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観光, Japan, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Japan Tourism: Ooi Shinto Shrine in Shimada City!

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Torii/Portal at the entrance of Ooi Shinto Shrine

Whatever City you visit in Japan, down to the smallest mountain village, you will discover at least one Shinto Shrine venerated by the locals. And if you are lucky enough to visit them during traditional holidays or festivals they become an unending source of lore study and photography!

Hand-washing fountain.

How do you recognize a Shinto Shrine from other cult sites?
It is actually very simple even if you can’t read any Japanese!
1) The entrance is always marked with “torii/鳥居/portal”, however tiny the shrine.
2) You will usually find a hand-washing fountain/basin.
3) Entrance is free contrary to some of the shrines of other beliefs. Actually you will often see children playing in their yards in daytime.

Ooi Shrine garden

Now, if you happen to pass through Shimada City, by road or train or on your way from the International Airport take a couple of hours off for a leisurely visit of Ooi shrine/大井神社 as it is only a 10-minute walk from the railway station!
It is just the right size and a true representative of the long local history and culture.
It is also within walking distance to places such as Setsugekka Soba Restaurant where you could take a beautiful lunch before proceeding to the next stage of your trip through Shizuoka Prefecture and Japan!

Shimada Obi Festival Dancer Statue

Shimada is celebrated for its Shimada Obi/belt Matsuri/Festival, an event officially designated as one of 20 strangest/most original festivals in Japan. It is held every 3 years on the Years of the Tiger, Snake, Monkey and Wild Boar!

A young dancer of the other celebrated Shimada Festival, the 300-year old Daimyo Gyoretsu, which imitates the procession of a grand jumangoku (one hundred thousand koku, units of rice) daimyo with a total of 250 marchers stretching over 500 meters!

The New Year is an important time for the Shrine to collect money through the sales of New Year decorations!

The New Year is a great time for photography when people of any age and station visit the shrine!

New Year Decorations sales booth.

The Shrine has a small and cute garden with a carp pond and arched bridge!

2012 being the Year of the Dragon, so it would be a good idea to search for hidden representations of the fabled creature!

An ancient hand-washing basin inside the garden!

Traditional paper lanterns/chōchin (提灯), make for great photographs!

A sacred cow, symbol of fertility and wealth!

A “Kappa”!

Keep your eyes open and you will discover some very intriguing statues such that of a “kappa/河童”, the Japanese cousin of the Scottish kelpie!

The French will be glad to discover frogs everywhere!

More dragons spouting water instead of belching fire!

Lions help the dragons guard the shrine from evil spirits!

Looking forward to meeting you at the next shrine!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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Memorable Gastronomy with Shizuoka Products in 2011!

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Fujiyama Wagyu Beef, Utogi Wasabi and Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes!

2011 was an eventful year for many reasons, some unwanted, even dreadful, and others more conducive to social happiness. I would prefer to remember the latter to help nurture a positive attitude towards a future we cannot predict! Being a convinced agnostic hedonist does help but I’m sure that gastronomes, whatever their credo, will realize how lucky we are in Shizuoka to be able to attain to ever-growing pleasures with seemingly simple local ingredients!
Here is a proposal for a full course, albeit a long one, representative of a dinner I would have enjoyed in 2011!

APPETIZERS/STARTERS:

Rainbow Trout Sashimi Plate!
These rainbow trouts are raised by Mr. Kunugi in Fujinomiya City!

in any repast drinks are most important as they are they insure the link between the dishes!
Japanese sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!
These labels are of a particular interest as they advertized the edible seaweed varieties found in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Note: For friends who may not drink alcohol I would recommend ginger ale made with Shizuoka-grown ginger or Shizuoka green (and black!) tea under various forms!

Tomato Tempura!
Uzu Izakaya in Shizuoka City serves it regularly with organic tomatoes seasoned with home-made yuzu koshio paste!

Sakekasu tempura!
Setsugekka Soba Restaurant in Shimada City serves this tempura concocted qith sake lees produced by their neighbors at Oomuraya Brewery!

Carrot Soup and Carrot Leaves Mousse on a Tomato Bed!
All vegetables are organic served at Pissenlit in Shizuoka city making use of the whole vegetables!

Vegetables in Banya Cauda style!
As served at Piatto in Shizuoka City! All vegetables are organic and grown in Shizuoka!

FISH & SEAFOOD

Steamed Black Bass/Suzuki/鱸 from Suruga Bay and vegetables by Mr. Furuya in Asabata, Shizuoka City!
As prepared and served by Cham Chinese Izakaya in Shizuoka City with a light warm vinaigrette!

True Seabream/Madai/真鯛 with cockles and vegetables, all from Shizuoka!
As served Italian-style by Il Castagno in Shizuoka City!

Imperial Prawn/Sakura ebi/車海老 Tempura!
As served by Setsugekka Soba Restaurant in Shimada City!

MEAT

Fujiyama Wagyu Beef, Utogi Wasabi and Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes!
As prepared by the Missus and I!
Fujiyama Wagyu is one of the thirteen varieties of wagyu bred in Shizuoka Prefecture which positively compare to Kobe Beef!
The wasabi is grown by Maruichi Farm in Utogi, the birthplace of this most remarkable ingredient!
The Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes are grown in Iwata City!

Foie gras poele on Corn Galette with Madeira Sauce!
This can qualify as an extravagant appetizer too!
The galette was concocted at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City with high-grade Kankanmusume Corn grown by Chouchou Farm in Iwata City!

Jidori Chicken Poêlé served with a Old Mimolette Cheese topping!
Fuji City is famed for its Jidori Chicken and Gentil in Shizuoka City serves it in extravagant simplicity with a topping of 24-months old Mimolette Cheese!

DESSERTS

Soy sauce and Brown Sugar Mousse Cake, Frozen Organic Mandarine and Lemon Sorbet!

Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City is a master of off the beaten track desserts!
The soy sauce is created by Amano Company in Gotemba City and the brown sugar is made with sugarcane grown in Kakegawa City. As for the mandarine and lemon, they are of course organic!

Carrot Crème Brulée and Mandarine Caramelisée!

As served at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City. Both the carrot and mandarine are organic!

Organic Carrot ice Cream!
This could be served as an appetizer, a refresher between dishes or a dessert at Comptoir de Bios in Shizuoka City!

Pheasant Egg Pudding and brown Sugar ice Cream!
Again created by Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City with pheasant eggs produced in Hamamatsu City and brown sugar made from sugarcane grown in Kakegawa City!

Naturally I still have missed a lot and I sincerely hope I will be able to introduce other discoveries by the end of this year!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Products at Pissenlit (Winter 2011~2012)!

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Organic Cauliflower and Cod Sperm Sacs Puree topped with same Sperm Sacs Poeles and steamed curry cauliflower!

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.

Planning a “quick light” lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City always smacks of jumping into a trap of your own making…
This time I had originally asked for a plate of steamed organic vegetables, but from the moment Chef Toru Arima said he had the perfect appetizer for this cold day it was a quick slide down the gastronomic slope!

The cauliflower was nonetheless organic from Chizen no Chikara in Shizuoka City and its marriage with Cod “shirako/Sperm Sacs” (sorry, but this is the true meaning!) into a smooth puree contributed into a beautiful contrast with the crispiness enveloping the unctuous same sperm sacs topping it and the light bite of more steamed cauliflower seasoned with a light curry sauce!

My initial wish was granted with a dish of steamed organic vegetables and a Suruga Bay “te-naga ebi/Japanese Scampi” on a couscous bed!

Sorry for the fuzzy picture!
I just wanted to show the meat of the scampi lodged in the middle of a red squid ring atop the couscous bed!

Beautiful steamed organic vegetables emphasized by a light warm vinaigrette fighting for attention with the Scampi!

The Scampi is not ready to let my fork pitch into the couscous without a fight!

Morocco flirting with Shizuoka! Toru had introduced small pieces of Shizuoka strawberries into the couscous for the perfect sweet and salty balance!
By then, I was ready to fall into the next trap!

“I have the right light meat dish for you!” (he said that before, didn’t he?)
And for my masochistic pleasure he was right:
Shizuoka “Jidoori” chicken poele atop organic potato puree and organic shiitake from Shizen no Chikara Farm!

Demolishing this beautiful piece montee was such a sweet vengeance!
The Shiitake being fresh, it was very tender and each piece of it made for the perfect receptable for the potato puree!
I should have perhaps tried to eat it together some chicken in a single forkful, but I took my time!

There was only one way to escape from the clutches of another dessert: coffee and mignardises!

Home-made Shizuoka Orange jelly, and soft chocolates! The green one is coated with Shizuoka Hon-Yama Green Tea!

It will be a pleasure to meet you again in another self-inflicted trap of mine soon!

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

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Izakaya: Hachokura in Shizuoka City JR Station!

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Service: Friendly
Facilities: Clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Lots of fresh local fish and produce. Great range of sake and shochu.

If you happen to be hungry but still limited in time, be it for lunch or dinner, Shizuoka City JR Railway Station will offer you plenty of reasonable and decent enough establishments that will serve you either fare found all over Japan, or for the more adventurous, ingredients mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Hachokura in the western building of Asty Mall is such a place.
You cannot miss it with its big board describing local fare!

Even if you are in a hurry, take the time to have a good look at all the seafood and sake on offer. You are bound to make some interesting discoveries!

You can choose a seat at the counter or in a private room.

Traditional Japanese country atmosphere?

You may also sit at tables by the window.
I paid them a visit at lunch time when it is quieter. Evenings are really busy!

Sitting at the counter can turn into a lot of reading!

Tuna Carpaccio is really reasonably-priced!

Local fish and local sake!

Again, a lot to choose from!

You can always choose one of their lunch boxes/plates but their lunch sets are a real bargain when you consider that the beer is included!

So my lunch set started with beer and a snack.

Sashimi plate (tuna, horse mackerel, salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp, tamagoyaki). Note the freshly grated Shizuoka-grown wasabi!

Tuna and horse mackerel.

Salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp and tamagoyaki.

Potato and minced meat croquette and deep-fried chicken “nankotsu/cartilages”!

The croquette!

“Karaage niwatori nankotsu”, chicken soft cartilages deep-fried with some of their meat attached. Great snack for beer!

Simple, tasty and reasonably-priced traditional local fare!

HACHOKURA/八丁蔵
Shizuoka City, Kurogane Cho 48 (inside Shizuoka JR Railway Station), Asty West Building
Tel.: 054-255-8180
Opening hours: 11:00~22:30
Credit Cards OK
Parties welcome
Smoking allowed

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: End of The Year Dinner at Soloio!

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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!

End of the year parties and dinners are a tradition in Japan before the New Year when people meet at families’ homes.
These can either be very private or quite raucous affairs with enormous crowds in the latter case.
For private reasons the Missus and I had decided to limit ourselves to a group of three (the two of us and a special friend) and have our dinner at our new favorite Italian restaurant, namely Solio in Shizuoka City!
I don’t need to introduce any more Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 and Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子, so let me just show you what we had the pleasure to savor!

The first (the others were forgotten in our conversations!) bottle of wine was a Red Chianti, Panizzi 2008 Sangovese grapes.
Very solid and fruity!

Our first appetizer was Shizuoka Suruga Bay madai/true seabream carpaccio!

Very fragrant thanks to the fresh herbs!

Second appetizer: Italian raw ham and salami with pears and liver paste!

As pasta, Genovese-style pasta with Shizuoka-grown broccoli!

Very light and tasty pasta dish making use of all the parts of a branch broccoli!

As for rice, a dish famous all over the city: Milano oven-baked saffron risotto!

As it comes out of the oven!

Very much lighter than you might expect!

And then we switched to fish: Suruga Bay kanpachi/環八/Amberjack pan-fried with Shizuoka vegetables!

Extravagant simplicity with such fresh local products! No wonder some local celebrities also start to patronize the establishment!

The meat dish was an “imported” affair: Venison/Deer foreleg from Nagano Prefecture stewed in red wine!

It was so tender you had no need for fork! Mind you, it took no less than seven hours to prepare!

Italian restaurants are not famed for elaborate desserts, but Solio’s desserts are irresistible in their simplicity!
Tiramisu!

So light and unctuous!

Pudding with almaretto caramel sauce!

Don’t bring your kids along! LOL

Panacotta with Shizuoka strawberry coulis!

I had a hard time resisting the impulse to lick the whole plate!

See you next year, or more aptly said, next season!

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!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bars, Brasserie, Cakes, Coffee Shops, 美食, Dessert, 観光, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Café & Brasserie: Patina in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day.

The fashion for a long time having been to patronize famous/notorious fast-food cafes with a dubious approach to gastronomy and atmosphere the more traditional cafes with a far more authentic cachet had all but disappeared.

Unfortunately Shizuoka City had not escaped from the trend and had, but for one or two establishments, become a barren land as far as coffee shops were concerned.

At long last some courageous individuals and companies are beginning to help reverse that sorry situation.
“Patina” opened on the 12th of December in increasingly fashionable Tenmacho for the pleasure of haven seeking patrons!

Right from the moment you enter you realize that the establishment is both different and reassuringly familiar as if you were traveling back to a more comfortable era.

The whole place is a comforting kind of jumble with seats for every taste from a personal table tucked in a corner to long sofa benches along the wall and mismatched arm chairs at the counter.

You will need quite a few visits before you elect to sit at the same place!

The place doubles up as a cafe and a light meal bistro/brasserie-style coffee-shop so much in evidence in any French city worth its salt. This implies you can either settle for coffee or tea or start drinking in earnest with food to accompany any time of the day!

The whole staff are ladies and the young Chef, Ms. Akiko Kondoh/近藤亜希子さん has plenty of experience and (dinner will come in another article) her elegant confectioneries are worth the visit!

Her apple millefeuille with ice cream is fast becoming a favorite!

And their teas and coffees are not only delicious but served the traditional and proper way!
I’ll meet you in the evening in front of a pâté de campagne and a glass of wine next time in the evening!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 10:00~20:30 (last orders)
Holiday not decided yet
Non-smoking but for a small table away from the other patrons at the end of a long hall before the washroom

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Nama Moto Junmai Nakatori Genshu

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What I like about Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City is that they are never short of words when it comes to explaining the manufacture and the ingredients of their nectars!

“Nama” means that it was not pasteurized.
“Nakatori” means that the sake was collected some time after the beginning of the pressing and only until some time before the end, meaning basically the best part of the pressed sake.
Finally “genshu” means that this is original sake with no later addition of pure water.

“Nama moto” means that the sake was made according to old traditions with natural lactic acid.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: + 4.5
Acidity: 1.5
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Sharpish, fruity and complex. Pears, oranges, dark chocolate and banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dryish, fruity and complex attack backed up with a pleasant combination of alcohol and junmai petillant.
Very deep pleasurable acidity.
At first reveals oranges and a faint note of dark chocolate while warming up the palate.
Lingers on for a while before disappearing with dry mandarines. Coffee beans peek out later in further sips with a junmai petillant comeback along with notes of greens and dry almonds.
Varies little with food. Marries well with izakaya-style or European stew-like food.

Overall: Unusual by Shizuoka standards, but eminently drinkable on its own. Marries well with food.
Does not linger that long, thus inviting you to the next glass.
A sake perfect for hot winter food!
Its deep and pleasant acidity combining with complex fruitiness define its character.
A sake for people who love the izakaya gastronomy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Rice, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Risotto Symphony at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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Milano Oven-baked Saffron Risotto!

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!

Many local gastronomes consider that Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 concocts the best risotto in Shizuoka City and Prefecture!
Since it is possible to visit Solio just for a glass of wine and a dish, risottos are perfect by this cold weather!
Here is a collection of the risottos I’ve had the pleasure to savor!

Fresh Italian Porcini Risotto!

Unfortunately it is already not on the menu any longer as Takehiko uses only seasonal products, but it will be there when the season comes back!

Mussles Risotto!

Actually, it was never on the menu but prepared as a special request of mine!

Home-made Sausage and Chestnut Risotto!

Another seasonal dish which has already disappeared from the menu!

Italian Black Truffle Risotto!

Beautiful truffles!

This is an offering that will disappear from the menu as soon as the truffles are exhausted! Hurry up!

Milano Baked saffron Risotto!

The rizotto as it looks out of the oven!

Don’t worry, Takehiko intends to serve this risotto all year round!

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!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/12/28): The Dawn of a New Year

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

The Dawn of a New Year

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

It has become a Baird Beer tradition to greet the dawn of each new year with a special “First Brewed” (Hatsujozo) seasonal specialty beer. At the stroke of midnight on the evening of December 31, we — along with a host of other Baird Beer retailing pubs/restaurants in Japan — pour this commemorative Hatsujozo and share it with our fellow beer enthusiasts in a toast to the New Year.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Hatsujozo 2012 Strong Belgian Gold (ABV 8%):

This year’s “First Brewed” is a take on a Belgian-style strong golden ale: a base-malt grist (Maris Otter, Pils, Munich, Sour) buttressed by a mammoth addition of Japanese korizato sugar that yields a strong 17.3 Plato wort; a moderate hopping regimen (30 IBU) that is conducted in five separate additions and combines nine different hop varieties (Motueka, Tradition, Perle, Vanguard, Glacier, Sterling, Hersbrucker, Saaz, Tettnanger); warm fermentation with our house Belgian ale yeast; and secondary fermentation and natural carbonation in package with the same Belgian ale strain. 2012 promises great things; Hatsujozo 2012 Strong Belgian Gold is the first it will deliver!

Hatsujozo 2012 is available this year exclusively in kegs. It is meant to be enjoyed at a fine pub or restaurant on draught and in the company of friends, family, colleagues and all the great people we count as beer enthusiasts.

Kampai to 2012!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Vegetarian Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes in Shizuoka City in 2011!

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Vegetable Sashimi Plate at Yasaitei (Japanese Izakaya)!

Although I’m neither a vegetarian or a vegan, the City of Shizuoka is a superlative venue when it comes to vegetable gastronomy thanks to the innumerable products grown by dedicated farmers in Shizuoka Prefecture!
I was going to make it a Prefecture compilation when I realized the City was far more than enough!
I sincerely hope all those pictures will entice you to visit our City!
I made a point to specify the cuisine genre to give you a better idea!

Fennel Gratin at Porta Porta (Italian Restaurant)!

Vegetarian Plate at Locomani (Japanese Health Restaurant)!

Skillet-baked Vegetables at Solio (Italian Restaurant)!

Bania Cauda Vegetables Plate at Piatto (Italian Restaurant)!

Steamed Vegetables Plate at Cham (Chinese Restaurant)!

Daikon Katsu at Waga (Japanese Izakaya)!

Vegetable Steak at Testuya Sugimoto (French Restaurant)!

Red Moon French fries at Chez Satsukawa (French Restaurant)!

“Goro Goro” Salad at uzu (Japanese Izakaya)!

If you need the addresses and contacts of all the establishments I’ll be glad to oblige!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Crab, 美食, 観光, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese crabs, Japanese Gastronomy, Snow Crabs, Suwagani, Tourism

Japanese Crab Species 1: Snow Crab-Suwagani-楚蟹

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Snow Crabs, or Zuwagani/楚蟹 in Japanese, are very popular not only in Japan, but also in Russia, Canada and many other countries.

In Japan, they are also known under the following names: Matsubagani, Echizengani and Yoshigani.
The females are also called Seikogani, Megani or Koubakogani.
They are caught mainly in Autumn and Winter.
Their number has decreased in the Japan seas down to a yearly catch of 5,000 tonnes while 60,000 tonnes are imported from Russia and Canada.

ZUWAGANI-MALE-1

(Male Snow Crab)

ZUWAGANI-FEMALE-1

(Female snow Crab)

Male and female snow crabs are equally succulent, but the males contain more flesh and are accordingly more expensive.

ZUWAGANI-MALE-2
The “thorns” of a male snow crab are bigger.

ZUWAGANI-MALE-3
The “teeth” of a male snow crab are triangular in a seesaw shape.
The female “teeth” are in a straight line.

ZUWAGANI-FEMALE-2
The underbelly of a female snow crab is flatish.

ZUWAGANI-FEMALE-3

When buying a female (10 times as cheap) snow crab, choose a specimen with as few eggs as possible. Above speciman just has too many!

ZUWAGANI-FEMALE-4

A female snow crab should contain plenty of succulent orange egg sacs (the eggs not yet “born”). Otherwise, there is very little reason to buy any!

Crabs can be eaten in many ways, even raw, but my favourites are on sushi!

ZUWAGANI-SUSHIZUWAGANI-FEMALE-SUSHI

Male Snow crab leg Sushi Nigiri and Female snow crab Sushi Nigiri and its egg sacs!

Suwagani/Snow Crab legs, when lightly boiled can make for beautiful sushi nigiri.

Cheaper varieties can still make for some remarkable gunkan sushi combining the boiled white flesh and “miso”/brains!

If the Japanese can get their hands on the whole crab, they will simply boil it and eat the meat directly out of the shell with a sweet vinegar dressing.
As for the “miso”/brains they will be served in the shell heated again with a big helping of Japanese sake!

Now, live snow crabs make for extravagant sashimi!

The same can be savoured in shabu-shabu!

Italian restaurants in Japan regularly serve them in pasta!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/12/22): A Time for Jubilation

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Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

A Time for Jubilation

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Life is a fleeting thing. Each of us is here but a very short time. The older we get, the more clearly we comprehend this inexorable reality. And despite the sometimes awful travails and the always regular monotony of life, it remains a mysteriously beautiful thing. The end-of-the-year holiday season provides wonderful occasion for reflection and appreciation of the joy of living.

At Baird Brewing, 0ur appreciation of this joy is manifested in a celebratory Christmas-New Year season holiday ale which we call Jubilation Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Jubilation Ale 2012 (ABV 7.5%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character primarily from the addition of two wonderful local ingredients: (1) fully ripened and freshly picked figs (ichijiku) and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a Japanese nikki tree. The full bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale will be available on draught and in bottles (633 ml) throughout Japan beginning Friday, December 23. Consumer purchases of bottles direct from the brewery are possible through our online E-Shop.

Holiday Season Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Hot Appetizers at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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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!

Great Italian cuisine is a hit here in Japan due to the abundant supply of vegetables, especially in Shizuoka Prefecture which boasts the largest number of varieties in Japan.
But come winter, customers are expecting to start their gastronomic escapade with something light, healthy and hot!
Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 knows that too well and always has a seasonal appetizers menu on hand!

Even if you are an expat the title of the dish will give you a good indication of what to expect!
As for the Japanese customers (and expats who can read it) the abundant explanations are a real bonus!
I’ve had the pleasure recently to sample three of them:

Polenta e Gorgonzola, an appetizer popular in North Italy!

This polenta is white polenta made with corn flour and lighter than the more common yellow polenta found in many Mediterranean countries.

The hot combination of corn and blue cheese Gorgonzola with the raw ham results in an explosion of flavors inside the palate!

As you can see the polenta is very soft and easy on the palate.
Sommelier Mieko Ozawa/小澤美恵子 recommends a solid white wine to accompany it!

The second one had no special Italian name and was called “Various vegetables from Mr. Kato’s (the Chef!) garden cooked and baked in a Nanbu Tekki (from Iwate Prefecture) wrought iron skillet”!

Cooked only with olive oil, salt and pepper (there might be a supplementary secret…), the shape, color and taste of the vegetables are beautifully preserved in spite of the intense heat!
Let me show you more detailed photos!

Red carrot, red daikon, leeks…

Sato imo/taro! The skin was so fresh and crispy that I ate the whole of them!

Garlic, turnip, leek, broccoli…

The third appetizer was Ribollita.
You could describe it as a fine vegetable stew!

Really appetizing Toscanan dish by a cold winter night!
The toasted home-baked bread is the attention to details of a worthy Chef!

All these finely cut vegetables including Romanesco cauliflower and tubers contribute to a sophisticated dish of its own!

What’s next?
A symphony of risotto!

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!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Cuisine: Lunch at Osteria TiaLoca in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly
Facilities: Very clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Traditional Italian Country Cuisine. Very good value. Very interesting list of Italian wines at reasonable prices

We used to have an acute problem here in Shizuoka, that is great restaurants and superlative cuisine and mediocre establishments, and little in-between!
But the recent years have seen many young chefs vigorously establishing themselves with restaurants offering high quality cuisine at reasonable prices without any ostentation but always in comfortable and original settings.

One of them, Masataka Araki/荒木雅貴さん, a young and shy talented chef who spent 4 years learning his trade in Italy in Toscana, Umbria and Lazio has just opened TiaLoca in Shizuoka City right by Cenova Department Store inside a former izakaya.

But all those Italian wine bottles outside will convince you this is an Italian restaurant indeed!

Lunches and prices are clearly indicated outside. If you don’t understand Japanese, Masataka will tell you the meaning in Italian!

Lunch and dinner menus are also clearly indicated on blackboards inside. I already know what I will order next time I come for dinner!

And smoking is completely prohibited!

I love the combination of Italian brand signs in an izakaya decor!

The wines stand right in front of you with ample explanations!

Lunch sets always come with a nice cup of soup and bread.

As well as a fresh salad.

Italian country fare: Chicken and potato herb roast.

A dish that will please the ladies!

They always serve three kinds of pasta for lunch, but I recommend gentlemen to sample the Rigatoni in meat sauce!

Served al dente, a true country dish!

Do try and accompany it with a glass of Montelpucino!

And if you are still hungry and have a sweet tooth do sample their cakes!

Home-style chocolate cake!

See you next at dinner!

Osteria TiaLoca
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-7-8, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-260-0217
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 18:00~22:30
Closed on Mondays from 2012
Reservations recommended
HOMEPAGE/BLOG
Completely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 魚, Fish, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, sushi, Tourism, 寿司

Sushi Set in a Shizuoka City Supermarket!

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There is this kind of quaint rivalry between Tokyo and the rest of Japan when it comes to gastronomy, a situation which is fueled by some famous/notorious guides of international repute/disrepute for obvious financial reasons.
How many times was I told almost brutally by other expats living the grand life of Tokyo that nothing compares with the metropolis when it comes to gastronomy…
Admittedly some regions of Japan are grudgingly granted some kind of recognition, i.e. Kyoto, Hokkaido, etc. under the leadership of the media cited above, but for the rest….
The case of Shizuoka is particularly acute. Tokyo expats (not all, mind ou!) go as far as considering Izu Peninsula and Mount Fuji as their own back gardens!
The situation is purposefully exacerbated by most famous restaurants in the Capital who certainly do not wish people at large to know too much about Shizuoka Prefecture for the simple reason that many of them wouldn’t exist without the myriads of vegetables, meat and fish varieties produced here.
Just visit a supermarket in Shizuoka City and you will understand my meaning! Actually, I stopped completely eating in Tokyo! My money is better spent looking for the hidden treasures of faraway Prefectures.
Enough complaining, and just allow me to show you an example to illustrate this topic:
As the Missus was working today I was responsible for the shopping.

This is what I found at the nearby Shizutetsu Supermarket: a sushi set prepared by Uogashi Company (they have a branch in Yokohama), a fish and sushi company located in Numazu City, in the Eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture.

The price: 980 yen! Less than 10 Euros or 13 US $!

And all the ingredients are clearly indicated!
Actually, you could buy in lieu of a bento box!
All the fish comes from nearby seas!

Now, what do we have?

From top to bottom, left to right:
Maguro & maguro akami/鮪赤身/tuna lean part. Not the bluefin tuna, but most probably mebachi maguro/目鉢鮪/big eye tuna.
Ika/烏賊/Cuttlefish, most probably surume ika/鯣烏賊/Japanese flying squid.
Shiradai (also called Shirodai)/白鯛/”White seabream” (Gymnocranius euanus Günther).
Sanma/秋刀魚/Pacific saury topped with chopped leek.
Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish or largehead hairtail.

From top to bottom, left to right:
Ika/烏賊/Cuttlefish, most probably surme ika/鯣烏賊/Japanese flying squid.
Suzuki/鱸/Japanese seabass/seeperch.
Tamagoyaki/玉焼き/Japanese omelette.
Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish or largehead hairtail.
Shirasu gunkan/シラス軍艦/A gunkan style sushi topped with raw sardine whitebait seasoned with chopped leek and ginger.
Sakuraebi Gunkan/桜海老軍艦/Cherry Shrimps seasoned with grated ginger.
You will not find the last two in Tokyo except in ridiculously priced exclusive restaurants!
Soy sauce and grated wasabi.

You will not find such a set at that kind of low price (if you are lucky enough to discover them fresh) for such variety and quality in Tokyo!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery