Category Archives: Japanese Gastronomy

笑い, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Humor, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism

Weird Japan (11): Acid Milk!

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A few years ago we used to see those big ads in Japan for “Homo Milk” standing for “Homogeneous Milk”. That is, until someone pointed out this might mislead some people into the wrong conclusions…

I found this truck in front of a kindergarten this morning on the way to my classroom.
After some investigation I found out (with the help of my Japanese student), that yoghurt is also called fermented milk in Japanese!
Acid Milk simply stands for Yoghurt!
Even so, it might be a good idea (but I suppose it is too late!) to think of a change of name, unless some people (again!) think of an even worse possibility! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

美食, Eel, 観光, 魚, 鰻, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Tourism

Eel Restaurant “Atsumi” in Hamamatsu City!

2 Comments

Shiroyaki Unagi

Service: traditional and friendly
Facilities: old-fashioned but clean
Prices: Slightly expensive (“real” eels are expensive anywhere in Japan!)
Strong points: True traditional Japanese eel restaurant.

Hamamatsu City is famous all over Japan for some of its large companies (Yamaha, Kawai, etc) but it also known all over the country for one of its gastronomic specialties, eel, or unagi/鰻!
Eels have been a favorite food in that City for untold ages to the point that they have developed different competing “schools” as pertains to its preparation!

One of the most celebrated restaurants is Atsumi in Naka Ku, the downtown area.
Even in freezing weather customers form a queue a long time before they open for lunch!

It was first opened in 1907!
The English and Japanese noren/entrance curtain proves it is also popular with expats!

Be it downstairs or upstairs, it looks venerable indeed!

Only the signs are modern!

Very traditional surroundings. Old fashioned but clean, the more for it that the establishment is entirely non-smoking!

These critters will end up in our plates and bowls!

The Missus ordered “Kabayaki/蒲焼 style” set. The eels are dipped into “tare/sauce” while being grilled over charcoal.
The tare makes the difference, and it is a good indication of the proficiency of the chef!

The Missus ordered it with some tare on the rice, too.

I ordered the “shiroyaki/白焼き lunch set”.
Shiro stands for white, and yaki for grilled.
Shiroyaki means that no tare was applied on the eel while being grilled.

But I ordered it on top of rice seasoned with tare for perfect balance!

The great thing about shiroyaki style is that you can season each piece of eel with grated garlic, ginger, onion or wasabi before savoring it!

The liver/kimo” of the same fish is served in a clear and delicious soup!

And they always serve a Shizuoka fruit for dessert!
In this case muskmelon!

Eel Restaurant ATSUMI
430-0934 Hamamamtsu Shi, Naka Ku, Chitose Machi, 70
Opening hours: 11:30~13:40, 17:15~19:30 (could close earlier if run out of eels!)
Closed on Wednesdays (with two more holidays either on Tusdays or Thursdays. Reserve beforehand anyway!)
Reservations highly recommended
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

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

Sansai/Edible Wild Japanese Mountain Vegetables (2012 edition)

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tomii-veg31

“Sansai/Wild Mountain Plants” are around the corner so I thought it might be a good idea to draw people’s attention back to them for easier reference! They also include wild fruit that can be eaten both as vegetables and fruit with various preparations.
Some can be boiled, others fried, prepared as tempura, cooked in soup, prepared as pickles or jam, etc.

As it would become far too big (already massive, but inexhaustive) a posting if I wrote everything, please pick up one item at a time if you want more explanations and I will write an individual article for your pleasure!
But some have added some since the last time I wrote about them and I added some facts!

Here we go:
(No particular order)

ainu-negi-alium-victorialis
AINU NEGI: ALIUM VICTORIALIS
Also called: GYOUJA NINIKU/VICTORY ONION/ALPINE LEEK

High in Vitamin B1

akebi-chocolate-vine
AKEBI: CHOCOLATE VINE

High in Potassium, Vitamin B1, B2, B6, C and vegetal fibers.
Provide great stamina!

amadokoro-polygonatum-odoratum
AMADOKORO: POLYGONATUM ODORATUM

azami-thistle
AZAMI: THISTLE

fukinoto-giant-butterbur
FUKINOTO: GIANT BUTTERBUR/FLOWER CLUSTER

High in Vitamin A Beta carotene, B1, B2, b6, C, vegetal Fibers and Potassium.

hamaboufuu-glhnia-littoralis
HAMABOUFUU: GLEHNIA LITTORALIS

hangonsou-senecio-cannabifolius
HANGONSOU: SENECIO CANNABIFOLIUS

hasukappu-lonicera-caerulea
HASUKAPPU: LONICERA CAERULEA/HASCUP

hikagehego-flying-spider-monkey-tree-fern
HIKAGEHEGO: FLYING SPIDER MONKEY TREE FERN

irakusa-urtica-thunbergiana
IRAKUSA: URTICA THUNBERGIANA

itadori-japanese-knotweed
ITADORI: JAPANESE KNOTWEED

katakuri-dogtooth-violet
KATAKURI: DOGTOOTH VIOLET

Flowers are also edible.

kiboushi-plantain-lily-hosta-fortinei
KIBOUSHI: PLANTAIN LILY HOSTA FORTINEI ( a variety of Hosta Montana)

kogomi-ostrich-fern
KOGOMI: OSTRICH FERN (exists as green and red)

Great plant as it needs no special procees to erase tanginess.
High Carotenes, Vitamin C, Amino acids and vegetal fibers.

koshiabura-ascathopanax-sciadophylloides
KOSHIABURA : ASCATHOPANAX SCIADOPHYLLOIDES

kuko-chinese-wolfberry
KUKO: CHINESE WOLFBERRY

kusagi-harlequin-glory-bower-peanut-butter-shrub2
KUSAGI: HARLEQUIN GLORY BOWER PEANUT BUTTER SHRUB

matatabi-silver-vine
MATATABI: SILVER VINE

mitsuba-japanese-honeywort
MITSUBA: JAPANESE HONEYWORT

nirinsou-anemone-flaccida
NIRINSOU: ANEMONE FLACCIDA

nobiru-alium-macrostemon
NOBIRU: ALIUM MACROSTEMON

High in Vitamin C, Carotenes, Calcium, Potassium and vegetal fibers.

oyamabokuchi-synurus-pungens
OYAMABOKUCHI: SYNURUS PUNGENS

ryoubu-clrthra-barbinervis
RYOUBU: CLERTHRA BARBINERVIS

sarunashi-actinia-arguta
SARUNASHI: ACTINIA ARGUTA

seri-japanese-parsley
SERI: JAPANESE PARSLEY

suberiyu-common-purslane
SUBERIYU: COMMON PURSLANE

takenoko-bamboo-shoots
TAKENOKO: BAMBOO SHOOTS (SPROUTS)

tanpopo-dandelion
TANPOPO: DANDELION

tara-no-me-aralia-elata
TARA NO ME: ARALIA ELATA

High in Potassium, Vitamin A Beta Carotenes, B2 and vegetal fibers.

tsukushi-horsetail
TSUKUSHI: HORSETAIL

High in Potassium, Magnesium, Carotenes and Vitamin E.

tsuroganeninjin-adenophora-triphylla
TSUROGANENINJIN: ADENOPHORA TRIPHYLLA

udo-aralia-cordata
UDO: ARALIA CORDATA

High in Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin B1, C, Pantotene acid.
Helps combat human body acidity.

yamaudo
YAMAUDO: same as UDO (above)

urui-hosta-montana
URUI: HOSTA MONTANA

Can be eaten raw.
Great in salads. Have become a common vegetable in Japan.

warabi-pteridium-aquilinum
WARABI: PTERIDIUM AQUILINUM/BRACKEN

High Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamin B2, C, E and vegetal fibers.

yamabudo-crimson-glory-vine
YAMABUDO: CRIMSON GLORY VINE

yamawasabi-wild-horseradish
YAMAWASABI: WILD HORSERADISH

zenmai-osmunda-japonica
ZENMAI: OSMUNDA JAPONICA/ROYAL FERN

High in Potassium, Vitamin A Beta Carotenes, B2, B6, C and vegetal fibers.


FUKI:JAPANESE BUTTERBUR/GIANT BUTTERBUR

High in Potassium, Calcium, Vitamin B2 and vegetal fibers.

—————————
Still have to find the English names for the following ones!

aiko
AIKO

akamizu
AKAMIZU/ELATOSTEMA UMBELLATUM var. NAJUS

Found the name!

aomizu
AOMIZU

inudouna
INUDOUNA

shidoke
SHIDOKE

ITADORI


HONNA/Also called SUPPON


YOMOGI/MUGWORT

Not to be confused with absinthe!


NOKANZOU


YUKINOSHITA/BEEFSTEAK GERANIUM

Found the name!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

美食, Edible bugs, Edible Insects, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Insects & Bugs Gastronomy in Japan: Not for the Squeamish!

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From bottom cntre clockwise:
Inago/locusts/いなご, Hachi no ko/bee larvae/蜂の子, Kaiko/Silk worms/蚕のさなぎ, Saza Mushi/Trichoptera/ザザ虫

All those interviews, reports and articles on vegetables farmers and their main enemies, namely insects, have reminded me of an article I ought to re-publish for my new friends!
These little critters have been eaten since time immemorial for their high content in animal proteins.
They definitely are an acquired taste, but escargots (snails), ecrevisses (crayfish) and cuisses de grenouille (froglegs) also are.
Don’t ask me if I like them or not, I’m just writing about them!

Inago/locusts/いなご

Locusts are generally eaten dry-fried, stir-fried, fried with soy sauce. mirin and sake, or

as tempura after having boiled them!
Pick your choice!

Kaiko/Silk worms/蚕

Like locusts, silk worms can be eaten after having stewed them in soy sauce, mirin, sake and spices.

They are even found as sushi!

They are popular just dry-fried, making for a crsipy snack!
It is said that a single silk worm has the protein equivalent of three chicken egg yolks!

Hachi no ko/bee larvae/蜂の子

Bees or more aptly honey bee larvae have been eaten all over the world since men (animals) prowled our planet.
They are of course sweet and healthy (yes!), so it is only a matter of finding a way to make them look appetizing.
They are very popular deep-fried (see picture above) in Japan,

where they are also stewed with soy sauce, mirin, Japanese sake and of course, honey!

Saza Mushi/Trichoptera/ザザ虫

Now, these are real buggers/critters (how about feeding them to spammers? LOL)!
The plate above features: カワゲラ/kawagera, トビゲラ/tobigera and ヘビトンボ/hebitonbo. Could not find their names in English!

They have been “popular” in Japan for a long time. Most are caught near rivers in clean areas (!).
They are cooked/stewed in mirin, Japanese sake and soy sauce for a long time, I cantell you!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japanese crabs, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/10): Chirashizushi & Omelet Bento!

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For once the Missus this morning combined Eastern and Western gastronomies in my bento!
Chirashizushi is probably the most popular form of sushi when it comes to bento in Japan, while omelets as their name indicates apparently originated in France (my home country)!

The ingredients found in the sushi box are basically the same inside and on top of the rice.
The Missus having prepared and let cool down the sushi rice mixed it with boiled shrimps, cheese, cut black olives, red sweet pimento slices and sliced Golden Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes.
She added walnut and red cabbage sprouts for the last touch.

For the side dish she prepared a plain omelet she seasoned with vegetable and tomato sauce on a bed of baby leaves and sprouts.
For added color and taste she added lemon and a red Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomato.

Looks simple enough, but very tasty, healthy and appetizing!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bento, 美食, 茶, 観光, 農業, Festivals, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Festivals, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism, 弁当

Japanese Traditional Local Festivals: 5th Annual Miwa Cherry Blossoms Festival in Shizuoka City!

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Recent times have seen a revival of local festivals in Japan, especially in the rural areas, probably because people wanted to forget the sluggish economy and come back to more basic social gatherings after long years spent away in dehumanizing cities.
My good friend Neil had mentioned that his neighborhood in Miwa was organizing their 5th Annual Sakura Festival yesterday so I rode my bicycle for a good 45 minutes from home till the other side of the Abe River in Shizuoka City!

I left my bicycle at Neil’s place and walked till the Miwa Primary School where I found this banner announcing the Cherry Blossoms Festival!

For once that the weather was fine I walked on the causeway along the Abe River.

It is still winter and the water was pretty dry in all senses of the word!

I finally espied the site!

The Festival has been scheduled on the 3rd Sunday of February whatever the conditions or weather.
Unfortunately the last three weeks have witnessed unseasonal cold and the early-blooming Kawazu Cherry Trees had not blossomed yet!

For a closer view!

On the other hand the Japanese plum trees were still very much in flowers!

And the kumquats were everywhere for a picking!

We are full in leek season! Great to fight colds!

Plenty of beautiful colors to be found in private gardens!

But someone had made sure we had some cherry blossoms on site!

Neil had been designated as the sound engineer of the event!

You can’t have a festival in Japan without drums!

I wonder what those fox masks are for!

Robust ladies!

Oranges and tea on sale!
Notice the “dustbins”!

The site was small but certainly crowded!

Local bonsai on sale!

Local farmers selling their produce!

What are they preparing here?

Tonjiru soup for free!
Very thoughtful of the organizers!

Ashikubo Green Tea!

Sweet dango/balls!

Boxed lunches and wagashi cakes!

Chirashizushi bento!
All bentos are really home-made before put on sale!

Okonomiyaki!

Grilled sausages!

Deep-fried sweetmeat buns!

Yakisoba!

Candy Floss!

Grilled mochi cakes!

Local Benihoppe strawberries!

Home-made umeboshi!

They even had a small flea market!

Oden!

Dorayaki!

Very traditional dance!

Another very traditional dance!

And very traditional drinking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 茶, 観光, 農業, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Green Tea, Ice Cream, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tea, Tourism

Green Tea Cakes & Ice Creams at Nanaya by Shizuoka Macha Sweets Factory!

13 Comments

Macha Level 8 Ice cream!

Nanaya Shizuoka Macha Sweets Factory is produced by Marushichi Tea Factory in Fujieda City.
They own two shops, one in Fujieda City and the other in Shizuoka City!
This report is about the Shizuoka Shop!

You can’t miss it on Aoba Kouen Street! It’s all green (Tea green of course!)!

“Marushichi/Round Seven/丸七”. The number “7” is considered as the luckiest number in Japan, and Maru stands for the circle found around the number!
The number “7” can also be pronounced “nana”, hence the name of the shops!

The green color of macha powder must be one of the most beautiful green hues in this world!

All the macha powder used in their cakes and ice creams is exclusively made from green tea grown in Okabe Cho, Fujieda City!

They even offer choux a la creme/”chou ceam” with macha custard inside!

A superbly clean shop!

They also offer all kinds of healthy products by Ichinose!

Don’t forget to take a good look at their commercial film on the TV screen! You’ll learn a lot!

What did I tell you?

They also sell beautiful earthenware tea cups!

Have a good look at their healthy cakes!

But naturally I was mainly attracted by the ice creams which can be savored on site!

Ice cream must be the most forgivable sin in the whole world!

The macha ice creams from level 1 to 8, according to their content in pure macha powder!

You are welcome to enjoy your ice cream at ease on a chair on site! You are even provided with wet paper napkins!

And here was my choice: Macha Cone Level 8, of course!
That deep green color is going to make a lot of friends envious! LOL

NANAYA Shizuoka Shop
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae Cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-7783
Opening hours: 11:00~19:00
Closed on Wednesdays 8except on national Holidays)

NANAYA Fujieda Shop
Fujieda City, Naisetosaka Shimo, 141-1
Tel.: 054-646-7783
Opening hours: 10:00~18:00
Closed on Wednesdays (except on National Holidays)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese but look at the pictures!)
STAFF’S BLOG (Japanese, too, but look at the pictures!)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bento, 美食, Diet, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/09): Diet Bento!

8 Comments

On the 1st of March I will undergo my annual check up and the Missus wants me (and later too!) to be in proper health when the doctor will play with figures found in my body and blood!
You can expect the same until then, and maybe unfortunately for me, beyond!

She steamed plain rice and mix it later with chopped parsley for color and ingredient balance. She filled about half of the box with it.
She then flattened and fried chicken sasami/breast filets with cheese inside in olive oil and seasoned them with tomato sauce for a beautiful red color. It might be lighter in calories than usual but the design is as important as ever!
She added the final touch with sliced black olives and salad beans.

As for vegetables, she placed boiled broccoli seasoned with crushed peanuts and boiled carrot (she indulged in some typical bento design there!) on a bed of finely chopped vegetables (not visible on the pictures).

Very simple indeed, but beautiful and very tasty!
But I ought to be careful about such comments lest the Missus further diminish the contents!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

美食, 酒, 陶器, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Pottery, sake, Tourism

Gastronome Dragons (3): Sires Robert and John

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Komagata Shinto Shrine, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, japan!

Dragons are not evil creatures.

You may find some specimens akin to the fallen angels exposed in civilizations which misunderstood their true character and talents, but true dragons have the happiness of mankind in their hearts and ceaselessly contribute to its nurturing whenever they can or are allowed to as shown in this story.

As far as their gender is concerned some are attracted by their opposites while others feel content among similar denizens of their worlds. But plenty are satisfied enough with their own lot and do not feel the obligation to entertain intimate relations with their own kin.

Dragons by essence are long lived creatures with an unequalled wealth of knowledge and experience, which explains why they are so keen on their hedonisitic pleasures.
A true dragon will not bother amass and sleep over riches like some of their poor misled copies in faraway lands.
It, she or he will be constantly in search of new pleasures to share with like-minded souls for the betterment of this sometimes sad World of our own.

This particular dragon is taking this opportunity, while writing in this grimoire in a lair hidden under an extinct volcano in an island famed for its morning sun, to introduce other dragons working hard for the expansion of gastronomic pleasure thanks to the humans who finally started to grasp the art of communicating through the magic of instant scrolls!

SIRE ROBERT

Sire Robert’s Fine Japanese Pottery Shop in Kyoto!

Sire Robert whose ancestors flew from a country ravaged by conflicts to the Land of Promise swam across the oceans to establish himself in this island where he first resided in a lair hidden at the foot of an extinct volcano but established a shoppe to sell and make known the insular great pottery and the artists creating it.
To improve on an already great fame he recently moved to the most venerated city in this island for the pleasure of his customers be they from this island or the whole world thanks to the use of incomparable scroll sending magic!
Do visit his magic grimoire and shoppe where you will find every pottery to grace your home and gastronomic table!

SIRE JOHN

The Magician himself!

Sire John was born in the Land of Promise and flew over the oceans undetected to this island revered for its rising sun quite some time ago.
After observing the denizens of this country he felt enamored with their national drink: Sake (All self-respecting dragons indulge themselves in fine nectars!)!
He then embarked on a mission to make this incredible nectar known to the whole World.. Not does he help people to acquire and savor the beautiful spirit but also offers tours, free magic scrolls, and incredible information on its secrets!
An unassuming Dragon, he has nonetheless achived world fame and happily lives under the alias of World sake Master!
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RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/08): Kinoko Omu Raisu/Mushrooms Omelet Rice Bento!

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For once being very busy today I couldn’t look at the Missus preparing my bento and I had to wait until she brought it to my office before I could discover it!
She made a point to stand by while I opened the box so that she could explain the contents.
How kind of her!

She made “omu raisu/omelette rice”!
Well, we cannot see what is inside the omelet wrap in the above picture but I know that the Missus steamed the rice separately and that she fried the various mushrooms before mixing them with rice and seasoning!
After that, she made an omelette and filled it with mixed rice before turning it over into the bento box!
She then added Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes, parsley. sliced black olives and boiled Brussels sprouts (with some mayonnaise for the latter) for decoration and balance!

You can make such a side salad box only in Shizuoka Prefecture!

The walnut is not local but the lemon, baby leaves, mini celery and lettuce are.
But you can find fresh sakuraebi/Cherry Shrimps only in Shizuoka Prefecture (that is, unless you have a fat wallet in spite of their relatively low price here!). The Missus deep-fried them before sprinkling them over the salad.

A very well-balanced, nourishing and beautiful bento again!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/02/13): A Valentine’s Day Gift: Belgian Chocolate Stout

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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A Valentine’s Day Gift: Belgian Chocolate Stout

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

There are many ways in which to show that special someone just how much you care. The gift of chocolate or flowers is a traditional one. As brewers and beer enthusiasts, though, we prefer a more personal expression: the gift of beer.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Belgian Chocolate Stout (ABV 8%):

This lovingly crafted stout derives its name and character from two sources: mashing with generous portions of chocolate malt (both barley and wheat) and fermentation with our Belgian yeast strain. The flavor does not deceive; it is rich and chocolaty, complex and spicy.

Belgian Chocolate Stout is now on tap at all of our Taproom pubs, waiting to be enjoyed by you and that special someone. And if it doesn’t manage to do the trick, I think we also have some real Belgian chocolate on the menu.

In addition to draught, bottle versions also are available for purchase from the brewery.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Shiboritate Junmai Genshu

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Negami Brewery has the particularity to be situated at a height of 550 meters on the slopes of Mount Fuji!
This means the water used for brewing their sake gushes out of the very mountain!

I love the traditional Japanese design!
The crane and turtle/tortoise in Japan are symbols of good luck!

Rice milled down to 55% (extravagant!)
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Strong, sweetish and fruity. Elegant. Oranges and nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with soft junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Oranges tend to dominate with some nuts and dark cherries.
Disappears fairly quickly on a drier note.
Varies little with food, although make a short turn to sweetness but will turn back again very swiftly to a drier note once away from food backed up with more oranges and dark cherries.

Overall: A very pleasant sake, if a bit strong, to enjoy on its own or with any food.
Despite its extravagant millage (55% for a junmai!) it is a sake most suited for food thanks to its high alcohol contest!
A sure value at any time!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Oden Fair 2012! Sunday 12th!

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Men at work!

Sunday 12th saw a bright day with big crowds in Shizuoka City and it was quite a feat to take pictures in that bustle!

Sakura ebi/Cherry shrimps Yakisoba!

This time I started with the side streets of Koya Machi, Gofuku Cho and Shichiken Cho before a last round in Aoba Square and Aoba Koen/Park!

Famous croquettes from Mishima City!

The oden stand of the most famous kamaboko/steamed fish paste shop in Shizuoka City!

The oden stand of Tokaiken, the largest bento shop in town!

Yuujin Izakaya Oden!

Lunch time for many families in Gofuku Cho!

A popular tebasaki/手羽先/Chicken wings stand!

Comfort food for the cold weather!

Shizuoka Young Meat producers Association oden stand!

Oden stand of Ogawa, one of the most famous oden restaurant in town!

Mirukusanbu Izakaya oden stand!

More families gathering for lunch in Shichiken Cho near the Isetan Department Store!

Akai Izakaya oden stand!

Setsuko Oden Izakaya oden stand!

The city had provided plenty of trash bins and kept cleaning up the place at all times!

Back in Aoba Koen the street was even more crowded!

Plenty of wardens to take care of the crossing traffic!

It was just impossible to take pictures inside Aoba Square behind the Shizuoka City Hall!

Some serious drinking even at lunch time!

Any place would do for eating (and drinking!)!

Even plenty of beef (and beer!) was available!

The Shizuoka specialty: Sakura Ebi Kakiage/Cherry Shrimps Tempura!

See you again there next year!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/02/10): Seasonal Release – Morning Coffee Stout; Saturday Taproom Brunch

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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Seasonal Release – Morning Coffee Stout; Saturday Taproom Brunch

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Are you a fan of rich, roasty and robust stouts? Do you love a fresh brewed morning coffee? The answer is yes for me on both counts.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Morning Coffee Stout 2011 (ABV 7.5%):

Each year at Baird Beer we combine our passion for stout with our love of coffee in the brewing of Morning Coffee Stout. This 2012 version is an export-style stout infused with freshly roasted (delivered still warm direct from the roaster of our friends at Arabica Coffee) Kilimanjaro beans. We add these beans — whole, without grinding – directly to the stout in the conditioning tank in what amounts to a cold beer toddy extraction method. The result is a perfectly balanced flavor marriage between stout beer and java beans.

Morning Coffee Stout 2012 debuts tomorrow (Saturday, February 11) at 11:00 am sharp at all of our Taproom pubs in a special Morning Coffee Stout Brunch (see menu details below). It also will be available both on draught and in bottles (630 ml) at other fine Baird Beer retailing establishments throughout Japan.

Special Taproom Event:
*Morning Coffee Stout Brunch (Saturday, Feb. 11, 11:00 am start):

All of our Taproom pubs will be opening their doors early tomorrow to host a celebratory Morning Coffee Stout brunch. The brunch menus are as follows.

(1) Numazu Fishmarket Taproom:

Bagel sandwich (ham, sausage, smoked salmon, or grilled chicken) served with potato salad (600 yen)
Bacon and eggs (cooked to order) with toast (600 yen)
Chocolate French toast (Single 400 yen; Double 600 yen)
Cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese (400 yen)
Side order of fries or onion rings (500 yen)
(2) Nakameguro Taproom:

Brunch plate — French toast, bacon and eggs, cole slaw, fresh fruit and small glass of Coffee Stout (1,300 yen)
(3) Harajuku Taproom:

Eric’s morning pancakes (500 yen)
Coffee Stout-marinated chicken karaage set (650 yen)
Coffee Stout curry rice (650 yen)
(4) Bashamichi Taproom:

Smoked salmon eggs Benedict (650 yen; set @ 1,200 yen)
Salad pizza (650 yen; set @ 1,200 yen)
Super Light Belgian Waffles (45o yen; set @ 1,000 yen)
Banana ice pudding (400 yen)
Please join us at the Taproom nearest you for a wonderful morning and early afternoon of great food, wonderful beer (including Morning Coffee Stout and Carpenter’s Mikan Ale), mellow jazz music and warm camaraderie.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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

美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Oden, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Oden Fair 2012! Saturday 11th!

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Pho soup oden by Annam Vietnamese Restaurant!

I managed to find some time today to make a quick tour of Aoba Koen in daytime and take the pulse of the Shizuoka Oden Fair 2012 on its second day!

It being a sunny Saturday and National Holiday the place was crowded in spite of the cold!

Families busy eating and drinking!

Anything’s good to attract the customers’ attention!

Oden from Otaru in Hokkaido Prefecture!

Getting ready for a long day’s work!

A popular oden stand!

Kamaboko/Steamed fish paste from Yui!

Korean oden and brochettes!

My favorite oden stand: Sabou Yamako/茶房山幸!

Oden from Yaizu City!

Shizuoka Gourmet Ekinan Sakaba!

Fujinomiya Yakisoba!

A tent crowded with revelers!

Another favorite of mine: Annam Restaurant Vietnamese oden stand!

Vietnamese oden!

Pho soup oden by Annam Vietnamese Restaurant!
Hot and piquant, perfect in that cold weather!

I’ll have a look at the side streets tomorrow!

The event is held in five different locales from the 1oth to the 12th of February in Shizuoka City:
-Aoi Square/青スクエアAoba Park/青葉公園・青葉シンボルロード
Time: 11:00~20:00

-Gofuku Cho Doori/呉服町通り/Shichiken-cho Doori/七間町通り and Koya Machi/紺屋町
Time: 11:00~17:00

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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