Category Archives: Japanese Gastronomy

Hamamatsu City, Japanese Gastronomy, sushi

Sushi Restaurant: Dinner at Suehiro Hamanako No Megumi Restaurant in Hamamatsu City!

March 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very kind
Facilities & Equipment: Old-fashioned but very clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Traditional sushi. Sake & Shochu.

Suehiro Hamamako No Megumi Sushi Restaurant is my little secret in Hamamatsu City!
Located a few minutes on foot away from Hamamatsu JR Station it comes a s a bit of a surprise even for the locals!
It is unpretentious, very reasonable by Shizuoka sushi standards, serves delicious food and in spite of the initial shyness is full of nice homey people!
It had been a very long time since I went there last, but I finally had the opportunity the other day for a quick visit!

Ask about their sake and shochu! They keep changing!
This time I had a Junmai Genshu by Hana No Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

Unfortunately the season for their specialty, torafugu/local globefish, had just ended!
But there were still some nice sashimi to be had!

Torigai/Heart Clam-Japanese Cockle and Shime saba/Pickled Mackerel!

Amaebi/Sweet Shrimps, Sayori/Japanese halfbeak and Maguro Akami/Tuna laen Part!

And then, it was the turn for some red nigiri!

Kuruma Ebi/Large Prawns!

Shake Aburi/Seared salmon!

Hamamatsu City is not only famous for eels but also for conger eels/Anago!

Shirayaki style, just grilled!

Tare-style/sauce-basted!

Provided with red rock salt for extra seasoning!

And for dessert, what did I have?

Tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet!

See you there time I visit Hamamatsu City!

SUEHIRO-HAMANAKO NO MEGUMII AJI
Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, suyama Cho, 360-6
Tel.: 053-452-6288
Business Hours: 11:30-13:30＆17:00-22:00
Closed on every Wednesday and second Tuesday
HOMEPAGE?BLOG (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Desserts, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Vegan Dessert

Vegan Japanese Cakes: Wagashi at Friand Kadoya in Shizuoka City!

March 22, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Wagashi/和菓子, or “Japanese Cakes” are a boon for people who don’t eat eggs or dairy products.
No wonder they are witnessing a boom all over the world!
And true tradtional wagashi are not only healthy and tasty but also so artistic!

now, in Shizuoka City there a splendid and very traditional cake shop called Friand Kadoya which makes both European-style and wagashi cakes!
It is a famous establishment place and their wagashi can be enjoyed at Issa Kissa in Shizuoka JR Station!
Actually the shop stand less than 10 minutes on foot from the Shizuoka JR Station South Exit!

“Friand/ふりあん” can be loosely translated as “gourmet’s pleasure”, although the French will useful it in the expression, “Je suis friand de…/I love…”. The word “friandise/sweets” is the noun for the adjective “friand”!

Mr. Eiji Asaba/浅場栄一さん is the 3rd geneartion owner/chef at Friand Kadoya.
After graduating from High School he spent 2 years learning his craft in a wagashi cake school in Tokyo for 2 years and worked for 2 and a half more years in Tokyo before working under his father’s supervision for 13 years. he has been the owner and chef for the last 7 years following the father’s departure from this world.

The wagashi cakes are separately displayed.
They are exclusively made with komeko/rice flour grown and produced in Japan. Sometimes he does have to use a little wheat flour.
All coloring used in his cakes are either of natural vegetable and fruit origins or coloring only registered and allowed by the Japanese Government.

March being a very busy season I had to content myself with a short chat with Mr. Asaba, a very affable man, and taking enough photographs to give you an indication of the true delicacies and works of art in wait for you!

All wagashi can be bought separately, in pairs or in packages of varying volume!

Traditional Sakura Mochi!

O-mochi wrapped in red shiso/perilla leaves!

Kimi Shigure!

Yuri no Ne!

Macha o-mochi filled wit sweetmeats!
A Very Shizuoka wagashi!

Haru Urara!

Haru no Yosooi!

Ryuryoku Kakou!

Haru no Ogawa!

Sanshyoku Sumire!

Kochyou!

Hanami Zakura!

Hatsu Zakura!

Miyoshino!

Na no Hana!
I’ve already had the pleasure to taste that one!

First of all expect all these cakes to be tasted and introduced in future postings! As they are seasonal, this promises to be long series!

And as soon as Mr. Asaba is not so busy I will interview him at work!

FRIAND KADOYA Western and Wagashi Cakes

Chef: Eiji Asaba/浅場栄一さん
422-8062 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Inagawa, 1-2-29
Tel.: 054-285-6860
Fax: 054-284-7037
Opening hours: 09:00~19:00
Closed on Mondays and some holidays in January and August

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

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Japanese Gastronomy, Okonomiyaki, Shizuoka

Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki Izakaya: Quick Dinner at You-To In Shizuoka City

March 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly. Great explanations and true hospitality.
Equipment & Facilities: Old-fashioned but very clean. Superb genre-separated washrooms!
Prices: Reasonable:
Strong points: Great use of local ingredients. Hiroshima-style and Kansai-style okonmiyaki. Shizuoka oden. Great local sake list. Local microbrewery craft beer on tap!

The other day a friend and I needed to eat something appropriate before visiting and interviewing a new beer brewery and bar in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City!
It had been a long time we had enjoyed some great okonomiyaki, so we knew where to go!

As far as I know, You To in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City is the only place in town serving authentic okonomiyaki, both Osaka/Kansai and Hiroshima style, all in front of you!

I just love their noren/entrance curtain!
Bear in mind this is a very popular place. Make sure to call them before to reserve your seat if available! I always gear myself before entering the place as I’m sure to meet at least one or two acquaintances there!

You To is a great place if you want to taste many a Shizuoka-Brewed sake (there is alist and a secret hoard!). But they also serve craft beer from the tap brewed by Stephan Rager in Fujinomiya City!

And it comes with explanations!
The one we had that night was A Traum(“dream” in German)!
An extremely fruity and complex limited brew!

This time we ordered a simple seafood Osaka-style okonomiyaki!

So simple, light and so tasty!
A favorite for both Japanese and expats!

Thin and juicy home-made sausages!

And hot plate-fried mushrooms before we took our leave, but be assured it is only to go back there again soon!
Okonmiyaki, the Japanese soul food!

YOU-TO/湧登
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Minami Cho, 7-5 ( 5 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station South exit)
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended!
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Meat, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Bryan Baird Newsletter (2014/02/20): Seasonal Releases: Two Winter Season Thirst Quenchers

February 20, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Releases: Two Winter Season Thirst Quenchers

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

All of the hullabaloo in the winter beer season is paid to potent lagers and warming ales. That is all well and good, but there remains a place for sprightly refreshing brews even at the height of the winter chill. We are proud to release today two such examples of thirst-quenching winter beer refreshment: Temple Garden Yuzu Wit and Winter Wit.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Temple Garden Yuzu Wit (5%):

This fruit-infused Belgian-style witbier is the happy result of an unfortunate situation: we couldn’t get our hands on enough fresh yuzu fruit to brew this year’s Temple Garden Yuzu Ale (one of the annual mainstays of our fruit beer brewing). We decided to use what little yuzu fruit we did get in such a way as to maximize its impact — as a dry-peel component in a wonderfully fruity and effervescent wheat-based witbier. And boy does the yuzu aroma shine bright! It is complemented perfectly by the subtle aromatics provided by just a pinch of sansho seed.

Temple Garden Yuzu Wit is available for immediate release in kegs ONLY.

*Winter Wit (6%):

Witbier is a Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with a high proportion of un-malted wheat from which it derives a whitish color. Typically it is a light, tart, crisp and refreshing ale of low-alcohol strength. Baird Winter Wit is a more robust cold-season take on this classic Belgian beer style.

Our grist is a blend of un-malted and malted wheat, floor-malted Pilsner and Maris Otter, and a touch of Caragold (contrbuting body and color). The hopping is light and performed with a combination of European varieties: Tradition, Hersbrucker, Styrian Golding. The magic occurs when this ingredient combination is then fermented with our Belgian yeast strain. The result is a pleasantly tart and spicy, sprightly carbonated ale with a hazy white-gold hue upon which sits a billowing head of virgin-white foam. The warmth comes in the finish, just enough to furbish without interfering with the refreshment. Winter has never tasted so glorious!

Winter Wit is available for immediate release in kegs as well as bottles (360 ml). You can enjoy both Temple Garden Yuzu Wit and Winter Wit fresh on draught at all of the Baird Taproom pubs beginning today (Thursday, February 20).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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レシピ, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Recommended Lunch Restaurants In Shizuoka Prefecture: Asian (as of February 19th, 2014)

February 19, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Bain Seo, the Vietnamese equivalent, but a lot lighter, of a Japanese okonomiyaki at Annam, Shizuoka City!

Many people only have time to visit restaurants at lunch and it is certainly not easy to find a restaurant with a better lunch with all those cheap diners around!
Here is the sixth installment of a series of reports on recommended lunch restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture which will be classified as follows:
-French
-Italian
-Western (American, European, et al)
-Japanese
-Asian
-Vegan & Vegetarian
-Ethnic
-Healthy
-For families

CHAO CHINESE DINING

Service: Kind, smiling and attentive in spite of a crowded place!
Equipment & Facilities: Very clean overall. Shared washroom with Cenove Department Store but very excellent. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Mild but very healthy All-Chinese gastronomy

CHAO CHINESE DINING

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-1-1 Cenova Department Store, 5F
Tel.: 054-266-3095
Opening hours: 11:00~21:00
Private space possible for up to 7 guests
Parties welcome
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

——————————————

NAMASTE NIPPON

Service: Very friendly, polite and smiling
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Spacious washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A great blend of Indian and Nepalese cuisines. More than sufficient drinks list. Vegetarian set or single dishes available. Very generous portions!

NAMASTE NIPPON Nepalese-Indian Restaurant
420-0845 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Oda Cho, 31-1, Ono Bldg, 1F (along the Kitakaido Street, 10 minutes walk from Cenova Department Store)
Tel. & Fax: 054-247-6775
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~22:30
Closed on Thursdays
Credit Cards OK
Paries welcome!
Take outs OK!

—————————————-

ANNAM

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb separate washrooms.
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive.
Strong points: Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine prepared and served by Vietnamese staff. Great use of local products. Vietnamese shochu!

ANNAM
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooyamachi, 6-6, Mitduhisa Building, 2F
Tel.: 054-250-2266
Fax: 054-250-2323
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30~22:30
Closed on Mondays
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

—————————————————

SHIKINJO

Service: Friendly and attentive!
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overal. Clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic Chinese gastronomy. Great dimsung/gyoza in 3 different forms!

SHIKINJO
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo Machi, 3-21-20, Kawai Bldg 1F
Tel. & fax: 054-2742727
Opening hours:
Weekdays: 11:30~13:30 & 17:30~22:00
Saturdays, Sundays & National Holidays: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays.
Parties welcome
10 minutes walk from Shin Shizuoka Station in Cenova Department Store

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Chinese Gastronomy, Chinese Restaurants, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Health, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Non-smoking restaurants, Recipes, Recommended Lunch Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Healthy Chinese Gastronomy at CHAO in Shizuoka City (Cenova Department Store)!

February 19, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Avocado and Mushrooms Tianjin omelet rice!

When it comes to reasonable, healthy food in a clean environment Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka Citycan be a blessing even if it is crowded at times.
Dragon recommended me CHAO the other day and I paid it my first visit at lunch today.
The place was actually busy but I was ushered in with a smile and attention.
When I placed my order the waitress went as far as to inquire if I had ordered too much!
So, what did I order?

A set of five dimdung/点心!

Great colors!
I checked after my meal, they do not use any monosodium glutamate (MSG) or artificial coloring or seasoning!

From another angle!
Very tasty and light!

Umami tappuri ebichiri/Sweet and sour chili shrimps with plenty of umami!

Very appetizing indeed!

The shrimps tasted fresh. Very mild for such a dish but this is Japan and especially Shizuoka where people are not too keen on hot food! Fine by me!

Avocado and mushrooms Tianjin omelet rice!

Another good point for Chao is that they do try to offer food with a little originality. Their four dishes including avocado was a revelation!

Once again so healthy and tasty!

As service, egg soup made with real chicken soup!

Another visit is definitely on the cards!

CHAO

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Cafes, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Recommended Lunch Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Healthy Gastronomy: Vegetable Sommelier Lunch at ICN cafe in Shizuoka City!

February 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Easy-going, kind and smiling
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Healthy food. Great beer list. Can be patronized as cafe, restaurant or bar.

having to eat out for lunch also means a constant search for healthy food, otherwise….
Shichiken Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, is an area where you can find a few trendy cafes/bars/restaurants serving healthy and tasty food!
The latest is ICN cafe!

It is part of a concept combining show room, shop and cafe/bar which can also be booked entirely for private vents!

You will find some interesting items and collectibles!

Very modern and slightly zany kitchen!

You can patronize it all day a cafe or bar as well!

Very reasonable and plenty of variety for lunch!

Although the pasta, pizza and locomoco look delicious, I would recommend the Vegetable Sommelier Lunch for your first visit!

This particular lunch is designed with the help of a top Shizuoka vegetable Sommelier. Ms. Tomoe Amano!

And they also provide a full description of the dishes down to vitamins and all that!

My lunch!

Now, what did we have there?

Chinese cabbage, carrot and chicken soup!

Very tasty white rice with a few grains of black rice!

Chinese cabbage and rape flowers salad rolls!

Very original kabocha marinated with Shiozuoka Oranges and rosemary!

Chinese cabbage, rice flour and soy milk gratin!

And lemon tea to wash it all down!

Expect a few more articles as I have to not only sample their pizza, pasta and locomoco, but also Baird beer (Numazu City) among the 31 beers they have on the menu!

ICN cafe
420-0035 Shizuoka City, Shichiken-Cho, 5-8, 2F
Tel.: 054-273-8178
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00 (lunch, 11:00~16:45, Dinner: 18:00~)
Closed on Sunday evening and aal Monday
300 yen cover charge from 18:00~
Cash only

FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM: hushtag: #ICNcafe
account: icncafe
Free Wi Fi service: spot-ICN

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レシピ, Barbecue, Beef, Chicken, 美食, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Pork, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

BBQ with local Chicken, Pork & Beef in Fujinomiya City! (under Mount Fuji!)

February 17, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

Yesterday was a lucky day!
I had the day entirely free but didn’t have a clue how to use iTt
Moreover the weather so good it felt like a balmy Spring day!
On a hunch I went to Shizuoka City JR Station to see where I could go.
I was looking at the station map when someone lightly tapped my shoulder.
I turned around to discover N., a very old chum of mine!
-What brings to Shizuoka Station? he asked me
-I wish I knew! And where are you going to yourself?
-Fujinomiya City! M. is having a small BBQ lunch party at his workplace and he just invited me?
-M.! (another old chum of mine!). I didn’t know he was holding a BBQ!
-Well, it was decided on a whim as he wants to celebrate his going back to New Zealand!
-Really? Could you call and see if he is ok with my joining!
……….
-He said, fine we are waiting for the both of you to join the fun!

Although it looks a bit far on a map, Fujinomiya City, especially Fujinomiya Station is not that far from Shizuoka City.
First you go to Fuji City and then change to a rain on the Minobu Line. Very simple.

Mount Fuji at Fujine Station!

If you want to take great pics of Mount Fuji this is the line to board!

A half Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya City!

Fujinomiya City is at the very foot of Mount Fuji, so people there have somewhat stopped noticing it!

Mount Fuji lost in aerial cables!

Red light Mount Fuji!

Pachinko Mount Fuji!

Our friend A., the back of A., another chum, J., a new friend, and Dino, another old pal!

A.’s workplace includes a small veranda where we can hold BBQ in the sun!

The LP gas operated BBQ gear, all imported from New Zealand!

Can be used in 4 different ways!

M. at work!

Greta chicken and pork!

Fujinomiya City is a major meat producing area and on that day all the chicken, pork and beef were local!

We had twoKiwis, one Ozzie, one Croatian, two Canucks, one Pom, two Yankees and a Frog on that day!
But we all spoke English!
And we all like our meet well cooked!

The beef was to be cooked later!

Just the minimum of greens on that day! LOL

M.’s is a great workplace where you can have a peek at Mount Fuji from all kinds of angles!

Time to grill the enormous beef steaks!

R,. M., M. the host, Dino and a Grateful Dead lover!

The beef is sizzling under the lid!

I shared my beef with N.! It was just too big!

M. and J. having a musical break!

I had an early switch from the beer to New Zealand Hawke’s Bay red wine!

R. having a peek!

Serious drinking business for R. and Dino!

Dino’s awful mixture!

Grateful Dead and R.!

We had a bit of a long way back home as some trains didn’t reach Fujinomiya City because of the recent snow storm!

When we changed trains at Fuji, I noticed the snow on the roof of the train we had just left!

Looking forward to my next trip to Fujinomiya City!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Sansai, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Wild Mountain Vegetables

Wild Mountain Vegetables (Sansai/山菜): Five Mountain Vegetables in Japanese Pepper Miso Sauce (山菜五種盛り山椒味噌和え)-Vegan!

February 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was asked by new Czech Friend IVY if I could suggestsome Japanese recipes to accommodate wild mountain vegetables especially Urui/Hasta Monta and others.
Here is a simple recipe for for (A common wild mountain vegetables in Japan (Sansai in Japanese)) including five different varieties:
–Tara no me/たらの芽/Aralia elata
–Kosiabura/コシアブラ/Acanthopanax sciadophylloides (Japanese only)
–Udo/ウド?Aralia Cordata/ (Japanese only)
–Kogomi/コゴミ/Ostrich fern
–Urui/うるい/Hosta montana

The Japanese pepper/Japanes pricly ash is called sanshyou/山椒. In Japan we use both young leaves and green seeds, whereas in China they use the dried seeds.

INGREDIENTS:

Tara no Me: 5
Koshiabura: 5
Udo:1 medium sized
Kogomi: 5~6
urui: 3 stems

Fresh Sanshyou/Japanese pepper leaves: a few leaves
Miso (of your choice, but white or light brown is best): 1 tablespoon
Japanese sake: 1 tab;espoon
Sugar: 1/2 tablespoon

RECIPE:

Peel the udo. Cut into thin slices lengthwise. Rinse under cold running water.
Cut the root part away from the kogomi. Boil the kogomi and urui lghtly. Drain and sponge off excess water.

Cut the urui in same bits of the same size as the kogomi. Actually do try to prepare all the vegetables in same size if possible!
Boil the tara no me and the koshiabura lightly. Drain and sponge off carefully excess water in a dish lined with kitchen paper.
Separate the sanshyou leaves.
Chop or crucnh the sanshyou leaves finally and in a bowl mix them with the miso, sake and sugar.

Presentation:
Arrange the sansai in a dish as above and add the dressing.

Mix all vegetables and dressing together and serve as artfully as possible!

An easy, tasty and healthy recipe!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, Vegetarian cuisine

Wild Mountain Vegetable salad Suggestion: Urui/Host Montana, Scallions, Spring Cabbage and Red Paprika!

February 15, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

INGREDIENTS:

Urui/Hosta Montana (Use only fresh leaves with a long white stem and small leaves for tenderness)
Sacllions (Choose young ones, as white as possible!)
Red pimento or red paprika (use soft taste ones!)
Spring cabbage (tender new leaves, light color), chopped to form a bed

In a serving bowl make a bed with chopped tender spring cabbage leaves.
Cut the urui leaves and then the stems in three.

If the red paprika are not soft enough, grill them and peel them first.
Cut them in pieces of the same length as the urui.
Cut the scallions in the same size,too. Use only tender scallions/white leeks. Take off outer layer if needed (can be used later in great soups!).

Suggested dressing to be served apart: rice vinegar + sesame oil + a little light soy sauce, sesame seeds!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hamburgers, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka marine products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Yaizu Burgers at Bakery Kiosk in Yaizu JR Station! Part 1

February 15, 2014 dragonlife 5 Comments

Yaizu slider!

Service: Smiling and kind
Facilities & Equipment: Overall very clean. Non smoking
Prices: Reasonable:
Strong points: Local ingredients!

What’s that billboard on the first floor of Yaizu City JR Station South exit?

BAKERY KIOSK?

Advertising local food?

Yaizu City being a major fishing harbor it is only normal that local shops come up with some interesting ideas using local seafood!

This is also very tempting but that will for the next time (very soon!)!

You can eat inside in a no smoking environment! Really appreciated!

Among 3 different burgers I decided to choose for the day: Maguro Katsu Burger/Deep-fried Tuna Burger/Japanesestyle slider!

Maguro Menchi Burger/ Minced tuna burgers!

My order!

Maguro Menchi Burger ingredienst clearly indicated!

Both traditional and unusual!

I had a good look at the simple ingredients before biting into the whole thing!

Very tasty and healthy, lighter than I expected but fulfilling!

The Japanese-style slider inside a very solid cellophane paper wrapper. Very safe for transport!
The shop will heat them first if you want to eat them on site!

All ingredients very precisely indicated whatever the product!

Yummy deep-fried tuna inside!

As good as meat!

See you there next time for the other items!

BAKERY KIOSK
Yaizu City JR Station, South Exit, 2F, right hand side
Opening hours: 07:30~20:30

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka marine products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Japanese Gastronomy: Dinner at Tomii (February 2014) in Shizuoka City!

February 15, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Professional and attentive
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness, superb washroom
Prices: expensive
Strong Points: Refined Japanese gastronomy. Great list of Shizuoka Sake and drinks in general. Seasonal products.

It had been a very long time since I last visited Tomii in Aoi Ku in Shizuoka City the other night and I had been wandering how well the establishment had fared all that time!

Well I noted a great improvement with the drinks, especially sake, with no less than 8 brews from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Hakuin Masamune Homarefuji Junmai by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

First of all the appetizers:
Oonigyu beef Corned bee at the back, Matsumae at the front left and Nikomori/Globefish skin jelly terrine!

A light o-tsukuri/sashimi plate!

Akagai/Blood arkshell!

Bachi maguro tuna, madai/true seabream and shimesaba/marinated mackerel!

Now, what’s all that seasoning for (grated garlic, chopped scallions and grated ginger)?

Can you guess?

Sakua/Basashi/Horsemeat sashimi!
A delicacy!

A Shizuoka treat for dessert!

Beautiful matcha creme brulee!

To be continued….

TOMII
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg, 1F
Tel.: 054-274-0666
Business hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-“Yaoyorozu”Yamahai Junmai Homarefuji

February 14, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sugii Brewery has been brewing this particular brand for some time and it is noteworthy for more than reason.
First of all it is a Yamahai, a variety of sake than many breweries conscientiously ignore as it is difficult to master its natural fermentation.
Interestingly enough “Shizuoka Yamahai” is tarting to get some deserved attention from the rest of Japan as many Shizuoka breweries have made it their challeng to tackle it.
And the results are certainly striking!

Another interesting aspect is that the rice is Shizuoka-grown Hoamrefuji, which is steadily earning its lettres de noblesse (fame)!

Rice: Homarefuji
Rice milled down to 70%
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 2.0
Bottled in Novemeber 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. bananas, custard.
Body: Very fluid
Taste: Dry deep attack.
Little junmai petillant.
Complex. Tends to show new facets in slightly wild and unpredictable fashion.
Fruity: dry oranges. Later dark chocolate and milk coffee.
Welcome acidity.
Disappears quickly enough with hints of dry coffee beans.
Becomes momentarily drier and deeper with food.
Takes on a sweeter turn immediately after food with strong hints of milk coffee.
Superbly marries with any food.

Overall: Although obviously conceived to be drunk with food, it is a thoroughly enjoyable sake on its own with intriguing facets enticing you to the next cup and the nest one beyoond.
A very dangerous sake in a sense as you don’t tire of it and feel obliged to discover a new facet!
A challenge, and a successful one at that be it on the brewer’s side or the drinker’s!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Bryan Baird Newsletter (2014/02/13): Special Valentine’s Day Release: Love Potion Lager

February 13, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Special Valentine’s Day Release: Love Potion Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and we have crafted the perfect beer to celebrate this occasion of sweetheart love: Love Potion Lager.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Release:
*Love Potion Lager (5.5%):

Love Potion Lager is our version of a German-style Schwarzbier: a dark but delicately smooth bottom-fermented beer. The dark color stems from moderate additions of roasted malt to the grist which lend a subtle sweet-chocolate flavor. A long six-month lagering period has contributed to a clean and balanced roundness of character that is irresistibly seductive. Just a gentle kiss of hop flavor and bitterness in the finish will leave you in an expressive mood of tender love and heartfelt affection for that special someone.

Love Potion Lager is available in both kegs and bottles (360 ml) for immediate shipment from our Numazu brewery. It begins pouring from the taps of our Baird Taproom pubs on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Urui & Fuki (Hosta Montana 6 Giant Butterbur-Wild Mountain Vegetables) Tempura Recipe

February 13, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

I was asked by new Czech Friend IVY if I could come up with some tempura and other Japanese recipes to accommodate wild mountain vegetables especially Urui/Hasta Monta and others.
Here is a simple recipe for two wild mountain vegetables (Sansai in Japanese) including Urui/Hosta Montana</strong> and Fuki/Giant Butterbur.

INGREDIENTS:

Hosta Montana: as much as you like!
Giant Butterbur: as much as you like
Naturally you can use other wild mountain vegetables.

Ice cold water: 340 ml (1 + 3/4 cups) Remember that the water must be ice cold!
Egg: 1 ((vegetarians and vegans can skip this and add either more flower or cornstarch)
Fine flour: 200 g (wheat allergics can replace it with a flour of their choice!)
Soy sauce & Japanese sake: a little
Salt
Curry powder

Tsuyu/soupstock for dipping if you wish to:
Mirin/sweet sake: 50 ml (1/4 cup)
Soy sauce: 50 ml (1/4 cup)
Dashi: 200 ml (1 cup). Vegans and vegetarians should check Vegan Dashi Recipe!
Grated daikon and grated ginger: as you like

RECIPE

First prepare the tenpura batter by first mixing ice cold water with egg until smooth. Then incorporate flour little by little and beat until smooth. keep cold into another bigger bowl filled with ice cold water (not ice only as it would not keep the batter cold enough!
Heat the oil. It must be 170 degrees when you are ready to fry the tenpura.
Prepare a grill and cooking paper in advance to sponge off any excess oil off the vegetables

Cut the Giant butterbur in adequate-sized pieces. Sponge off any humidity. Then as it is quite a sour plant dip them in a mixture of sake and soy sauce. Shake off excess seasoning.
Dip into tempura batter. Shake off excess batter and “slide” vegetable in the oil. By “Slide” I mean no “Throw” or “drop”! Take the vegetable by one end, bring the other end into the oil and “pull” as if you wanted to spread the vegetable over the oil.
When cooked (don’t overcook!) take out and lay on cooking paper/grill.

As for the urui, since they don’t need any extra seasoning, cut them into appropriate size, dip them either one at a time or two or three together (hold them together by one extremity all the time!), dip into batter, shake off excess batter and “slide” them in into theoil.

You ca serve the above with a small plate of fine rock alt, pepper, or curry powder or even matcha powder!

If you want to dip them into a tsuyu/stock soup first, make the tsuyu quickly as follows:
Over a strong fire heat the mirin in a pot, ten lower the fire. Add soy sauce and dashi. Heat for a little while and pour into a dipping cup/bowl.

Enjoy!

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City