Vegan Sashimi Plate at Yasaitei (’10/01/20)

I suppose I don’t have to explain any more this longing I have for Yasatei Izakaya in Shizuoka City, nor the reasons I have to invent to go there!

Therefore, I will start right away describing what I hate and drank there yesterday evening:

Let’s start with the “front row”:
-Slices of green zucchini grown in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture. They were first cut, then massaged with salt and finally washed, making them tender and tasty.
-Iceplant leaves. I already mentioned this plant is worth discovering, you be vegan, vegetarian or omnivore! They are tender and crispy at the same time, and almost sweet with no tanginess, whatsoever.
-Carrots.
-Sweet red pimento.

“Back row”:
-Plum tomato.
-Daikon. Juicy and so soft in taste!
-Cucumber. Japanese variety, crispy!

Side view to show how the shiso/perilla leaf is supported by thinly sliced onion (winter onion grown in Shizuoka, with its tanginess taken away in a cold water bath).

As usual the dressing was a small saucer of sesame oil with high-quality salt and dark miso paste.

I found out that shochu is the best alcohol to enjoy with such vegetarian/vegan fare.
Incidentally, good quality shochu is vegan.
The first glass (straight with plentyof ice) is called “Doman”, the name of a very rare crab found in Hamanako Lake in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture. It is a rice shochu distilled by Hamamatsu-Tenjigura Brewery in Hamamatsu City. Crispy and gentle on the palate with plenty of character at 25 degrees proof.

My second glass came from a rare bottle of brown sugar shochu made in Amami Oshima, a small island south of Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island (great place to visit and forget about cities, I guarantee you!).
The reason it was at Yasaitei is that one of the lady waitresses is married to a gentleman from that far away island!
The name “Hikanzakura” is the name of a local cherry tree. I don’t have a clue how Oshima Shokuryo Co. distills it, but it is so flowery and mellow, even at 30 degrees proof!

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 + 20 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)