Category Archives: Restaurants

Cakes, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Uncategorized, Vegan Dessert, Vegan Gastronomy, Vegan Restaurant

Vegan Cakes at LOCOMANI in Shizuoka City!

November 30, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly although a bit shy!
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Inventive vegan menus. Healthy rice flour cakes.Mainly local products.

The other day I decided to visit my good friends at LOLCOMANI in Shizuoka City for coffee and cakes in the afternoon as lunches are always impossibly crowded, especially with ladies wishing for a healthy lunch offered by this reference vegan restaurant (I am no vegan, but I can appreciate from time to time, and it is always a pleasure to introduce it to my vegan friends!).
As for the cakes they tend to vary with the seasons and ingredients available, so make a point to check them beforehand.
If you cannot read the Japanese menu the owner’s wife will make it her pleasure to explain it in simple English!
As for the drink menu there is plenty to choose from the organic coffees and tea and the home-made vegan fruit drinks!

Chocolate cake!
All cakes are basically made with rice flour in case of some clients being wheat flour allergic!

For a better view with its soymilk cream and sweet nuts sauce!

Organic Coffee!
Actually LOCOMANI’s teas and coffees are well above average, although a bit weak for some, but well-balanced and tasty!

Half cakes set!
LOCMANI have a policy to have their clients taste as many of their cakes as possible. So instead of ordering a full serving of one cake, you can combine two half servings for better enjoyment!

Chiffon cake!

Fruit cake!

For vegans and others with a sweet tooth but mindful of their health!

LOCOMANI
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-10-6
Tel.: 054-260-6622
Opening hours 11:30~18:00 (11:30~15:00 0n Sundays)
Closed every Wednesday and one Monday
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
GOOGLE MAP

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French Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka Prefecture

Italian/French Gastronomy: Dinner at Kuraya Kato in Mochimune, Shizuoka City!

October 7, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very kind and attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall extremely clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: superlative Italian/cuisine making use of many local products!
Short but excellent wine lists at reasonable prices.

The name Kuraya Kato means that the restaurant was created by his owner/che3f, Mr. Kato, inside an ancient “kura/Japanese storehouse”, probably one of the biggest still existing in Shizuoka Prefecture!
It is actually of rare dimensions and the inside is simply spacious and beautifully redecorated conserving as much its original cachet as possible with all amenities, all wood and white walls. A very special place whose atmosphere is enough to invite you ther anytime. But the cuisine is simply extravagant, although at very reasonable prices!

Great attention to the olive oil and butter!
The table service is beautiful in its seemingly simplicity and helps you relax from the very moment you sit down at your table.
Bear in mind that all meals must be reserved in advance, but the place will open even for a single guest!

So comfortable in soft light surrounded by real wood!

A lot of attention attached to small details, making the difference!
Menus (to be decided on the phone or else while reserving) are based on full courses at varying prices. We opted for the 6,000 yen dinner, but you can require for more, citing your likes or dislikes!

Since Mochimune is a noted fishing harbor famous all over Japan expect some great fish for the starters!

Excellent sparkling wine for the occasion!

All bread is baked onsite!

Second starters!

Beautiful and elegant pasta (remember it is a starter back in Italy!)!

Unusual, reasonable and delicious red wine!

More home-baked bread!

First main dish: Shizuoka seabream sauteed with basil sauce, Italian style!

Second main dish: Shizuoka wagyu steak! No need to comment!

Beautiful classic dessert assortment combining French and Italian cuisines!

And coffee served as it should be!

Definitely among the very best in Shizuoka Prefecture!

KURAYA KATO
421-0122, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 3-5-33 (ten minutes walk from Mochimune JR Station
Tel. 054-260-44959
HOMEPAGE
Lunches o reservations only only 11:00 am on the day
Dinners on reservations only minimum 24 hours in advance
Credit cards ok

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rre.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,

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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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Bars, Craft beers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Craft Beers and Tex Mex Gastronomy at Golden Nectar in Shizuoka City!

June 23, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly and attentive
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom.
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Craft beers! Tex Mex gastronomy. Craft beer tasting sets/

Golden Nectar has deservedly established its name in Shizuoka City for a couple of years now, and it is increasingly becoming busy especially on week ends be it sunny or rainy!
It consists of a high stool bar counter where you can see all the craft beers served on the tap. Bear in mind they change regularly! I would advise to try a full sample drinking set of them!

Check the list of the day!

Tables are available for small groups and customers wanting more comfort or less exposure!

Now, it is not all craft beers on the tap but there are plenty of other American craft beers in bottles and cans inside the refrigerated display near the entrance! Choose your bottle or can and it will be served in glasses by the staff!. Pictures are welcome!

North Coast Brewing Acme IPA!

Aurora Koppyalis from San Diego!

Hazy Little Thing IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing!

Amarilla Gorilla IPA by Smog City Brewery!

Deftones Phantm Bride IPA by Belching Beaver Brewery!

Another IPA by Smog City Brewing!

now, look at the menus! Plenty of salads for the health conscious!

My personal favorite, Texas caviar carefully made with local fresh vegetables and buritos!

As for food, I do have a suggestion: first go to loaded fries and choose the cheesy fries!

Scrumptious fries by themselves,…

But order them together with fish fritters!

And you have a Tex Mex fish and chips!

Excellent fried fish on its own, actually!
But check the rest of the menu!
Always something to discover!

GOLDEN NECTAR

420^0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogaecho, 2-16 (along the north side of Aoba Park Street/Aoba Kouen Doori!)
Tel.: 054-275-2759
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
WEBSITE
GOOGLE MAP

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American Gastronomy, Bar, Craft beers, Restaurants, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

American Gastronomy and Craft Beers at “12” in Shizuoka City!

March 24, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very kind and attentive
Equipment: Spotless clean. Excellent washroom. Non smoking
Prices: Slighly expensive
Strong Points: American craft beers. Excellent bar food. Beers regularly changed. Large live sports screens.

“12” is an unusual name for a bar or restaurant. The owner, a fan of all sports in Seattle, USA, be they the Seattle Supersonics basketball tea, the Seattle Seahawks American football team or the Seattle Mariners baseball team, has taken a liking for their number “12” jerseys, hence the name of the stablishment. Incidentally all the games of these teams can be viewed live or later on no less than three big screens.
The whole design was conceived by American Shizuoka City resident, Derrek Buston, who has actually just opened his own bar/brewery, West Coast Brewery, in Mochimune, and some of his brews will be served on the tap at “12” from June!

It is located just next to the side entrance torii/sacred gate of Ogushi Shrine. You can surmise that all drinkers are automatically blessed! LOL

The food there, notwithstanding their common household names, is definitely of a better variety for all tastes!
My favorite is the fish and chips (Brirish food for you, but better than in Great Britain!)!

Made with fresh cod and fried on order!

Served with spicy French fries (they are Belgian!) fried on order and homemade coleslaw!

And authentic red wine vinegar!

For the moment all craft beers on the tap or in cans afrom mainly Seattle and its surroundings but sometimes from other places such as Wyoming!
There ar nine craft beers served on the tap and regularly changed. And fully described on the menu!
I actually have a liking for their canned beers and ciders as there are so many to explore!

Incidentally, vegetarians and vegans shouldn’t need worry as they have a beautiful organic salad on the menu for you!

To be continued, of course!

“12”

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamchi, 7-14, 1F (next to Ogushi Shrine)
Tel.: 054-204-2707
Opening hurs: 16:00=24:00
Closed on Mondays
Homepage
facebook: twelveshzuoka.com
Instagram: tewlve_shizuoka
Credit cards OK
Private parties possible

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Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Soloio in Shizuoka City (June 2016)!

June 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Team!
Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

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

Time goes fast and I hadn’t realized I hadn’t visited my favorite Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Soloio, for almost a year!
It certainly was time to make amends and enjoy some classics and new dishes concocted by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん!

The setting has somewhat changed for even better!

You certainly won’t mind a stiff neck reading out some of the specials of the day overhead!

So, what did we have?

Plenty of wine of course, but we started with a glass of this brilliant sparkling wine: Chardonnay “Le Vacanze” by Cantina d’Autore in the Veneto Region!

Skillet-grilled aubergines/eggplants and duck raw ham salad!

Wild boar (caught in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture) terrine!
I would come any day just for that!

Shizuoka prefecture madai/seabream carpaccio!
The vegetables include uri/gourd!

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん creates the best risotto in the whole Prefecture and the above one was no exception with Umbria summer truffles!

Little jewels!

A superb dish not on the menu!
Shizuoka Prefecture tachiuo/scabbard fish (also called cutlass fish) cooked on a skillet with avocado!
A true discovery!

As we still wanted a light dish before the pasta (we have no respect for traditional order! LOL) we consulted the menu of the day again!

Chicken thigh Rotoro/Rolled chicken thigh and stuffed with figs, marinated mushrooms and canederulli in carupione fashion/white-fleshed fish balls!

The pasta!
Spaghetti Bolonese with beef stew sauce!

By that time we were full but just for the fun we had a tiny dessert consisting of very sweet Shizuoka corn grilled on a skillet!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours:
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23::00 (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Entirely non-smoking!

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French Gastronomy: Dinner at KAWASAKI Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

June 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities & Equipment: Spotless clean. Superb “bilingual” washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Extensive use of local products, especially organic vegetables, game/gibier. Wines and local sake.

At long last I had the opportunity to re-visit KAWASAKI restaurant in Shizuoka City for a full dinner!
The restaurant is located along the Aoba Street in Aoi Ku on the second floor of a cute red-brick building!

You can’t miss it!

The entrance on the second floor!

Take your time and check this board past the entrance!

The specialties of the day!

Can you guess what it represents?

Home-cured meats and hams, including game/gibier!

Very decent and well-chosen wine list bu the glass or the bottle!

Some of the Top-class vegetables organically grown under Mount Fuji!

The restaurant holds seats at a counter and three tables. It is always a good idea to reserve in advance!

One can order a la carte but we opted for the “Menu Terroir” for 6,200 yen mainly dedicated to vegetables.
Two other set menus are available, a “Menu Saison” for 4,200 yen and a “Menu Degustation” for 8,000 yen (on reservation only)
As for lunch, 3 set menus at 1,200, 1,800 and 2,400 yen!

The first appetizer: wild venison rillettes on mushroom grown by Mr. Hasegawa in Fuji City!

The second appetizer!

Shellfish and burdock tart!!

The third appetizer!

Cauliflower Mousseline and broad beans in broad beans jelly!

The fourth appetizer!

Home-cured ham, wild duck and vegetables salad!

The fifth appetizer!

Chicken mousse filled zucchini flower!

Beautiful colors!

The vegetable dish!

All vegetables are locally grown (mainly Fujinomiya City), exclusively seasonal and organic!

Beautiful palette!

The main dish!

Veal raised at Okamura Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Once again mushrooms from Hasegawa Farm i Fuji City!

Pre-dessert: citruses in hibiscus (roselle) jelly!

The dessert!

Chocolate and walnut terrine and citruses sauce and jam!

Coffee and mignardises served as they should be!

See you there again for lunch!

KAWASAKI French Restaurant
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki/川崎芳範さん

420-0034 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 1-8-5, BROOKLYN SQUARE 2F (Along Aoba Street just before junction with Showa Street)
Tel: 054-272-0066
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~22:30
Closed on Sundays and 3rd Monday of the month
Credit Cards OK
Private parties welcome
Entirely non-smoking!
HOMEPAGE
KAWASAKI Facebook
Chef Yoshinori Kawasaki facebook

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French Winter Lunch at Chez Mont-Pierre in Shizuoka City!

January 22, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, accommodating and helpful
Equipment & Facilities: Superb cleanliness overall. Extravagant washroom. Entirely non-smoking. Separate room for families with children.
Prices: Very reasonable considering the quality and generosity
Strong points: High class Classical French gastronomy with a modern and inventive touch. Excellent wine list.

As I said before, Shizuoka City is divided into 3 distinct wards, Aoi Ku, Suruga Ku, and Shimizu Ku. Suruga Ku south of Shizuoka JR Station is rapidly evolving into a gastronomic area to provide for a growing population and palliate for the congested Aoi Ku north of Shizuoka JR Station.

Yesterday Bernard Heberlé, owner-chef pâtissier at Abondance in Hamamatsu City came to visit me in Shizuoka City and I thought it a good opportunity to introduce him to one of the few great restaurants he hadn’t visited in our town yet!

He actually had a great time deciphering the menu both written in French and Japanese.
Chez Mont-Pierre offers three different lunch courses and wine by the glass for lunch.
We opted for the medium menu which I knew would be more than enough even at the reasonable price!

All bread is home-baked!

The first appetizer!

Don’t forget to open the small jar first!

Soupe à l’oignon nouveau/new onion soup and Consommé Paris Soir!

Bavaroise de Reblochon purée de petits pois/Reblochon cheese bavaroise and mashed green peas!

Second appetizer:
Oeuf à la Coque et au Champignon de Cèpe et Petite Quiche Lorraine au Foie Gras et Crême de Poireaux aux Truffes/Half-boiled egg with cep mushroom and small Quiche Lorraine with leek and truffle cream!

The third appetizer!

Escalope de Saumon Crème au Vermouth/Salmon escalope with Vermouth Cream!
Incidentally all vegetables including above small turnips are local!

The fourth appetizer!

Étuvée et purée de Légumes et fruits de Mer/Steamed and mashed vegetables and seafood plate!

Such a pleasure to discover all the hidden ingredients!

My friends had fish for their main course!

Suruga Bay Amadai/Tilefish poêlée on its skin and fresh vegetables!

Such attention to small details!

I had meat as my main course!

Hamamatsu pork escalope!

Who said pork is not a noble meat?

Where shall I start eating it!

Succulent Darjheeling Tea pudding avant-dessert/pre dessert!

The double plateau of home-desserts!

You can order as many as you want!

But you are kindly to eat all your order!

Can you guess what I ordered?

Tarte Tatin (reversed apple tart) and cheese cake!

Of course, tea, coffee, or expresso (single or double) is included!

Difficult to beat anywhere in japan at 30 US $/25 Euros!

CHEZ MONT-PIERRE
Chef: Kenichi Meguro/目黒研一さん

422-0836 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Shikiji, 1-5-27
Tel.: 054-236-0255
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30~21:00
Closed on Mondays all day & 2nd and 4th Sundays for dinner
Cards OK for dinner only
Private room for 4~8 guests
Parties welcome
Group courses available for 10~22 guests.
Car park available
Entirely non-smoking!
Call beforehand!

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