Category Archives: Recipes

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Lamb, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 仔羊肉

French Gastronomy: Veal Ragout & Organic Vegetables at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

February 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

Recently Shizuoka had added lamb to its seemingly inexhaustible supply of meat!
naturally Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, wouldn’t let go away unattended another opportunity to further research in our local products contributing to such a celebrated gastronomy in this country!

Now, taking photographs of such splendid food can become a real challenge unless you barge in with cameras and helpers along!
This view from above should give you an idea how difficult it is to tackle!

It would probably be best to take pictures from all angles to show you the care brought into the presentation!
And when we talk about presentation, we can only admire the appetizing colorful design!

Take off the beautiful red daikon and you will discover the so delicious and tender lamb hidden under!

And under the succulent wine and fond de veau (and others!) sauce you will discover a roulade of the lamb meat which hasn’t lost any of its original shape in spite of a careful and long cooking!

And all the vegetables were local and organic, cooked to a damning precision!

Actually, I recommended the same dish to some very influential friends of mind a few days later!
That lamb will become a regular request!

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

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

レシピ, Bistro, Cakes, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Fruit, Fruit Tart, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Cakes: Baked Orange & Cream Cheese cake at Patina in Shizuoka City!

February 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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.

Yes, I’m a sucked for fruit tarts and always be!
I just don’t know if I wll be able to keep pace,though!

And the place to find them in Shizuoka City is Patina, a true French style bistro!

Note that the oranges used in this particular tart are grown in Shizuoka!

Although Chef Akiko Kondoh/近藤亜希子 is supremely versed in any French gastronomy, her pastry and marzipan would be enough to win prizes back in my home country, France!

Do I need you to tell you why I keep the crust for the last bite? LOL

The home-made vanilla and Calvados ice cream will have my American friends screaming for more (pun intended!)!

The combination of a warm tart, cold ice cream, vanilla and raspberry sauce and raspberry on top of the oranges and cream cheese is so difficult to describe but so enjoyable!

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

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables, Wines

Party with Bourgogne Wine Producers at Le Comptoir de Bio-S in Shizuoka City!

February 9, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A palette of Shizuoka Prefecture Products! Great use of organic vegetables, fish and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy! Excellent wine list!

On Friday February 8th Le Comptoir de Bio-S witnessed the visit of three wine producers from Bourgogne, France, who introduced their creations to wine lovers in Shizuoka in the company of gastronomy based on local products!

Arnaud Chopin, a fourth generation producer in Nuits Saint-Georges who contributed:
Cotes de Nuits Villages Rouge 2010
Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bas de Combe 2010

Rodolphe Demougeot, who has been producing wines since the age of twenty in Beaune contributed:
Beaune Clos Sainte Desiree Blanc 2009
Beaune Les Beaux Fougets Rouge 2009

Georges Lignier, whose family started their trade back in the 19th Century in Morey saint Denis contributed:
Morey saint Denis 2008
Gevrey Chambertin 2009

Quite a palette as you can imagine!
Arnaud, Rodolphe and Georges, ably helped by their interpreter/guide Ms. Emi Tanabe, proved the model of gastronomic ambassadors who helped so much on that night make some very lucky guests discover the marvels of Bourgogne (my home, incidentally!)!
Their wines married splendidly with the repast concocted by the chefs which proved a discovery for the French wine producers themselves!

Tartare of root vegetables, Suruga Beef and wheat and its green organic salad!

All organic vegetables are grownin Fujinomiya City by Matsuki Bio Farm whose owner Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩さん organised the festivities in the company of wine importers!

Charcoal grilled winter vegetables from Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

The wine producers themselves confided me they were so happy enjoying truly delicious healthy food and discovering Shizuoka’s products!

Grilled venison, “Honshu Shika/本州鹿１” raised at the foot of Mount Fuji with red wine Balsamico sauce!

With more splendid organic vegetables!

A rare dessert!
Organic taro/sato imo ice-cream!

A big thanks to Chef Kouji Okukumura, Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki, Producers Arnaud Chopin, Rodolphe Demougeot, Georges Lignier and Ms. Emi Tanabe for a truly memorable night!

Le Comptoir de Bio-s by Bio Farm Matsuki
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya machi, 12-8, Sankousha Bldg, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-221-5250
Business hours: 11:30~15:00 (Last orders 14:00), 17:00~23:00 (Last orders 22:00)
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
This is MY LIFE by Ashley Harvey

レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamburgers, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

American Gastronomy: Avocado & Salsa Hamburger at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

February 4, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

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

Today saw some dog day’s weather with an insistent cold rain to make you feel reaaly reasonable.
That is when I suddenly felt a craving for a hamburger for lunch! I mean a real one!
And there is only one place to go then in Shizuoka City!

A little time slip…

keep your eyes open at daytime and nighttime! You will certainly discover something to your liking!

There is a lot of offerings even for lunch!
This time I tried something new: Avocado n’ Salsa with an extra drink!

Beer, of course!

The lunch set also included some coleslaw and cold grilled chicken!

The Avocado n’ Salsa Hamburger!

Fresh and tender avocado and more vegetables for appetizing colors!

The avocado above wipped dressing cream!

The salsa under the avocado and cream dressing!

Plenty of fresh vegetables under the meat!
Always appreciated!

The fried onions add some welcome sweetness to the whole balance!

And nicely seasoned fried potatoes!

To be continued… naturally! Still more dishes to explore including some yummy hot dogs!

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

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 里芋, 観光, 魚海の幸, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Sauteed Oyster on Cauliflower Flan at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

February 2, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, came up with a new recipe marrying land and sea!
Cauliflower and oyster!

The French flan is made with two locally grown cauliflowers, yellow and green!
Unfortunately only some of the green was left for a photograph!

The very large oyster is of a ｊapanese variety called “Akou/赤穂” and was sauteed/seared and rolled into a mild garam masala sauce before being served astride a French flan and decorated with organic thin leeks/menegi/芽葱..

The picture above shows the flan once the oyster has been put aside.

the whole dish was in fact seasoned with the same mild garam masala sauce for a succulent West-East marriage!

The French flan was made with two kinds of cauliflower as indicated above with the addition of pieces of the same kind of oyster!

Again when health and flavors combine for a gastronomic experience!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Cappucino, Coffee, 美食, Drinks, 観光, Italian Cuisine, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Cappucino: New Year Snake Cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City!

January 31, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

2013 is the Year of the Snake (Serpent) in the Japanese and Chinese Calendars!
No wonder that Saori san made a new cappucino last time I visited Patina in Aoik Ku, Shizuoka City to commemorate the new year!

A beautiful (delicious?) snake and a little design I will explain later!

saori san must have experimented for quite some time before succeeding with these exquisite coils!

I don’t think snakes smile so much!

She went as far as drawing the Chinese character “巳” for “Snake” which represents the sixth term in the 12-year cycle Chinese Calendar!

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

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Crustaceans, 美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Seafood Lunch at Bistro Okamura in Shizuoka City!

January 30, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly if a bit shy.
Equipment & Facilities: Japanese traditional restaurant very clean overall. Cute washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fish! Gastronomic bistro-style. Extensive use of local products and catch. Reasonably-priced wine list
Entirely non-smoking! Private rooms available.

Chef Takuaki Okamura/岡村卓明さん moved his bistro to this new address only two years ago!

It used to be a traditional Japanese restaurant until then.

Nothing was changed or reformed inside or outside preserving its quaint Japanese cachet!

Once inside you will find the emblem of the restaurant hanging over the counter!

It reminds me of a famous Japanese painting!

I’d love to take that cute painting back home!

On the ground floor you can either at one of the 5 seats at the counter or sit in one of the two Japanese rooms, one on tatami, the other with kotatsu seating with space dug in beneath the table for comfortable seating. Two more similar rooms are available upstairs. And they are all non-smoking!

You can choose from three set menus.
Bistro Okamura is the only bistro in all Shizuoka serving food based on seafood!

The table setting!
Forks, spoons and knives are also on hand!
Now, what did I have for this first visit at lunch?

Starter/Hors d’oeuvre!

Sea urchin, sweet shrimps and fish mousse on a bed of carrot mousse!

Hot vegetable appetizer!

Leeks steamed in white wine!

The fish dish!

Scabbard fish caught in Shizuoka!
Poele/sauteed with anchovy sauce and small vegetables!

Bouillabaisse!

Milder than in Southern France maybe but so delicious with fish, prawn, oysters, clams, scallop and leeks!
Instead of rice I ordered bread to dip it in the soup of course!

Cute dessert and black tea!

Now, what are under those feuillantine biscuits?

Home-made sunflower honey ice-cream and local strawberries!

See at dinner time next!

BISTRO OKAMURA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-5-2
Tel.: 054-669-2087
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~23:00
Closed on Sundays and Monday lunch
Credit Cards OK
Counter: 5 seats, 4 private rooms (up to 8 seats each)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Horsemeat, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tartare Staek, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Horsemeat Tartare Steak at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

January 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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!

Did you know that the true Tartare/Tartar/Tatar steaks are made with horsemeat? The rest, like the variation on my home drink, Kir, are only copies, inventions and publicity stunts!
And incidentally do you know why it is called Tartare, tartar or Tatar? Look at your history books!
Tartare sauce is only an easy and lazy shortcut to the ingredients included with the meat by the way!

Now, the other day it happened to be on the menu at Solio Restaurant in Shizuoka City. And since it stated that it was made with horsemeat just imported from Italy I did not hesitate!

Served with fresh herbs, olive oil, toasts and parmegiano!

The ingredients mixed with the raw meat are a secret of Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦!
But That dish alone is worth a visit to Solio!
Extravagant and rare!
To be savored slowly on toast and with a heady red wine!

To be continued…

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

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Fujinomiya City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Gastronomy: Local Products at Makai Ranch in Fujinomiya City!

January 28, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and familiar
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clan. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Very healthy food mainly made with local products. Dairy products. Souvenirs

Shizuoka Prefecture is a large Prefecture by Japanese standards and its peculiar shape make it feel even larger. It takes no less than three hours non-stop to cross it by normal train!
Yesterday I had the occasion to travel (by car) again to Fujinomiya City located on the western slopes of Mount Fuji, which means it is protected from the cold weather coming from the east and is a thriving agricultural area in an already very rich prefecture.

You will not find this side view of Mount Fuji just in front of Makai Ranch in usual pamphlets because of its collapsed flank! It is nonetheless worth the trip!

Foreigners are certainly made welcome!

This is Japan, not Germany!

It is not America, either! LOL

The Buffet Restaurant was our destination on the way to a local farmer we were going to interview in the afternoon!

Have a good look before entering as there is a lot to see and sample!

This is another restaurant inside the same premises. Come early!

Milk, milk, milk!

Take your time to visit the many stands inside offering some great healthy food made local ingredienst and milk from the ranch: Cheese cakes!

Ice cream made on site!

You will have the pleasure to discover other products created by neighboring farmers such as delicious Japanese sake!

Top class milk!

Cheese made on the ranch and at other dairy farms!

Even German craft beer by Stephan Rager in Fujinomiya City!

Premium ham and sausages!

We did not have the time but the ranch activities is a must for children and adults alike!

The entrance to the Buffet Restaurant called Itadakimasu/Bon Appetit!

Some of the food ingredients waiting for you!

All self-service!

Plenty to choose from and as much as you like!

You will find the pictures and introductions of the main local farmers contributing vegetables, meat, fish and fruit to the restaurant above the kitchen!

I have already interviewed quite a few of them!

All kinds of hot soups for all tastes!

The system is simple enough. You pay at the entrance where you will be given a ticket/coupon for one main dish. As for starters, salads, soups, drinks Non alcoholic), bread, rice and desserts you can take and re-take as much as as you want with no time limit between 11:00 and 15:00!

My first plate of starters with corn potage!

Already a meal in itself!

My main dish: Local chicken in honey mustard sauce!

Bring your main dish coupon there and point to the dish of your preference!

As much as freshly home-baked bread as you want!

The desserts!

Choose and make your own tea!

That was all I could eat! But I can assure that many people came again and again!
Great value for very healthy and tasty food!

MAKAI RANCH/MAKAI NO BOKUJYO/Buffet Restaurant Itadakimasu
418-0104 Fujinomiya City, Uchino, 1327
Tel: 0544-54-0342
Fax: 0544-29-1027
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Opening hours: Ranch (09:00~17:00, 08:00~18:00 from April to October)
Buffet Restaurant (11:00~15:00)
Closed either on Wednesdays or Thursdays
Free Car Park available
Ranch visit: Adults, 700 yen, Primary school and under, 500 yen. Special prices for groups (this applies for entrance fees only)
Activities are paid separately.
Pets are allowed but have to be left in a special guarded pet area for a monthly fee of 300 yen.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Enoshima, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Kamakura, Recipes, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel

Gastronomic Destinations: Kamakura & Enoshima (January 2013)!

January 22, 2013 dragonlife 5 Comments

Just came back from a 3-day trip in Kamakura City, Kanagawa prefecture!
Here is a simple picture report on what you could find in and away from the touristic landscape of this famous city not far from Tokyo which deserves a good visit!
Note that this is the off-season now and I would advise you to visit it at such a time as crowds can be a real pain in that beautiful corner of Japan!

Tobira Restaurant

Tobira
Kamakura City, Komachi, 1-6-20, Tobira Building, 2F
Tel.: 0467-25-0505
Opening hours: 10:30~19:00
Closed on Mondays or on Tuesdays if Monday is a National Holiday

You will find Tobira on the left just outside kamakura City JR Station.

The boxed lunch as served!

The boxed lunch opened!

Plentiful and yummy!

They also serve a great omuraisu/rice omelet!

A lunch fit for a Westerner’s appetite!

that omelet is a real delicacy, fluffy and light!

You will find this sign in the main street of Kamakura City atop a famous cake shop. See below:

Kamakura is famous all over Japan for its biscuits, especially “Rabbit Half Moon#!

Once you start you’ll never stop eating them!

They also make some exquisite wagashi for vegans!

You will find plenty of shops selling Shonan Craft Beer!

No, you cannot eat clothes sold upstairs, keep to ground level!

All local beers and japanese sake!

Kamakura City is also famous for its sembei/rice crackers!

Hot work, even with temperatures below zero outside!

O Sakana Tei Japanese Restaurant

248-0025 Kamakura City, Shichirigahama, 3-1-9
Tel: 0467-31-9890
Opening Hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Thursdays
Cards OK

Kamakura Craft Beer

O Sakana Tei is an old but very traditional Japanese Restaurant serving great sushi at very reasonable prices.
The specialize in local sardine cuisine!

Great craft beer indeed!

The specialty of the house: Deep-fried sardine sandwiched in shiso/perilla leaves!

Sushi plate!

Another sushi plate!

Delicious Japanese soup with sardine surimi balls!

Kamakura sake?

Only in name as it is brewed in Gunma Prefecture for a private label!

Tobicho Japanese Restaurant

251-0036 Fujisawa City, Enoshima, 1-6-7
Tel.: 0466-23-0041
Opened from 11:00 a.m. till evening
Reserve!

This time we managed to have lunch at Tobicho, a place where you will have to join endless queues on week-ends or in peak seasons!

Have a good look at the seafood they also sell outside including local shirasu/sardine whiting!

Like in most Japanese restaurants you can also have a look at a plastic model of the dish you are looking for displayed outside!

A great way to allure customers inside, isn’t it?

Very simple and explicit menus, too!

This is the limited seasonal menu that the Missus chose!

Simple, but beautiful and yummy!

Salmon, octopus and albacore secured on thin slanted slices of cucumber!

My order!

Japanese style crab omelet on a bowl of rice topped with shirasu!

During our visit to a temple in Enoshima Island we found this food store atop the mountain…

What is he cooking?

Paper-thin senbei/crackers made with real fresh octopus!

A very rare treat!

If you have the time do try and visit the natural grottoes at the back of Enoshima Island which have been used by humans since AD 552.
You will even find a dragon hidden inside!

Atop Enoshima you will find a small diner (Japanese-style) with a terrace overlooking the sea called Uomitei/魚見亭.
A great place to enjoy craft beer.

This one is called Shonan Enoshima Beer!

Unfortunately it is brewed in Niigata Prefecture as a private label!

Back in Kamakura City we couldn’t escape from the beautiful sembei/rice crackers!

Ocean Harvest COCOMO Italian and Oyster Bar
248-0016 Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura City, Hase, 2-8-8
Tel./fax: 0467-33-4584
12:00-25:00(Last Order-24:00)
■Lunch Time
12:00-15:30(Last Order-15:00)
■Cafe Time
15:30-17:00(Last Order-16:30)
■Dinner Time
17:00-25:00(Last Order-24:00)
Closed on Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE
Credit Cards OK

Along the Shonan Beach there are some restaurants of note and our favourite is Cocomo, an Italian oyster bar!

Local vegetables Banya Cauda!

Succulent grilled oysters!

Their fries is a must!

They also eminently enjoyable pasta!

KOSUZU Soba/Buckwheat Noodles Restaurant
Kamakura City, Komachi, 2-83-4
Tel,: 0467-25-6210
Opening hours: 11:30~18:30
Closed on Mondays

Back in kamakura City, away from the touristic center and along the way to the Tsuruoka Hayata Jingu Shrine stands a very good soba/buckwheat noodles shop we regularly visit, namely KOSUZU!

This is the hot soba the Missus ordered!

For a closer view of a real healthy meal!

For my part I ordered cold soba with all kinds of toppings!

For a closer view!

A pot full of soba soup will be served to accompany the leftovers inside your bowl! Yummy!

Vegans and all must try the exquisite warabi mochi (soft rice cakes)!

Finally along the same street keep ypur eyes open for venerable shops such as this Japanese liquor shop!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Cappucino, Coffee, 美食, Drinks, 観光, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Cappucino: Tulip Cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City!

January 11, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Here is the latest creation by Saori Chan at Patina Bistro in Aoi-Ku, Shizuoka City: Tulip Cappucino!

Although some friends it reminds them of a loving heart, Saori insisted it was a tulip!

At least the leaves should convince you it is a flower!

I just don’t know how Saori san can achieve such detailed design!

Whatever you drink the tulip would not disappear!

Insistent love? 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

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 観光, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: First 2013 Lunch at Il Paladino in Shizuoka City!

January 8, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive.
Strong points: Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made non-smoking!

Due to many restaurants sprouting here and there in Shizuoka Prefecture I had “forgotten” another favorite Italian restaurant of mine, namely Il Paladino in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City.
Finally I found the opportunity to pay it a deserved visit for lunch today!

Mrs. Chieko Kokawa/古川千恵子さん in charge of the service, Chef Tetsuya Kokawa/古川哲哉さん and Second Chef Mitsuru Tomita/富田満さん!

It was also an opportunity to see ever-smiling Chieko Kokawa again in charge of the service!

So what did Chef Kokawa prepare me this time?

Please note that all the bread at Il Paladino is home-made on the very day!

Can you see the beautiful loaf?

I just love Il Paladino’s beautifully colored antipasto misti!

An exquisitely balanced meal in itself with vegetables, chicken, eggs and seafood!

A really tasty and elegant pasta dish made with Maglie di Zito!

These Maglie served al dente, Sicilian style, provide for the right bite!

The sauce, very original, consisted of fine pork, onions, fond de veau veal stock, cream and what else!
Another meal in itself!

The ingredients for the main dish!

Oven-baked homard/lobster with herbs!

Beautiful, perfectly cooked, exquisitely seasoned and extravagant!

I’ve never been really convinced by desserts in Italian gastronomy but Il Paladino’s offerings are worth the trip!

Fine dark cherry cake half way between a financier and a clafoutis, soft pistachio bicuit and apple compote!

Panacotta, mint and jellied orange peels!

And a delicious expresso served the right way!
Yes, I had some wine! LOL

To be continued…

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

French Gastronomy: Warm Vegetables Terrine at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

January 4, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, in constant search for new recipes and presentations of local products, especially vegetables.
Terrines are a typical French delicacy born out of winter necessities but they are usually made with meat and served cold.
Now, Chef Arima has come up with a beautiful dish to warm you up in winter and also to help promote your health during this overeating season: Warm Vegetables Terrine with Shizuoka products!

A combination of colors you will not often see in winter, but here in Shizuoka vegetables are abundant even in winter!

Chef Arima cut out two slices delicately and arranged them head to toe!

The terrine comprises three different layers of vegetables.
The top layer contains no less than three kinds of mushrooms!

The middle layer was created with plenty of soft and succulent spinach!

The bottom layer consisted of resplendent carrot for a subtle balance of three very different vegetable savors!

The sauce was prepared with the vegetable juices, olive oil and garam masala for a light and superb accompaniment!

The finishing touch was achieved with local fresh tomato puree and herbs!

When health and flavors combine for a gastronomic experience!

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French Gastronomy: New Year’s Eve Dinner at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

December 30, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Last night, technically not New Year’s Eve yet but so for 95% of the restaurants downtown I twisted the leg of Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City into preparing a New Year’s Eve dinner for two friends, the Missus and I. Actually only two more guests had been accepted as Friday night had been more than hectic and Toru was getting his hands full with the preparation of sechi ryouri/御節料理/End of The Year Traditional Japanese Cuisine served in boxes for no less than 28 customers!

He still managed to serve us a beautiful dinner with whatever was available in the kitchen!

Now, what did we enjoy?

Lightly marinated mackerel from Yaizu Harbor!

Note the edible shiso/perilla flowers and the menegi/leek sprouts! Both of them and all other vegetables in other dishes from all over Shizuoka Prefecture and mainly organically grown!

Served atop a bed of small apple cubes!

Cauliflower bavarois!

Served on broccoli coulis with iwana/Japanese char sashimi from Kakushima Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Topped with caviar and salmon’s roe for a little extravagance!

White asparagus with scallops!

Seasoned with local grated karasumi/Boutargue/Botarga/mullet eggs!

With a simple butter sauce liaising the juices of the asparagus and scallops!

Kinmeidai/splendid Alfonsino from Suruga Bay!

The organic Petit Vert is a Brussels Sprout variety first grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

With a butter sauce seasoned with juices of the fish, the vegetables and yuzu koshio/lime salt!

The colors of the Petit Vert and young red beet are those of little jewels!

Blanquette made with veal raised in Fujinomiya City!

For another view of the ever so tender meat!

A traditional French dish which brought back so many memories of my childhood! Mind you, this is an extravagant way of preparing and serving it!

Filet of Ezo venison!

This deer would have feasted on those vegetables. Not to mention that the Port wine sauce ended up on my fingertips!

The perfect Automn/Winter main dish!

A little plate of French cheeses with figs, walnuts, pistachio and honey!

Can you guess what they are?
Served with the exquisite little finishing touch with coarsely ground black peppers and cumin seeds!

The little details that make the difference between enjoying and savoring!

Darjheeling Tea jelly before moving to the dessert!

Now this seemingly simple dessert includes an item served only at Pissenlit (so far, as it will certainly be emulated!)!

Not this delicious home-made pistachio ice-cream though!

Bavarois made with wasabi from Utogi, Shizuoka City and sauce made caramel and soy sauce from Amano Compnay in Gotemba City!

Happy New Year!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Shizuoka Liqueur Tasting: KE? Blueberry Liqueur by Senju Brewery

December 28, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

It is always a rare pleasure to discover local fruit liqueurs made by local breweries!
The latest discovery was a liqueur brewed by Senju Brewery in Iwata City with local blueberries!

A very elegant bottle for the perfect Shizuoka souvenir to offer to a special friend!
Knowing there are three more liqueurs made with other fruit it becomes a rare treat!

The first such fully local blueberry liqueur to be created in Shizuoka Prefecture!

A souvenir to take abroad!
The name “け？” or “Ke?” simply means “What?” in local dialect?

Senju Brewery which also produces shochu made it with their own sake and shochu and the juice freshly pressed blueberries grown locally!

“Senju/千寿” means “One thousand Congratulations”!

Ingredients: Kome/rice shochu and blueberry juice
Alcohol: 8 degrees
Contents: 300 ml/cc

Clarity: Very clear, although blueberry fruit particles are found at the bottom
Color: Dark red/cassis color
Aroma: Sweetish. Blueberry
Body: Fluid, light.
Taste: Very soft attack.
Light and easy to drink.
Blueberry. Drier than sweet.
Very feminine in approach.
Although I found it dry my lady friends thought it was sweet.
Blueberry flavors tend to take a turn to a stronger, deeper and ever more drier with the next sip.

Overall: An aperitif?
A digestif?
It would certainly be a close fight!
Enjoyed as a slightly chilled aperitif it will deliciously prepare the guests taste buds before a repast.
Savored at room temperature it will make for a very safe night cap to help forget worldly worries!
A great drink at an izakya for people not veresed on strong drinks.
I personally appreciated on its own at room temperature back from a long work day.
I actually intend to use it as a great finishing touch in a sauce to accompany duck!
But all in all makes for the perfect and elegant farewell before meeting bliss in bed (asleep or not!)

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