijiki/sweet seaweed, burdock root, carrot and green/red peppers and filled one end of the side box with it.

The smileys were made of tamagoyaki with apparent whites and filled with boiled black beans.
The Missus placed them on a bed of ice-plant with plum tomatoes and boiled peas in their pods.

Very colorful again, Spring is around the corner! Solid and yummy!

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