Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Alt

September 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Things are getting at Aoi Brewing with the first arrival of a totally new batch!

Incidentally all the summer beers so far reviewed will disappear except for the mild ale!
The very newest one is Alt!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, roasted malt, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 5.5 %
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark brown
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. shortish head, light brown
Aroma: light and dry. Citruses
Taste: dry and deep, refreshing. Great character.
Roasted coffee beans, dry caramel, toasted bread.
Pleasant and well-balanced.
Practically doesn’t change with food.

Overall: Both refreshing and solid. Very well-balanced. Very pleasant acidity.
A great general improvement on already fine craft beers.
Very reliable and fulfilling, but still refreshing.
Although dry with pleasant acidity, it should please both genders!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK

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rre.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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, 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!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-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

Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Il Paladino in Shizuoka City (September 2014)

September 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive.
Strong points: Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made non-smoking!

I finally managed to visit Il Paladino Tratorria in Takajo machi, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City after a long absence!

It was actually for the occasion of a “business lunch” with a client of mine!

It can easily become a very busy place, so at lunch they make sure to be prepared for customers in a hurry!

For lunch they offer three types of set menus.
We opted for the Chef’s recommendation!

Of course all the bread is home-baked!

Enormous antipasti misto!

Sicilian bread and beans soup!

Pasta of the day!

Stewed beef tongue!

Grilled “Isaki/Chicken grunt”! A typical fish from Shizuoka!

And a succulent small dessert to finish!

We certainly ended up full and contented!

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only)

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Shizuoka City, sushi, Sushi Design

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Seafood Sushi Millefeuille!

September 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

Here is another example of Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん’s ingenuity which demonstrates why he received an award as best sushi designs from his peers two years ago!
Actually this time we challenged Chef Birukawa to create another millefeuille with pre-determined ingredients!
The shari/sushi rice layers had thinly cut cucumber and avocado in between!

Chef Birukawa first mounted the top with small “flowers of raw salmon with salmon roe in each on a green bed of thinly sliced cucumber and placed a “rose” of raw salmon in the middle!

He then formed a “cascade” of sweet shrimps!

he finally surrounded it with leek sprouts, small cubes of tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet, and more salmon roe.

Dinner report coming next!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

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Numazu City, sake, Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Takashima Brewery-Hakuin Masamune Yamahai Junmai Hiyaoroshi Genshu

September 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I finally had the chance to taste an old favorite of mine by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City.
Owner/Master Brewer Kazutaka Takashima uses this label to advertise the fact that Shizuoka Prefecture produces the greatest number of natural edible seaweed in Japan!

This time I conducted this tasting at A Votre Sante Wine, Sake and multi store shop in Aoi Ku, Shozuoka City!

As it is a standing bar it is the perfect place for a tasting!
The brew made for another long name!
Hakuin Masamune Yamahai Junmai (No pure alcohol blended in) Hiyaoroshi (pasteurized only once) Genshu (No water blended in)!

Rice: Ginfubuki
Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: +6
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in Septmebr 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and assertive. Pears, custard
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: very assertive and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and beautiful alcohol.
Deep and complex.
Coffee beans, dark chocolate.
Lingers on for a while warming up the palate before leaving on a drier and even deeper note with strong hints of roasted coffee beans.
Tends to show more facets with following sips.

Overall: I didn’t taste this sake with any food, and it is probably for the best.
A great sake with a character rarely found in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Makes for the perfect aperitif, but I suspect it would really enjoyable with cheese or pork meats!
Would definitely perform better than many vaunted wines.
A discovery!

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Fujieda City, sake, Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Yamahai Junmai Akiagari Homarefuji

September 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

These days I try conduct my tastings inside specialized establishments!

I sampled this brew by Sugii brewery at La Sommeliere Wine & sake Bar in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Once again a long name for a Sugii Brewery sake in Fujieda City!
Suginishiki Yamahai Junmai Akiagari (first Autumn) Homarefuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: ;8
Acidity: 1.6
Yeast: Association No 701
Pasteurized only once
Bottled in August 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and assertive. Fruity. Custard, chestnuts
Body: fluid
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Custard, chestnuts, almonds, dark chocolate.
Lingers in the palate for a little while before departing on an even drier note.
Will become even drier with food with a late appearance by greens and welcome acidity.
Dark chocolate will become more insistent once away again from food with appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: Thanks to its dryness and complexity, a sake perfect for a happy marriage with food!
Will surely take the place of a more vaunted wine!

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Croque-Madame, Japanese sake, Shizuoka City

Croque-Madame & Sugii Brewery Yamahai Junmai at La Sommeliere Wine & Sake Bar in Shizuoka City!

September 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Shy but very friendly
Equipment and facilities: Spotless clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Local sake by the glass. Extensive wine list by the glass. Bottles on sale. Great local bread and pastries. Home-made light food

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This is already my fourth shizuoka sake tasting article conducted there!

This time the sake was made in Fujieda City by Sugii Brewery!
Sugii Brewery is probably the one brewery most unafraid to experiment in Shizuoka Prefecture!
This time I tasted a very interesting Yamahai Junmai made with Shizuoka-grown Homare Fuji sake rice!
Report coming soon!

Like Croque-Monsieur (“crunching a gentleman”) Croque-Madame (“Crunching a lady”) comes into many guises, especially in Japan, and I wanted to savor Mrs. Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん’s own version since I’m sure she is a lady intent on devouring her female competitors!

Served with home-made pickles, it makes for a whole meal!

長谷川浩美さん’s is a sandwich version made with two thin slices of Pain de Campagne/Country Bread baked by Trottix bakery in Shizuoka City!
The filling is a combination of sweet white onion and Iberico bacon.
The topping is real home-made bechamel sauce with French gruyere!
And since this is a Croque-Madame it is topped with a fried egg!

Looking forward to the next double tasting!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays & National Holidays
Entirely non-smoking!

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Craft Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Mild Ale

September 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I seem to have recently developed a sixth sense when it comes to check the eventuality of a new brew being put on the tap!

I had no particular reason to visit Aoi Beer Stand in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City as they hadn’t announced anything on their Facebook account but here I found myself facing the blackboard over the counter with a totally new brew: Mild ale!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 4~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange
Bubbles: very fine and creamy. shortish head, white
Aroma: very fruity and mild. Citruses
Taste: very mild and fruity attack.
Deep, elegant and refreshing.
Both well-rounded and complex: apricots, bread.
Varies little with food.
Stays very stable all the time, soft and pleasant.

Overall: The best craft beer by Aoi Brewing so far!
Very well-rounded and fruity.
A great craft beer for the coming autumn.
Being very fruity without being sweet and with little acidity, it should please both ladies and gentlemen.

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish & Seafood at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City: including Shirasu/Sardine Whiting!

September 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Autumn seems hesitant to come to us here in Shizuoka and blazing hot days are alternating with cool overcast skies. But the fish don’t seem to change much yet at Parche Market in Shizuoka JR Station!
Better have another look!

The “mixed batch”!
I wonder what they have?

Most of them from Shizuoka Prefecture:
Hirame/平目、鮃、比目魚: sole, flatfish, Kuchimi/口美 (also called Fuefukidai/笛吹鯛): Adjutant, Aoigochi/青い鯒、青い牛尾魚: blue flathead, Kanpachi/間八、環八: greater amberjack, Japanese amberjack, Koshyo (Koshiodai)/胡椒鯛: crescent sweetlips, Madai/真鯛: Japanese seabream, Bora/鯔: mullet, and Umazura/馬面 (also called Umazurahagi/馬面剥): black scraper, Filefish, Scraper, a large variety of filefish!

Beautiful fish!

What kind of squids are they?

Surume ika/鯣烏賊: Japanese flying squid, Japanese common squid, Pacific flying squid from Sagara!

Beautiful seabreams there!

Tennen Madai/天然真鯛: wild Japanese seabream! Expensive!

Onikasago/鬼笠子、鬼瘡魚: Devil scorpion fish!

Hirame/平目、鮃、比目魚: sole, flatfish!

Isaki/伊佐木、伊佐幾、鶏魚: chicken grunt!

Bankokarei/バンコ鰈： a small variety of turbot!

Amadai/甘鯛: tilefish!

Akamutsu/赤鱫、赤鯥 (also called Nodokuro/喉黒): rosy seabass, red gnomefish!

Tamagashira/タマガシラ: Monocle-bream.Redbelt monocle-bream!

Mizukamasu/水魳、水梭魚、水梭子魚: a variety of Japanese barracuda!

Renkodai/連子鯛: Yellowback seabream!

Hedai/平鯛: goldlined seabream-tarwhine-stumpnose!

Maaji/真鯵: Japanese jack mackerel!

Akaika/赤烏賊: red squid, ommastrephes bartramii!

Kasago/笠子、瘡魚: False kelpfish, Marbled rockfish!

Shirasu/白子(Namashirasu/生白子 if raw): sardine whiting!
A Shizuoka specialty!

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Bus trips, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Visiting Shizuoka Prefecture by Bus 2: Shimada City~Ikumi Line

September 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

When you do not want to drive a car, nor ride a bicycle and when there is no railroad available the best means to travel through Shizuoka Prefecture is the bus. And it can prove cheaper as well!

This time, still starting from Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Station North Exit Bus Platform, I went north along the Ikumi Line/Ikumi Sen/伊久身線 up in the mountains till the last station called Ikumi (different Japanese characters: 伊久美).
Note there is only one bus every hour!

My bus!

Although smaller than tourist buses, such vehicles have very large windows for perfect views!

The trip altogether last an hour and runs along the Ooi River for about 20 minutes!
This particular line is heavily subsidized by the municipality to help tea farmers up in the mountains and the whole trip costs only 200 yen!

The city is also taking care of some splendid lawn banks!

Turning along the Ikumi River a tribute of the Ooi River!

It becomes pretty narrow at times!

It runs across narrow farm lands!

in some areas it becomes a torrent between steep slopes!

Some spots are very popular for camping, bathing and BBQ’s!

The green tea grown on these mountains is among the best in Japan!

These propellers help regulate the air and temperature for the tea leaves!

Almost arrived!
Only 200 yen!

My bus at the last stop up in the mountains!

This very last stop is in Nihama!
Now, let’s walk and ride again!) all the way back to Shimada City to discover the sights!

What’s over there?

A splendid kura/蔵/Traditional Japanese warehoues in a perfect state!

You will find some of the very old abodes of the local farmers!

Green tea farms!

A very ancient western-style house buit during the Meiji Era which now serves as a community center!

It definitely warrants the appellation of a cultural asset!

Look at that roof!

Walking along the river…

Green tea everywhere!

More green tea!

What are they doing?

Catching ayu trouts!

A sign to warn drivers that they are passing by an elementary school!

It was a sweltering day and I would have welcomed a dip!

Plenty of fish there, too!

The local tea cooperative processing plant!

The roof is green with tea particles!

A wild boar hunters’ lodge!
The area is plagued with wild boars, deer and wild monkeys who feat on the farms!

Some of the local farmers are still obviously well off!

A double traditional house!

With its rare and expensive linking hall!

More modest traditional Japanese farmhouses!

No, this house is not abandoned!

It is a community agricultural equipment shed!

Another ayu trout angler!

The next bus stop!

The last post office which also probably serves as a bank!

The last Police box/”koban”!

I had a great talk with this gentleman farmer!
He even gave me some frozen wild boar meat!

We talked in front of his home while I was waiting for the next bus!

A tiny house shrine!

I discovered this house along the river decorated with wind toys!

Beside the bus stop next to the house stood a local Shinto shrine!

The shrine was called Ooi Uami Shrine dedicated to the Ooi River in Uami District!

It concealed a far more ancient and minuscule shrine!

There are many Shinto shrines all along the Ooi River indeed!

The Hachiman Shrine in Kawaguchi!

Another bigger one!

The Kanza Ooi Shrine!

An even bigger one as I got nearer back to the center of Shimada City!

The Sonsha Ooi Shrine!

And even a small one “floating” on a small river!

But I couldn’t find its name!

Where shall I go next?

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Bretagne, French gastronomy, Quimper City

Gastronomic Destinations: France-Bretagne (3): Le Jardin d’Ete in Quimper City!

September 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and informative
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. excellent separated washrooms. Entirely non-smoking
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Excellent set menus marrying products of the land and the sea. Excellent oysters and beautiful desserts.Excellent reasonably priced wine list. English spoken.

Beautiful local oysters served with seaweed pearls!

In a city replete with crepe restaurants Le Jardin d’Ete provides a great escape to other Bretagne cuisine in a cosy interior in the old city!
To add to the decor customers seem to be of a very convivial sort!

Oysters of course are a must but do try the fish and scallops gratin!

Enormous scallops brochettes are a beauty, too!
Unpretentious, delicious and so generous!

They do serve specialties from other regions such as home-made canard confit/preserved duck!
Absolutely tender and elegant!

But keep an eye and a space for the desserts!

Meringue and red fruit sauce and sorbet!

Although lunch is attractive enough, definitely a reliable address for dinner, but you had better reserve!

Restaurant Le Jardin D’Ete

15, rue du salle, Quimper, 29000
Tel.: 0298953300
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking
Reservations recommended

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Craft Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Pale Ale (3rd batch)

September 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing is finally starting serving its third batch at Aoi Beer Stand in Shozuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho!

Incidentally, Aoi Brewing will open their brew pub near Sengen Shrine on the same premises by mid-October!
Expect the tasting being conducted there!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 4~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: dark orange/persimmon
Bubbles: very fine. shortish head, white
Aroma: dry oranges
Taste: Dry, light attack. Very refreshing.
Oranges, bread, persimmons.
Lingers on long enough with some welcome acidity at the end.
Stays soft and dry all the time.
Not affected by food.

Overall: A high quality thirst quencher. Very similar to the second batch with a little more body.
Eminently enjoyable on a late hot afternoon.
Like the second batch, drinks very fast, so be prepared for a bigger glass!

AOI BREWING

Temporary address:
AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

Aoi Beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

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Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

French gastronomy, Markets, Rennes

Gastronomic Destinations: France-Bretagne (2): Saturday Market in Rennes

September 5, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Rennes in Bretagne is a big city and is considered the capital of the whole region!
It a big population to feed and a big market is held there every Saturday with more than 300 shops selling their wares indoors and outdoors!
It is definitely worth a slow visit!
Let’s have a look at what could be found during the last Saturday of August!

Melons from Southern France!
Of course, not all products were local, but they were all French!

Mirabelles from Lorraine!

Nectarines from the Gard!

Local vegetables!

Garlic and echalottes!

Bretagne is the biggest producer of artichokes!

Black figs from the South!

Watermelons from the South!

Tomatoes!

Celeriac!

Lettuce!

Olives from the South!

Dried fruit!

Pimentoes and paprika!

Onions!

Cauliflower!

Broccoli and romanesco!

Potimarron pumpkins!

Bretagne was the first to grow strawberries domestically in the World in the 18th Century!

More pumpkins!

More pimentoes and paprikas!

Wild cep mushrooms form the South!

Wild chanterelles!

Violet turnips, celeriac and frizzled cabbage!

Cheese!

Pork!

More cheese!

Quiches!

More pork!

Pizzas and pies!

Terrines!

Rabbit (center!)!

Beef!

Sausages!

More terrines and sausages!

More of the same!

Chinese cuisine!

Couscous!

Local craft beers!

Whole roasted chickens!

Traditional bonbons!

Incredible cheese!

Local traditional jams!

Traditional confectioner in Breton costume!

Beignets!

Candied fruit!

Looked so delicious!

Rock crabs!
More than half of Bretagne is washed by the sea!

Busy stand!

Lobsters!

Mussles!

Seafood galore!

Pumpkins and zucchini of all shapes!

Beautiful eggplants!

Fish galore!

Crabs and lobsters!

More cheese!
So elegant!

Escargots!

Bio bread!

Street music!

Succulent plants! Not for food!

More succulent plants!

Cacti!

Traditional Breton cakes!

And radishes to take away!
Mind you there also a lot of flowers on sale!

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Bretagne, French gastronomy, Galettes

Gastronomic Destinations: France-Bretagne (1): An Disquiz in Quimper City

September 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly
Equipment & facilities: Correct cleanliness. Basic washroom. Entirely non-smking
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of galettes and crepes. Cidre/Cider

Great local cider served in bolees/bowls!

Local andouillette galette!
An Disquiz (“the place to relax in”) offers an enormous array of buckwheat galettes both salted and sweet called ble noir/black wheat/buckwheat and sweet crepes.
The interior is intriguing and cute.
Excellent for lunch

Country-style galette!

Sweet apple buckwheat galette!

AN DISQUIZ

12, Rue Freron, Quimper, 29000
Tel.: 0298955570
Reservation recommended
Entirely non-smoking

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Mushrooms, Portabella Mushroom, Recipes

From my Recipe Book: Hasegawa Garden’s Portabella Mushrooms (3)!

September 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was given a few enormous Portabella Mushrooms the other day during an interview!

Mr. Mitsushi Hasegawa/長谷川光史さん

They are grown by Mr. Mitsushi Hasegawa in Fuji City at Hasegawa Garden/長谷川農園.

They were truly enormous!

To give you a better idea!

After last week’s stuffed mushroom-style recipe, I came up a different recipe: “Ton toro” pork sauteed with Portabella Mushrooms and Yuzu Koshio!

“Ton toro” means that it is pork of higher quality, quite whitish in color, reminiscent of tuna “toro”!
I first started frying the sliced ton toro pork with a little olive oil and yuzu koshio/lime and pepper paste.
I then added one sliced mushroom when the pork had started changing color. I fried the whole until the mushroom was properly cooked. The juices of the mushroom mixing with those of the pork meant there was no need for extra seasoning as the yuzu koshio paste contained enough salt.

Served with chopped leeks/scallions, a great appetizer (or main dish!)!

As we were left with one more mushroom, I cut it in small quarters, fried it in olive oil and a little white wine, salt and pepper before adding the finishing touch with chopped parsley.
Simple and so delicious!

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Mushrooms, Portabella Mushroom, Recipes

From my Recipe Book: Hasegawa Garden’s Portabella Mushrooms (1 & 2)!

September 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I was given a few enormous Portabella Mushrooms the other day during an interview!

Mr. Mitsushi Hasegawa/長谷川光史さん

They are grown by Mr. Mitsushi Hasegawa in Fuji City at Hasegawa Garden/長谷川農園.

They were truly enormous!

To give you a better idea!

So, last night I found myself busy devising recipes for them to be served at dinner.
For the first recipe, I thaought up a steamed syu-mai style.
I prepared a filling with minced chicken, chopped onions and carrots, the chopped mushroom stem, a little Japanese sake, salt and pepper.
I filled one Portabella Mushroom with it and covered the meat with syu-mai “skin strips”.

I steamed the whole, then. Interestingly enough, a lot of juices oozed out of it (she steamed syu-mai with the juices later!)!

I cut it carefully once out of the steamer.

Simple, juicy and very tasty!

For the second recipe I decided to prepare it French/Italian style.
Instead of steaming it, I put the portabella Mushroom stuffed with the same syu-mai filling on a little olive oil on a non-stick pan but with nothing on top at first. She kept a glass lid over the fry pan so as not let juices evaporate. I fried it for a little while before adding some white wine and covering it with the lid again. Once the filling was cooked she placed cheese and tomato sauce on top and cooked it until the cheese has spread down to the bottom of the pan.