Category Archives: Recipes

Eating on the cheap in Japan: Maccaroni in Shizuoka Railway Station!

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Returning from a short business trip to France last Tuesday it struck me that life had become more expensive in my home country than in Japan!
This was more acutely felt when I walked past some restaurants inside (big) Shizuoka Railway Station, especially when their food is regularly shown outside with very fine plastic models often offering a more trustful image than pictures on menus!

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I thought it might be a good idea to talk about the cheaper but still good food available in this country and Shizuoka. I will try and show you a few examples in the days to come. After all not anyone can afford great sushi everyday!
The place I’m introducing today is called Maccaroni with 2 “C’s” and is an “Italian” restaurant cum cafe.
It is very easy to find in one of the alleys in Asty building leading to the entrances to the tracks.
As for prices count 120 yen per Euro or 94 yen to the dollar (that might change a little in the future as the Euro is falling down!)

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A pint of beer costs between 390 and 490 yen and (small) glasses of wine for 290 yen!

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Mozzarella cheese, Basil and tomato sauce spaghetti for 790 yen and Bolognese style spaghetti in stewed sauce for 840 yen.
All prices are tax included.

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About 20cm wide pizzas:
Margherita for 940 yen and Chorizo and meat sauce for 990 yen.

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Oven-baked casserole of escargots and mushrooms in garlic and basil sauce for 820 yen, large oven-baked cheese-stuffed eggplant for 720 yen and and Italian raw ham with Grissini for 790 yen.

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Antipasti misto salad. seafood spaghetti and soft drink for 1290 yen.

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Tomato, mozzarella cheese Caprese salad for 720 yen and and fresh fish carpaccio for 620 yen. Now, that is cheap even in Japan!

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For the beer lovers:
Fish and chips for 720 yen, seafood fritters for 620 yen, fried potato and onion rings for 720 yen.

Coming soon with another place in the same area soon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Sushi Restaurant: Dinner at Sushi Ko (Spring 2013) in Shizuoka City!

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Sushi “Charlotte Cake”!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

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Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん at work!

The beauty of true great sushi is that it follows the seasons and the sea catches.
It is not that evident in the large metropolises where sushi is more or less “disguised”, but here in Shizuoka with a constant and abundant supply to complement seafood coming from other shores we are never short of new discoveries and truly extravagant sushi gastronomy and this at comparatively reasonable prices!

To cut a long story short let me have the pleasure to show you what Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん served us during a “short visit” the other day!

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Sazae/Turbo Shell salad as a snack with the first drink!

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Anago yaki/grilled conger eel served basted with its tare/sauce!

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Of course served with plenty of freshly grated wasabi from Utogi, Shizuoka City!

SN3O3469hamaguri yaki/Grilled clams!

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As it is! So fresh and delicious!

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Shirako yaki/Grilled cod sperm sacs!

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With a texture similar to foie gras!

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Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん’s specialty: Sushi Charlotte Cake as as an imitation of a French Charlotte Cake!

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The little details that show the great attention!

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The cake itself conceived with salmon and tuna strips!

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Extravagant ikura/salmon roe topping!

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Exploring the insides of the “cake” with avocado, cucumber and so forth!

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Hotate/Scallops nigiri sushi!

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One of my favorites: Tachiuo/Scabbard fish sushi nigiri lightly seared, topped with momijioroshi/daikon with chili pepper and seasoned with ponzu!

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A favorite everywhere in Japan: Negitoro Maki/Roll containing grated tuna and chopped scallions!

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For a closer look!

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Now, what’s inside this small pot?

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As a hot “salted” dessert: Chyawanmushi/Japanese-style steamed salted pudding!

To be continued…. You bet!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours: 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 (Sundays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Wasabi Grower: Masahiro Sugiyama/杉山昌弘 in Umegashima, Shizuoka City!

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Masahiro Sugiyama/杉山正浩!

Shizuoka City, in Utogi for that matter, is the birthplace of wasabi. But the city itself is very large, the second largest city in Japan, area wise, and wasabi is grown in many other spots along the Abe River in particular.

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my chef friends and I had to drive a long way up as proved by the snow still clinging to the mountains in the background. Actually these mountains are still part of Shizuoka City!

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This is still much rural traditional Japan as typified by the Sugiyamas’family farmhouse!

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It still took us one more mire to meet Masahiro’s family busy harvesting wasabi in their fields at 600 meter-altitude!
As Masahiro is the third generation as far as wasabi is concerned (he also grows tea, shiitake, konyaku roots and so on) you can see the second generation represented by his parents and the 4th generation in the person of his daughter still studying at Agricultural University in Hokkaido!

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The wasabi fields which have to be protected from monkeys, wild boars, deer and other pests!

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These wasabi which take about 12 to 18 months to grow from seedlings are almost ready for harvest which is conducted all year round.

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Wasabi seedling

Wasabi culture is organic when sawa wasabi/fresh running water wasabi is concerned.
Masahiro, for better protection against disease and insects prefers to buy his seedlings from a nearby grower than to make his own seedlings.

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Uprooting and cleaning the fresh wasabi.

Wasabi culture is a tough job daily conducted whatever the temperature although the water has a constant temperature between 12 and 16 degrees all year round.

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Seedlings recently replanted.

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The wasabi fields water is directly pumped from the Abe River flowing along.

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We are not far from the source of the Abe River and the water here is pure and untouched!

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But for the wasabi fields this is wild country here!

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If it were not for the blue tents you wouldn’t know that agriculture is conducted there!
I can assure you that all protection is needed as we discovered whole groups of monkeys prowling nearby!

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Only a single narrow road, recently paved, gives access!

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It is still winter up there!

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Those “steps/dams” were built a long time ago and they don’t interfere with the purity of the water.

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Not only the roots of these wasabi but also the leaves and stems are very popular with the local chefs who order directly from Masahiro Sugiyama according to their own specifications!

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Another big crop of the precious vegetable!

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Ready to to the farmhouse!

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For a clsoder look!

These will be cleaned and separated in roots, stems and leaves and even flowers which are all edible!

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Now this was a great discovery: wild cress growing in the same water!
We all took batches back home! So sweet and crunchy! You will find such at supermarkets!

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More hard work back at the farm where all the roots, stems, leaves and flowers have to be separated, cleaned and packed for immediate delivery!

No wonder these beauties fetch such a price (mind you, they are comparatively cheap here!)!

SUGIYAMA NOEN/SUGIYAMA FARM
Masahiro Sugiyama, Wasabi Grower
421-2301 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umegashima, 5504
Tel.: 054-269-2420
Fax: 054-269-2450
Mobile: 090-8376-3854
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
E-mail: kanesima@grape.piala.or.jp

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Spring Lunch (2013) at Aquavite in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Small but beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable to expensive.
Strong points: Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables in inventive cuisine. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people

Aquavite has at last and deservedly come to age! Now with two capable chefs helping out Chef Masaru Aoki/青木優さん one can patronize one of the top Italian restaurants in the Prefecture at any time even when the latter is away on business!

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The establishment has always made it a point to preserve an easy-going but still elegant atmosphere without ostentation.

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Lunch time is a great time to first experience the great food before venturing into more serious business at dinner although lunches on request certainly do not have anything to envy about dinners!

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But what I most love about this place apart of their superb food is the fact that they extensively use and advertise local products. Not always as easy as you might think!

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First appetizer: lotus root grown in Asabata, Shizuoka City, burdock and Romaesco broccoli grown in our Prefecture!

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Second appetizer: Na no Han/rape flowers and Mangenton ham!

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This ham produced by Sano Co. in Fujinomiya City has attracted national attention of late!

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Cabbage and bean soup!

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Delicious Italian “comfort/soul food”!

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Bread is always home-baked and hust out of the oven!

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Vongo;e spaghetti for pasta! So elegant!

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Yummy cockles from Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture and broccoli from Shizuoka Prefecture!

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Roasted 4-month ol lamb from new Zealand and Shizuoka vegetables for the main dish!

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Not a gram of fat! such a beautiful combination with sweet carrots!

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All succulent vegetables, which bring such great balance, are from Shizuoka and mostly organic!

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A message that cherry blossoms are about to flower in this dessert!

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Shizuoka-grown strawberry panacotta and roasted strawberry!

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How about that for a cheery tree!
Spring has definitely come!

To be continued (count on that again!)….

AQUAVITE
420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00 18:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Non-smoking private room available!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Soba Restaurant: Tsudono in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very kind and a bit shy
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clean. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Soba! Very Japanese atmosphere.

Soba or buckwheat noodles must be one of the healthiest staple food in this world.
And it complies with almost with any dietary requirements be they those of vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free dieters and what else!
And to top it all it is simply delicious!

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The other day after interviewing a local wasabi grower in Umegashima, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, my chef friends and I decided to visit a local soba restaurant up in the mountains among farms.
You certainly need a navigator to drive there!

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The windows of Tsudono Restaurant overlook a landscape of fields, farms and mountains, and nothing else!

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Very traditional atmosphere where you can sit either at a table and chair or on the tatami straw floor!

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Definitely worth looking at in detail, even the superb washroom!
And it is all non-smoking!

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Don’t forget to take your shoes off before venturing on the beautiful parquet!

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Ordering is very simple:
They serve only one kind of soba and one miso yaki!

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Mind you, they have no less than three kinds of Japanese sake available!
Don’t forget that not so long ago people had to go to the local soba shop to drink Japanese sake!

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Your simple but beautiful tray served with soba tsuyu/soupstaock, chopped scallions, grated daikon and grated local wasabi!

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Delicious miso yaki to go with our beer!
Miso yaki, a typical offering at a good soba restaurant is a mixture of miso and buckwheat grilled on a wooden spoon! A must-try!

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Don’t forget to mix these ingredients in the tusyu/stock soup before dipping your buckwheat noodles!

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The soba are made on the day only, served exclusively at lunch and the restaurant will close as soon as the soba have been all served! So come early!

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Pour plenty of soba-yu/water in which the soba were cooked/ in your soupstock vessel to make a very healthy drink!

TSUDONO Zaru Soba
421-2121 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tsudono, 514-2
Tel.: 054-294-1005
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00 or until the soba are sold out!
Closed on Mondays (except on National Holidays)
Car parking available
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Cake: Shizuoka Tropical Fruit Tart at Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

Shizuoka has the mildest climate in Japan after Okinawa which allows for the culture of all kinds of fruit either outdoors or in green houses.
Recently locally grown fruit are witnessing a big increase both in production and consumption.
It seems there is no limit to the varieties!

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Last time i went there for my regular coffee i noticed a new tart being offered at Patina in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

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Shizuoka Tropical Fruit tart with banana, papaya and star fruit!

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Chef Akiko Kondoh/近藤亜希子さん’s tarts look as delicious as ever!

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All these colors reminded me of our tropical French islands in the Caribbean or off east Africa, not mentioning those in the Pacific ocean!

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Can you see the fruit?
The tart is served lukewarm for a perfect balance with the ice-cream!

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Yes, I always reserve this part for the last bite! LOL

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Mind you Akiko’s vanilla and Calvados ice-cream is a good enough reason to visit the place!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30)
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Izakaya Gastronomy: Bu-Ichi in Shizuoka City!

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Watarigani/ワタリガニ/Swimming crabs from Suruga Bay!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Equipment: Very clean overall. Spacious and beautiful toilets
Prices: reasonable to slightly expensive, but very good value!
Strong points: Extensive use of local land and sea products. Great sake and drinks in general!

Izakaya gastronomy is THE gastronomy of Japan.
It comes at different levels and prices from the cheap small food stands to some elaborate establishments with the consequent prices.
If one truly wants to discover local food and ingredients just visit the many izakayas you are bound to find anywhere in Japan!
Now, in Shizuoka, as we are blessed (and that officially!) with the largest number of varieties of land and sea food in Japan, it becomes a delightful headache as to which place to patronize.
Even so, Bu Ichi in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City stands head and shoulders above most izakayas in town and prefecture and a lot of regular customers from all status have more than often to battle for a seat!

Alright, let me show you what Takeshi Satoh/佐藤武史 prepared for our short dinner the other day!

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A lot of attention is brought to the smallest details!

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The o-tooshi/snack served with the first drink: Simmered daikon with na no hana/rape flowers!

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Avery rare (there were only two available that day!) watarigani/swimming crab caught in the Western part of Suruga Bay! One half for each of us two!

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Loads of tender meat!

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Including the brains of the crab! Truly extravagant!

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Sashimi assortment all from Shizuoka!

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Katsuo/Bonito with grated ginger and chopped scallions!

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Madai/True seabream!

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Boiled tako/octopus served with grated Shizuoka wasabi!

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A favorite of mine: Kujira/whale!

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The leaf at the back is a wasabi leaf!

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More tender and tastier than beef!

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Deep-fried oysters in panko/breadcrumbs!

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True oyster lover must sample that!

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Now what does that splendid tempura consist of?

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Sardine wrapped in shiso/perilla accompanied with some fukinotou/Giant butterbur or fuki bog rhubarb, a wild winter vegetable!

And that was for the first part of the night, but I can guarantee you we shall come back soon for a full dinner!

Bu-Ichi/武市
Chef/Owner: Takeshi Satoh/佐藤武史
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 1-6-10, Dai 2 Matsunaga Bldg. 2F
Tel.: 054-2521166
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations advisable
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (updated March 2013)

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with DominicTokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere
Alishan on the Move in Fukuoka

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

American Gastronomy: Pancakes at Takajyo PANCAKES in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. Superb wasroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Pancakes! Local vegetables. Healthy food.

As opposite to crepes which are French, pancakes must be definitely part of American gastronomy unless the British claim it first!
Now, if such a simple comfort food can be created and presented as gastronomic health food, I shall be the first to enjoy it despite my Gallic origins!

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Only 1 minute walk from Cenova Department Store on the right side of Kitakaido Street it is within very easy access!

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Takajyo PANCAKE is the first pancake-specialized restaurant in Shizuoka and is owned by Cafe Studio @ Shizuoka!

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And the restaurant is all non-smoking!
If you absolutely wish to indulge in your life-threatening habit, you may smoke in the back-yard terrace which is completely locked out in the cold, and that with some restrictions!

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The environment is simply spotless clean!

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You are constantly reminded of the menu offerings on samll screens and the music is all soft American jazz!

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Very cute menus for lunch!
Actually the place is open all day!
And you may indulge in drinking all day, too!

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Don’t worry if you can’t read Japanese…..

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The picture menus will make your choice easy!

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The lunch menus include a soup and a soft drink!
Let’s dicover some of their offerings!

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All vegetables, including those in soups and salads are all local and suprbly fresh!

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Great and tasty hot comfort for the winter!

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The black tea is actually made in Kawane, Shizuoka Prefecture!

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Herb pancake set lunch !

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Seasoned with a delicious herb dressing!

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Beautiful and crunchy salad!

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All this smoked salmon and vegetables are so healthy!
Mind you, it is highly satisfying!

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Actually, most of the leaf vegetables are also organic!

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And a beautiful soft-boiled egg (local) for exquisite balance!

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Millefeuille pancake lunch set!
I suppose any truly gastronomic American diner meust feature something in French on their menu! LOL

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Beautiful salad again!

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French “Millefeuille” sounds better than British “sandwich#! LOL

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Home-made roast beef!

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Now if you have some space left, try the mini pancake dessert set!

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I’m sure you will be tempted!

Who said there was no such thing as American gastroonomy?

See you at dinner next as there is a lot more to discover!

Takajyo PANCAKES by Cafe Studio
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-3-2
Tel.: 054-266-4804
HOMEPAGE
E-mail: cafe-s@rx.tnc.ne.jp
Opening hours: 11:30~21:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Cards OK (from April 2013)

NON-SMOKING unless you wish to feel like a recluse locked outside!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Cappucino: Teddy Rising Phoenix at Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

This time Saori san, the Manager at PATINA, Café & Brasserie really surpassed herself!
She told me she had practiced long and hard for this new cappucino!

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“Phoenix” in Japanese is called “Hoo/鵬” (“Peng” in Chinese, although the tales somewhat differ).

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Beautiful wings!

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Does a Phoenix have eyelashes? LOL

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It certainly refused to disappear until the last minute!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30)
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

American Gastronomy: Quadruple Cheese Dog & Mushroom Melt Hamburger at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Shy but very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Good general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive but very good value
Strong points: Tex-Mex gastronomy of superior quality. Doubles up as bar in evenings

Since QUIZOXY seems to be so interested here are two more American specialties I had the pleasure to savor the past week:

1) QUADRUPLE CHEESE DOG

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knowing that the owner is bike fan I was wondering if this was a relic of one of his accidents…
Actually it got burnt by accident in the kitchen!

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The hot dog as introduced on the menu: Cheese Dog!

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Yummy-looking, isn’t it?

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A touch of class in the appetizers: Home-smoked duck and corn salad!

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The half-foot long sausage in the oven-baked hot dog covered with cheese and the French fries (as they say in the States!)!

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Now, the big difference is that the sausages are exclusively home-made, not some cheap canned stuff!

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I can assure that the sausage alone would be reason enough to visit Tequila7s Diner!

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Not to mention the spicy French fries!

2) MUSHROOM MELT HAMBURGER

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The mushroom melt hamburger as announced on the menu!

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WOW!
No real need to comment here!

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Another touch of class in the appetizers: Home-marinated sardine and coleslaw salad!

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Now that hamburger was just too big to eat with my hands. I savored it with fork and knife!

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A closer view of the hamburger!

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the mushroom melt!
I couldn’t resist eating it separately!

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For a closer view!

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plenty of fresh local vegetables to accompany the 100% beef patties!

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The last picture to show you the cross section!

To be continued… You bet!

TEQUILA’S DINER
420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 8-6 (near Aoba Park Street), ACT 7, 1F
Tel.: 054–255-7595
Business hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed on Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Gastronomy and Art: Guinea Fowl and Taku Yamada Foyot Art Exhibition at Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

A large bistro has the advantage of plenty of space for use in an exhibition and Patina in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku is just doing that helping out a young local artist to make a name!

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Artist Taku Yamada, manager Saori Kaneko and Chef Akiko Kondoh!

Taku Yamada is a painter who has the talent to use only a knife or sometimes a roller! His works do certainly a long look and what better to do it until March 4th while enjoying some succulent food or a relaxing drink!

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Even the menu was designed by the artist!

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And there was one item on the lunch menu I couldn’t let pass away: Oven-roasted guinea fowl!

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And while Chef Kondoh was concocting my lunch I decided to look around and take pictures to share it all!

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First the painting hung on the wall along the long hall leading to the restroom!

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Taku Yamada had a title for each but I prefer to impart my impressions!
Summer colors?

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Nature mosaic?

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Looking through a fire barrier?

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Rain through the mist?

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Flowers!

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Bi-lingual introduction and message of the artist!

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Meadows? (Inside the restroom!)

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Going back to the restaurant past the counter…

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A nova cloud in space? (Actually Taku told me I was not the first one to say so!)

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Sunset through a bay window!

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More flowers?

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Wine menu on the wall mirror! Saori’s idea!

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Daydreaming?

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The last two paintings and the mirror the bench tables!

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More flowers (roses?) among the antique objets!

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By then my lunch was ready.
I complemented it with a glass of Merlot wine!

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First of all a warm cockles broth consomme!

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The oven-baked guinea fowl (bred and raised in France!)!

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The whole leg and its grilled skin with a sweet a sweet vinegar and mustard sauce!

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Crispy bread and oven-baked Red Moon potatoes!

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More vegetables in Bearnaise sauce!

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And plenty of fresh leaf vegetables!

For the peace of mind and the health of the body!
You can’t beat it!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30)
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Winter Dinner (2013) at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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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!

Some people might think I’m reneging on my origins (Bourgogne, France) since I tend to take quite a few repasts at the best of the Italian restaurants in town and prefecture…
Well, good food is good food, and though Western food might come out under the labels of various countries, it is actually more fusion food prepared with supreme ingredients more than anything else!
In any case I had to obey the orders of the Missus this time!
Now, what did Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 serve us this time?

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Actually, it is not easy to order as an array of succulent antipasti misto are looking at you right in the eye!

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See what I mean?

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We tried to keep this antipasti misto order small enough but that is what came on the counter!

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The pork terrine is French. Talk of fusion gastronomy!

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It was then about time to look at the seasonal/winter menu extras!

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Napoli-style carozza! Raw ham wrapped around bread that had been seasoned with mozzarella cheeses and anchovy sauce before being deep-fried!

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Just can’t stop gobbling them down!

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The carozza viewed sideways to show the mozzarella cheese!

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More fusion food: Ris de Veau/veal swetmeats and mushrooms sauteed and seasoned with Marsa wine!

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The ris de veau so elegantly served and so delicious!

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The mushrooms are local, shimeji, and they contribute so much in taste!

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And then it was time for the fish: Kurodai/Black seabream from Suruga bay sauteed on its skin with herbs and served with local skillet fried vegetables. The vegetables in front are new taro/satoimo with their skins sauteed to a crisp!

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The black seabream and its herbs!

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Beautiful vegetables from the Chef’s garden!

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And of course the pasta!

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Home-made Tagliatelle with a ragu/stew of wild boar locally hunted!

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And the chestnuts and mushrooms were the perfect accompaniment!

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We had little space left for dessert, but……

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I just couldn’t resist a glass of Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur!

To be continued… You bet again!

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!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Cappucino: Teddy Bear Cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3102

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

Everyone, or almost everyone like or has liked teddy bears!
And naturally Saori chan at patina just love them and could not resist concocting one for me thelast time I visited Patina!

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As for its gender I had some doubts as it is both sporting long eyelashes and a thin moustache (unless it is a smile!)!

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What do you think? LOL

More coming soon!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30)
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japanese Gastronomy: Winter Dinner at Uzu (2013) in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Excellent and very friendly. Very Japanese atmosphere.
Facilities: Excellent washroom facilities. Great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong Points: Great sake from Shizuoka and Japan Great Shochu. Home-made umeshu. Mainly local products, especially organic vegetables.

Time had finally come to pay a visit to Uzu again to enjoy the food prepared by Chef Kenya Yoshimura/吉村健也 with mainly local products of a class usully found not in an izakaya but in a top-class Japanese or Western restaurant!
I already mentioned and will always point out that Uzu is the reference when it comes to all izakaya in Shizuoka Prefecture and far beyond!

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The menu always proves a little bone of contention with the Missus!

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The o-toshi/light food coming with the first drink: tsubugai/Small whelk with Yuuba/tofu sheets with garted wasabi grown by Mr. Sugiyama in Shizuoka City!

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The sake list featured “Kinmai” by Nefami Brewery in Gotemba City on the s;opes of Mount Fuji!

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A truly Japanese atmosphere!

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Kinmeidai/Splendid Alfonsino sashimi, a fish which has spread the fame of Izu Peninsula and Shizuoka Prefecture all over Japan and beyond!

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So tendar that flesh and skin melt inside the mouth. Note the local organic red daikon!

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The first sake disappeared quickly!
Next: Kaiun by Doi brwery in Kakegawa City!

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A different bottle and cup for each sake! Class!

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Oura Gobo/Very large burdock root, organic, and deep-fried in starch. A Vegan’s delight!

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Sashimi salad composed of local fish and organic vegetables!

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East meets West in the seasonings!

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Mackerel, albacore and other fish!

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Akagai/Blood Clam shellfish and fresh organic vegetables!

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Topped with dry seaweed!
So healthy!

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Renkonmochi tachiuo no agedashi/Lotus root cake and scabbard fish, deep^fried and served in soup!

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A very Japanese concept to combine sea and land product! So tasty and so healthy again!

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Deep-fried Mangenton pork from Fujinomiya City served topped with plenty of chopped scallion!

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Grilled Amagi Shamo Chicken, considered the best in Japan and raised by a single farmer in Shuzenji/ Izu Peninsula!

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A very Japanese way to finish the repast: home-made organic vegetable pickles assortment!

To be continued… You bet!

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City