Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Soloio (July, 2014) in Shizuoka City!

July 13, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

It had been 3 months since I visited Solio Italian Restaurant for the last time in Shizuoka City last Friday and I was wondering if I could catch up with the new dishes at one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in the Prefecture!

We actually came very early, just before 5:30 p.m. which allowed us a special happy hour glass and antipasti misto set!

I had wanted to start with a beer after the very hot day but this Chardonnay spaprkling wine from the Veneto was just perfect for all its seemingly modesty!

The antipasti misto including small fry escabeche, fritatta, eggplant and lamb meat ball!

Naturally the bread is home-baked!

These exquisite mini tomatoes (from Chef Kato’s garden) in wine jelly were on the house!
Now, what did we have?

Marinated mussles!

Melons are a main product of Shizuoka Prefecture and pruned min melons are extensively used!
Putting a big mussle on a slice and eating them together was the idea!

While we were waiting we tasted some Italian candied fruit!

Beautiful deep-fried morsels: fritto!

Shizuoka grown zucchini flowers filled with ricotta cream!

Zucchini!

Carpaccio with a fish caught in the Suruga Bay!

Madai/Japanese seabream!

The risotto of the day!

Prepared with Shizuoka-grown sweet corn and parmegiani cheese!

The meat dish of the day!

Skillet-fried pork from Kuwahara Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Unfortunately we were too full to take dessert!
That will be for the next time!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Happy hour: 16:00~17:00: 1,000 yen set-3 appetizers plate and 1 glass of house wine!
Entirely non-smoking!

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Navigating Nagoya by Paige, 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, Pie
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

Japanese warehouses, Kura

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 18: Old Farm Kura In Shizuoka City!

July 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

Yesterday, because of the typhoon I decided to walk all the way to a destination I usually reach by biycle and had the opportunity to discover an old, if a bit samall, kura in Chiyo 4 Chome, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

It must have been used for ages considering the shed abutting it!

The end window was in good repair, though.

The “namako” design at the bottom of the wall was flaking away on the other hand!

The roof tiling and the upper wall metal work was also in good enough condition.

The window from another angle.

Pity the derelict shed was blocking the total view!

The roof pinion was also in good repair, so the kura must be used as a shed/shck for farm tools!

The farmhouse looks as old as the kura but might be replaced in the near future!

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Crab, Japanese crabs

Crab Species 2: Red King Crab/Tarabagani/タラバ蟹 (expanded)

July 10, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Wikipedia　Definition:
The red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, is a species of king crab native to the Bering Sea. It grows to a leg span of 1.8 m (5.9 ft), and is heavily targeted by fisheries.
Red king crabs can be very large, sometimes reaching a carapace width of 28 cm (11 in) and a leg span of 1.8 m (6 ft).It was named after the color it turns when it is cooked rather than the color of a living animal, which tends to be more burgundy.

Tarabagani or Red King Crab is caught in Autumn and Winter.
It is the most coveted of the commercially sold king crab species, and is the most expensive per unit weight. It was named after the color it turns when it is cooked rather than the color of a living animal, which tends to be more burgundy.

It is most commonly caught in the Bering Sea and Norton Sound, Alaska, and is particularly difficult to catch, but is nonetheless one of the most preferred crabs for consumption.

The King Crab is native to the Bering Sea, north Pacific Ocean, around the Kamchatka Peninsula and neighbouring Alaskan waters.
In Japan it is caught in the Japan Sea and neighbouring Okhotsk Sea.

In Japan 100 tonnes are caught every year, whereas 40,000 tonnes are imported, mainly from Russia!

There are so many ways to enjoy this great crab!
Here are a few examples:

Boiled as Sushi Nigiri of course!

Even more extravagant, raw as sushi nigiri!

Just plain boiled on a bowl of freshly steamed rice. My favourite for its extravagant simplicity!

As Chirashizushi should please anyone!

And how about a great soup with miso!

Naturally, there are more ways, including grilling!
I will leave it to your imagination! LOL/

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Bakeries, pastry, Shizuoka City

Bakery and Pastry: NICO in Shizuoka City!

July 10, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Being a Frenchman and loving my bread and pastries, I’m truly blessed to be graced wit hone of the very best bakeries in the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture just a few minutes’ walk from my home!

NICO was opened exactly seven years ago in Midori Cho, Aoi Ku, a bit away from the center of Shizuoka City, but people don’t mind, walking, cycling or driving there every day!

Even despite the dire news of the coming typhoon today the tiny bakery was flocked with customers!

Tetsuya Kosugi/小杉哲也さん is looking after the bakery itself which is pretty large behind the small shop where his mother and wife Megumi/めぐみさん are looking after　the customers!
As many are housewives coming with their kids, they even provide toys for kids to play with while their mothers patiently wait for their turn!

Note that the place opens as late as 11:00 am from Tuesday to Saturday, but most of the time everything will be sold by 13:00
They nonetheless accept order reservations on the phone within reasonable quantity (they do have to refuse some orders so as to provide enough for their regular customers, but that is a secret!).

A lot of French (without a single mistake) is written everywhere!

The “batard” baguettes on the right are a favorite of mine, but they tend to disappear quickly!

The vegetables pastries and the beans and curry bread are a favorite for lunches with the nearby office workers!

One can easily imagine who wants these exquisite croissants and fruit pastries!

But today Dragon ordered me to bring the beans and curry bread!
The batard bread will be for the next time!

NICO

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Midori Cho, 6-30
Tel.: 054248-5564
Opening hours: 11:00 a.m.~sold out
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

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Fish, Fish Markets, Shizuoka City

Local Shizuoka Fish & Seafood at Parche Fish Market in Shizuoka City: Sushi Chef’s Heaven!

July 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again due to work I hadn’t ad much time to check what local fish and seafood were available at the Parche Market inside Shizuoka JR Station! Withe the coming typhoon I had doubts, but I discovered quite a few fish at very (comparatively) prices and I’m sure the fish will disappeared as I write about it, and I know some chefs are going to make some big margins!

Now, what are those long silvery fish?

Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard fish!

Caught this morning off Numazu harbor! Super fresh and cheap!

Watarigani/渡り蟹/Swimming crab-Japanese blue crab!

Houbou/方々/Red gurnard!

Kuro shitabirame/黒舌平目/Black Soles!

Aka Mebaru/赤メバル/Red Japanese sea perch-rockfish!

Tsubdai/つぼ鯛/Pentaceros japonicus Doderlein (seabream variety)!

Nama tako/生たこ/Raw octopus!

Isaki/イサキ/Chicken grunt!

Renkodai/連子鯛/Yellowback seabream!

Hedai/ヘダイ/Goldlined seabream-Tarwhine-Stumpnose!

Kamasu/かます/barracuda!

Ma Aji/真アジ/Horse mackerel!

Shiro mebaru/白メバル/White Japanese sea perch-rockfish!

Ko Aji/小アジ/Very young horse mackerels!

Usually this particular fish is a bit expensive!

Ma kochi/真コチ/Sand Borer!

Beautiful and so fresh squids!

ma ika/真イカ/Japanese Flying Squid-Japanese Common Squid-Pacific Flying Squid!
Cheap!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Sankaban Inari Shrine (三加番稲荷神社) in Higashi Kusabuka Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

July 9, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I had noticed this small shrine for quite some time in Higashi Kusabuka Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City because of its many red torii gates.

The paint is flaking away these days but I remember when they were a bright orange red!

Sankaban Inari Shrine (三加番稲荷神社) is very old indeed and must have been rebuilt countless times as it was first erected on this spot in 1651 after the Yui Shosetsu Revolt as the third of a series of three identical shrines.

But the concrete wall and votive pillar are quite recent.

the concrete torii gate is probably older than the wooden smaller red torii gates.

There are eight torii gates, but I wonder if that number has a special meaning.

I heard it is still used for festivals but it certainly needs some maintenance.

This stone hand washing basin placed halfway the torii gates is probably the most ancient item in the whole place.

There is another, very old too, behind the torii gates.

The shrine.

The greenery adds a little color to the somewhat forlorn site!

The rice straw garland seemed to me a bit unusual although a local lady told me it is pretty normal!

The shrine name plaque is the oldest part of the whole edifice!

Some parts do need repair!

Interesting roof pinion!

Bye-bye and all the best!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Ogushi Shrine (小梳神社 ) in Shizuoka City!

July 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Ogushi Shrine (小梳神社 ) is an ancient and well-known Shinto Shrine in Shizuoka City, within easy walking distance from Shizuok JR Station just across from Parco Department Store.
Its grounds are extensively used during flea markets and other events, but people usually miss a lot of interesting details!

The torii gate!

The old name pillar!

It is guarded by the usual two lions!

But the horn on this one is out of the ordinary!

Its facing acolyte doesn’t have one!

The shrine was oirginally standing on the grounds of the Sumpu Castle but it was moved to the present location after Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu’s death during the 17th Century!

The hand-washing stone basin!

One of the two enormous stone lanterns!

You will find a small shrine on your left past the torii gate!

It has its own torii gate!

The access bridge flies over a carp pond!

The carps!

It is also guarded by two lions!

The other lion!

Small and beautiful shrine!

It is guarded by a minuscule dragon!

And two roaring lions!

An ancient hand-washing stone basin is still in use beside it!

Leaving the small shrine!

A building probably used a shed!

The main shrine!

An old wooden lantern placed atop a new concrete pillar!

The rice–straw garland!

The coin offerings box with a double crest!

This particular shrines apparently serves a double purpose!

Plenty of sake bottles offerings inside!

The festival drum!

The two crests!

A side view of the main shrine!

From another angle!

If you proceed left of the main shrine you will find not one, but two smaller shrines guarded by different animals!
The torri gate of the first and bigger one!

Fox guards!

These are always different!
One with a closed mouth!

The other keeping a scroll between its maws!

Once again a small but beautiful shrine!

It is also decorated with a rice straw garland!

Frolicking foxes!

An even smaller one stands at the back!

Discarded roof peak?

Guarded by two foxes again!

A fierce fox of unusual colors!

The other looking fierce, too!

Obviously a more ancient shrine!

The main shrine seen from a side entrance on its right!

The side entrance torii gate!

A last look at Ogushi Shrine!

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Beer, Craft Beer, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Summer Ale

July 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

If you want to taste Aoi Brewing craft beers and also write about it, there is the perfect place within walking distance of Shizuoka JR Station!

Aoi Beer Stand!
Mind you, if you want to write about the beer you will have to find one of the six seats free!
Otherwise drinking outside on the pavement is OK!

Incidentally Aoi Beer Stand is celebrating its 1st Anniversary!

One of these days I will have a selfie taken of my person drinking their beer standing in front!

As for the tasting, bear in mind that the beers will come and go before re-appearing in the future!
It makes the tasting and writing even more enjoyable!

Served on tap
Barley, barley hops, live yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: ~5 degrees
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered)
Color: deep yellow
Bubbles: fine. Longish head
Aroma: assertive. Oranges, bread, dry
Taste: very dry and deep approach.
Very refreshing with welcome acidity.
Oranges.
Lingers inside palate with an increasing dryness and acidity.
Changes little with food.

Overall: very refreshing brew with more acidity than usual.
Westerners will probably appreciate it more than the Japanese.
Great balance between fruitiness and acidity.
For very dry beer lovers!

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 beer is also available at Aoi Brewery’s two more restaurants in Shizuoka City, namely

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

and Mando:

Mando, Neo Japanesque Bar
420-0031, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 2-4-6, Mori Blg, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-221-5103
Business hours: 17:00~26:00
Parties possible on 2F
Credit cards OK

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Crab, Japanese Gastronomy, Snow Crabs

Japanese Crab Species 1: Snow crab/Suwaigani/ズワイ蟹 (expanded)

July 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Wikipedia definition:
Chionoecetes is a genus of crabs that live in the northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.[1]

Other names for crabs in this genus include “queen crab” (in Canada) and “spider crab” – they are known by different names in different areas of the world. The generic name Chionoecetes means snow (χιών, chion) inhabitant (οιχητης, oiketes);[2] opilio means shepherd, and C. opilio is the primary species referred to as snow crab. Marketing strategies, however, employ snow crab for anything in the genus Chionoecetes. Snow crab refers to them being commonly found in cold northern oceans.

Snow crabs are caught as far north as the Arctic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Greenland and north of Norway in the Atlantic Ocean, and across the Pacific Ocean, including the Sea of Japan, the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska, Norton Sound, and even as far south as California for Chionoecetes bairdi.

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

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

(Male Snow Crab)

(Female snow Crab)

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

The “thorns” of a male snow crab are bigger.

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

The underbelly of a female snow crabis flatish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now, live snow crabs make for extravagant sashimi!

The same can savoured in shabu-shabu!

Italian restaurants in Japan regularly serve it in pasta!

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shimada City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery- Wakatake Onigoroshi Tokubetsu Honjozo Genshu Nama

July 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Every year I make a point of tasting this famous brand by Oumuraya Brewery in Shimada City: Onigoroshi!

There are many Onigorshi/”Kill a Goblin” in Japan, but this is arguably the most celebrated!

When you consider the alcohol content, the dryness and the lack of pasteurization, you need this to kill one!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 9
Acidity: 1.３
Alcohol: 17-18 degrees
Bottle in May 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry. Greens
Body: Fluid
Taste: Aggressive approach backed up by pleaaant alcohol.
Dry, Fruity.
Lingers on for a while, warming up the back of the palate.
Apricots, almonds, macadamia nuts.
Takes on an even drier turn with food.
Stays strong all the way.

Overall: Solid and straightforward, this is a very dry and strong sake for the “Macho sake” lovers!
The perfect complement to a BBQ or heavy izakaya gastronomy!
Designed to accompany food!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Inari Myoujin Shrine in Umegashima, Shizuoka City!

July 6, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Yesterday I had to revisit a favorite place of mine again up in the mountains along the Abe River in Shizuoka City!

It was still early in the morning at at around 9:30!

i come here regularly as my goof friend, Ms. Asami Ito of marufuku Seisha Tea Co. in Shizuoka City. has a piece of land up there with an old house and plenty of Japanese plum trees!

It does take time to reach the place, even by car, at least an hour as you have t climb up a sole narrow road up to 1,000 meters height!

But the vistas waiting for you there are worth the whole trip!

Now, the very place we have to alight from the car is beside the highest green tea field in Japan!

I don’t know exactly when, but the local farmers in Higashi Mine, Umegashima, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City erected this small house to protect and ancient small shrine called Inari Myoujin/稲荷明神!

The small torii gate was actually created by a local wood cutter who has a shed just nearby!

This is a very rare design in Japan with the upper beam a real tree trunk just cut and peeled off!
Beautiful!

Inari Myoujin Shinto Shrine!

The original and truly ancient shrine tucked inside!

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Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka City

Ashitsuki Shrine (足坏神社 ) in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Okugumi (Ashikubo)

July 5, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

There are many practically forgotten Shinto Shrines along rivers and the foot of mountains in Shizuoka Prefecture due to the moving of population away from the rural areas.
The other day it took me no less than 4 hours on my old bicycle to find Ashitsuki Shrine up along the Ashikubo River in blinding heat but it certainly was worth the effort as it has been almost completely forgotten by the locals who had problems to inform me!
It was only when I found myself only 200 meters that someone confidently pointed me the way!

it is completely hidden from the view from across the road or river. And the only way to find it is to go down form your bicycle and push it along. That is, if you are not a local!
It is completely surrounded with trees and the entrance is invaded by beautiful hydrangeas!

The old, a bit lonely torii gate!

The surrounding area is green tea land!

Very tall trees!

The shrine!

The main shrine!

Old stone lantern with sun and moon openings!

Ashitsuki Shrine (足坏神社 ) written the old way round!

Actually for its look of abandonment, the shrine is still being used for local matsuri/festivals!

The money offerings box!

Benefactors’ names!

More of them!

Driftwood decoration!

There was another smaller shrine behind with closed doors!

Including a small kamidana/altar!

i also found a large shrine shed!

I managed to open it and discovered a festival drum and empty tea boxes!

interesting roof architecture of the main shrine!

Back down very old stone stairs!

A last look at the stone lanterns!

A last farewell before hitting the road!

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Japanese crackers, Senbei, Shizuoka City

Senbei/Japanese Crackers at Aoi Senbei Honkei in Shizuoka City!

July 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Senbei/Japanese Crackers at Aoi Senbei Honkei in Shizuoka City!

There is a bit of misconception about senbei in Japan.
Senbei/煎餅 is often translated as “rice cracker”. Actually there is nothing mentioned about rice/米 in the original kanji character.
Senbei can be made of rice flour or wheat flour, and can be salty or sweet.

Now, in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, not far from Sengen Shrines stands an ancient traditional senbei shop called “Aoi Senbei Honkei/葵煎餅本家” which offers both types of senbei.

Kazuhiro Unno/海野和宏さん and his wife Yuriko/由利子さん represent the 5th generation of a long tradition.

But it is only after WWII that they decided to produce their own senbei, moving away from the confectionery of cakes and biscuits aimed at children.

They sell both rice flour crackers and wheat flour senbei.
The wheat flour senbei are exclusively made on site, whereas the rice flour crackers are made by all kinds of companies throughout Japan to satisfy the constant demand!

Their shop has gained official recognition from the Shizuoka Prefecture Government for their round-shaped senbei with the Tachi Aoi/Hollyhock crest of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu named Aoi Oomaru/葵大丸!
A splendid and delicious souvenir!

Petit Fuusen/プチ風ん/”small balloon” senbei!

Aoi Senbei/葵煎餅, also called “Tokuyou Sunpu taiko/徳用駿府太鼓/Special Sumpu (old name of Shizuoka City!) Drums”!

Series of wheat flour senbei directly connected with the history and tourism of Shizuoka!

Another series of fancy wheat flour senbei!

The most popular wheat flour senbei!

Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu and the hollyhock crest!

Very traditional shop and smiling staff!

Superb gift sets that can be sent anywhere in Japan!

These two flavored wheat flour and peanuts senbei should please expat and foreign visitors!

The one on the right is coffee-flavored!

AOI SENBEI HONKEI/葵煎餅本家

4200867 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Baban Cho, 20
Tel.: 054-252-6260
Fax: 054-273-5323
Opening hours: 09:00~19:00 (until 17:30 on Wednesdays)
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOKK

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Dragons, Japan, Tourism

Dragons in Japan 1

July 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Dragons!

If you know where to look around you will find plenty looking after us in Shinto Shrines or looking at us in Parks or during festivals and where else!

Shall we look for them (pun intended!)?

I discovered this dark dragon in an underground shrine inside a cliff by the sea in Kamakura!

Dragons are not so many in Kyoto and tend to be artistically represented!

Some old buildings in Kyoto have them protecting their entrance!

It is still unusual to find them on western-looking edifices, hough!

I found this one in a shop, but didn’t understand its purpose in spite of its delicate beauty!

Discovered this more usual water spouting dragon at a shinto Shrine in Kyoto called Myoonbensenten!

Surging forth out of nowhere!

Elegant!

Evil grin!

This wood carving was almost discarded at Tofuku Buddhist temple in Kyoto!

Dragons are rarely found inside Buddhist Temples!

Almost looks like a western cousin!

Or did the artist confuse it with a guarding dog? LOL

Yokohama City having a big Chinese community you are bound to find many Chinese dragons there!

they are markedly different from the Japanese ones with more bright colors!

Different maws, too!

They also look more aggressive in protecting their charges!

What a tail!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Sake

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery- Tenko Junmai Nama Genshu Muroka

July 4, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

It’s been some time since I tasted a sake brewed by Suruga Brewery in Shizuoka City!
Although still a very new brewery, at least in name, it is already getting recognition nationally!

It goes for one of its long name as it describes the brewing process:
Junmai: no pure rice alcohol added/blended.
Genshu: no pure water added
Nama: unpasteurized
Muroka: unfiltered

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.6
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Shizuoka yeast
Bottled in June 2014

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Apricots, dark chocolate and milk coffee appearing late with a sweeter note.
Disappears quickly.
Changes little with but for a slightly drier note.

Overall: A sake for strong sake lovers!
Perfect with izakaya food or BBQ.
Easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Gains to be drunk slowly and carefully as it can suddenly reveal fleeting facets!

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