Category Archives: Shizuoka City

Japan, Japan Gastronomy, Shellfish, Shizuoka City

Shellfish at Shizuoka Parche Fish Market!

April 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I had been long due for a visit at the Fish Market inside Parche Department Store located at Shizuoka City JR Station!
It seems we are in a season particularly favorable for shellfish!
The variety will drive an expat crazy!
OK, let’s have a look!

Sudaregai/すだれ貝: Venus clam!

Tairagi/玉珧 (also called Tairagai/平貝): pen shell!

Shirobai/白蛽、白海蠃、白海螄: white Japanese ivory shell, white Japanese babylon!

Tsubugai/螺貝 (or Tsubu/螺): whelk!

Chigai/稚貝: small Scallops!

Hotate/帆立: scallop!

Hokkigai/北寄貝: Sakhalin surf clam (also called Ubagai/姥貝)!

Honbinosugai/ホンビノスガイ: hard clam, Northern quahog!

Umi Tsubo/海つぼ: Japanese ivory shell, Japanese Babylon（also called Bai (or Baigai)/ 蛽、海蠃、海螄 )!

Kotobushi/床臥・常節: small abalone!

Iso Tsubugai/磯つぶ貝: Small whelk variety Buccinum middendorff Verkruzen, 1882 (also called Ezobai/蝦夷バイ)

Isomono/いそも: Top-shell (also called Bateira/馬蹄螺)!

Asari/浅利: Japanese littleneck, Manila clam!

More Hotate/帆立: scallopｓ!

And to finish, more Hokkigai/北寄貝: Sakhalin surf clam (also called Ubagai/姥貝)!

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-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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Japan, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka City, Spanish Wines

Spanish Wine Tasting: Castillo de Enguerra Reserva 2010 Red Organic (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 17, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I do love my sake and craft beer but I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to taste a good wine!
Moreover, the fact I’m for Bourgogne, France, does not limit or hamper whatsoever my scope. A good wine is a good wine! Full stop.
And once again I found myself tasting another an unusual nectar in the company of my good friend, Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa in her castle, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

Castillo de Enguera 2010 Red made by Bodegas Enguera in Valencia, Spain!

Bodegas Enguera was funded in 1999 with two fields in the Valencia area covering a total of 160 ha where grapes are organically grown at over 650 meter altitude:
Tembla Nino, 60%
Monastorere, 25%
Syrah, 15%
This particular wine is a blending of the above grapes matured for 12 months in New French casks (60%) and second-year American oak casks (40%).
Alcohol: 14 degrees

SUITABLE FOR VEGANS!

Clarity: Opaque and dense but very clean.
Color: Very dark red
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Red fruit, cassis, dry prunes, dry figs, spicy herbs.
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Complex: black fruit jam, confiture, black pepper.
Gives the impression of eating red grapes.
Complex to the point of insistingly inviting for another and another sip. Will intrigue you with new facets every time.
Stays long enough in palate for true tasting before departing on notes of spicy black pepper and dry coffee beans.

Overall: Eminently enjoyable red wine. Complex, spicy but gentle on the palate for lack of acidity in spite of basic dryness.
A well-balanced red wine very easy　to pair with dishes.
Suggested pairings: blueberry sauce venison, Korean BBQ/yakiniku, simmered pork/buta no kakuni, Chinese cuisine.

Retailed at 2,380 yen for takeout.
Sold at 900 yen per glass or 3,880 yen per bottle to be drunk on site.
Very good value!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Japan, Japan Gastronomy, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka City, Suruga Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Tenko Junmai Dai Ginjo Muroka Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 16, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time we tasted a nectar brewed by an increasingly popular Suruga Brewery (Shizuoka City) which is already a lot of attention throughout Japan despite its very short history!

“Tenko/Heavens Rainbow” Junmai (no pure sake alcohol blended in) Daiginjo Muroka (unfiltered) Genshu (no pure water added)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.2
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in December 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light gold
Aroma: dry and very fruity.
Pears, banana, custard, chestnuts, young coconuts, green melon
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: custard, cream soda, banana, yogurt.
Always seems to reach the brink of sweetness without reaching it.
Lingers on for a short while before departing on a slightly drier note of custard, oranges and faint almonds.
Will become markedly drier with salty foods.

Overall: Very rich sake if there were such a term!
Both elegant and very satisfying.
Very fruity and sweetish at first but beautifully counterbalanced with swift, but in the right amount, acidity.
Could definitely be used as a superlative dessert wine!
Suggested pairings: Blue cheese!

LA SOMMELIERE

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French Cakes, Salon de The Hanai, Shizuoka City, Takuya Hanai

Classic Cakes by Takuya Hanai at Salon de The Hanai (3): “Noisette” (Hazelnuts Roll Cake)!

March 13, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Extremely friendly and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall spotless clean. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive (reasonable considering the quality!)
Strong points: Superb array of cakes and biscuits aimed at an adult clientele. Excellent lunch sets. Wine & beer available. Can be enjoyed as a cafe, restaurant and wine bar.

HANAI-style Cappuccino!

The other day was a miserable cold and wet day and I suddenly the urge for a nice coffee and a great cake!
As it is not too far from my working place I was soon talking to Takuya Hanai/花井拓也さん, Chef-owner of Salon de The HANAI in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Inside the cake shop on the first floor we settled on “Noisette”, the last of a hazelnut Rolled Cake , to be sent to the cafe lounge upstairs to be savored with nice little cappuccino!

It was topped with butter cream mixed with whole hazelnuts which beautifully cracked under my teeth!

The roll cake consisted of two distinct layers:
One of a biscuit created with hazelnut powder, separately beaten egg yolk and egg white, almond powder, a little sugar and a little rice powder.
The soft layer was made of butter cream and hazelnut paste!

Takuya’s approach to confectionery is sweeter than most patisseries met in Japan but a s sweet as the cloying cakes we find in my native France, making for an elegant but highly satisfying marvel on a cold afternoon!

You still need a good appetite to finish it in spite of its misleading small size!

Look forward to the next visit!

Salon de The HANAI

420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajjo, 2-10-23
Tel. 6 Fax: 054-255-2829
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00 (later if enough customers!)
Closed on Tuesdays
Parties (up to 25) welcome!

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Hamburg Steak, Shizuoka City, Tequila's Diner

American Gastronomy: Hamburg Steak at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

March 10, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

The other day I paid a long due visit to what I consider the best Hamburger Restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

It being a busy Saturday lunch I had plenty of time to search and choose a morsel I hadn’t sampled yet!
I finally opted for the “Hamburg Steak”, which is also called a Louie Steak in the US although its varieties are endless.
Actually in Japan a “Hamburg” is an open hamburger while “Hamburger” means it will be served sandwiched inside a bun.
I ordered with blue cheese sauce topping!

Being hungry I also ordered a side dish of garlic rice!

My order!

Plenty of garlic rice. Very well-balanced, actually and lighter than expected!

Coleslaw!

The Hamburg Steak with blue cheese sauce topping, beansprouts seasoned with the hamburg steak juices and fried potatoes (Belgian!)!

This Hamburg Steak is made with no less than 4 types of beef!

It is moreover hand knife-chopped, not one of those mushy “patties” served in some notorious diners!
Cooked semi rare, great bite and real beef taste!
Will come again for it with a different topping and side dish next time!

TEQUILA’S DINER
Chef Chihiro Okamoto

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
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Small and big parties welcome on reservations
Small outside lodge can be made non-smoking
Kids’ special lunch (with little salt) available!

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Quaint Okina Inari Daimyoujin Shrine (翁稲荷大明神) in Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City

March 2, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you take the first street right of Shizuoka JR Station that runs past the Post Office and under the railway tracks you will enter the south side of Shizuoka City, that is Suruga Ku. keep walking straight ahead and 5 minutes later you will find these red pennants along the left hand side of the pavement!

For all their garish grandiloquence they only announce the presence of a small Shinto Shrine called Okina Inari Daimyoujin Shrine (翁稲荷大明神). The reason I decided to have a look at it is that my good friend, Atsuko Kurata who is always on the lookout for unusual sites signaled to me through Facebook!

The red torii/鳥居/Shrine Entrance Portal!

An unusual way to advertise a Shinto Shrine the way they used to do for private shops in Japan of yore!

All kinds of invitations written on the paper flying in the wind!

Inari Shinto Shrines are always guarded by foxes. Herds of them in this particular case!

On both sides!
Note the metal braziers used as supports for the votive messages!

I wouldn’t criticize you for taking this shrine for a local shop!

The roof pinion could be used either in a Buddhist Temple or a Shinto Shrine!

Now, this antique komainu/狛犬/lion guard came from under the roof of another shrine or temple!

A real bric a brac on the west hand side of the shrine!

Now, this is an exceedingly unusual stone hand washing basin!

Why all these traditional Japanese water tubs?

A tiny inari shrine!

The prayer bell and its rope and the money-offerings box!

It looks like an antique than anything else!

Actually the lady owning and looking after the whole place kindly let me take pictures of the inside!

All kinds of offerings from neighboring followers among a jumble that still looks like an antique dealer’s dream!
Actually traditional Japanese dancing plays are also held inside!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Jumai Daiginjo Nama Genshu Fukuro Tsuri Tobin Kakoi (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

February 18, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time we tasted one by one of Hiromi’s favorite breweries, namely, Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, which has the particularity to come up with long names for its brews!

The picture above states that the rice used is Bizen Ohmachi from Toyama Prefecture!

A long name as usual: Garyubai/臥龍梅 Junmai Daiginjo/純米大吟醸 (pure rice alcohol added) Nama/生原 (unpasteurized) Genshu/酒袋 (no pure water added) Fukuro tsuri/吊り Tobin Kakoi/斗瓶囲い!

As for Fukuro tsuri/吊り Tobin Kakoi/斗瓶囲い, “fukuro tsuri” means that the sake was not pressed but let to drip out of suspended bags, and “tobi kakoi” means that the naturally-filtered sake was gathered into expensive large glass flasks!

Rice: Bizen Ohmachi (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.3
Bottled in May 2015

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Light, dry and fruity. Complex. Pears, melon, passion fruit, green apples
Body: Slightly sirupy
Taste: Dry but very fruity attack , but only with a little junmai petillant.
Complex.
Plums, pears, smoked muscat, melon, passion fruit.
Lingers on palate for quite a while before before departing with oranges and kumquats.
Melon makes a last appearance.

Overall: Extremely elegant sweetish sake in spite of its announced + 4 dryness.
Very fruity and complex it will appeal to ladies in particular.
Probably best enjoyed at room temperature on its own or as a digestif.
Suggested pairings: foie gras, blue cheese, smoked cheese.
Extravagant!

LA SOMMELIERE

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Japan, Japan Tourism, Matsuzakaya Department Store, Shizuoka City, Tax Exemption in Japan, Tourism

Tax Exemption at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City (and in Japan)!

February 11, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

All pictures taken by Robert-Gilles Martineau and authorized by Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City.

In 2015 Matsuzakaya Department Stores, formerly from Nagoya but now merged with Tokyo-based Daimaru Stores were among the first establishments to provide a tax exemption service to foreign tourists in Japan!
Good news for the latter when you realize that the refund will amount to no less than 8%.
But there conditions similar to the same scheme existing in many other countries, especially in Europe!

Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City, right across from Shizuoka JR Station North exit, consists of two buildings, the main building/本館 and the North wing/北館, also called Bekkan/別館.
For the sake of simplicity this article deals with the Main Building only, as the tax exemption counter is located on the 6th floor of the Main Building!

Note that Matsuzakaya Department Store has provided an English, Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean multiple translation of its floor plan!
Simple multilingual floor plan leaflets are provided for free at the reception lobby on the first floor, too.

Freshly-cooked food on the basement floor. Such food cannot be tax exempted.

Vegetables and fruit on the basement floor.
Such items cannot be tax exempted either.

Packaged sweets and cakes on the basement floor.
These can be tax exempted!

Wines, spirits and liquors are also tax exempted!
Matsuzakaya Department Store offers many local sake and shochu among a vast selection!

First floor: Women’s shoes, handbags and casual jewelry, cosmetics, accessories.

Second floor: Men’s clothing/men’s accessories.

More men’s clothing on the second floor.

Third floor: Women’s clothing/handbags.

Fourth floor: Women’s clothing.

Fifth floor: Children’s clothing/Toys/Women’s intimate apparel.

Sixth floor: fine jewelry, kimono art, tableware, cooking supplies.

Very popular cooking supplies on the sixth floor!

Seventh floor: Event Hall/Home furnishings.

Eighth floor: Event hall/Restaurants.

Bear in mind that restaurant bills are not tax exempt.

Having completed your purchases for the day, proceed to the tax exemption office on the sixth floor!

The staff at the office do not speak English but a multilingual phone translation and interpretation will be launched there in March!

The Japanese side of the tax exemption counter pamphlet.

Bear in mind that Masuzakaya Department store will levy 1.1 % off the 8% tax for paperwork and other expenses. You will be actually refunded 6.9%!

The multilingual side of the pamphlet in English, Chinese and Taiwanese.

Please copy it and read carefully the conditions!

In short you will be refunded tax for purchases totaling over 10,801 yen (including tax) in a single day at the store for standard products, and 5,401 to 540,000 yen for consumable goods. This must be done on the day of purchase between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.!

For consumable goods you will be provided vinyl bags which will have to stay sealed until you have left Japan!

For more information consult Matsuzakaya Department Store Shizuoka HOMEPAGE
ENGLISH SITE
CHINESE SITE
TAIWANESE SITE
KOREAN SITE

10-2, Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, japan 420-8560
Tel.: 054-254-1111
Opening hours: 10:00~19:30 (B1 and 1st floors and tax exemption, 10:00~20:00; main Building 8th-floor restaurants: 11:00~22:00)

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Kuro Coco Stout Porter

February 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

For once, I tasted this very new craft beer by Aoi Brewing at Beer Junkies Motel in Shizuoka City!

Kuroi Coco!
Actually the real name is “Kuro Coco Stout Porter”!

Served on tap
Barley, Chocolate malt, Black malt, Munich malt, Dark Crystal malt Australian Galaxy hop, finely chopped dry coconuts chips, live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 20
Natural carbonation
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head. Creamy. light brown color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: very dark brown
Aroma: dry. Coffee beans, dark chocolate
Taste:very dry, deep and fruity attack.
Complex.
Coffee beans, dark chocolate, dry biscuits, faint coconuts.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more dark chocolate and more marked coconuts.
Varies little with food, but for more pronounced coconuts.

Overall: Intriguing craft beer!
Lighter than expected and very easy to drink.
Complex and eminently satisfying!
A craft beer for all seasons, genders and ages!
Suggested pairings: nuts, lamb chops, pork, cold meats.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK
FACEBOOK

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Kurotonbi Weissen

February 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

New craft beers are coming fast and furious at Aoi Brewing in Shizuoka City!
Actually, there is a lot of experimenting going on as bottled beer is about to come out, too!

“Kuroi Tonbi/Black kite (the bird!)” Weissen!
Originally conceived as Brown Weissen TYpe!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Chocolate malt, Black malt, Munich malt, Dark crystal malt, Topaz hop, Tettnang hop, live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 6.6%
IBU: 23
Natural carbonation
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head. Creamy. very light coffee color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange brown
Aroma: discreet and fresh. Biscuits, bread.
Taste: fresh, deep and fruity attack quickly turning to a pleasant acid note.
Bread, biscuits, deep body.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with hints of honey and acid oranges.
Alcohol will surge forward with rise in temperature.
Tends to turn sweet with food.

overall: A new type of craft beer for Aoi Brewing!
Planned originally as Brown Weissen type.
Very solid but easy to drink craft beer!
Suggested pairings; nuts, cheese, pork.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Craft Beer Station in Shizuoka City!

February 7, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Easy-going and very friendly. English spoken.
Equipment and facilities: Very clean and overall. Small but very clean washroom. Non-smoking!
Prices: slightly expensive but no charｇe. Good value overall.
Strong points: local craft beers on the tap. Various bottled beers. Beer pub food.

Craft beer is definitely witnessing a boom in Shizuoka City to the point that beer bars and pubs are definitely not enough to cater for all the beer-lovers in our city!
Fortunately enough Naoya Kojima/小島直哉さん has grasoed the need and opened his new craft beer bar, Craft Beer Station just within walking distance from the North exit of Shizuoka JR Station!

This beer-quaffing squirrel will become a collector’s item!

Located on the second floor of a building next to the west entrance of Parco Department Store it would be easy to miss but for that beautiful board!

Find the blackboard at the bottom of the stairs and start climbing!

Most of it in English!
6 craft beers on tap including 3 Shizuoka Prefecture craft beers: Hansharo (Izu no Kuni City, Izu Nagaoka), Baird beer (Izu no Kuni City, Shuzenji), and Aoi Brewing (Shizuoka City!)
No charge! No smoking! Cash on delivery payment! English OK!

Naoya Kojima/小島直哉さん at work!

The place, although a bit narrow is very convivial in its concept and it is fun to drink there with friends in very close proximity!

Plenty of drinks and food!
If you can’t read, Naoya will be glad to help you!

The 6 craft beers of the day on tap!
All from Shizuoka Prefecture!
Expect them to be changed regularly!

The craft beers shared with friends on that day!
All from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Fried potato wedges!

This was my first visit, a bit too short to my liking but expect more reports in the near future!

CRAFT BEER STATION (BEER IS FUN SINCE 2015)
Naoya Kojima/小島直哉さん

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya Machi, 5-7, Tanaka Building, 2F (a few minutes from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, next to Parco Department Store west entrance)
Tel.: 080-6315-5143
e-mail: cbstation1@gmail.com
HOMEPAGE
Opening hours: Monday~Friday. 17:00~24:00; Saturday & Sunday, 12:00~24:00

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Vegan Bread at Tsuchikiri Bakery in Shizuoka City!

February 1, 2016 dragonlife 4 Comments

I eat bread every morning, therefore I wish to something not only decent but very tasty for my first meal of the day!

In Shizuoka City we are actually blessed with quite a few artisanal bakeries and Tsuchikiri Bakery is one of them, but you must be prepared to visit it at definite times as their bread will be sold out within a blink of the eye!

Actually the bakery has moved only recently to its new address at a crossroads in Jyoto Cho, quite away from the busy Kitakaido Street!

The place is run by ever smiling mother and daughter team who bake their bread twice a day and sell it at 10:00 and 13:30 From Tuesday to Saturday!
Since it is overwhelmingly popular customers can purchase only up 2 of each of the three kinds of bread on offer per person. As far as I know reservations are not accepted!

Loaves on display will be cut into standard portions accordingly to order: whole. from 2 to 10 slices!

The three types of loaves. Prices are for a standard portion!

Raisins bread (not vegan), Plain bread (“yamagata”. Vegan!) and Three-cereal bread (Vegan!)!
Not cheap, I agree, but one of the healthiest bread in town! Industrial bread just does not compare!

My choice of the day, which would be perfect for vegans who want their vegan bread made without eggs or dairy products: Job’s tears/Adlay (“hato mugi” in Japanese), rye and whole rice!
Moreover the yeast is natural!

Your standard loaf one cut is packed and handed to you in a paper bag!

Out of the bag!

Bear in mind that such bread, being not made with eggs or dairy products, is very soft out of the oven.
I eat it the following morning plain or toasted!

And if your standard loaf was cut first out of the main loaf you will get the yummy end as service!

TSUCHIKRI BAKERY/土切製缶

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Jyoto Cho, 4-4(NTT and Mini Stop Shop crossroads)
Tel.: 054-245-1661
Opening hours: 10:00~17:30
Freshly baked bread at 10:00 and 13:30
Closed on Sundays and mondays

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Shizuoka Craft Beer: Aoi Brewing-Flemish Blanc

January 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has just put out a Belgian Type of beer!
It is actually a new version of their belgian Wheat Craft Beer!

Flemish Blanc!
By the way, Aoi Brewing Co. will start bottling their beers next month!

Served on tap
Barley, Wheat, Pilsner malt, Wheat malt, Topaz hop, Perle hop, Orange peels, Coriander, Nutmeg, Lemon peels, live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 5%
IBU: 28
Natural carbonation
Production: 450 liters
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Long head. Creamy. White color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: lemon orange
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Oranges, citruses, faint biscuits
Taste: dry and fruity attack with some acidity.
Light but satisfying.
Complex. Dry oranges and lemon.
Very easy to drink.
Lingers long enough for true tasting before departing with more dry oranges and biscuits.
Stays faithfully dry all the way through.
Acidity tends to rise with following sips.

Overall: A craft beer for all seasons!
Dry, light, but reliable.
Recommended pairings: cold meats, Chinese Cuisine, sauerkraut, Thai and other spicy cuisines.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Japan, Japan Gastronomy, Japan Tourism, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Wagyu Beef

Local Reasonable Wagyu Beef at Sumpu No Nikudokoro Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

January 7, 2016 dragonlife 1 Comment

Service: Friendly, attentive and smiling
Equipment & Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Beautiful and modern gender-separated washrooms
Prices: Reasonable (wayuu is not cheap anywhere!)
Strong points: Almost completely local ingredients. High class beef and pork. Great local sake and shochu list! Non-smoking at lunch time!

I had been curious for some time about a new restaurant which had been opened three years ago above a convenience store of all things this year when the far corner across Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, was reclaimed for development.

The name of the restaurant is “Sumpu No Nikudokoro/駿府の肉処”. Sumpu stands for the old name of Shizuoka City and Nikudokoro means “the Place for Meat”!
Pity they don’t take the pains of at least writing the English pronunciation when you hear that Shizuoka Prefecture and City have recently declared to promote tourism more actively…

I had noticed this advert for a single donburi/bowl dish priced at 800 yen/8 US $/6 Euros for quite a while and I had thought that the place was maybe a very reasonable and simple restaurant subsidized by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government, the Agriculture Department in particular. I was proved slightly wrong!

Frankly speaking the lack of explanations and introductions on the ground floor was a bit frustrating and I was somewhat surprised to find out after climbing nondescript stairs to stand in front of small but elegant entrance!

An the surprises only continued after I had stepped inside!
Wow! Special Wagyu certified from Shizuoka Prefecture!
Actually no less than 12 breeders have been awarded the distinction in our Prefecture!

They were not shy about exhibiting the meat used in the restaurant, a sure sign of superior quality!

Then I started to understand!
Wagyu is horribly expensive in Japan, wherever it is produced and moreover if it has received the label ‘Special Choice” by the Government!

The restaurant is owned and run by the Shizuoka JA (Japan Agriculture), the biggest Agricultural Association in Shizuoka Prefecture (and also heavily subsidized by the country!)!
Now, I knew why the prices were still comparatively reasonable, even for local products!

The establishment is absolutely spotless clean with a direct view into the kitchen! Talk about superior hygiene!

Not only the meat, but most of the sake and shochu are also brewed in Shizuoka Prefecture!

There are three types of seating: A counter by the window, very practical for individual guests or couples, benches and tables for 4 people apiece and a dig-in kotatsu Japanese room you can partly or completely reserved for a meal away from other guests’ sight (500 yen extra per person in that case). The Japanese room can be completely reserved for up to 8 guests. Otherwise parties up to 26 guests are accepted. Total reservation can be insured for up to 66 guests.

The sliding doors of the private Japanese-style room.

My first visit was for lunch at which you can a choice of single bowl dishes between 800 and 980 yen (very popular with office workers and doctors working nearby!), and three meat lunch sets between 1,200 yen and 3,000 yen. I chose the latter, which at 25 US $ is still very reasonable!

Next time I will strongly suggest that they write an English translation!

Not only the wasabi (of course!) but even the salt is local!

Supreme fat to coat the BBQ plate with before grilling the meat and vegetables! Extravagant!

Absolutely beautiful!
Now, what do we have?

Two kinds of Wagyu Beef and Kinton-o Pork form Shizuoka Prefecture!
Actually our Prefecture is nationally renown for its supreme pork!

They need to translate that, too!
It does make for good reading, actually!

In the bckground lean Wagyu Beef and in the forefront Kinton-O Pork!

Great attentions to detail: served with grilled garlic slices and chopped thin scallions!

Naturally the vegetables are exclusively local!

Local vegetable salad and Shizuoka green tea as a bavarois with jelly!

Shizuoka-grown Koshihikari rice! A real beauty!

They should translate that too in English:
Shizuoka Koshikari rice is the earliest to be harvested in the island of Honshu: planted in April, rice grains appear in July and the rice is harvested end of August!
It is nicknamed “Pearl Rice”!

A light soup, perfect to wash all that good food down!

100% Shizuoka orange juice! The real article!

You grill everything at your own pace and order!

So tender and so juicy Wagyu Beef!
What else can you ask for?

Look forward to more reports as I want to investigate some of the ridiculously cheap meat bowl lunches and of course a full dinner with local sake and shochu!

Sumpu No Nikudokoro
Shizuoka Sodachi
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Oote Machi, 2-15, MRK Bldg., 2f (across Cenova Dept. Store above 7 eleven convenience store)
Tel.: 054-251-4129
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:00~23:00
Closed on third Wednesday of each month
Credit Cards OK
Reservations highly recommended for dinner!
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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On the Shizuoka Prefecture Beer Trail 2: Aoi brewing Co. In Shizuoka City!

January 4, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Naoki Mando/万度直樹さん, the owner of a few bars and restaurants in Shizuoka City achieved a long dream when his Brewery, the newest in Shizuoka Prefectyre at the time, Aoi Brewing Co. produced its first craft beer on May 22nd, 2014.

“Aoi” is a name rarely recorded by Shizuoka City as it is the official emblem of Lord Ieyasu Tokugawa who more or less founded Sumpu, the old name of Shizuoka City.
Naoki had to get not only the Shizuoka City’s permission to use the name and crest but also that of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in Kuno, Suruga Ku, Shizuoka City, the Shrine dedicated to Lord Ieyasu!

Aoi Brewing Company was built inside a former soy sauce manufacture near Sengen Shrine, another sanctuary related with Lord Tokugawa Ieayasu.

Now the brewery has its own Brew Pub, Beer Garage, where only Aoi Brewing Co craft beers are served on the tap.
The same pub also serves all kinds of food typical of a brew pub.
Customers are mainly locals or beer lovers wanting to enjoy their past time away from the crowds in downtown Shizuoka City!

On the other hand, Naoki Mando’s oldest property, Growstock bar & Restaurant in downtown Shizuoka City also serves a couple of Aoi Craft Beers on the tap.

But Growstock basically serves beers from all over the world either in bottles or on the tap!

They serve a large array of foods, some of which finds its way into the beer stand located in Miyuki-Cho, near Shizuoka JR Station.

This is a very busy place as it serves at least 6 beers on the tap, usually all from Aoi Brewing Co. although guest beers from Shizuoka Prefecture and far beyond also appear for the great pleasure of all aficionados!

Although Aoi Brewing Co. has already produced no less than 47 limited craft beers until December 31st, 2015, it will soon also put out bottled carft beers including Weissen, Ales, Alt and Stouts!

Although customers at Aoi Beer Stand are basically for the beer, some unusual snacks such as the above mutton gyoza do appear from time to time, the food is not to be forgotten easily!

Look out for the Mexican hot dog,although these days they serve a Mexican pisza and a Japanese quiche!

last year, Naoki Mando opened a fourth establishment to satsify the notorious Shizuoka City night owls: Beer Junkies Motel!

They serve 4 Aoi Brewing Co craft beers on the tap plus two more guest tap beers, including overseas brews along with all kinds of bottled beers, wine, spirits and cocktails!

The food menu there is definitively more extensive and includes grilled lamb chops, succulent meat pies, and what else!
A great place for late eating!

But always keep in mind that Aoi Brewing Co. is always putting out superlative brews fast gathering a lot of attention all over Japan such as this rare Christmas Ale, Abv: 10%!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

BEER GARAGE

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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