Category Archives: Shizuoka Cuisine

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery-Porter Ieyasu Kun

August 24, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hamamatsu Tenjingura Brewery have come up with new labels for its 3-beer range!

First of all they have changed the name of the beers to Ieyasu Kun, the new mascotte of Shizuoka Prefecture in remembrance of Tokugawa Ieyasu Shogun who retired to Shizuoka in the first half of the 17th Century!

As shown until next week at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City the label picture Mount Fuji which has just been accepted as the new UNESCO World Cultural Heritage!

Ieyasu Kun!

Product Name: Tenjingura Beer-Porter/Ieyasu Kun
Unfiltered
Ingredients: Grain malt, Hops
Volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 4.5%

Clarity: opaque but very clean
Color: very dark rich dark brown/coffee
Foam: Thin head but keeping longer than expected
Aroma: light. caramel, roasted grains
Taste: Well-rounded rich dry attack:
Complex: roasted grains, whole bread, roasted nuts, hints of macadamia
Pleasantly lingers inside the palate with a fizzy feeling before ending on a drier note.
Thoroughly enjoyable on its own chilled or even at room temperature.
Marries well with heavy food thanks to its dry lighter than usual taste for a porter.

Overall: A highly pleasant craftbeer which will be enjoyed by both gender of any age. Can be used as a thirst quenching porter.
I particularly enjoyed it as an aperitif with a potato and bean salad! Should go well with cold meats, too!
Do not forget to collect the label!

Tenjingura/Hamamatsu Brewery Co. Ltd.
430-463-3851 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Tenjin Machi, 3-57
Tel.: 053-4616145
Fax: 053-463-3851
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Business hours: 10:30~21:00
Closed on Tuesdays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

リゾット, レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

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

August 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

The team: Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子 and Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦!

I have already introduced Solio, one of the very top references in Itlian Gastronomy in the whole Shizuoka Prefecture therefore let me talk immediately about we had during our last and very quick visit!

Mini tomatoes from Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦’s own garden and mozzarella cheese salad to help our patience!

We noticed in the glassed display this locally-grown enormous David Cross okra with such a beautiful pattern!
We couldn’t help and ask for another simple but so elegant appetizer!

Absolutely beautiful and the seeds are really scrumptious!

Then it was dish of local pork cooked on the grill!

Shizuoka Prefecture is rapidly becoming famous for its pork and there must be more than 12 different varieties in our Prefecture alone. This particular pork is called “mugiton/From pigs fed with grain” and is raised in the Western part of Shizuoka!

Shizuoka has certainly contributed to the letters of nobility attached to such a seemingly common meat!

The more for it when it is “dressed up” with succulent local vegetables!

I’ve already said and still claim that Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦makes the best risotto in town!
This time we just could not resist the Italian summer truffles risotto!
Simply extravagant (but so reasonably-priced!)!

Instead of dessert we had to utter pleasure to sample a new creation by Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子: home-made limonicello liqueur!

Lucky they don’t serve it in a bottle or it would be temptation difficult to resist to just for a second (and third?) glass!

Now, I will have to convince someone to accompany me there soon or it will be a torture! LOL

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!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Fish, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka marine products, Tourism

French Gastronomy: 4 More Fish and Seafood Dishes at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

August 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

As I said time and time again Shizuoka Prefecture is blessed with Suruga Bay arguably the richest sea in Japan, especially when it comes to variety!
The other other Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん wrote a “music partition” with fish and vegetables in particular. Except for one fish, they are all found in Suruga Bay and the vegetables are organic and grown here in Shizuoka Prefecture!
So what did we have?

An elgant appetizer concoted with cubes of seared bonito/katsuo from Omaezaki, lightly seasoned with garam masala, cubes of raw “mizu nasu” eggplants,all in a salt jelly equivalent to sea water and a sprinkle of golden sesame seeds!

Edomae no Anago/Conger eel from Tokyo!

The fish was poele/skillet-fried to a crisp and served with a fried basil on top astride a ratatouille of confit vegetables.

A view of the vegetables all grown organically in Kitayama farm in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Gateau de poisson poele sauce pamplemousse/Skillet-fired fish cake with grapefruit sauce!

Now, what’s inside that fish cake?

Aji/Horse mackerel from Kurasawa fishing harbor in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
No need to mention that Shizuoka Horse mackerel is simply extravagant in Japan!

Amadai/Sweet seabream from Sagara fishing harbor in Western Shzuoka Prefecture!
This particular seabream is known for its fine nad soft scales. Instead of scraping them off, Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん brush them back and fry the fish on its skin creating a crispy “hairstyle”!

The tiny vegetables are also grown in Kityama Garden!
Ratatouile with David Cross okra and black shishito pepper!

The tiny vegetables are white goya/bitter gourd and green okra
As for the sauce, it is a beautiful red sweet pimento coulis accentuated with fennel oil!

No need to travel for me when it comes to fish!

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji Takasago Brewery-Sekai Bunka Isan Tooroku-Yamahai Junmai Ginjo

August 22, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fuji-Takasago Brewery is located in Fujinomiya City and as I said since Mount Fuji has been accepted by the UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, the brewery felt obliged to advertise the event!

I suspect they printed that particular “flying label” for all their bottles! LOL

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very light golden hue
Aroma: Faint, almost shy. Fruity and sweetish. rice
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded fruity and sweetish attack with assertive junmai petillant.
Complex. Pears, almonds, hints of chocolate. Later, hints of sweet milk coffee.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate.
Tends to sweeten up with second long sip.
Marries well with food.
Surprisingly sweetish and pleasant sake for a yamahai.

Overall: A sake obviously designed to be enjoyed with heavy izakaya food, although thoroughly enjoyable on its own chilled.
Probably best enjoyed by ladies thanks to its sweetish approach.
Try it with cheese!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

The Ale House in Fujieda City (Summer 2013-revisited)

August 21, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and smiling, all in a very quiet atmosphere (when not full!)
Facilities: Overall very clean. Clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Shizuoka Micro breweries’ beers on tap, Belgian beers and pub grub.

There are very few pubs, I mean real pubs, British or Irish, worth noticing in our Prefecture.
But I surely don’t mind traveling all the way from Shizuoka City to Fujieda City and come back with the last train back home under the questioning looks from commuters going back to their sleeping town! Fortunately The Ale House is only less than 10 minutes away from the south exit of the JR Station!

It has become one of those “kakureya” (“hidden spots”) that a lot of residents expats talk about, and deservedly so.
Would you believe it I visited it for the first time again in 6 years with a motley of friends! They stille remembered me, though! LOL

At least it looks like a real pub!

But I let my English friend Patrick of Think Twiceguide me along and introduce me to the matser of the Place, Mr. Masayuki Saitou
Mr. Saitou explained us he opened his Pub in 1995 out a search for a new challenge away from the dreary life of a typical Japanese “salaryman”, and indulge in his hobby, namely whisky.
Talking of whisky, he does have an impression collection, but you will have to ask him to show it as it is protected from the spotlights inside wooden cabinets!
Now, if you are a beer lover, he has an extra treat for you, a proof of his dedication: baird Beer from Numazu City and Bayern Meister Bier from Fujinomiya City on tap!

The only problem is that it is really tough to take clear pictures in the very dark lounge bar!

Some of the beers available with their country of origin clearly marked. Don’t worry Mr. Saitoh will somehow explain everything if you don’t read Japanese!

Some of these are actually sometimes available!

The food menu ( a lot of typical pub grub) is in Japanese but the master will gladly help you read it!

the same for the drinks!

Interestingly enough, people here do not know we do have quite a few notable “jibiru”, microbreweries, in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Now if you are into cocktails, no worries, the Ale House has more than you can drink.

Beers come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, colors, on the tap and in bottles!

Long ones, too?

These beer coasters were everywhere! Now, who is this guy?

A very dark beer in a very dark place! LOL

there is plenty of grub (foods) to choose from:
Cheese assortment.

Fried potato wedges with their skins.

Pickles.

Sausages.

Spicy potatoes.

Keema pizza!

Skillet-fried chicken and vegetables.

Spicy mushroom noodles.

And even desserts such as this pear tart!

I won’t want 6 years till my next visit, I can assure you!

The Ale House
426-0061 Fujieda City, Tanuma, 1-4-12 (JR Station South Exit, take second on left)
Tel. & Fax: 054-6362889
Opening hours: 18:30~25:00
Closed on Mondays (Tuesdays are open, even in the case of a National Holiday)
Blog/Homepage (Japanese only)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Chocolate, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Dessert: Chocolate Ravioli at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

August 20, 2013 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ravioli are certainly a universally popular way of cooking pasta but have you ever imagined it as a dessert in French cuisine?
It looks so simple, tasty and elegant but it requires some skill!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん is always looking forward to offer something off the beaten tracks, even with seemingly common ingredients, but keeping things simple at all times!
So the dessert I recently enjoyed in the heat of summer consisted of the above home-made chocolate ice-cream, an offering definitely aimed at an adult sweet tooth!
The little tomadillo is organic and Shizuoka-grown!

Now, this multi-layered vanilla and chocolate Marquise cake must have taken some time to concoct!

The cold chocolate ravioli!
Not that simple to keep them ready although I have an inkling they are made at the very last minute and cooled down in ice!

A last note: the sauce is vanilla and framboise/raspberry coulis!

I hope I gave you some ideas for your next party!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bento, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Korean Cuisine, Korean Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bento: Shizuoka Bento 2: Korean Bibimba Bento at Cenova

August 19, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

When I visited Cenova today to buy a bento I thought of Sissi when I discovered the bento booth held by Saikabo company!

Saikabo is a very big company with 24 restaurants in Japan, 3 more in Korea, 17 shops in Japan and even 1 kimuchi Museum!

This is how I found it exhibited at Cenova Deaprtment Store in Shizuoka City!

Cute sign, isn’t it?

This summer is terribly hot and as it is cold food they make sure it keeps cold until you open back at homeor at the office!

It comes into solid but light disposable plastic double-decker boxes closely fitting each other.

The price (at 680 yen maybe a little expensive, but the food is very tasty!), the ingredients and the consumption date limit are clearly printed on the label.

Once open it looks simple enough, but it is actually very fresh and so healthy! Mind you kimchi-baseed food is comparatively easier to preserve!

The cold steamed rice is seasoned Korean style with sesame oil and sesame seeds!

This side dish looks so Korean!

Korean marinated (some of them fried) namul (namuru in Japanese) vegetables: gosari namul (stir-fried bracken fern shoots that have been softened and seasoned), muchae (julienned white radish in a sweet vinegar sauce with ground dried chili pepper), sigeumchi namul (lightly blanched spinach dressed with spring onions, garlic and sesame seeds) and kongnamul (cold boiled soybean sprouts with sesame oil, spring onions, garlic and sesame seeds).

Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was in a bit of hurry to care!

Fried graound beef and hot chili/kimchi sauce and kimchi Chinese cabbage!

Very tasty ( a bit hot, actually, but nothing exaggerated) and so healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bento, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 弁当

Bento: Shizuoka Bento 1: Tofu Hamburger Bento at Matsuzakaya

August 16, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of almost 4,000,000 souls, practically the same as New Zealand or Ireland, and Shizuoka City counts from 800,000 of them.
Many workers in Shizuoka Prefecture are of the white-collar sort who have little time to prepare or eat lunch at a restaurant.
But Japan has developed the concept of a portable lunch to a perfection reached nowhere else: bento!
It is no wonder that one can find so many of them in mind-boggling variety and price range, especially in large cities from the cheap ones sold at convenience stores to the very specialized ones concocted by restaurants as extravagant take-outs.
At least this makes for a hopefully unending series of articles even if I shun the mountain of run-of-the-mill found in convenience stores or company cafeterias!
At the same time I can help you discover all about local gastronomy through a very practical, reasonable and tasty way to spend your lunch or dinner back home, on a park bench or at your hotel!

Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City offers an incredible number on its basement floor and I had to survey the whole floor twice before I decided to acquire one at a small shop run by Matsuoka Company.

Matsuoka Co. hails from Nagoya city in neighboring Aichi Prefecture but the ingredients are obviously from Shizuoka Prefecture. They presently offer a bento limited to 20 boxes whose ingredients comprise tofu hamburgers!

At 12:00 a;ready half of them had been sold!

it was packed again in a cellophane paper bag with disposable chopsticks, toothpick and tartare sauce before being placed into another vinyl bag for transport! Talk about Japanese hygiene!

befor opening. Sorry for the fuzzy picture!

At 680 yen very reasonable!
Every ingredient is clearly printed!
Made on the 16th of August 2013 at 11:45 and to be sold before 16:45!
The hygiene rules are pretty strict in Japan!

Once opened it not looks appetix\zing but also colorful and artistic in spite of the simple ingredients!

Kyoto-style red cucumber pickles, tamagoyaki and boiled/steamed broccoli.

Simmered eggplant, yellow sweet pimento and blanched lotus root slice.

Fried shishito pepper, simmered eggplant, red sweet pimento blanched lotus root slice and fried kabocha pumpkin slices.

The deep-fried tofu hamburger coated with sweet and sour sauce and sprinkled with golden sesame seeds.

Shredded dry seaweed/nori between the rice and the toppings for extra taste. And so healthy!

The tofu hamburgeres1
Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I was really hungry!

See next lunch! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bento, 美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-6

August 16, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A great set for two, but don’t fight over the single items! LOL

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

This is unfortunately the last installment, but I will come with another theme next time!
Isetan Department Store’s display is not wide-ranging as the other other but it is nonetheless worth a visit and a long look. Be aware that their offerings go fast, so come early!

At 1,500 yen (but with a 100-yen disount!) the price seems a bit high for this one, but it includes “hon maguro/blue fin tuna”, ikura and raw salmon among pricey items. Note the menegi/leek sprouts sushi nigiri!

Two very reasonable set for 580 yen (minus a 100-yen discount):
Hirame Tsukushi/Sole (halibut, grouper) sushi nigiri
An all tuna set with sushi nigiri, grated tuna/negitoro gunkan and tekka maki!

An individual sushi set for 780 yen including tuna, flying fish roe, negitoro gunkan and cuttle fish!

Two different individual all-tuna sushi sets for 580 yen! Now, this is cheap!

The day Special sushi set!
15 sushi pieces for 1,780 yen! A whole dinner!
Including pricey items such as hon-maguro, mebachi tuna and conger eel!
What would you pay for that even in a sushi restaurant?

4 inari zushi for 210 yen! The perfect accompaniment to another set of fish or fowl for example!

All kinds of sushi rolls (2 per pack cut into 4 pieces each) from 210 yen to 420 yen! An embarrassment of choices!

kaisen donburi/Fresh seafood bowl with 7 different ingredients including tuna on a bowl of sushi rice! Only 680 yen! A whole meal!

A Shizuoka specialty: Anago donburi!
Broiled conger eel and tamagoyaki atop rice!
At 580 yen, a real bargain!

Right, that is all for sushi sets, bentos and takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores!
Of course if I have the opportunity to visit other Department Stores in a different city of our Prefecture I’ll be glad to report on them!

Any suggestions for the next theme based on food you could buy at Shizuoka City Department Stores?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

美食, Eel, 観光, 魚, 鰻, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Gastronomy: Eels at Chigusa in Hamamatsu City!

August 15, 2013 dragonlife 11 Comments

Service: shy but very friendly
Facilities: traditional but very clean
Prices : reasonable for eels (eels are very expensive in Japan)
Strong points: Eels! Only local fish used! Great view on Hamana Lake

Summer is eel eating time in Japan, especially in Shizuoka renown all over the country for its great eels mainly bred around Hamamatsu City and in Hamana Lake in particular.
So the other day we decided to visit at long last a famous but traditional and very reasonable eel restaurant lost by the Hamana Lake in Mikkabi, Hamamatsu City, called Chigusa (ちぐさ/千草)!

So instead of boarding a regular train, and taxi or bus we took a local train along the Tenhama Line (Japanese web site), a trip I would advise any true traveler (and photographer) to take to enjoy the sights and discoveries of old Japan!
We got down at an unmanned (yes, they still exist! Talk about Japanese trust!) station in the blazing sun.

The station is called Okuhamanako/Far side of Hamana Lake.
Get down there and try to reach the main road through the countryside as soon as you can (there are many ways!)!

This particular area, Mikkabi in Hamamatsu City, is famous all over Japan for its (still green now) oranges!

Once you reach the main road turn left and walk along for 10 minutes along the Hamana Lake!

You can’t miss it even if you can’t read Japanese as a long black eel is welcoming you from afar!

A picture/snapshot not to miss!

The entrance with unagi/鰻 written on the noren/暖簾, entrance curtain!
Who’s that guy taking a picture? LOL

Past the entrance you will find these long metal tubes wrapped in rice straw ropes.
What are they? Can you guess?

Portable fireworks!
This very rare festival is held beginning of August in Hosoe near Hamana Lake. I couldn’t manage my schedule to report but I’ll do it next year! Promise!

Have a good look at the souvenirs before entering the dining room!

Very traditional Japanese atmosphere inside!

The menu is in Japanese, but the pictures will give a very good indication!
I personally chose the above, the best eel “double-decker” lunch set. Even at 3,200 yen (32 US $) it is very reasonable when you realize that the eel prices have almost doubled in the past 3 years!
And the eels are exclusively locally bred in Hamana Lake!
It is worth the trip, even by car as there is a big car park!

Another important detail: you will have to wait some time before your order arrives. A good sign proving that contrary to the “cheap diners” food is individually prepared for best quality!
The lunch arrives at your table in a bento box shape on a tray.

Take off the lids…. et voila!

A succulent light soup containing eel liver/鰻肝!

Home-made Japanese pickles, o-shinko/オシンコ!

The broiled eel double decker/unagi jyuu/鰻重!

Two layers of eel grilled and broiled to perfection with two layers of freshly (very important!) steamed rice enhanced by the sauce of the eel
Take your time and use chopsticks to make sure you eat slowly and appreciate it to the fullest! This eel in eel country!

This gourd-shaped receptable contains shijimi/七味 mixed spice powder you can sprinkle over the eel for extra zip!

Dragon (my worse half) chose the above which contains a single layer of broiled eel but with finely shredded omelet between the fish and the rice!

Really appetizing, isn’t it?
I forgot: we visited Chigusa on Dragon’s advice! LOL

Do I need to mention I helped Dragon to finish it under the pretense of sharing?

It would certainly be a dilemma if I had to choose only one of those two lunches!
Make sure to come with a special company to taste as much as you can as I daresay that yen for yen this is the best value for eel in the whole Prefecture! (but I’m sure a lot of people will disagree! LOL)

CHIGUSA ちぐさ/千草
Hamamatsu City, kita Ku, Mikkabi Cho, Mikkabi, 1148-10
Tel.: 053-525-0218
Opening hours: 11:00~14:00, 16:00~20:00
Closed on 31st of December and 1st of January only
Reservations strongly recommended
Take-outs OK!
Cards OK
Non-smoking at lunch time
Car park available (30 spaces)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-5

August 14, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

The little red and white tag means that the wasabi is served separately!

This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the second one which is owned by the Shizutetsu Stores Chain!!

Thin rolls for all priorities, including vegetarian all 260 yen a pack!

A pack of 8 tuna nigiri sushi for 580 yen or (right) or 6 horse mackerel nigiri sushi for 398 yen. Horse mackerel is Shizuoka specialty!

A set of 10 smaller nigiri sushi for 680 yen including flying fish roe, tuna, scallops, salmon and so on!
Perfect for small appetites!

A similar set in an easy to carry bento box for 780 yen but with ikura!

Two similar sets for 780 yen including 9 nigiri sushi (with a 100 yen discount!) one with flying fish roe on cucumber, the other with negitoro/grated tuna!

A very reasonable set for 690 yen comprising 10 nigiri sushi! Note the small pack of pickled ginger!

Now this set of “Shun/旬/Seasonal seafood”, 10 of them is really good value, even in spite of the smaller toppings!

An all-salmon sushi nigiri bento for 590 yen with raw salmon, seared salon, and gunkan containing oya-ko/parent and child/ikura and small pieces of raw salmon!

For maki/rolls lovers! Extremely good value!

At 599 yen ridiculously cheap 5 gunkan sushi filled with ikura! For the Russians? LOL

The next and last stop will be at Isetan Department store!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Beer, Beer Brewery, 緑茶, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Samurai Surfer Beer Red

August 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again just imagine a samurai surfing on the waves of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Samurai Surfer Beer is an offshoot of a Tokyo-based brewery called Nihon Beer Co but it is run apparently in a more or less independent manner and can be considered as the newest and tenth craftbeer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture.
This the second beer they produce with the BLACK one!

I know a lot of collectors who will want this label, too!
It is located in Numazu City, at the foot of Mount Fuji, a fishing town made internationally famous by the like of Baird Beer/Baird Brewing Company run by Bryan Baird from the US.

Product name: Samurai Surfer Beer RED
Contents: 330 ml
Alcohol: 6%
Ingredients: Grain, hops, yeast, water

Clarity: Quite opaque, and lightly smoky but very clean
Color: Dark brownish orange
Foam: Very fine and fine, and lingering for quite a while
Aroma: Elegant and dry. Bread, caramel, oranges, roasted nuts.
Taste: Soft well-rounded attack.
Not as dry as expected. Welcome faint acidity. Very refreshing and easy to drink.
Complex and fruity: oranges, hints of apricots, caramel and soft nuts
Doesn’t linger so long on the palate but still leaves a smooth but light impression.
Marries very well with any food.
Very well balanced thanks to the right amount of alcohol.

Overall: Like the BLACK (7%) draught will please both genders at any time of the afternoon, evening and night, whatever the season.
Not a thirst-quenching beer really but one to enjoy for its sake at your own pace.
Complex but easy to drink.
The kind of beer that invites you to another glass!
But beware of the high alcohol content! LOL

SAMURAI SURFER BEER
Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Shimokanuki, Shimoshooji, 3140-5
Tel.: 055-933-1032
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2013/08/13): Celebrating Classic German Beer — Kellerhelles and Export Lager

August 14, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Celebrating Classic German Beer — Kellerhelles and Export Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We have said it many times — beer is the most varied and diverse beverage on earth. The proof, of course, is in the drinking. On the heels of last week’s release of two summer-harvest fruit fermented ales, we are pleased this week to release two classic styles of German lager — Kellerhelles and Export Lager.

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:
*Baird Kellerhelles (5.5%):

Bavaria is one of the great beer regions of the world. It is long reknowned for its dark lagers (dunkel) and wheat beers (wiessbier). Pale lagers (helles) are a somewhat more recent tradition, the first one having been brewed, it is thought, in Munich by the Spaten brewery in the 1890s. Today, the Helles Lager style is ubiquitous in the beer halls of Bavaria.

Baird Kellerhelles (’keller’ meaning ‘cellar’ and refering to beers that are not clarified or pasteurized) enjoys a wholesome bread-like malt flavor that is leavened perfectly by a delicately floral hop character. It would be hard to find a beverage that better refreshers and refurbishes the drinker on hot summer day.

Baird Export Lager (5.5%):

Bavaria is not the only region of Germany with a storied brewing tradition. The city of Dortmund in Westphalia has a brewing history dating back to the 13th century when it began supplying towns and cities in and about the region with a rich and full-bodied lager beer that become known as ‘Export Lager.’ Beer historian Michael Jackson describes Dortmunder export lager as “less fragrant than a true Pilsner, but still dry; firmer in its maltiness than a Munich lager; slightly stronger than either.”

Baird Export Lager takes its inspiration from this Dortmunder style, combining depth of flavor with a brisk and refreshing character. The high quality of our soft Numazu water I think really stands out in this well-rounded lager.

Kellerhelles and Export Lager are available for immediate release in Japan — both in kegs and bottles. They begin pouring from our Taproom taps tonight (Tuesday, August 13).

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Bento, 観光, 農業, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-4

August 13, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Do not ignore the great sashimi sets either at Cenova Department Store!

This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the first one which is affiliated to the supermarket at Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store!

A classic set with no less than 11 varieties of sushi nigiri including the Shizuoka specialty, a big conger eel!
At 1,380 yen a bargain considering that ikura and sea urchin are also featured!

At 950 yen all seafood local coming from Numazu Harbor!
Talk about local freshness!

For the thin maki/rolls lovers at 260 yen a box!

599 yen, another ridiculously low price for ikura!

Two different donburi:
Tekkadon with tuna and scallops fro 525 yen
Maguro no Tsubu Don with pieces of tuna and sweet shrimps for 398 yen!

“Shun/旬/Seasonal no neta nigiri!
Seasonal fish only in sushi nigiri fwaturing sardine, tuna, pike mackerel, yellowtail, and bonito for 690 yen!

Another set at the same price but all sushi nigiri different including salmon, squid and scallops!

Almost the same for the same price but including negitoro/grated tuna and ikura!

For the lovers of Large (actually medium here) Maki/Roll for 299 yen and inari sushi (sushi rice inside deep-fried sweet tofu pouches for 200 yen!

Next I will take you to the second supermarket owned by the Shizutetsu Stores Chain inside Cenova Department Store!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

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

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Samurai Surfer Beer Black

August 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just imagine a samurai surfing on the waves of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Samurai Surfer Beer is an offshoot of a Tokyo-based brewery called Nihon Beer Co but it is run apparently in a more or less independent manner and can be considered as the newest and tenth craftbeer brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture.

I know a lot of collectors who will want this label!
It is located in Numazu City, at the foot of Mount Fuji, a fishing town made internationally famous by the like of Baird Beer/Baird Brewing Company run by Bryan Baird from the US.
Samurai Surfer Beer so far has come into the shape of two brews and this is one of them called “BLACK”.

Product name: Samurai Surfer Beer Black
Contents volume: 330 ml
Alcohol: 7%
Ingredients: Grain, hops, yeast, water

Clarity: Opaque, but very clean
Colour: Blackish brown
Foam: Very fine, but light and airy lingering on for quite a while
Aroma: Assertive at first but elegant. Bread, caramel.
Taste: Very refreshing and fruity but deep well-rounded attack after a quick passage through a light foam.
Bread, caramel, roasted grains/nuts, hints of oranges, coffee beans, dark chocolate and nuts.
Stays dry on the palate but with plenty of depth and welcome acidity.
Solid, reliable and deeply satisfying.
Lingers for a while on the palate with strong hints of caramel.
Thoroughly enjoyable on its own as well as with any food.

Overall: Lighter and more elegant than expected for a dark beer.
Very satisfying. its relative lightness makes it a porter beer enjoyable by both genders at any time of the afternoon and evening and night.
A delightful surprise!
A note of caution: the strong alcohol will catch up on you later! LOL

SAMURAI SURFER BEER
Shizuoka Prefecture, Numazu City, Shimokanuki, Shimoshooji, 3140-5
Tel.: 055-933-1032
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES