Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Masaru Aoki, Shizuoka City

Italian Cuisine: Dinner at Gentile in Shizuoka City!

November 24, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: a bit shy but extremely attentive and informative
Equipment & Facilities: spotless clean. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking.
Prices: reasonable, especially at lunch
Strong points: Authentic Italian cuisine created mainly with superb local products. Excellent wine and grappa list with judicious suggestions from the sommelier

We finally found the opportunity to visit Chef/owner Masaru Aoki’s new Italian Restaurant, Gentile, in Shizuoka City!

It is located where another Italian restaurant stood in the vicinity of Isetan whose owner suddenly had to go back to Tokyo for family reasons.

You had better reserve as this place can become very busy, especially at lunch time!
For dinner you can choose between set courses or individual dishes a la carte, or just come for a drink!

It has completely refurbished along a triple concept.
First a standing bar for customers only willing to partake of wine or spirits.

A counter with chairs for guests who come alone or wish to share a word with the chef and his sommelier.

Third tables with sofa and chairs for couples or groups wishing for more private comfort!

As for white wine (after a glass of Italian sparkling wine) we first ordered a bottle of Il Civettaio, Vermentino!

An unfiltered biological white wine with a beautiful color, splendid aroma and superb balance!

To accompany the sparkling wine we were offered a light salad made of finely cut local vegetables and wheat!

The first dish consisted of seared saury pike and sauteed horse mackerel from Suruga Bay and local marinated vegetables!

Of course all the bread is house-baked!

Extravagant aged Parma ham and raw mushrooms grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

A dish difficult to find even in Tokyo: Sauteed black bass with renkon/lotus root from Asabata District in Shizuoka City!

And then it was time to order a red wine:
A nectar with an unusual name, Banshee! Created with Sangiovese grapes grown in Maremma, Toscana!

A discovery!

The main dish!

Vegetables all local and mainly organic, including three kinds of tuber!

Succullent “minonegyuu” beef from animals bred at Hina Farm in Hamamatsu City!

Masaru’s special pasta with fresh Piemonte black truffles!

Masaru’s desserts are known all over town!

And don’t forget to check the impressive grappa and homemade liqueurs on offer!

The beginning of a long love story!

GENTILE
Chef/Owner: Masaru Aoki青木勝さん. Sommelier: Shyoujirou Sano/佐野将士郎

420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryougae Cho, 1-3-39, MA kan, 1F
Tel.: 054-255-5577
Opening hours: 12:00~14:30, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Thursdays
Credit cards OK
Parties welcome
Reservations highly recommended

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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
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-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
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Craft Beer, Japan Craft Beers, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Fest Heffe Weizen

November 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing has come up with a new craft beer to celebrate the Autumn Beer Festivals: Fest Heffe Weizen!

Served on tap
Wheat and barley. Pilsner malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Crystal malt (Great Britain), Cascade hop (USA), Chinook hop (USA), Tetnang hop (Germany), Munich Classic yeast (Germany), sugars
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
ABV: 6.0
IBU: 20
Production: 450 l

Bubbles: Long head, very fine bubbles, creamy, white
Aroma: dry, fruity and spicy. Citruses.
Color: orange, persimmon
Taste: very dry and fruity attack. Spicy. Dry oranges.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on dry notes of mandarines and lemon.
Becomes softer on palate as temperature rises but still finishes on a very dry note.
Varies liitle with food.

Overall: a very refreshing and elegant craft beer in spite of its marked dryness.
Although produced in Autumn, will do well in all seasons.
For craft beer lovers of any gender or age!
Recommended pairings: cold meats, BBQ

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

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
FACEBOOK

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Nanburyu Satoru Hibino 55 Wakatake Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu Homarefuji

November 20, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Satoru Hibino, master brewer at Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City has come up with a limited edition labeled with his own name!

Satoru Hibino belomngs to the Nanbu School of brewers which originated in Sendai.

The whole long name for this particular nectar is:
Nanburyu (Nanbu School of sake brewers) Satoru Hibino 55 (millage) Wakatake (generic name of that particular sake)Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Ginjo Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure water blended in) Homarefuji (sake rice grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.2
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Bottled in September 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Plums
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex: plums, melon, chestnuts, sweet potato.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of mandarines.
Turns drier and deeper with food.

Overall: splendid sake to be enjoyed on its own or with a meal, at any temperatures although at its best slightly chilled.
Will reveal new facets with rise in temperature.
Can be enjoyed as an aperitif as well as a digestif!
Recommended pairings: foie gras, blue cheese, pickled vegetables.

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Marufuku Seicha, Potage, Shizuoka City, Tea, TEa Potage

Japanese Tea X Potage=”Pochage” by Marufuku Seicha in Shizuoka City!

October 14, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Marufuku Seicha Co. and her young President, Ms. Asami Ito, have always been endeavoring to create new products from Shizuooka tea to explore new expansion avenues.
Their latest venture is a happy marriage between Japanese and French gastronomies: “Pochage”!
“Pochage” stands for Potage and Tea, the latter being pronounced “cha” in Japanese!

I was given the opportunity to taste it/them and here are my findings!

The packaging follows the strict norms of Japanese food regulations with all the data on ingredients, processing and consumption dates, which are aso repeated on each potage pouch!

You can buy each pouch individually or in packs of 6, 3 of each variety as above.
The packaging design makes for a great souvenir/present!

Inside this particular package you will find one more leaflet bearing all information on the tea company, its fields, and even 3 “rings” to attach to your soup cup to know exactly what is inside!

Three different pouches, extremely resistant but easy to open!
Now let me turn to each content and the actual tasting!

Shizuoka Tea and potato potage!
The powder has a nice color to it and its flavor, even when dry, is of strong green tea.
Each pouch content contains enough powder to which 150ml of hot water can be added.
Note: pour in the water half at a time and mix well for perfect solving before tasting it.

The soup is of a rich, slightly dark, green typical of green tea leaves.
The taste although markedly of tea is not as pronounced as its flavor and the potatoes blend perfectly with the bitterness of the tea.
It does not need any extra seasoning, although I would recommend serving it topped with some crumbled dry potato chips!
Great in the morning with breakfast!

The second one is Hojicha and mushrooms potage!
Hojicha is dry grilled green tea, whose color will change to a nice yellow-brown. The addition of mushroom powder will result into a rich brown color.
The aroma is more discreet that the Shizuoka Tea and potato, but still rich enough.

The taste is smooth and definitely dominated by mushrooms, but in a very balanced manner.
Again there is no need for extra seasoning, but I would serve it topped with a few fried pieces of mushroom.
Will warm you up in winter!

The third one is matcha tea and corn!
The matcha aroma dominates the powder with its distinctive characters.

The corn perfectly balances the bitterness of the matcha into a very elegant and rich potage.
It definitely could be served chilled into a refined vychissoise.
Serve it topped with a few grains of boiled corn and tiny green sprouts!

All in all, a discovery!
The concept is somewhat feminine but gentlemen will surely appreciate the balance between green tea and other ingredients.
Enjoy!

MARUFUKU SEICHA/丸福製茶株式会社

420-0006 Shizuoka City, Aoi KU, Wakamatsu Cho, 25
Tel.: 054-271-2011
<strong>HOMEPAGE (Japanese & English)

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-“Kira” Junmai Ginjo “Kura Dashi”　Nama Genshu

October 6, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

I just had the opportunity to taste a very unusual, that is for that establishment, by Hana no Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City, in my usual not so secret lair!

The name, ”煌”/”Kira”, could be roughly translated as “bright” and is increasingly used in names.
The sake was sold in Cenova Department Store, Shizuoka City, not in the bottle, but from a tank into a bottle to be closed in front of the customer!
It is a junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) ginjo nama (unpasteurized) genshu (no pure water blended in!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice blended to 60%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
From the tank on October 1st, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: light, dry and fruity. Discreet. Dry plums, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: dry plums, pears, dry custard.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate before departing on notes of chestnuts, sweet oranges and dry sweet potato.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.
Turns a little sweeter with rise in temperature with sweet potatoes taking the lead.

Overall: a very unusual sake for Hana No Mai Brewery, which should actually appeal more to adults thantheir usual brews.
Best enjoyed slightly chilled on its own.
Would make a superlative aperitif!
Suggested pairings: grilled fish, yakitori.

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Mikan Sour Ale (2016 version)

October 6, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing’s 2016 version of their Mikan Sour Ale is at last available on tap at Aoi Beer Stanad in Miyuki-Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Served on tap
Barley and wheat, Pilsner Malt (Germany), Wheat malt (Germany), Magnum hop (Germany) Chinook hop (USA), Willamette hop (USA), mikan mandarine (Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City), French saison yeast (France)
Unfiltered
Natural carbonation
Alcohol/ABV: 4.8 degrees
IBU: 8
Production: 450 l
Bubbles: Longish head, very fine bubbles, white color
Color: smoky lemon color
Aroma: very light. Citruses
Taste: very dry, sour and fruity attack.
Starts lemonish to end definitely on sour mandarines.
Some acidity will appear late.
Lingers long enough on palate for true tasting before departing on strong notes of light acid mandarines.
varies little with food but for a more pronounced acidity.

Overall: splendid hot afternoon craft beer!
Very elegant in spite of its marked sour dryness and further strong acidity.
Will equally please both genders of any age.
Best savored in the afternoon!
Suggested pairings: nuts, cold meats, BBQ, strong cheese.

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 18:00~25:00
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

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
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi Brewing beers are also available at the mother company’s other restaurant,

GROWSTOCK

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Shizuoka City, sushi, Sushi restaurants., Sushi Shokunin Birukawa

Dinner at Sushi Shokunin Birukawa in Shizuoka City!

October 6, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but extremely attentive and kind
Equipment & Facilities: overall very clean. Excellent washroom. Non-smoking private room possible
Prices: reasonable (that is for true sushi!)
Strong points: Sushi mainly created with local seafood. 3-year old wasabi root exclusively used. Grilled and deep-fried fish, tempura. Excellent list of sake and shochu.

Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太親方！

Kenta Birukawa opened Sushi Shokunin Birukawa last July after a long time spent as the main chef of Sushi Ko in Aoba Park Street, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City for the pleasure of his many fans including your servant.
It is located near Komagata Street which is being completely renovated with the addition of high-rise mansions which promises a flow of affluent customers to all the establishments who decided to stay or move recently!

Whatever his skills a chef builds his reputation on his/her choice of ingredients.
Kenta always has enough live local fish in his aquarium tank along with products chosen on a daily base through his many contacts in local and national ports. And when it comes to wasabi, even the op restaurants in Tokyo or Kyoto do not come near to equal him as he exclusively uses roots grown for three years in the mountains of Utogi, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka Ciy, the very location where the first wasabi were grown for their roots in the beginning of the 17th Century.
The wasabi is grated a little at a time before being served on each plate or sushi!

Incidentally Kenta and his little jewel of a mother are from Akita Prefecture as can be noted on the tea cups and the noren/entrance curtain to the kitchen! Apparently Shizuoka City is very popular with denizens of Akita Prefecture as they have formed their own association in our city!

It was actually our first visit as we knew the place would be too crowded during the first two months, and still is, so you had better call first or reserve in advance!
The tone was set with the o-toshi/snack coming with first drink consisting of succulent whelks!

A small board is shown and circulated among the customers to inform them of the special fish and seafood of the day, a very useful and practical way when it comes to sashimi or cooked fish!

As for drinks there is much to choose from among the sake, comprising many local ones (expect more not featured on the list!), wine and soft drinks!

And do not forget the shochu and the beer!

As for individual sushi the prices are clearly stated. You can also discuss your budget directly with Kenta without any worries. He will also gladly accommodates your special orders not featured on menus. Just keep on eye on what the regulars order!

Another big plus the rice is steamed in small bunches, and if you are lucky enough he will prepare it in front of your very eyes!
Kenta has his own recipe which includes a mixture of 90% usual rice wine with 10% of red rice wine as demonstrated above! Not many restaurants will go to the pains of such explanations with their customers, so do not forget your camera!

Not including the kitchen hidden by the noren/entrance curtain to prevent kitchen odors to bother customers the restaurant is a model of a clever use of the limited space with the inclusion of a Japanese-made grill/salamander!

Guests can see how their own fish is being cooked!
“White-grilled” (no sauce basted on fish) conger eel in our case!

“Shirayaki anago”/white-grilled conger eel!
Just add a little grated wasabi on top of each piece before savoring it!

Kenta is famous all over town and beyond for some tidbits you must absolutely sample!
One of them is “Kawahagi o-tsukuri”/Filefish (also called leather jacket in Australia!) sashimi plate!
Cheaper and tastier than fugu/globefish and super fresh as they picked up alive form the tank!

The fish is cut in very thin slices and served with cut leeks/scallions to be rolled inside each slice of fish. a great opportunity to show your skills with chopsticks!

And as for the dipping sauce it consists of the live liver of the very same fish chopped thinly and mixed with rice vinegar and what else!

The “jowls” of the same fish will then served to you as deep-fried! To eat with your fingers!

Another morsel you must absolutely order is “maguro zuke”!
Slices of tuna akami/lean part are marinated for a short time in a mixture of soy sauce, sake, mirin and secret ingredients before being served as nigiri. Almost a dessert!

Also make a point to check what local fish are available!
The above is a fish that made Shizuoka Prefecture famous all over Japan: “kinmedai”/splendid Alfonsino caught off the shores of Inatori on the west coast of Izu Peninsula!
Seared on one face you can savor at least two different savors!

If you wish for something from other shores try the deep-fried “shiroebi”/white shrimps from Toyama Prefecture!

Vegetarians can order a plate of fresh vegetable tempura prepared by Kenta’s mother!

“Maki”/sushi rolls aficionados are faced with an embarrassment of choices as Kenta will gracefully prepare your orders even if they are not featured on the menu!
Dragon ordered this “futomaki”/large roll filled with fresh salmon, salmon roe, grated “yamamaimo”/Japanese yam and thin scallions!

For “dessert” (for vegetarians and vegans) ask for “kanpyo maki”/roll filled with simmered dry gourd shavings, and don’t forget to mention with “plenty of wasabi”!

Kenta cooks his own tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet (not evident in many sushi restaurants!) so don’t forget some!

And wash down the lot with some very tasty miso soup!
There are usually three kinds depending on the season.
This time we were offered tofu, nameko mushrooms or cockles.
Dragon opted for the tofu added with a generous portion of fresh seaweeed!

This was only a small dinner, so expect more in the near future with different morsels!

SUSHI SHOKUNIN BIRUKAWA/寿司職人尾留川

420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-Cho, 2-5-8
Tel.: 054-251-9787
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations highly recommended
Credit cards OK

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Izakaya, Japanese Gastronomy, Kyoto City

Gastronomic Destinations: Dinner at Yuki Gion Izakaya Restaurant in Kyoto City!

September 26, 2016 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Old but very clean overall. Excellent gender-separated washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Kyoto-style izakaya cuisine. Okamura Honke Brewery sake! English menus.

Yuki Gion does not advertise much but it is always crowded even on weekdays as it is an old-style izakaya where the atmosphere is really informal and where customers sit elbow to elbow enjoying some very reasonable cuisine and fine sake!
Japanese tourists, foreign tourists and locals mix in at ease and the staff is simply easy-going but very attentive at the same time.

The restaurant is actually the property of Okamura Honke Brewery in neighboring Shiga Prefecture!

The whole range of their sake is available from 90% to 40% millage!

One of the sake we had, with rice milled down to 60%!

A nama genshu, it was served to you directly the Japanese izakaya traditonal way, that is very generously!

Everything is prepared in front of you!
Note that the top chef (there are at least four of hem!) is the only one wearing a neck tie and also the only in charge of the raw fish!

As this is typically slow food style, you have plenty of time to enjoy the sight of chefs at work!

We started with sashimi moriawase/raw seafood assortment!

Urchin, tuna, salmon, black seabream!

More of the same as we were two of us!

Tomorokoshi kakiage/Japanese-style corn fritters!

Local vegetable salad!

Kyoto City specialty: Hamo/conger eel pike tempura!

Grilled nodokuro/a variety of rosy seabass!

Sake white lees pickles vegetables!

To finish, mentaiko gohan/steamed rice with spicy cod roe for the Dragon!

And grilled salmon chazuke for me!

A discovery!

YUKI GION, Izakaya Restaurant

605-0078, Kyoto City, Higashiyama Ku, Gion Tomi-naga Cho, 111-1
Tel.: 075-525-2666
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (weekdays), !7:00~24:00 (Saturdays and days before National Holidays)
Closed on Sunday and National Holidays
Credit cards OK

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Brunch, Cafe, Coffee House, Kyoto

Gastronomic Destinations: Brunch at Coffee House Maki in Kyoto!

September 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and very attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Overall very clean. excellent wahroom. Completely non-smoking on Sundays
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Morning/brunch sets/ sandwiches/fine coffees/take-outs.

Coffee House Maki in Kyoto is an extremely popular cafe in Kyoto for many reasons. First of all,in my own biased opinion, it has successfully preserved its “Showa Era” atmosphere over the years to the point you definitely experienced a time slip every time you enter the establishment! Having lived 40 years in Japan it certainly brings back many memories!
interestingly enough the smoking half area (oh well….) consists of long sofas against the wall while the non-smoking half consists of tables and chairs.
Fortunately Sundays are completely non-smoking!

Another reason is that they add seasonal sets on top of a an already long menu (for a cafe) and it is no wonder that the place is mainly, on weekdays that is, patronized by locals and regulars who all seemed to be known by name by the smiling staff!

Incidentally, this is still a place where slow food is the name of the game, so do take your time!
As we had had no time for breakfast, we decided to order two different sets as brunches!
Dragon opted for the hot sandwich set!

Served with salad and coffee!
Special for the coffee by the way! Dripped coffee of course!

For all its apparent simplicity the hot sandwich was succulent ( I stole a portion of course!) with fluffy eggs and three more fillings!

As for me, I ordered the “Chiri Kon Kan Dogu”, that is the Japanese for Chili con Carne Hot Dog!

Simple enough again, but they make a point of creating their very own chili sauce and use locally grown vegetables!

Just the right size and taste for breakfast or a light brunch!
Satisfying but not overfilling!
No wonder the place is always crowded!

COFFEE HOUSE MAKI

〒602-0822 Kyoto City, Jyoukyou Ku, Kawahara Cho, Imadegawa Agaru, Seityuu Cho, 211
〒602-0822 京都市上京区河原町今出川上ル清龍町211
Google map
Tel.: 075-222-2460
Opening hours: 08:30~19:00
Completely smoking on Sundays
HOMEPAGE

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French Cuisine, Fusion Cuisine, Kyoto, Restaurant

Gastronomic Destinations: Dinner at Ikariya Shokudou in Kyoto!

September 20, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: overall very clean. Small but excellent washroom
Prices: reasonable (for Kyoto)
Strong points: French and fusion bistro cuisine with a Japanese accent. Veranda in summer overlooking Kamo River

Veranda seating.

We had been wishing to visit Ikariya Shokudou on our previous trips to Kyoto but every time it was full. At long last we somehow managed to get a table on the veranda by coming a bit later than usual on a week day

They classify themselves as a bistro and I agree although I would prefer to say they are a typical Kyoto fusion bistro!

Their bilingual menu is easy to read and in any case like in many establishments in that city the staff speaks enough English to make all customers comfortable!

And they do have a reasonably-priced wine list!
naturally they cater for all kinds of drinks!

So, what did we have?

Seasonal white-flesh fish carpacccio!

Light and delicious five-mushroom terrine!

Turbo shellfish gratin!

Succulent duck confit and French lentils!

Peperone scampi pasta!

A very reliable address in a too often overvalued city!

IKARIYA SHOKUDOU

〒600-8012 kyoto Fu, Kyoto City, Shimohara Ku, Mokuya Cho, Kuribashi Sagaru, Saito Cho, 138-2
〒600-8012 京都府京都市下京区木屋町団栗橋下ル斎藤町138-2
Google map
tel.: 075-276-2067
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00, Limited lunch sets on Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
Reservations highly recommended
Credit cards OK

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Dominique Corby, French Kappo Dominique Corby, French Restaurant, Tokyo

Gastronomic Destinations: French Kappo Dominique Corby in Tokyo!

September 18, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling, attentive and so kind
Equipment and Facilities: Overall spotless clean, beautiful washroom
Prices: Slightly expensive (this is Shinjuku in Tokyo!)
Strong points: refined French fusion cuisine mainly based on perfect seasonal Japanese products. Rare sake. Superb wines and champagne. Sublime pairings either with Japanese sake or wines.

A simple and exquisite noren/Japanese entrance curtain decorated with its Japanese crest!

I’ve always had the ambition to visit Dominique Corby’s first own restaurant he finally opened on March 19th, 2015 in Tokyo after years spent in some of the top establishments in France and Japan including la Tour d’argent in Paris and memorable stints as the Master Chef de l’école Le Cordon Bleu Japon, Chef at la Tour d’Argent in Tokyo, and Chef du restaurant Sakura de l’hôtel The New Otani. Dominique is not only a chef of enormous repute here in Tokyo and all over Japan but also a true gastronomic monument who is always in search of a new and seasonal produce to add to his already infinite palette, be it vegetable, seafood, meat, fruit or spirit/sake/wine.

For more details about Dominique, check the following website (in French)!

The Man of The House!

In spite of his unnumbered appearances on TV, media and magazines, he has always kept his inborn simplicity and authentic kindness for the utmost pleasure of his clients and friends.
He is never satisfied with his immense knowledge and is always ready to board a plane, train or car to discover new products all along the Japanese archipelago such as the high mountains in Shizuoka in search of real wasabi and green tea, the rugged land of Kochi for its vegetables and a myriad of other locations where his friends, producers, hunters, fishermen or simple citizens, Japanese and foreigners alike, ensure that his kitchen never lacks any ingredient his restaurant is so celebrated for. When you add his rare sake and sublime wines, you nurture the certainty that you will never be disappointed!

Starting the festivities with a flute of Champagne is naturally a must and what would be better than a nectar by R. L. Legias with his own Japanese crest on the label!

Prawn mousse with oba/sort of large perilla leaf!

White Bourgogne, Santenay, Clos des Champs Carafe, by Antoine Olivier!

Namazu/catfish and sawara/Spanish mackerel seared with shio konbu/salted Japanese seaweed!

A glass of rare sake called “Kamenoo Kurabu”!

Created with Kame Sake Rice Grown by five different farmers by Takeno Brewery in Kyoto. Bottled on January 27th 2015. Alcohol: 16 degrees!

Chilled kabocha soup, kurozu/black rice wine, kogashi, ikura and amago trout roe!

White Bourgogne: Domaine de la Bongran, Cuvee E.J. Thevenet by Thevenet & Fils in Quintain, Saone et Loire!

Shark fin chawanmushi/Japanese salted pudding with momiji ororoshi/grated daikon and chili pepper!

A red Bordeaux with an original label sporting a crane made with folded paper in origami style!

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Bordeaux Origami by Famille Capdevielle Proprietaire!

Sauteed calf liver and ballantine!

Steamed rice and scallops paired with its sake!

Mitake Honten Brewery in Hiroshima Prefecture: Jinriki Kimoto junmai! Jinriki Sake Rice milled down to 85%. Unfiltered. Genshu (no pure water blended in). Bottled on July 16th, 2013!

And the dessert: Nanashi japanese pears, Kyoho grapes, kyoho grapes sherbet, tomadillo on Fromage Blanc Mousse!

Fusion cuisine at its best! A real adventure!

FRENCH KAPPO DOMINIQUE CORBY
(フレンチ割烹ドミニク・コルビ)

160-0007, Tokyo To, Shuinjuku Ku, Araki Cho, 9-7, Nao Building, 1F
〒160-0007 東京都新宿区荒木町９−７ナオビル1階
Google map
Tel.: 03-6457-8899
Opening hours: 18:00~24:00
Dinners until 21:30 (last orders), Wine and a la carte bar until 24:00
Fixed menus at 8,000, 10,000 and 15,000 yen
Reservations highly recommended for dinners. Do make a point to call beforehand!
Holidays: indeterminate (check on the phone, first!)
Credit cards OK

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La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Brewery, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Fukurotsuri Shizuku Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu Homarefuji (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

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 time we tasted a nectar produced by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

As usual it bears a long name!
Fukurotsuri Shizuku (the sake is filtered through a suspended cloth bag drip by drip) Junmai (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Ginjo Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure water blended in) Homarefuji (sake rice grown in Shizuoka Prefecture)!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 5%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in May 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: very dry. Greens, water spinach (kuushinsai)
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and vegetables backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex. Lychees, faint dark chocolate, star fruit.
Lingers for a while before departing on more notes of sweet and sour vegetables.
Ends up more complex and dry with rise in temperature.
Varies little with food.

Overall: a very unusual sake, difficult to classify and the more intriguing for it.
Taste it first chilled to later discover more and more new facets with rise in temperature.
A discovery!
Suggested pairings: Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines, mabodofu, dry curry rice.

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, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Okonomiyaki, Restaurant, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture

“Hiroshima Yaki” Okonomiyaki at Okonomiyaki Sakurai in Shimada City!

August 28, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: shy but kind and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Old-style basic Japanese but very clean overall. Non smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Okonomiyaki in many forms, Yakisoba, take-outs

Okonomiyaki Sakurai is a Kansai-Style (Western Japan) restaurant with a history spanning over more than 40 years where his original chef/owner is still officiating although his son Ryuutarou Sakurai/桜井竜太郎さん is looking after the business.

The interior is still very much reminiscent of After War Japan although it is non smoking!

You can either sit at a table or on the tatami especially if you are with company but I do prefer to sit at the counter where I can observe all the action!

Okonomiyaki after their first stage of cooking!
Very big portions!

Yakisoba!
Also big portions!

Okonomiyaki ready to be served!

Drinks of all kinds, alcoholic or soft are available.
I had a sake from Okayama Prefecture!

My order: Hiroshima Yaki Okonomiyaki!
Although lighter than the Osaka-style okonomiyaki, it was still bigger than I thought!

Its bottom consists of thin pork slices topped with yakisoba.

It is topped with a thin layer of batter and a thin layer of omelet!

And the top is pasted with sauce, mayonnaise and green powder with a little pickled ginger on the side!
A meal enough for two!

I will to visit the place with company next time! LOL

OKONOMIYAKI SAKURAI/お好み焼桜井

Shimada City, Ougi Cho, 11-14
Tel.: 0547-37-6777
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 16:30~20:30. 11:30~20:00 on Sundays
Closed on Wednesdays
Take-outs can be ordered on the phone
Parties welcome!

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Fukuroi City, Kokko Brewery, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kokko Brewery-Junmai Ginjo (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

August 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

For a change this time we tasted a Junmai Ginjyo concocted by Kokko Brewery in Fukuroi City!
Incidentally Kokko Brewery was the first a long time ago to use the new Shizuoka yeast!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Yeast: Shizuoka Ginjyo HD-1
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: +7
Acidity: 1.2
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in July 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma dry and fruity. Pears, flowers,herbs
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed gentle junmai petillant.
Complex. Banana, persimmon, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds.
Lingers for a short while before departing on notes of oranges and bitter chocolate and faint coffee beans.
Will finally end up on an even drier note at the back of the palate.

Overall: Superb sake, but not as dry as this brewery uses to.
Probably best enjoyed on its own.
Starts it slightly chilled to discover new facets as temperature rises.
Suggested pairings: salads, grilled whitie fleshed fish, cheese, chocolate.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, sushi, Sushi restaurants.

Sushi Lunch at Uogashi Nagarezushi in Fujieda City!

August 21, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: busy but friendly
Equipment and facilities: Overall very clean. Excellent washroom. Non smoking
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: great choice and fast service

If you are in a bit of a hurry but still are hungry Fujieda Station is a practical place to enjoy some reasonably-priced but still tasty sushi.
Uogashi Nagarezushi is located on the second floor of OLE Building just beside Fujieda Station south exit!

It is a fairly big place but seats are sufficiently separated for necessary privacy.
This is a “nagaraezushi”, that is a system where orders are coming to your table via a computer service. Very quick and efficient and the staff will come regularly to collect away your empty plates.

Plenty of top-class local sake!

What did we have, then?

Whale/kujira/鯨 nigiri!

A set consisting of horse mackerel/aji/鯵 prepared in four different manners!

A set of three white-flesh fish/shiromi/白身 in aburi/seared/炙り style!

A mixed set of twelve diffrenet sushi nigiri!
Gizzard/kohada/小肌, grated tuna/negitoro/ネギトロ, boiled sardine whiting/shirasu/白子, crab salad/kani sarada/蟹サラダ, boiled prawn/yudeebi/茹で海老, Japanese omelet/tamagoyaki/卵焼き, Horse mackerel/aji/鯵, bonito/katsuo/鰹, mackerel/saba/鯖, cuttlefish (squid9/ika/烏賊, seabream/tai/鯛, and tuna red lean part/maguro akami/鮪赤身!