Category Archives: vegetables

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, Vegan Cuisine, Vegan Dessert, Vegan Restaurant, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Restaurant & Shop in Shizuoka City: Rama 4.5 Organic Cafe & Shop!

September 14, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Friendly, smiling and helpful
Facilities: Overall very clean. Washroom a bit small but clean.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Exclusively vegan cuisine. A great scope of vegan ingredients on sale. Entirely non-smoking!

The (small) Rama Group which has been serving for some time vegan food inside the home of some of their members in the south of Shizuoka City at last on August 6th opened a real Cafe & Shop in Gennan Street, Gofuku-Cho, Aoi Ku, in the middle of the city for the pleasure of all vegans and health food lovers!

I’m no vegan myself, but I do appreciate it from time to time, and I’m really happy for my friends and visitors to Shizuoka City who have such priorities!

The shop itself offers an enormous (by Japanese standards!) array of vegan, organic and macrobiotic foods including home-made jams….

and pickles made with fruit and vegetables locally and organically grown.

It is all set in a beautiful and very natural environment, the more for it as it is open as a Cafe all day long!

The general design makes use of a lot of wood.
You can either sit a t tables, or in my case at the counter overlooking the street outside!

The young owners at work1
Mr. Tomonari Maki/牧知成さん and Mrs. Miho Maki/牧美穂さん!

As for the food served the lunch is unique but changes regularly depending on the seasonal ingredients.
They serve all kinds of drinks, including organic beer!
If you don’t speak Japanese speak slowly in English and I’m sure mutual understanding will be easy!

The lunch of the day!
Very appetizing, indeed!
As far as I know this is the sole truly vegan restaurant in town, and probably in the whole prefecture

The hot soup!
No dairy products is used whatsoever!

It is not only healthy but has a beautiful cachet attached to it!

Whatever the angle it is definitely tempting!

Home-made vegan bread!

Home-made jam/chutney!

Plenty of natural spices!

I’m glad to admit that the deep-fried vegetables patty was delicious!

The kinako/roasted soy bean powder jelly dessert and herb tea!

Not only a very healthy dessert but also a traditional Japnese one!

Rama 4.5 Organic Cafe & Shop
420-0031 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 2-4-5
Tel.: 054-266-3845
Business hours: 10:00~19:00
Closed on Wednesday
Entirely non-smoking

Will soon interview their other home-restaurant at:

Rama
422-8052 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Midorigaoka, 19-6
Tel.: 054-260-5186
Business hours: 11:00~23:00
Closed on Wednesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
The Wine Wankers by Stuart in Australia!
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Simmered Daikon with Miso Sauce-Furofuki Daikon-風呂吹き大根

September 12, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

I’m no vegan and never will be, but many of my friends are!

Now, daikon, or Japanese radish, has become a universal vegetable and recipes to accommodate it are innumerable!
The Japanese, especially in winter, have a very interesting way to cook it and serve it with a miso-based sauce, which even me, a meat eater, just can keep my fingers away from: furofuki daikon!
It si served in many restaurants from modest ones to very expensive establishments who keep their recipes secret, although there is very little to hide!

Here is a basic recipe that will allow you plenty of leeway.
bear in mind that this the basic recipe. I will leave precise proportions to your skills and priorities!

INGREDIENTS:

Daikon
Rice: a few grams
Konbu/seaweed
Irigoma/ground sesame seeds
Daikon leaves

Sauce:
White miso
Red miso
Mirin
sake
Sugar
Konbu Dashi/Seaweed soupstock

RECIPE:

Cut the daikon into round slices about 4~5 cm thick.

Peel the daikon slices.
Do not throw the peeled skin away. You can cut it fine and use it in many recipes such kinpira!

Cut away the sharp edges. This will prevent the daikon to break into pieces during the cooking!

Make a cross shallow cut on both sides. There are many reasons for doin this!

Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the daikon. Add konbu/seweed. drop the daikon in water.
Let simmer over a light fire for about an hour or until the daikon ha become soft. If daikon emerge because of insufficient water, add hot wter (cold would stop the cooking!) so as to cover the daikon.

Adding rice to the daikon (form the start) will sweeten it and also help whiten it.

While the daikon is simmering prepare the sauce with white miso, red miso, mirin, sugar, sake and konbu dashi soup stock.
This is when your taste preferences can be taken into account!

Cook all the ingredients together in pan stirring all the time with wooden spoon.
Cook until you obtain a thick paste.

Serve the daikon topped with sauce and sprinkled with ground sesame (irigoma). sesame seeds can be served whole, too, naturally!
Serve it together with its steamed leaves!

It can served hot in winter or cold in summer!
Enjoy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Deep-fried Burdock.Age Gobou.揚げ牛蒡

September 8, 2013 dragonlife 9 Comments

Burdock or Gobou.牛蒡 in Japanese is also called greater burdock.
Its Latin name is Arctium lappa.
Although it is a root vegetable with great nutritious and even medical properties, it is commonly eaten only in Japan and Taiwan.

This species is native to the temperate regions of the old world, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, and from the British Isles through Russia, and the Middle East to China and Japan, including India.

It is naturalized almost everywhere and is usually found in disturbed areas, especially in soil rich in nitrogen. It is commonly cultivated in Japan.

It prefers a fresh, worked soil, rich in humus, and should be positioned in full sunlight. Burdock is very reactive to nitrogen fertilizer. Propagation is achieved through sowing the seeds midsummer. The harvest occurs three to four months after the seeding until late autumn, when the roots become too fibrous.
In shizuoka it is more and more cultivated in organic fashion with natural/organic fertilizer and no pesticides.

Here is a simple way to prepare it that should please vegans and and vegetarians alike!
Bear in mind to use a vegan dashi for the recipe!
This is a basic recipe. I will leave the proportions to your liking!

One piece of advice: when you buy burdock roots, choose them with soil still on them! Important!

INGREDIENTS:

Burdock
Cornstarch (katakuriko or kudzuko in Japanese, but any cornstarch should do)
Dashi
Salt
Black pepper

RECIPE:

First wash, brush/scrape skin off, rinse and cut the burdock root in small enough pieces.

Now, the most important point in the rcipe:
marinate the cut burdock root in dashi in a vinyl pouch or Tupperware box for at least half a day!

Drain the burdock root thoroughly. Roll in plenty of cornstarch.

Once fried to your liking shake oil away as quickly as you can, season with salt and black pepper and eat them like fried potatoes while hot. Great with beer!

Simple, satisfying and healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables, Wines

Party with Bourgogne Wine Producers at Le Comptoir de Bio-S in Shizuoka City!

February 9, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

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, fish and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy! Excellent wine list!

On Friday February 8th Le Comptoir de Bio-S witnessed the visit of three wine producers from Bourgogne, France, who introduced their creations to wine lovers in Shizuoka in the company of gastronomy based on local products!

Arnaud Chopin, a fourth generation producer in Nuits Saint-Georges who contributed:
Cotes de Nuits Villages Rouge 2010
Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bas de Combe 2010

Rodolphe Demougeot, who has been producing wines since the age of twenty in Beaune contributed:
Beaune Clos Sainte Desiree Blanc 2009
Beaune Les Beaux Fougets Rouge 2009

Georges Lignier, whose family started their trade back in the 19th Century in Morey saint Denis contributed:
Morey saint Denis 2008
Gevrey Chambertin 2009

Quite a palette as you can imagine!
Arnaud, Rodolphe and Georges, ably helped by their interpreter/guide Ms. Emi Tanabe, proved the model of gastronomic ambassadors who helped so much on that night make some very lucky guests discover the marvels of Bourgogne (my home, incidentally!)!
Their wines married splendidly with the repast concocted by the chefs which proved a discovery for the French wine producers themselves!

Tartare of root vegetables, Suruga Beef and wheat and its green organic salad!

All organic vegetables are grownin Fujinomiya City by Matsuki Bio Farm whose owner Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩さん organised the festivities in the company of wine importers!

Charcoal grilled winter vegetables from Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

The wine producers themselves confided me they were so happy enjoying truly delicious healthy food and discovering Shizuoka’s products!

Grilled venison, “Honshu Shika/本州鹿１” raised at the foot of Mount Fuji with red wine Balsamico sauce!

With more splendid organic vegetables!

A rare dessert!
Organic taro/sato imo ice-cream!

A big thanks to Chef Kouji Okukumura, Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki, Producers Arnaud Chopin, Rodolphe Demougeot, Georges Lignier and Ms. Emi Tanabe for a truly memorable night!

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

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
This is MY LIFE by Ashley Harvey

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

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Takuan Chahan-Takuan Fried Rice

November 6, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

INGREDIENTS: (For two people)

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

Optional: Herbs, vegetables and spices of your liking!

RECIPE:

Chop the takuan finely.

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

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

Easy and very healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Oh Bento by Keith in Hull, UK, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, PepperBento, Hapabento , Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Daikon, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Easy and Beautiful Takuan and Shiso Appetizer!

October 31, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

It is not always easy to organize a party for vegans, especially for the ones who enjoy their drinks.
You need colors and design to entice people’s appetites and the Japanese are proficient at creating beauties from almost nothing!

How about Takuan and Shiso rolls for appetizers?
“Takuan” is Japanese pickled daikon and “Shiso” is perilla whose leaves and flowers are so delicious raw!

INGREDIENTS:

Takuan cut in thin slices: As many as you want!
Shiso: As many leaves as you want! Think of the size!

RECIPE:

First cut the takuan if you a\have it whole.
If you can find sold sliced, the better.
Sponge off any liquid off the takuan slices first or you will have yellow juice everywhere!
Clean the shiso leaves in running water and sponge off all water if deemed necessary.

Look at the picture above!
Cut the takuan slices in halves.
Put a shiso leaf on one takuan half slice.
If the shiso leaf is too big cut it as to cover a little less than half the takuan slice.
Do not throw away the cut shiso leaves leftovers. You can chop them finely and use them for decoration or seasoning!
Roll.
Don’t bother securing them. If the takuan slices are thin enough they will not unfold.
When you serve them place them inside a dish which allows to pacj\k them side by side for mutual support!

So simple and beautiful!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tofu, Vegan, vegetables

Vegan Japanese Recipe: Lotus Root Hamburger 2-Tofu version

October 19, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

lotus roots, or renkon/蓮根in Japanese, have been a popular vegetable for eons.
Shizuoka prefecture is quite famous for the quality of its lotus roots all over japan!
Here is the second version of a vegan recipe for yummy lotus root hamburgers with tofu!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2^3 people)

Tofu: 300g
Lotus root: 200g
salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
Salad oil: 2 tablespoons
Grated fresh ginger or wasabki: as appropriate
Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Place the tofu inside an oven bowl.
Heat in a microwave oven for 3 minutes at 500 w.
Transfer into a bowl with small holes to drain it of water.

Peel the lotus roots.
Grate the whole into the bowl containing the tofu that has been completely drained.

Add cornstarch and mix well.
Add salt (don’t make a mistake in the order!) and mix well into a paste.

make patties 5~6 cm diameter. Don’t make them too or they will break easily. You can make s
them small, too.
Pour oil in a fry pan and cook slowly over a low fire.

Fry them well until both sides have attained a nice brownish color.

Serve with a light sauce and grated ginger or wasabi!

Serve them with some green for better presentation!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Japanese Dessert: Kabocha, Sweet Potato and Apple Pound Cake

September 11, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

The Japanese seem to have a natural way to come up with vegetarian and vegan dessert recipes as they originally didn’t use dairy products in their traditional confectionery, although it has much changed recently.
But you still can find interesting recipes in their gastronomic lore!

Here is one suggestion for a solid dessert which should please any priorities!

INGREDIENTS (For 2 pound cakes)

Sweet potato: 250 g
Kabocha (or similar pumpkin): 250g
Raisins: 1/2 cup
Fresh apple: 1
Walnuts: 1/4 cup
All purpose flour of your choice: 1 cup
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Vegetable oil: 1/2 teaspoon
Apricot paste: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Oil the inside of the pound cake molds and sprinkle with sieved flour.

-Peel the sweet potatoes and kabocha (although you can leave a bit on the later for better design. Kabocha skin is edible!). Steam till the vegetables are 80% cooked. Cut into 1cm squares.

-Chop the raisins and wet them with a little water finely spryed on them.

-Cut one quarter of the apple small cubes. Grate the remaining apple. Crush the walnuts into small bits.

-In a bowl pour the sieved flour and salt and mix well.

-In a separate bowl drop all the other ingredients and mix roughly to your liking. Mix in the flour gently and evenly. try not to make blobs!

-Pour the ckae into the molds and bruch with apricot paste.

-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake for 30 minutes.

-Let cool and serve at room temperature!

It is only a basic recipe. One can add spices and the like and decorate it!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Beef, Desserts, Dining Room, Eggplants, 里芋, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Dining Room, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables

French Gastronomy with Shizuoka Products at Tetsuya Sugimoto (Summer 2012)

August 17, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Highly professional and friendly
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables, top-class Shizuoka-bred meat and Suruga Bay seafood. Seasonal food only.

Map (Japanese)

If one wants to know what could be possibly created as French Gastronomy with mainly Shizuoka products whatever the time of the year, Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City must be the reference in spite of the fierce competition from like-minded chefs all over the Prefecture.
Since pictures and simple explanations are better than a long and heavy prose, let me relate you my visit for lunch the other day!

The entrance sports a great noren/Japanese entrance curtain bearing the name of the restaurant!

Tetsuya Sugimoto has just celebrated its 3rd Anniversary!
Have a good look at the blackboard for seasonal offerings.
If you can’t read Japanese, no worries. Chef Sugimoto will be glad to explain everything in detail with a rare passion!

Look at both sides of the blackboard!

Although Tetsuya does everything by himself from purchasing his ingredients to cleaning the place spotless every day he still finds the time to add his personal touch to the entrance!

All these decorative vegetables past the door are organic!

Poached “Bioran” egg (by Mr. Shimizu in Shizuoka City) and delicious Hokkaido urchin on a cold jelly soup made with vegetables and agar from Shizuoka prefecture!

Aji/Horse mackerel Tartare on organic tomato with amazu/sweet rice vinegar dressing!

The horse mackerel was caught in the Suruga Bay, the richest sea in Japan.
The flowers are edible and organic!

Serrano Jamon ham from Spain astride a green eggplant!

From another angle!

I felt like a voyeur when I took a picture of the green eggplant! LOL

Anago/Conger eel (a fish which made Western Shizuoka famous all over Japan) on zucchini and tomato and topped with zucchini parpadelle.
All vegetables are organic and local!

From another angle!
The sauce is balsamico-based.
Tetsuya went as far as deep-frying the conger eel backbone and place it between the fish and the tomato for an intriguing crunchy surprise!

Beef bred by Mr. Mineno in Hamamatsu City atop organic vegetables.
Testuya obtained this superlative meat after mmeeting the breeder in person in his farm!

The beef! Look at that color and texture! Extravagant!
The sauce is Banyuls wine based!

Always brace yourself before discovering desserts at Tetsuya Sugimoto!
There is always a surprise in store to throw you out of your seat!
This time:
Mousse cake made with passion fruit grown in Mariko, Shizuoka City.
The pips of the fruit were dried, grilled and crushed for the topping!
As for the ice cream it was made with porter beer crafted by Hamamatsu Tenjigura Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

Do I need more to say?

To be followed…

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
４２０－００３８ Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,２－１３，１Ｆ
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours：１１：３０～１４：３０，１７：３０～２１：３０
Holidays: undecided (do make a call first!)
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Eggplants, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Japanese recipe: Fried and Marinated Eggplants with Paprika

August 14, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Vegan cuisine can be a very easy concept making the best out of simple and tasty ingredients!
here is another simple way to accomodate eggplants the Japanese way!

INGREDIENTS: (for 2~3 people)

Eggplants: 3^4
White wine vinegar (or Japanese rice vinegar): 1 tablespoon
Paprika powder: as much as you want!
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon

RECIPE:

Clean the eggplants. Wipe them and cut them into one bite pieces.

In a pan pour olive oil. Heat the pan over a low fire.
Throw in all the eggplants.
Fry until heat has penetrated the eggplants well. Add teh vinegar.
Cover with a lid and cook over medium fire until the greater part of water/sauce has disappeared.

Transfer into a recipient Let cool down. Keep inside therefrigerator.
Serve chilled sprinkled with plenty of paprika powder!
Naturally you can add color and taste served topped with fresh herbs!

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Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Eggplants, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Vegetarian terrine

Vegan Japanese Recipe: Japanese-style Sweet & Sour Eggplants

July 26, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

Eggplants or Aubergines or Nasu/茄子 in Japanese are a very popular vegetable in Japan whose people have many recipes of their own that would satisfy many vegans and vegetarians worldwide.
These recipes are simple and the ingredients should be easy to obtain!
Sweet & sour sauces basically originate from China but Japan has its own versions, albeit lighter in texture and taste!

Japanese-style Sweet & Sour Eggplants

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

Eggplants: 2~3
Freshly grated ginger: 1 tablespoon
Green shiso/perilla: 5 leaves
Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
Sugar: 1 and a half tablespoons
Salad oil: 1 large tablespoon and a little
Golden sesame seeds: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Take off stem part and cut eggplants lengthwise in four. Clean under running cold water. Wipe off all water with kitchen paper.

In a skillet pour the oil and fry the eggplants until they have attained a nice color.

In a large bowl drop the soy sauce, grated ginger and sugar. Mix well. Add the shiso leaves finely cut in thin strips. mix quickly.

Add the fried eggplants in the bowl. Stir them gently as to cover them completely. Let soak them in for at least 5 minutes. The fact that the eggplants are hot will melt the sugar and help them absorb the sauce.

Place the eggplants in a dish. Pour all the sauce on top and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
The Japanese eat such a dish in summer at room temperature.
Great snack with beer!

Here is a variation with the same ingredients with mini tomatoes and shishito hot chilies added for more color and presentation. And taste, of course!

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美食, 野菜, 野菜ジャム, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Jam, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Zucchini

Vegan Japanese Zucchini Jam Recipe

July 23, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Zucchini practically come in season at the same time as eggplants and apart of cooking them together in ratatouille, there pleny of ways to accomodate them to satisfy all culinary priorities.
Moreover, jams should not be a problem for vegans or vegetarians and they do contribute healthy energy!

Vegan Japanese Zucchini Jam!

INGREDIENTS (for about 200 g of jam)

Zucchini: 2 medium-sized green zucchini (for a total of about 200 g). Yellow zucchini and round zucchini are naturaly ok!
Lemon: a large one
Fresh ginger: 30 g
Powder white sugar (or sugar of your choice, but keep color in mind): 100 g
Whole cloves: 2

RECIPE:

Wash the lemon.
Cut the lemon in two.
Press the juice out of one half and keep the juice aside.
Push the cloves into the pressed lemon skin.
Put the the two lemon halves in a gauze pouch and bind/knot the pouch closed.

In a large pan drop all the zucchini thinly sliced (5 mm), fresh ginger chopped into small bits, the lemon juice and sugar. Let soak for 30 minutes.
As for the thinly cut zucchini, it is up you whether to peel them beforehand or not.

Add the pouch containing the spiced lemon skin and cook over medium fire for 25 minutes.

Once the zucchini has got soft take the spiced lemon pouch out.

Reduce the zucchini into a puree with an electric stick mixer.

Taste for eventual rectification!

Jam can be used in many ways:
For non-vegans atop cream cheese.
Vegans shoul also remember it can be used as a sauce! Spread some over steamed vegetables!

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Vegan Japanese Dashi/Soup Stock: The Basic Recipe (re-published)

July 20, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

So many times have I heard my vegan and vegetarian friends complain about the fact that most dashi/soup stock is not done according to their priorities in Japan, making it impossible for them to enjoy food in this country.
Fortunately, this is a big misconception. Vegan dashi exists and is very easy to make or request.
Now, to make sure that the same friends can savour Japanese food, either at home or with friends, here is the basic ans simple recipe!
Please save or copy this recipe for future reference!

Vegan Japanese Dashi/Soup Stock

INGREDIENTS: (multiply according to demand. This is the minimum quantity!)

Konbu as sold in Japan

Konbu out of its packaging

-Konbu/dried thick dark seaweed: ５ｃｍ×５ｃｍ piece (dry)
-Water: ４００cc/ml
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon (don’t worry, the alcohol will disappear upon heating/cooking!)
-Mirin/sweet sake (same comments as above!): 2 tablespoons
-Soy sauce: 2 and a half tablespoons

RECIPE:

Pour the water into a large pan. Drop the seaweed into the water.
Switch on the fire.
The moment bubbles appear on the surface of the konbu, the water will start sucking the its essence in.
At that time add soy sauce, sake and mirin.

Taste from time to time to decide when taste suits you best.
Switch off fire then and take konbu out.
Let cool completely, pour it inside a bottle. Seal the bottle properly and store inside refrigerator.
Use it as soon as possible.

The seaweed doesn’t have to be thrown away. It is edible as it is once cooked!

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Vegan Japanese Recipe: Eggplants Pan-fried with Ground Black Sesame Seeds

July 19, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

Eggplants or Aubergines or Nasu/茄子 in Japanese are a very popular vegetable in Japan whose people have many recipes of their own that would satisfy many vegans and vegetarians worldwide.
These recipes are simple and the ingredients should be easy to obtain!
The present recipe makes use of black sesame seeds, that is roasted sesame seeds!
Apparently they are not so easy to find in Europe, which is a real pity!

INGREDIENTS (for 4 people)

Although we can buy ground black sesame seeds in Japanese markets, buy it whole and grind some just before cooking!
Great taste and flavor and so rich in nutrients!

Eggplants: 6 (long variety)
Ground black sesame seeds: 60 g
Japanese sake: 100 cc (1/2 cup). If unavailable use dry white wine!
Mirin/Japanese sweet sake: 50 cc (1/4 cup) If unavailable use very sweet white wine!
Soy sauce: 1 tab;espoon
Sugar: as appropriate
Water: 100 cc (1/2 cup)
Vegetable oil: as appropriate

RECIPE

Do not peel the eggplants.
Cut lengthwise in four, and then in halves across.
Remember that eggplants absorb oil so do not hesitate to use a lot of the latter!

Fry the eggplants.
When the eggplants have become soft and absorbed most of the oil, first add all the ingredients except the sugar and water. Fry for a while. Add the sugar and keep frying for a while.

Mix well and add the water. Turn the fire low and fry/cook until the juices have become very thick.
Switch off fire and let cool completely.

As this dish is very tasty cold, make a big batch and chill inside the refrigerator!

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Vegan Japanese Dessert: Tofu Wagashi with Kinako!

June 14, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

For the pleasure of vegans and vegetarians alkie tofu can be prepared into delicious, healthy and simple desserts!
Here is a suggestion making use of soybeans in two forms: tofu and kinako (grilled soy bean powder)!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 standard pack
-Kinako (Grilled soy bean powder): plenty
-Salt and sugar: as appropriate

For the syrup:
-Granulated sugar: 100g
-Water: 100 cc/ml/1/2 cup

RECIPE:

-Cut tofu into small one bite cubes. Drain water from tofu. take excess water with kitchen paper.
In a saucepna pour water and sugar and sugar. Heat until the mixture has reached a syrup texture. Do not make caramel! Switch fire and let cool. Chill the syrup for a while inside refrigerarator.

-In a large enough vessel drop the tofu in carefully. Pour the syrup over the tofu. Chill inside refrigerator for 1 hour.

-Take tofu out of the refrigerator. Add salt, sugar and kinako. Mix in carefully with a spatula to cover the whole tofu with kinako.

-Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with plenty more kinako!

-Serve with a small wooden spoon!

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