Category Archives: Tourism

First Shizuoka Gastronomic Skills Meet-2011/食の芸術(集い・平成23年度)

Top award-winning chefs Touru Arima/有馬亨 (Pissaenlit/Shizuoka City) and Fuminori Nishitani/西谷文紀 (Nori/Fujieda City)

On November 29th was held the First Gastronomic Skills Meet/食の芸術(集い) in Shizuoka City under the auspices of the Shizuoka Prefecture Government which has been actively been active in promoting the gastronomic products and skills of our Prefecture notably with the publication of a book titled [ふじのくに食の都つくり仕事人]/[The Professionals who promote the gastronomy of the Land of Mount Fuji] which introduced 200 of the top-class chefs of our Prefecture.

For the first year 13 Chefs were given the top cccolade of Chefs of the Year (2011) while 63 of their colleagues were also given official recognition and 26 products were officially labeled as Designated Products of Shizuoka Prefecture.

The official banner!

A total attendance of more than 300 professionals, officials and gastronomes!

Some of the laureates!

A beautiful MC from a local TV Channel!

Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu/川勝平太 made a passionate (and loger than expected) speech about Shizuoka Prefecture products. An easy task when you realize it has been officially recognized by the Japanese government as the Prefecture boasting the greatest (by very far) number of agricultural and sea products!

Top-award winning chefs waiting for their accolade.

A small sample of the media in attendance!

After all this somewhat stiff officialdom (this is Japan!) we were finally invited to the neighboring hall to discover the Shizuoka-branded products and dishes prepared by some of the award-winning chefs!

Wasabi, persimmons and tomatoes naturally!

Two of my favorite products: Milk from Oratche Company in Kannami, Mishima City and Bioran Eggs from Shimizu Farm in Shizuoka City!

Salmon trout from Fujinomiya City are famous all over Japan!

Tuna sashimi on red orange slices

And the food! It was certainly a battle to get even near it!

A dessert from Shizuoka!

And another one!

Fried fish balls!

Ebi imo taro and sakura ebi/cherry shrimps appetizers!

Venison and wild boar from Izu no Kuni City in Izu Peninsula!

Tea roulade!

The plate I somehow battled away from the tables!

No need to tell you that I battled again for a second helping!

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

French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Products at Pissenlit (October 2011)!

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

The Fall in Shizuoka, like in many countries all the world is a time of plenty with food provided by the land and sea overwhelming vegetables, fruit, meat and seafood. It is the time to re-visit your favorite restaurants and chefs and learn so much about new products and techniques!

The board advertizing the B Lunch Menu at a very good value of 2,500 yen convinced me away from work for a while!

Impatiently waiting for the beauties to land on my plate…

Not being able to drink alcohol during my break I opted for the ever delicious home-made ginger ale!

Never mentioned on the menu, Chef Touru Arima always awards your patience with one of his superb amuse!

Hot potage made with organic carrots from Chizen no Chikara Farm!

Mousse made with the leaves of the same carrots on a bed of pureed tomatoes!

The appetizer: Quiche made with lotus roots grown in Asabata, Shizuoka City, small chestnuts and organic spinach with an organic green salad!

Being French, no wonder I’m a sucker for quiche!

Especially when East meets West. Can you see the sliced lotus root?

The entree: Tender and juicy Yuusui Ton/湧水豚 Pork bred in Gotemba City!

From another angle! The pork was poeleed in mustard sauce.

All vegetables are organic, either from Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City or Hirokawa Garden in Mishima City!

Great dessert of the day as usual, but this time it was really special and would deserve an article of its own!

Organic carrot Creme Brulee!

When a great vegetable becomes an unctuous dessert… What more can you ask?

…: hot organic mandarine caramelized with all kinds of nuts!

With nuts inside the mandarine! What painstaking work!

Incidentally I belatedly realized that I started and finished my meal with carrots! To think I hated them when I was a kid…

Finally, coffee served at it should be! With black tea madeleine and jellied orange peel!

Difficult to get better value!

To be followed 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

Izakaya Gastronomy: Villa D’Est Quisine in Shizuoka City (Fall 2011)

Service: Friendly and unassuming
Facilities: old-fashioned but very clean with cute washroom
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Home-style seasonal cuisine. Wines, sake and shochu. Very traditional Japanese atmosphere! Patronized by true izakaya gastronomy lovers!

In a city like Shizuoka, almost notoriously famous for its many hidden gastronomic havens, many true izakaya lovers will keep their own favorite hangout as secret as possible. Personally, I don’t think this is very fair, but at the same time you do not want to advertize too much such establishments for fear that uncaring customers spoil the atmosphere. On the other hand, if you wish to share and promote taste for good food, drink and atmosphere, you do have a duty to make such gastronomic venues better known.

In my case I hesitate to patronize Villa D’Est Quisine too often as it is very near my workplace, and it is not a good idea in Japan to revel too close to your professional address.
Therefore I keep my visits away from the week-ends when too many people are present for comfort. On the other hand, visiting an izakaya at comparatively quiet times will almost surely offer the opportunity to meet and discover like-minded souls!

Villa D’Est Quisine has many reasons to please:
It is located away from the centre of town in one of the few original and still left untouched alleys of fashionable Takajyo District.
It exudes a quaint warm atmosphere, almost taking you back ages away with its unusual architecture all of dark aged wood with a counter, large table and an elevated tatami, original ceramic tableware, hand-brushed daily menu, potted plants and wall pictures.
The food is eclectic, concocted with mainly local products to satisfy any taste, be it Japanese or of whatever country.
The short and very efficient list of Japanese sake, shochu and wine will ensure that your food marries well with your drinks.
The Chef, Toshiharu Matsuura, has an unflappable will to please customers with a quiet respect for privacy, although you will always find him ready for a great conversation.

Two nights ago, we decided to flee the city noisily celebrating a coming holiday and enjoy some welcome slow life there. It proved momentous as we had the luck to make acquaintance with two new like-minded friends!
The tone was immediately set with the first drink, a nectar from Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City, served in original pottery with a simple but succulent o-hitashi/lightly cooked and marinated appetizer made with vegetables including chrysanthemum petals!
The only reproach I would make is that although the place is comfortably dark it is not very propitious to photography!

You will be surprised to find out that the single sheet menu will take you longer to peruse than expected, so take your time before ordering!
Now the menu featured as its very first item “koshiodai/こしょう鯛/Peppered Seabream (litteral translation!)” sashimi.
I asked Toshiharu where he found the fish and he had a hard time evading my question. I suspect he caught it himself in Suruga Bay or acquired it in a market I know he patronizes!
The sashimi was not as soft as most as that of seabream but proved a great combination of fine taste and bite!

Amitake Oroshi daikon Ae/アミ茸下ろし大根和え/Jersey cow mushroom-suillus bovinus served with freshly grated daikon.

The above dish will endear vegetarians! Actually, if you have such a priority talk to the Chef and he will help you!

Tebasaki to yasai no kuriimu shityu/手羽先と野菜クリームシチュー/Chicken wings and Vegetables Cream Stew

Now, the above should please Westerners especially on a cold night! Very typical Japanese Izakaya offering in spite of its obvious Western inspiration!

Kaki fuwafuwa mushi/牡蠣ふわふわ蒸し/Steamed oysters with a light sauce served with grated wasabi.

The above is more typical of the Japanese treats concocted by Toshiharu! A discovery for oyster lovers!

An Izakaya Classic: Yurine to ebi kakiage/ユリ根と海老かき揚げ/Deep-fried lily bulb and shrimps!

When it comes to kakiage and tempura tha Japanese are simply the best!
Have you ever tried yurine/ユリ根/lily bulbs? A must!

Iro Iro Na Potato Furai/色々なポテトフライ/Varied fried potatoes

Another Izakaya classic! Three types of tubers: Thick Sweet Potato Chips, boiled and lightly fried potatoes and again boiled and lightly fried satoimo/里芋/taro!
A true delicacy for vegans and vegerarians!

And to think we only scratched the menu…

VILLA D’EST QUISINE
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 3-10-19
Tel.: 054-251-4763
Business hours: 17:00~24:00
Closed on Thursdays
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
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

For Better Diners: SUBWAY in Shizuoka City!

Service: Very friendly, attentive and efficient
Facilities: Functional and very clean. Very clean washroom.
Prices:reasonable
Strong Points: Fresh vegetables, local whenever possible. No pervasive smells (oil, etc…).Well-balanced healthy sandwiches

I remember my good friend Patrick telling me that there are good fast food restaurants and “less good ones”!
Fast food, when good enough, is much appreciated when in a hurry, and the more for it if it is reasonably healthy!

SUBWAY has many diners in Shizuoka and all over the country and abroad, but the one which opened very recently just right of the north exit of the Shizuoka JR Railway Station is a winner!

I do not make a habit of patronizing diners (I will not cite names…) but I was happy to discover the place yesterday much in a hurry as I was for lunch!

All signs and menus are bilingual (no mistakes!), a sign of good business sense.
The above board advertizes the fact that one variety of sandwich is offered at a discount price every day! Another good way to have customers sample everything!

You do not have to be inside to check the menu and decide your order!

And they use fresh local lettuce!

Even at 2:00 p.m. the place was busy but everything went smoothly and more quietly than expected!

Transparency is always appreciated!

Efficient and quick service.

Good hygiene!
The staff will always ask you if there are vegetables you do not like.
The sandwiches are made entirely in front of you!
Incidentally, you can choose from 4 types of bread, as they are or toasted on order!

I noticed many businessmen and well-heeled travelers, always a good sign.
You can either eat onsite inside or under a parasol outside, or buy a take-out order.

I ordered Cheese Bulgorgi Sandwich with Homard Lobster Bisque Soup!

Another good mark for hygiene!

My Bisque soup!

I must admit I was favorably surprised by this fast food rendition of a French delicacy!

My sandwich!
Very appetizing!
Note that the bread used in Japan by Subway is always comparatively soft but certainly not soggy!

I wish all diners could take note!
By the way, their fried potatoes are oven-cooked, which means no pervasive oil smells!

Definitely a model for the genre!

SUBWAY
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka JR Railway Station, outside left out of north Exit, or right of the entry outside.
Business hours: 07:00~22:00 (Monday~Friday), 10~22:00 (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking inside!

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

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/11/22): Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine 2011

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

Seasonal Release: West Coast Wheat Wine 2011

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The onset of cooler weather and shorter days announces the arrival of the season for the enjoyment of hearty, warming and complexly potent ales. We are pleased to greet the season with the release of our 2011 version of West Coast Wheat Wine.
*West Coast Wheat Wine 2011 (ABV 9%):

New Seasonal Baird Beer Releases:

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

This 2011 version of West Coast Wheat Wine contains no character malt whatsoever and thus appears in a wonderfully hazy hue of sunset gold. The flavor is characterized by a deep, layered wheat malt complexity that is complemented beautifully by a citrus-fruit accented hop character (exclusive use of U.S. West Coast hops: Citra, Centennial, Cascade, Ahtanum). At packaging, West Coast Wheat Wine is krausened in order to add further flavor complexity and to produce a piquant all-natural carbonation.

West Coast Wheat Wine 2011 will begin pouring from our Taproom taps on Wednesday, November 23 (which happens to be a Japan national holiday — appreciation of labor day). It also will be available at other fine Baird Beer retailing pubs and restaurants throughout Japan. Bottles (633 ml) can be purchased by individual consumers direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop.

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

French Pastry: “Splendeur by Bernard Heberle at Abondance Patisserie in Hamamatsu City!

My good friend, Bernard Heberle, the owner/chef of Abondance Patisserie in Hamamatsu City has recently been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture (almost 4,000,000 souls) by the biggest Food Blog Community in Japan, namely Tabelog!

Not only he is a first-class Patissier, but he also makes use of local products whenever possible, especially eggs, milk and fresh fruit!

He was kind enough to send me his latest creation with the following comments in French:
“Voici le dernier nouveau.
Splendeur. À la base de noisette croquante sur un mousseux aux fèves de Tonga. Avec un biscuit dit “Dauphinois”
Au plaisir.”
“Here is my new creation/
Splendeur/Splendor. With a crakling almond base on a mousse made with Tonga beans atop a biscuit called “Dauphinois”.
Best regards!”
He forgot to mention the cute little chocolate macaron and the golden leaves!

ABONDANCE
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
HOMEPAGE

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

Healthy French Gastronomy in Shizuoka City: Le Comptoir de Bios-s by Bio Farm Matsuki!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A palette of Shizuoka Prefecture Products! Great use of organic vegetables and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy!

When Fujinomiya City-based Bio Farm Matsuki decided to open their new restaurant in Shizuoka City on the 2nd of November they certainly did a great favor to its inhabitants!
Not only did they adorn the City with a new and elegant venue at very reasonable prices, but they also and mainly offered health to their customers through first-class fresh products from Shizuoka Prefecture, and this in a completely non-smoking space!
But their greatest quality is that they are the newest establishment proving that there is a true Shizuoka Gastronomy in Japan!

Smiling and so kind staff!
Le Comptoir is located very near Shizuoka JR Station in an increasingly fashionable and well-lighted area of the City just behind the former abode of the last Tokugawa Shogun.

The design is very reminiscent of France with a large counter and high stools…

and a large blackboard with the recommendations of the day!

As you enter have a good look at the organic vegetable cookies…

and a few organic vegetables from Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City you will be tempted to cook back home!

Simple, warm and elegant settings at tables from which you can peek outside through large bay windows!

I finally found the time to pay them my first visit for lunch today and I was gratified to discover they served wine by the glass even at lunch time!

I chose the chicken main lunch set from a very reasonably priced menu which came with corn potage first.
Incidentally all vegetables are organic and are grown organically at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Such an appetizing and healthy dish!

Asahi Doori chicken from Fuji City sauteed with Champagne vinegar!

Splendid salad consisting of cute greens and…

Red Moon potatoes and onion!

The lunch course also included bread or rice but I had to order the dessert of the day: Carrot ice cream! So soft and delicious! Could be served at any time of a large repast!

And coffee served as it should be with real cream and sugar!

Dinner report coming very soon!

Le Comptoir de Bio-s by Bio Farm Matsuki
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya machi, 12-8, Sankousha Bldg, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-221-5250
Business hours: 11:30~15:00 (Last orders 14:00), 17:00~23:00 (Last orders 22:00)
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/11/15): Baird Beer Seasonal Release: Black Velvet Dark Lager

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

Baird Beer Seasonal Release: Black Velvet Dark Lager

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

A Schwarzbier is a German-style dark lager noted for its smooth roundness and easy drinkability. It is one of these classic historical styles that knows no season — i.e. it can be imbibed with equal pleasure in all seasons. We are proud today to release our Baird version of a Schwarzbier: Black Velvet Dark Lager.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Black Velvet Dark Lager (ABV 5.5%):

Generous additions of Munich malt lend a bready, nutty accent to a flavor base that is without the acrid, burnt character generally found in black beers. Black Velvet Dark Lager drinks from the glass with a silky, velvet-like smoothness. It is a perfect beer with which to kick off an evening of slow and sociable drinking.

Black Velvet is avaiable in both kegs and bottles (633 ml) and is now pouring from the taps of our various Taproom pubs.

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

Vegetables Gastronomy at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City (November 2011)!

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean, Beautiful washroom
Prices: reasonable
Specialties: Vegan and vegetarian Cuisine, Izakaya gastronomy, local products, oden. Good list of sake, shochu. Wines also available.

If your first interest is vegetables, especially local, and your second interest Shizuoka, there is only one place you may visit: Yasaitei!
(Just a warning for the non-smokers, come early at 5:30 or rent the whole place for a party!)
The whole lady staff in traditional dress will kindly prepare and serve you vegetables in all manners and according to your priorities, be they vegan, vegetarian or omnivore!
To help me convince you here is a photography and explanation report I took last night in the company of a friend! I kept it on purpose to vegetables only (incidentally I’m an omnivore but I do appreciate any priority!)!

A light snack is always brought with your first drink. Both of us had shochu, a vegan drink par excellence!
The light appetizers consisted of “o-hitashi”, a very simple and healthy way to prepare small vegetables typical of Japanese gastronomy.
Make sure to tell you do not want the katsuobushi if you are vegetarian!
As for dashi, if you do not want anything cooked in fish-based dashi, just tell the ladies beforehand and they will adapt accordingly!

For a closer view of the “o-hitashi”!

My friend had a similar offering with her shochu!

Can you see the tofu karaage?

for the two vegetable main dishes of the night we first asked the Chef, Ms. Aki Suzuki/鈴木朋さん to concoct us a “European-style” salad with her own olive oil dressing!

Can you see the golden sesame seeds for extra taste?

Healthy potato salad to help satisfy your hunger!

Now, what are these?
“Mukago”, a truly seasonal vegetable delicacy!
These are the aerial seeds (no flowers) growing directly on the vines of Yama Imo/Japanese yams!
You can eat them steamed, stir-fried, deep-fried or stewed!
The spoon to give you an idea of the size is a coffee spoon!

As for the second main vegetable dish we asked for the specialty of the house, Vegetables Sashimi (vegans, rejoice!)!

For a closer view!
Let me show it again from different angles to discover the design!

Aerial view!

Red onion, daikon, tomato, ice plant!

Myoga ginger, red onion.
Cucumber, shiso/perilla, tomato.
Carrot, radish, celery, daikon.

Radish, carrot, cucumber, myoga ginger.
Ice plant, celery, daikon, shiso, red onion.

To be followed…

YASAITEI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 14 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
Individual orders (carte9 welcome
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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

Gastronomic Izakaya: Autumnal Dinner at UZU in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Excellent and very friendly. Very Japanese atmosphere.
Facilities: good washroom facilities. Great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong points: Splendid use of local vegetables, meat and seafood! Great sake from Shizuoka and Japan Great Shochu. Home-made umeshu.

Kenya Yoshimura/吉村健也, the owner-chef of Uzu in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, although it is celebrated as one of true exponents of Shizuoka Gastronomy, has always averred that his establishment will be first and always an izakaya!

In Shizuoka City this is a fine line which is easily crossed over and over by many establishments, whatever the genre, in a rare region of Japan where almost all ingredients are available all year round!
It is Paul Bocuse who said, “There are no great chefs, only great ingredients!”. A bit simplistic, although it could be very well the best way to describe gastronomy in this Prefecture!

Kan Sawara Aburi/寒鰆炙り/Seared “Cold Weather” Spanish mackerel

To put it briefly, it had become grand time to pay a visit to Uzu in Shizuoka City and check what seasonal fares were on offer!

Spanish mackerels come back in reduced numbers through the Suruga Bay in Autumn and they are best appreciated seared on the skin and served in fairly thick and tender sashimi!
Kenya exclusively uses wasabi roots from a single producer up the Abe River/安倍川 in Umegashima/梅ヶ島. He added that he uses only medium-sized roots for best taste!

Take your time before choosing your drink and do not hesitate to ask for advice!
I chose a beautifully strong Ginjyou Genshu by Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe/Fujieda City!

Always served in glassware or earthenware created by local artists!

I always order the seasonal “goro goro” salad mainly consisting of local organic vegetables lightly sauteed beforehand before being seasoned into a magnificent salad. Enough to feed a vegetarian!
Can you see the chestnuts in front cooked whole with their crispy “skins”. A discovery!

For another view!
Bear in mind that this is a very limited offering you had better order in advance on a busy night!

Uzu is one one of the few establishments in Shizuoka to offer Mokomodake/もこもだけ/Manchurian Wild Rice whose swollen crisp white stems are edible in many manners!

In season Kenya simply serves them grilled with mayonnaise!

Another great treat for vegetarians!

Last for the night we ordered a truly extravagant and rare delicacy only found in Shizuoka!
Grilled thigh of Amagi Shamo Chicken/天城軍鶏 exclusively bred by Mr. Horie/堀江さん in Izu Peninsula and served with a fresh wasabi dressing!
This is arguably the best chicken in Japan and it certainly tastes more like game than anything else!

To be followed…

UZU
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking on Sundays!

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

Italian Gastronomy: Soloio in Shizuoka City! (The sequel!)

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!

Well, one or two visits in a good new restaurant are never enough, especially when they tell you they have decided to ban all smoking for the first 4 hours every day! Everybody should now be happy to visit this remarkable addition to the Shizuoka Gastronomic World!

Soloio is simply the name of an excellent wine concocted in Toscana, Italy!

Like many good Toscana wines it was made with Merlot grapes!

As I mentioned before Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 is a master of risotto!
You don’t need to check the menu. If you have a special request, just ask!
This time I asked him to concoct me a risotto with mussels!

I know a lot of people who would fly all the way from Belgium (and Italy!) to savor it!

My companion of the day had to ask for her own!

Home-made sausages and fresh seasonal chestnuts risotto. A true Autumnal delicay!

Now, if you like the true taste of fish ask for the carpaccio of the day!

Madai/真鯛/true Seabream freshly caught in Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture!

We did sample other dishes last night which I have already described, so let’s see what’s on offer for dessert:

Tiramisu!

Elegant!

Perfumed with almaretto, a true beauty!

Semifreddo yoghurt dessert!

Once again the little details that make the difference!

Definitely a dessert for a lady, but I did appreciate it!

I still have to check two more risottos, the fish and the meat, so expect another article soon! LOL

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Holiday: 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

Italian Gastronomy: Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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!

At long last I can properly introduce an Italian Restaurant dear to my heart: SOLOIO in Shizuoka City!
I already have written a “pre-article” but this is the real stuff!

Soloio, although located in one of the few “dark streets” left in Shizuoka City is easy enough to find on the other side of the Shizutetsu Local Line Station!

It is unpretentious but very cozy, be you on your own or in special company!

The concept is that of bar (counter) and dining room (restaurant) combination that allows Chef Takahiko Katoh and Sommelier Mieko Ozawa to serve and socialize with customers in a very easy-going atmosphere.
Needless to say, my favorite seat is at the counter in front of the showcase where I can espy the antipasto misti of the day!

Spinach and Broccoli Fritatta!

Japanese-grown celeriac!

A little touch of intimacy!

Quiet class!

Now, what did I have for my first serious dinner in Soloio?
Mussles mariniere!

Quatro fromaggio Gnocchi!

When it comes to gnocchi I’m more difficult to please than an Italian, but these four cheese gnocchi were a true beauty! And so light!

Takahiko Katoh is celebrated in the whole town for his famous risottos!

Porcini risotto made with fresh porcini from Italy!

Of course, even a Frenchman loves Italian pasta!

Especially succulent penne arabiatta!

But my real love is for ravioli!

Chestnuts and Mascarpone ravioli in sage and butter sauce! Now, how about that for inventiveness!

A pasta I would have for dessert any time!

Talking of dessert I decided to go for a small cheese plate (the dessert will be for my next visit!):
Dolce Gorgonzola, Talegio and, surprise! Camembert made in Okayama Prefecture, Japan!

Have I convinced you for a second visit?

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Holiday: Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed
(I’m trying to convince them to make it non-smoking on Sundays!)

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

Chinese gastronomy: Syouzui in Shizuoka City!

Service: Friendly
Facilities: Great general cleanliness. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable to appropriate
Strong points: 小籠包/Xiaolongbao, Shanghai Crab Menu, mild (as opposite to spicy) Chinese food

Syouzui/祥瑞 was open in Shizuoka City in busy Ryougae-cho on the 29th of April this year and I finally managed to visit it last night with the Missus!

You can’t miss it!

Customers can purchase take-outs on the first floor while diners will go upstairs!

You can either sit at a central counter…

or at tables in front of the bay window or against the walls.

You will be tempted by the Shanghai Crab Menu!

A very clean place with modern sauce pots and…

modern white tableware!

You can choose one of the two good-value set courses…

or the Shanghai Crab menu, or from the carte. We ordered from the latter!

A friend of ours had recommended their sXiaolongbao/ショロンポウ/large dim sung containing soup.

They were served with fresh shredded ginger!

Mild wasabi Xiaolongbao.

Crab brain Xiaolongbao.

Pork sXiaolongbao.

Next we had vegetables wantan soup!

Crab and shrimp shumai! Particularly delicious!

Very mild maboudoufu/Mapo doufu/麻婆豆腐!

The fried rice was very mild too!

Instead of dessert we had another round of dim sung: Shrimps Xiaolongbao!

The cuisine is of a good level although a bit too mild for some, but the Xiaolongbao and the shumai deserve a visit any time day or night!

SYOUZUI/祥瑞
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 3-6, 2F
Tel/Fax: 054-272-3303
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~22:00
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

Healthy Lunch at SPICE in Mishima City (Autumn 2011)!

Service: Very friendly
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong Points: Local vegetables and meat! Very healthy meals!

The other week I visited Spice for the second time for lunch again!
Here is a place with a true notion of healthy food!
Practically all vegetables are grown locally and most of the meat is also raised in the neighborhood!
Considering the quality, variety and taste, these lunches are a real bargain!

The Missus and I both opted for the 1,890 yen lunch (the most expensive on the menu).
Here what we savored:

It includes first a large vegetables plate which can be ordered individually for 1,050 yen as a “Vegetables Lunch Plate”!
Let me show it to you in detail:

Marinated mushrooms, tougan/winter melon/冬瓜 ratatouille and kabocha salad with raw ham.

Vegetables for dipping in the Italian-style Bania Cauda sauce!

The Bania Cauda dip sauce and various sorts of beautiful crunchy and tasty lettuce!

Delicious cauliflower and vegetables soup!

As the main dish the Missus had ordered the salmon and broccoli spaghetti!

For a better view!

My bread was served with sumptuous olive oil!

My main dish: Jidori Chicken raised in the region roasted and served with luccola sauce on a bed of mushrooms and accompanied with fried local vegetables!

Perfectly balanced sauce!

Beautiful and delicious vegetables!

The menu also included a cute home-made raspberry ice cream…

… and coffee served as it should be!

Pity it is too far to stay there for dinner, but I’ll find a good reason to one day!

SPICE
Mishima City, Hon-cho, 7-30, Via701-2, 2F
Tel.: 055-981-8889
Opening hours: 11:30~15:00, 18:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Parties welcome!
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Rachael in England at Monistical, 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

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/101/04): More Fall Seasonal Releases: Yabai-Yabai and Autumn Red

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
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More Fall Seasonal Releases: Yabai-Yabai and Autumn Red

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

The wait is over. Today we are releasing from our cellars the 2011 version of Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale! You should be able to find pints on draught at your favorite Baird Beer drinking establishment beginning Saturday, November 5 (and at our own Taproom pubs beginning today — Friday, November 4). Bottles (633 ml) too are available through our network of Baird Beer retailing liquor stores in Japan as well as direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop.

New Seasonal Beer Releases:
*Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale 2011 (ABV 8.3%):

Scotland, an historically important center of beer brewing, has a cool climate that favors cultivation of the hardy barley plant. Scottish Ales, thus, tend to feature the rich and robust flavor of malted barley. Baird Yabai-Yabai Strong Scotch Ale is, in a word, opulent! The color is a deep mahogany brown and the head is dense, creamy and tan. The aroma is one of soft fruit esters and warm fusel alcohols. The body is chewy and the flavor exhibits notes of molasses, caramel apples, rum cake and pit fruit. One hearty pint is enough to take the bite out of the late autumn chill. Two pints will leave you toasty, and blissfully, warm. Three pints and…. YABAI!

Today we also are pleased to announce the tapping of our latest small-batch real ale: Autumn Red Ale (ABV 5.2%). Brewed back in August with visions of the upcoming fall season foliage dancing in our heads, Autumn Red is finally ready to take its place in our Taproom hand-pump lineup. It manages to combine beautifully a hearty malt flavor with a sprite hop character (derived all from a single hop — U.S. Ahtanum). Autumn Red Ale is available only on hand-pump and exclusively at our Taproom pubs.

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