Category Archives: Shizuoka agricultural products

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

French Bistro-Izakaya: Chez Satsukawa in Shizuoka City!

November 22, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and easy-going, more professional in the “room”.
Facilities: Very Clean and beautiful washroom!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French food in Izakaya style. Great sake and wines! Extensive use of local ingredients!

Chez Satsukawa is probably the oldest favorite restaurant of mine still standing in Shizuoka City!

I’ve known Chef Tomio Satsukawa/薩川富雄さん since the days he was looking after a Restaurant called Chez Chinois before he went independently in 1989!
His restaurant moved twice to the present location where he conceived his establishment in what he calls “Bistronomie”, and what I call French Bistro-Izakaya!
Simply said it is a happy marriage of French and Japanese ( and a little Chinese!) traditional culinary trends.
It is the kind of place where you can come on your oe\wn and sit at the counter or visit in company and sit at a more elegant table.

The menu is easy to understand thanks to personal drawings. If you don’t read Japanese just ask him and hewill gladly reply in his gruff voice!

Don’t foregt to check the day’s specilas!

Like in an izakaya you will be served appetizers with the first drink. The difference is that they are made with a French concept in mind!

Japanes pickled daikon and open quiche.

Stewed burdock roots and cucumber salad.

It would take quite a few visits to smaple all the specialties but there is one you must start with: Chinese-style raw fish salad/Salade de Poisson!

This time the fish was Shizuoka sole!

You are supposed to mix all ingredients in the dish before transferring it to your plates!

Expect many French bistro classics!
The one above is a seasonal Shizuoka wild boar terrine/Terrine de sanglier sauvage!

I would kill for that!
Notice the pieces of foie gras!

Another specialty of the chef: Chinese Pekin Duck-stylle duck served with crepes!

The pancakes and the sauce!

The duck and the finely chopped white leeks!

Et voila!
Just roll the pancake and eat it with your fingers!

For the potato lovers the Red Moon (Organically-grown in Shizuoka) Potato “Frites” are a nust!

For the hungry client in need of hot food Chef Satsukawa even have a yaki kare/Oven-baked curry inpired from a recipe originating from North Kyushu Island!

Indian? American? Japanese? French? Fusion gastronomy, certainly!

To be continued…

CHEZ SATSUKAWA
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya Machi, 4-9, Matsunaga Kooya Machi Bldg, 2F
Tel.: 054-205-5133
Business hours: 12:00~14:30, 17:30~23:00 (22:00 on Sundays)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesday for lunch
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

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/11/21): Thanksgiving Day Release: West Coast Wheat Wine 2012

November 21, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Thanksgiving Day Release: West Coast Wheat Wine 2012

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The onset of cooler weather and shorter days announces the arrival of the season for the enjoyment of hearty, warming and complexly potent ales. We are pleased to greet the season with the Thanksgiving Day release of our 2012 version of West Coast Wheat Wine.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*West Coast Wheat Wine 2012 (ABV 9.5%):

Wheat Wine is a beer style born on the U.S. West Coast in the 1980s, thought to have been originally brewed at the Rubicon brewery-pub in Sacramento, California. It has as its progenitor the British Barely Wine style. A Wheat Wine, generally, is characterized by a rich and hearty complexity that is lightened and made a touch sprite by a predominantly wheat, rather than barley, malt base. It is a style representative of the irreverent creativity and unrelenting passion that are hallmarks of craft brewing on the West Coast of the United States. Baird West Coast Wheat Wine is crafted in annual homage to the skilled brewing artisans and fearless beer entrepreneurs who have pioneered craft brewing on America’s great West Coast!

This 2012 version of West Coast Wheat Wine contains no character malt whatsoever and thus appears in a wonderfully hazy hue of sunset gold. The flavor is characterized by a deep, layered wheat malt complexity that is punctuated by 80 BUs of clean and crisp hop character (exclusive use of U.S. West Coast hops: Magnum, Galena, Sterling, Perle, Vanguard). At packaging, West Coast Wheat Wine is krausened in order to add further flavor complexity and to produce a piquant but soft all-natural carbonation.

West Coast Wheat Wine 2012 is available for shipment immediately (kegs as well as 360 ml bottles) and begins pouring from our Taproom taps on Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.).

In addition to West Coast Wheat Wine, two new small-batch seasonal brews also will debut at our Taproom pubs this Thursday. One is a handpump-dispensed American-style robust porter (American Porter; 6.1%), which brims with American hop character (Columbus, Simcoe, Cascade) without losing its rich malt opulence. The other (Thanksgiving Harvest Amber Ale; 5.1%) is an autumn foliage-colored ale that combines three malted grains (rye, wheat, barley) to produce a hearty yet intricately nuanced malt character. The hopping features American Glacier, a wonderfully spicy and herbal hop. American Porter and Thanksgiving Harvest Amber Ale are available only on tap and exclusively at the Baird Beer Taproom pubs.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 静岡産のメロン, 袋井市, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Fukuroi City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Melon, Musk melon, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Musk Melon, Tourism

Musk Melons: The Best in the World grown in Shizuoka Prefecture! Tasting Heaven!

November 18, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

When it comes to fruit, and especially melons, the Japanese must be the most extravagant farmers and consumers in the World!
Not so long ago Roland Buerk of The BBC wrote a fine article about the musk melons grown in Shizuoka Prefecture:
Check here and you will be convinced I’m not biased!: Shizuoka Musk Melons-Japan’s obsession with perfect fruit by Roland Buerk of the BBC

Last night I received a phone call from a home delivery company checking my address as they were going to deliver me one these extravagant melons today as a gift from a friend!
Would you believe I stayed home all day just for that melon as it arrived only at 4:30 in the afternoon (on a Sunday!)?

Before I start describing the experience let me tell who is growing these beauties:
The Company is simply called Shizuoka Crown Melons and is located in Fukuroi City, although they are actually members of the Shizuoka Greenhouse Growers Association!
Although it is written in Japanese check their homepage here: SHIZUOKA CROWN MELONS.
Also check the CROWN MELON FARMERS INTERVIEW VIDEO!
Mind boggling!

Let me continue today’s story then:

The package! With indications “FRAGILE” and “KEEP IT STANDING”!

Another package inside the first package!
Japanese attention to care and details!

Japan Agriculture Forestry and Fishery Minister Award/Shizuoka Crown Melon/農林水産大臣賞受賞!

Such a beautiful box!
Alright, let’s open it!

English that anyone should be able to understand although the fruit are not exported!

To be consumed between November 16th and November 18th! Let’s hurry, then!

Plenty of explanations for the consumer’s attention!

Well, you must read Japanese! LOL

Actually the pamphlet is very informative, but once again you must be able to read Japanese! LOL again!

The melon!

Note the perfect T-shaped stem!
Would you believe that the melons are brushed every day by hand?

WOW!
Look at that color and the perfect smooth grain of the flesh inside.
The seeds are so small!
Only one melon is allowed to grow on each plant!

The flesh is just perfect with a regular color, a fine grain, juices bursting out but with just the perfect smoothness and firmness for the ultimate bite!

It will be tough to eat other melons after having tasted a Crown Melon, believe me!
It is unfortunate that one can’t convey the perfume and taste on the Internet!

Shizuoka Crown Melon
437-0056 Shizuoka Prefecture, Fukuroi City, Oyama, 239
Tel.: 0538-42-4146
Fax: 0538-42-3208
HOMEPAGE

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Makino Brewery-Fujisan Junmai Ginjo

November 17, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Makino Brewery might be a small brewery in Fujinomiya City but it is the only in Prefecture calling one one of its brands “Fujisan/Mount Fuji/富士山”!

Their sake are not easy to find in Shizuoka City, but for once I managed to get my hands on their Junmai Ginjo!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in September 2012

Clarity: very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and light. Pineapple, green apples
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and smooth attack immediately followed by puissant junmai petillant.
Rapidly disappears on an even drier note.
Fruity and complex. Almond, pears, macadamia nuts.
Ends up on very dry almonds.
Insistently calls for the next cup.
Faint coffee beans appearing later.
Very easy to drink in spite of its very dry nature.
Changes little with food but tends to disappear more quickly then.
Strong comeback by coffee beans away from food.

Overall: In spite of its elevated ginjo status, it is a sake highly enjoyable with food.
Because of its dryness it can be also appreciated at any temperature.
A sake for dry sake lovers, it seemed very attractive to my lady friends!

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Baird Beer, Beer, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/11/15): Annual Seasonal Release: Country Girl Kabocha Ale

November 17, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Annual Seasonal Release: Country Girl Kabocha Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

For many Japan craft beer enthusiasts, an annual autumn rite of passage is the release of a deliciously down-to-earth Baird Beer: Country Girl Kabocha Ale. Country Girl marks her 11th annual debut on Friday, November 16. This beer is inspired by and brewed for my urbane yet wonderfully country-spirited mother, Sally Eshelman Baird.

*Country Girl Kabocha Ale 2012 (ABV 6.5%):

Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin-like squash the taste of which is elegantly sweet. The kabocha we use is grown in the Heda garden of our carpenter-partner-friend, Nagakura-san. We first cook it in order to gelatinize it, then we add it to our mash where the enzymes from the malt help to further break it down into simple fermentable sugars. Several characterful varieties of malted barley produce a hearty wort that when married to the kabocha yields a flavor partnership of great depth and balance. After fermentation, re-fermentation and conditioning, the result is an earthy, rustic beer that manages to deliver an extraordinarily sophisticated yet subtle complexity of flavor. It is, to many resident beer enthusiasts, the flavor of fall in Japan!

Country Girl Kabocha Ale 2012 begins pouring from the taps of our Taproom pubs on Friday, November 16. It will debut at other fine Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants in Japan on Saturday, November 17. Bottles (360 ml) can be purchased direct from our brewery E-shop and through the family of Baird Beer retailing liquor shops in Japan.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujimasa Brewery Genkotsu Honjozo

November 17, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Usually I’m not really keen to acquire “souvenir sets” when it come to sake, but Fujimasa Brewery in Fujinomiya City, whose sake are not easy to buy in Shizuoka City, put out an interesting set I could not resist!

Instead of the difficult to handle one-cup sake they offered their products in 180 ml bottles making it so practical for individual tasting of 3 different sake instead of having to buy the bigger bottles.

Cute design representing the brewery!

You are invited to compare the three different tastes!

The brewery design is repeated on the first bottle!
Incidentally the name “genkotsu” means “fist” to describe the “brutal” approach! LOL

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in August 2012

Clarity: very clear
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Dry and strong. Alcohol. Fruity: custard.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack.
Unusual strong approach for a Shizuoka Prefecture sake.
Strong dry almonds and oranges.
High acidity helping warming up back of the palate.
Lingers only for a while with dry almonds and custard peeking out.
Tends to grow milder with food bringing about faint notes of macadamia nuts, oranges and coffee beans.

Overall: A sake obviously designed as a dry and solid beverage although it tends to grow milder after the initial aggressive impression.
Holds the interesting capacity to first shock the palate into acceptance to finally tame the latter into acceptance and enjoyment by rewarding it with concealed dry and fruity facets.
For the strong and the bold!
Would make for an intriguing marriage with dark chocolate!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products

Japanese Easy Recipe: Crispy Lotus Root Pie

November 15, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Although I call this recipe Japanese, it is more fusion food than anything else as pies are universal!
As for the lotus root, if you cannot find them fresh use canned/tinned ones. Don’t forget to wash them in clean water and sponge out all humidity first in that case!

INGREDIENTS: (For one pie)

Lotus root: 100 g
Echalottes (or leeks if you don’t have them): 20 g
Mixed pork/beef minced meat: 100 g
Frozen pie sheets: 2 standard
Sake (dry white wine is ok!): 1 tablespoon
Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
Mirin/sweet sake (if available use sweet white wine or sweet sherry!): 1 tablespoon
Sugar beet sugar: 2 teaspoons
Tomato ketchup: 1 teaspoon
Salad oil: as appropiate
Egg: 1
Water: 60 ml/a little more than a 1/4 cup
Rice vinegar: as appropriate

RECIPE:

cut the lotus root into small cubes. Drop them in a bowl. Add the rice vinegar and mix. Chop the echalottes finely.

Pour some salad oil in a fry pan. Heat. Fry the minced meat. When the color of the meat has changed add lotus root and juices and echalottes.

Add the water, soy sauce, sugar, tomato ketchup and stew until all water has evaporated.
Let cool until room temperature.

On the first pie sheet spread the meat mixture in the middle leaving enough space to make a sufficiently wide rim.

Place the second pie sheet as above. Press/seal the two sheets together with a fork all around the rims.
Make indents on the top as shown in picture above.
Brush generously the whole surface with beaten egg.
Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes.

Serve it as hot as possible with plenty of leaf greens!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Caravin Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

November 14, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: very friendly if a bit shy.
Facilities and equipment: overall very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic French and European bistro gastronomy. Slow food. Excellent and reasonable
wine list.

In Shizuoka we are extremely lucky as we can savor taste European food of any gastronomic level at comparatively reasonable prices, be it a high-class restaurant or a simple bistro. The choice is just mind-blogging when you consider this is only a medium-sized city in Japan!

Caravin is an unpretentious but very busy French bistro that serves food the slow way under Chef Masahiro Onoda/小野田正浩 who takes the pride in using Shizuoka Prefecture whenever feasible, which means most of the time!

When it comes to choose your order it is quite easy as it is written everywhere on the menu, the wall and even on a mirror!

You can either sit at the counter (my own preference!) or at one of the table and banquette (French style sofa) under all kinds of posters and decorations.

Their wine list is worth exploring and it is very reasonable!
I couldn’t help start with a white Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie, a very popular one in Japan, actually!

I do plan to visit and write about the place but this first article should give you a good idea of what to expect!
First, Lyon-style salad with greens, bacon, terrine, chicken gizzards, croutons,…

… a beautiful poached egg!

The fine quiche Lorraine is exquisite and so light! A must for the ladies!

Caravin is a rare establishment which offers fried potatoes the Belgium way, the original and only way (don’t tell me anything about “French fries”!)!

Served with mustard and ground chili pepper!

And it was time for the second bottle for my friends and I with a very solid and fruity Cotes du Rhone, Domaine d’Andezon!

Caravin might be a bistro but they also serve extravagant classics such as this superb foie gras risotto!

Shizuoka seems to be a heaven for risotto and this particular sample with porcini is just so unbelievably reasonably-priced!

But if I had to choose one single reason to eat at Caravin it would be their Boudin Blanc!

Home-made Boudin Blanc (very soft soft white pork sausage) served with Le Puy lentils and enormous fresh shiitake!

There are desserts on the menu but this time I opted for a French cheese tray!

Can you guess what they are?

And served with properly toasted bread!

To be continued… (You can bet, and earlier than you think!)

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

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レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Oden, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Japanese Gastronomy: Oden at Ogawa in Shizuoka City!

November 14, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: friendly and easy-going
Equipment & Facilities: old-fashioned but clean
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: 4uthentic traditional Shizuoka Odenya. Oden of course and bentos.

Shizuoka is famous for many products and its gastronomy, but there is one particular specialty that most Japanese have heard about, namely Shizuoka-Style oden!

If you decide to visit the imposing Sengen Shrine, you will find Ogawa Oden “Restaurant” halfway between the giant red torii/shrine gate and the Sengen Shrine entrance on the right side of the street.
There you will find authentic oden cooked/prepared in Shizuoka style!

You can’t miss the noren/entrance curtain!

You might be tempted by the Shizuoka local oranges on sale outside!

Or you could purchase a large boiled egg to accompany your bento!

If you are tempted by the oden, check the delicious and traditional home-made bentos!

Ogawa Odenya, for all its seemingly quiet atmosphere is known all over Japan and many a celebrity has left his/her signature!

The shop is no less than 60 years old, probably the oldest oden-specialized shop which has not changed address!

True Shizuoka-style oden cooked in dark stock where you can choose tidbits with colors varying from dark to very dark. They say that the darkest oden are found in Shizuoka!
The lady-in-charge will help you with the first serving and you will take care of yourself from the second service.
When you have finished the sticks will be counted to determine the total price. keep in mind to tell how many eggs you ate as they are pierced with two sticks to avoid paying twice!

This was our first order!
You can choose from fish paste, egg, potatoes, konyaku, beef tendons, daikon, tofu and what else!
Make sure to choose your favorite color!

The Missus ordered an egg, konyaku and two kinds of fish paste!

I ordered a potato, an egg, daikon and fish paste balls!

Shizuoka oden are served with aonori/mixture of dry seaweed and dashi stock powder and Japanese strong mustard!
I doubt you will find aonori outside Shizuoka Prefecture!

Our second order!
We were hungry at lunch time!
Incidentally alcoholic drinks are also available!

The Missus ordered suji/beef tendons, ito konyaku/konyaku vermicelli and fish paste!

i ordered tofu and two fish paste, the bottom including gobo/burdock root!

I very much doubt you will find tofu cooked to that dark color anywhere else in Japan!

OGAWA
420-0867 Shizuoka City, Aoi ku, Baban Cho, 38 (along the Sengen Shrine Street)
Tel.: 054-252-2548
Fax: 054-252-2549
Opening hours: 10:00~18:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Sets of 30 and 40 oden with 2 different stock soups can ordered from all over Japan!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Ravioli, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Chestnuts & Ricotta Cheese Ravioli at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

November 13, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

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!

Running over and over full dinners at my favorite restaurants is not always such a good idea, especially considering that most often I visit them for only a couple of drinks and one great but sole dish!

Solio serves extravagant seasonal food with a personal twist at reasonable prices and here is another typical example:

Chestnuts and Ricotta Cheese ravioli!

This is the season for fresh chestnuts in Europe and also in Japan where they are appreciated in so many forms!
The dough used for the fresh ravioli was a combination of fine wheat flour and chestnut flour
The taste was certainly more remarkable than the bland dough used for usual ravioli!
And the size made them so easier to savor!

The filling was an exquisite marriage between ground fresh chestnut and ricotta cheese seasoned with other ingredients that were unfortunately kept secret!
But the result was a sweetish kind of ravioli perfectly balanced with a very light sauce using the boiling water and a sprinkle of parmeggiano cheese!

Instead of ordering them as an appetizer, I finished my meal with them and a full-body red wine!

A must-try!

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

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Conger eel, 美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Deep-fried Conger Eel & Aubergines in Anchovy Sauce at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

November 12, 2012 dragonlife 7 Comments

Solio serves extravagant seasonal food at reasonable prices and here is another typical example:

Deep-fried Conger Eel & Aubergines in Anchovy Sauce!

Presentation also is of a superlative quality even for the simplest dishes!
Note the three-dimensional arrangement with a long piece of conger eel supporting the aubergine slice like a beam!

The conger eel, a fish Shizuoka Prefecture is famous for, is deep-fried together with the aubergines (from the Chef’s garden!) and served with a light but very efficient anchovy sauce!

It is wicked pleasure to break up the edifice and eat it the whole with your fingers (and lick them later!) and dip each piece into some anchovy sauce for perfect pleasure!
Perfect with a solid red wine!

To be continued…

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Yui

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kanzawagawa Brewery-Shosetsu-Tokubetsu Junmai-Bizen Omachi Rice

November 9, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kanazawagawa Brewery in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City in front of the sea, has been attracting a lot of attention nationwide for producing high quality premium sake to be enjoyed with food. It is actually more difficult than it sounds as usually premium sake are conceived more for tasting than accompanying food.

Rice Bizen Omachi
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in October 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: Strong and fruity. pears, green apples.
Body: Fluid. Slightly syrupy.
Taste: Well-rounded attack backed by pleasant alcohol and junmai petillant.
Fruity and complex: custard, pears, apples, faint notes of macadamia nuts, almonds and coffee beans.
At times it reminded me a little of amazake/sweet sake (no あｌcohol and made with sake white lees).
Changes little with food if a little drier.
Disappears fairly quickly.
Drinks so easily and marries so well with food.

Overall: A sake obviously created for food.
The perfect complement to izakaya gastronomy.
Mind you, I would take it to nay party, BBQ or simply keep it at home within my grasp at all times!

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 観光, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Meat, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Meat Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes (and extras!) in Shizuoka in 2012!

November 7, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

My own creation: penne with Shizuoka wild boar simmered in red wine!

Shizuoka Prefecture is not only renown for its many vegetable and seafood varieties but also for its extravagant meat, be it beef, veal, lamb, chicken, wild boar or venison!
Pay a regular visit the many superlative restaurants that serve extravagant food at reasonable prices to make even gastronomes living in Europe and elsewhere envious!

Here is my own biased selection of the 10 top meat dishes I had the pleasure to savor in 2012 plus some extra to garnish the whole!

Teppanyaki/hot plate fried chicken breast from chicken bred by Aoki Farm in Fujinomiya City served at You-To Izakaya in Shizuoka City!

Gizzards, heart and liver on a poached egg of the same Amagi Shamo chicken bred at Horie Farm in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula and served inside a Shizuoka-grown buckwheat galette and Shizuoka-grown wasabi leaves at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

The best of Japanese yakitori!
Chicken tsukune/long chicken patties made with ground chicken and crushed soft chicken cartilages served at Kushiyaki Taisho in Shizuoka City!

Oven roasted chicken from Aoki Farm and organically-grown vegetables by Bio Farm Matsuki both in Fujinomiya City and served at Le Comptoir de Bio-s French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

Veal liver fried in mustard sauce and served with bamboo shoot and stuffed mini cabbage organically grown in Shizuoka City and served by Pissenlit French Restaurant in the same City!

Beef filet from animal bred in Minone Fram in Hamamatsu City and served with vegetables organically grown in Shizuoka Prefecture at Tetsuya Sugimoto French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

Grilled Wagyu Beef Steak and mushrooms Gratin served at Beau Ciel French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
No need for comments! Just extravagant and so reasonable at lunch!

Beef filet from cow bred at Okamura Farm and fried vegetables organically grown at Bio Farm Matsuki and served at French Restaurant de Bio-s, all in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Pan-fried Home-made Boudin Blanc/French style white sausage served with French Le Puy lentils and local shiitake served at Caravin French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
The only place so far where I could savor authentic French Boudin Blanc!

Pain de Foie Gras Matured with Mirin White Lees, Chouchou Farm Kankankan Musume Corn Vychissoise and soft pancake made with inca mezame potatoes served at at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
Mirin is sweet sake, and brewed in Fujieda City! A rare dish if there was one!

RYB Ton (pronounce “Louis Vuiton!) pork steak from animal bred in Fujinomiya City and Shizuoka-grown vegetables served by Osteria Porta Porta Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
A pork that is served in top-class and expensive restaurants in Tokyo but so ridiculously reasonable here!

Cotes D’agneau/Lamb cutlets fried and oven-baked and served in demi-glace Madeira sauce and French ratatouille at Hana Hana French/Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City! Once again so extravagant and reasonable!

A true Shizuoka French specialty!
Okabe wild boar and Shizuoka-bred pork Terrine as served at Chez Satsukawa French Restaurant in Shizuoka City!
I challenge any French visitor to visit us and savor it!

Yes, we have top-class traditional American gastronomy in Shizuoka City!
Oven-baked hamburger with egg, bacon in mustard sauce, lettuce, tomato and delicious fried potatoes at Tequila’s Diner Tex-Mex restaurant in Shizuoka City!

We even have French/Japanese style open hamburgers in Shizuoka City as served at Brochette French Restaurant with a beautiful mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes and corn!

Have I covered all the meat possible? LOL

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Takuan Chahan-Takuan Fried Rice

November 6, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

here is another recipe for vegans, hungry ones in this case!
You need very little and can used leftover rice!

INGREDIENTS: (For two people)

Takuan: as appropriate
Steamed rice (cold leftover is best!): 2 Japanese bowls
Finely chopped scallions or leeks: as appropriate
Sesame seeds: as appropriate
Sesame oil: as appropriate
Salt: “shokoji/塩麹” if possible. If not available salt of your choice. As appropriate.

Optional: Herbs, vegetables and spices of your liking!

RECIPE:

Chop the takuan finely.

In a large fry pan pour some sesame oil. Fry takuan first for a little time.

Add rice and mix with takuan and fry all the time.
Add chopped leeks (and optional herbs), mix and continue frying.
Add sesame seeds. mix and continue frying.
When rice is properly fried add salt and spices (optional), mix quickly and serve!

Easy and very healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Oh Bento by Keith in Hull, UK, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, 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, PepperBento, Hapabento , Jacki’s Bento Blog, 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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Vegetarian & Vegan Japanese Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes (and extras!) in Shizuoka City in 2012!

November 5, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Roasted organic vegetables plate at Le Comptoir de Bio-s, all vegetables grown by Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Shizuoka Prefecture is a haven for vegetarians and vegans, and I will never tire to repeat it!
Although I’m neither, I do appreciate the needs and priorities of my friends who take the time to visit our region.
The reasons why Shizuoka is blessed land for my friends is 1) that the climate allows for vegetable culture all year round, 2) Shizuoka Prefecture has always been a research center for agriculture resulting in the greatest number of vegetables (and fruit) varieties in a single Prefecture in Japan, 3) that it is also the most active Prefecture when it comes to organic agriculture.

All the photos represented in this article were all taken in restaurants in Shizuoka City (except for the last two!), demonstrating that with a little research you can find restaurants catering to your priorities and pleasure!

The title mentions the number “10” for appeal, but I included more to convince you!

Cold corn soup (Vichyssoise) at Aquavite Italian Restaurant!
The corn was grown in the mountains of Ikawa in Shizuoka City.
It includes only a little salt, olive oil and water used to boil the corn!

Vegetable appetizer at Yasaitei Izakaya!
It includes shiso/perilla leaf, finely sliced myoga ginger and fresh ginger, sweet hijiki seaweed, sesame seeds and a simple dressing based on olive oil and amazu sweet vinegar!

Vegan sushi at Sushi Ko Restaurant!
Menegi/leek sprouts nigiri.
The one on the left is not vegan/vegetarian as it includes katsuo bushi but the latter can be easily not included for a real vegan/vegetarian sushi.
Secured with a thin band of dry seaweeed/nori and topped with umeboshi/pickled salty Japanese plums!

Another vegan sushi at Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant: Manganji chili pepper nigiri!
Manganji chili pepper is a long soft green variety of chili pepper.
The one at the left is topped with yuzu kosho, the other one with umeboshi/pickled salty Japanese plums!

Boiled jumbo peanuts at Taihei Izakaya!
These jumbo peanuts are at least three times the size of “normal” ones and are grown only In Shizuoka and Gunma Prefectures (until now!) and incidentally are eaten boiled only in these two Prefectures! A must-try!
These were grown in Fuji City.
Some organic varieties have also appeared on the Shizuoka tables!

Waga-style cucumber salad at Waga Izakaya!
Waga uses thin and crunchy Japanese cucumbers sprinkled with crushed peanuts and served with sweet miso dressing!

Daikon Katsu at Waga izakaya!
The picture above is not vegetarian/vegan but here is the vegan version:
Simmer a small daikon (peel it first but simmer it whole!) in vegan dashi, soy sauce and a little sake until it has got soft and beautifully colored.
Drain and cool down completely.
Wipe water/humidity off the surface.
Roll it plenty of cornstarch dissolved in a little lukewarm water.
Roll it in vegan breadcrumbs to cover it completely.
Deep-fry to a nice brown color.
Leave it for a couple of minutes over some kitchen paper to soak off excess oil.
Cut it as shown in picture above and season it with a vegan dressing!

Potatoes are staple food for vegans and vegetarians!
Here are a few examples!
The above is Yutoo Style fried potatoes at Yutoo Izakaya!
The potatoes are organically grown at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Roasted potato gnocchi at Le Comptoir de Bio-s!
Note that the gnocchi contain only potato, flour and salt!
Made with potatoes organically grown by Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Belgian Fries at Caravin French Restaurant!
Note that potatoes were first fried in Belgium! French fries are a historical mistake!
The fries are served with mustard (not ketchup nor mayonnaise!) and fine premium chili pepper!

Uzu-style fried potatoes at Uzu Izakaya!
Note that potatoes are not all white!
Potatoes organically grown at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Greens and mushroom salad at Le Comptoir de Bio-s!
The mushrooms are organically grown in Fuji City at Hasegawa Farm while the other vegetables are grown organically at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Simmered tougan/winter melon at Kagatsu Japanese Restaurant in Fujinomiya City!
The vegan version would be to simmer in vegan dashi! Served with fresh organic okra!

Vegan yuzu jelly cake at Myouken Sushi Restaurant in Gotemba City!
The jelly was made with local agar agar and yuzu!
A dessert fit for any vegetarian/vegan repast!

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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,