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美食, 観光, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sashimi, Shizuoka, sushi, Tourism

Sashimi: Shizuoka Fish at Ekimae Matsuno Sushi Restaurant!

August 21, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Red-tail Horse Mackerel/oakaaji/尾赤鯵!

Service: Very friendly, attentive and informative
Facilities: Overall clean if a bit old-fashioned
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Mainly local fish. Local sake. Always ready to improvise!

It is not friends like Sissi or LouAnnn I’m trying to convince, but more gastronomes like Chuck and Melinda whom I would like to pull screaming out New york and Tokyo to convince them to give up on what I call “decoration/trompe l’oeil sashimi amd sushi”!

One does not need to patronize an Edomae-style Sushi Restaurant and spend untold amounts of yen or dollars to truly experience this side of Japanese gastronomy so popular all over the World.
Just go to a good local sushi restaurant in Japan (and even abroad if like-minded!) which is willing (and should be!) to serve local fish as much as possible!
If you come to Shizuoka it is only an embarrassment of choices, but I definitely would recommend Ekimae Matsuno Sushi in Shizuoka City as they are one of the rare sushi restaurants that open all day and serve whatever you fancy!

Fine, you would say, but show us!
No worries there, mate (gal)!
Here is what I savored for lunch there today. I even asked them to exclusively serve me sashimi from Shizuoka (Suruga Bay, Izu Peninsula, etc.)!

Seguro iwashi/背黒鰯/Black Back Sardines

These seguro iwashi are very much in season right now with a lot of (fish) fat. They were actually served as a “snack” with my first drink (sake). Plain sashimi to be enjoyed with a little soy sauce.

Hirame/平目/Sole-Flatfish-Bastard halibut-Olive flounder

Hirame is abundant in the Suruga Bay.
Note that the little piece at the bottom is “engawa/えんがわ/the piece along the fish by the narrow fins” that we throw away in Europe!

Marusaba/丸鯖/Round mackerel

Served as “han-nama/半生/half-raw, that is lightly seared or boiled, it is so fresh in taste and absolutely without any “fishy” smell or aftertaste!

Tachiuo/太刀魚/Scabbard Fish.

One of my favorite fish. It is best appreciated (as above) in “aburi/炙り/ seared fashion after being sprinkled with salt. No need of soy sauce to appreciate the different textures and tastes as you bite through it!

Aji no Tataki/鯵の叩き/Horse Mackerel

The Suruga bay, especially around Yui and Kambara is one of the famous spots in Japan for Aji/Horse mackerel.
Simply served as Tataki/cut thin with grated ginger and chopped scallions and a little soy sauce!

No need for fancy seasoning!

Ekimae Matsuno serve the same fish lightly marinated in rice vinegar!

Katsuo hara/鰹腹/Bonito belly

Shizuoka is famous all over the country for its katsuo/bonito, but few people have had the occasion to try its belly part!

Kisu konbujime/鱚,鼠頭魚/Sillago

Sillago are a celebrated morsel all over Japan, but Shizuoka is particularly blessed with shirogizu/白鱚/white sillago!

Served as konbujime/昆布締め/marinated in seaweed, it does not need any soy sauce!

Oakaaji/尾赤鯵/Red tail horse Mackerel

This is a variety of horse mackerel with a deeper red flesh you will not see often away from these shores!

Perfect in tataki/thinly cut style with chopped scallions, grated fresh ginger and chopped nori/dry seaweed!

To be followed… I mean with more local fish from Shizuoka Prefecture!

EKIMAE MATSUNO SUSHI/駅前松乃寿
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 3-3 (Just in front of Shizuoka JR Railway Station
Tel.: 054-252-0123
Business hours: 11:00~21:00
Closed on Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Cuisine: Dinner at Contorno in Mochimune!

July 27, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong points: Many local products be they from the land or the sea. Organic vegetables. Car park.
no-smoking-logo1 Entirely non-smoking!
Map

Mochimune in Shizuoka City is famous all over Japan for its shirasu/シラス/sardine whiting but it has other treasures to be discovered such as white peaches, oranges, a whole array of fish and seafood and a more than excellent Italian restaurant, Contorno!
I had never visited it for dinner although I had the occasions to enjoy great lunches there.
I finally had the opportunity when the young IT staff of Agrigraph joined me for dinner on a busy Friday evening!

As I had three specialists armed with all kinds of electronic devices with me, for once I didn’t have to worry about taking photographs!

The heat had been hellish that day so a beer was in order!

All vegetables used at Contorno are cultivated organically at Nagomi Farm in Fujinomiya City and the salmon is smoked on site!

24-months old raw Parma Ham!

The same with an organic vegetable salad! Extravagant!

The Italian wine amateurs will be happy to learn that Contorno has a decent list for all tastes and budgets!

For the connoisseurs!

Contorno is also renown for its pizza entirely prepared, fermented and baked in a large oven on site.
The above pizza is a Mochimune specialty: Shirasu and mozzarella pizza!

A second great pizza made with semi-dried tomatoes (organic) and raw ham!

I judge the quality of an Italian Restaurant on its gnocchi more than anything else!
These gnocchi in peperocino sauce and large prawns are a certainly a must in Contorno!

It certainly deserved a closer view!

If you must have pasta, then I would definitely recommend their short pasta!

And don’t go for anything fancy! The tomato peperocino is the best!

Served with a beautiful piquant olive oil for the customers who like their food spicy!

If you can manage some space in your stomach you must try Contorno’s desserts!
The sole lady among us couldn’t resist this chocolate cake in blueberry sauce!

As for the “boys” it was cappucino! Sorry, I had already sipped half when I took the picture!

See you again in the Fall/Autumn!

CONTORNO
421-0122, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 5-1-10, Sunrise Mochimune (5 minutes walk from Mochimune JR Station. Second stop after Shizuoka)
Tel.: 054-2565877
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG

Lunch sets: 1,480 yen~
Dinner: Appetizers: 500~yen, 1,000 yen~
Pasta: 930 yen~
Pizza (oven-baked): 1,180 yen~
Carte available

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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Shizuoka Oden Fair 2011!

February 11, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Yamako’s miso oden!

The Shizuoka (Shizooka in local dialect) Oden fair 2011 has finally come to us.
It has become a yearly event reported by all TV’s (local and more and more national), newspapers and various media. Actually reporting on such an event turns into a major TV crew dodging exercise!

Unfortunately today was cold and rainy, but it separated the true officionados from the casual visitors!
Sunday promises for clear skies and it will a real tussle!

When it comes to oden, I do have my preferences, some of them very subjective due to the fact I have some friends in the business such as Yamako/山幸 in Mariko, Shizuoka City!

Pose!
The Kondohs are being helped by their friends working at Yamanashi Clinic in Shizuoka City!

They offered one of the most complete assortment with oden, bento rice, tororojiru, soup and what else.

My favourite: Yamako’s miso oden!

Having fun!

The whole event is worth a whole tour and a second one and a benediction for photographers who want to discover real Japanese life!

But there are also a lot of foreign residents in Japan with their own version of oden!
The above stall was selling Korean oden!
They were certainly very loud about it! LOL

Korean oden. Very large!

The stand of the Shizuoka Oden Lovers Association!

They had the merit to serve great Shizuoka sake!

My other favourite stand by Annam, the best Vietnamese restaurant in the whole Prefecture!

Very welcoming ladies!
Actually they were very professional and devoted to their customer who flocked at their stand!

Vietnamese oden!

The oden dish of the day:
Vietnamese oden served with noodles in Pho Soup!

Alright I’ll go there again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow for further investigation!

The event is held in two different locales until the 13th:
-Aoba Park/青葉公園・青葉シンボルロード and Aoba Square:青葉スクエア
Time: 11:00~20:00

-Shichiken-cho Doori/七間町通り and Gofujuku-cho Doori/呉服町通り
Time: 11:00~17:00

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Sashimi: Shizuoka Local Fish at Uosei in Heda, Izu Peninsula

February 10, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Just came from another visit in Izu Peninsula!
This time another two and half hours car trip took us to Heda, a harbor part of Numazu City at the Western top of Izu Peninsula across from Mount Fuji.

Although a small harbor, Heda is well-known for one seafood I’ll introduce later!
We were not very fortunate today as the skies were overcast. By fine weather you can admire Mount Fuji in its full splendor just through the narrow gullet leading to the harbor waters.

No, this was not freshly caught from the sea!
Izu Peninsula is celebrated for its dried fish/himono/干物!

Here is the place we chose to have lunch.
Can you see the big crab?

The speciality I was talking about: Takaashigani/Long-Legged Crabb/高足蟹!

For a closer view.
These are small to medium-sized specimens.
Takaashigani is the largest crab in the world and it is caught only in Suruga Bay!

Now, this is the real size.
The pincers’s full length is over 1 metre each!

As we came there for work, we skipped the Takaashigani Lunch Set, which simply too big and opted for two different local sashimi lunch sets!

I chose the above: Amaebi/Sweet Shrimps/甘エビ, maguro/tuna/鮪, ika/cuttlefish/烏賊, and aji/hose mackerel/鯵.

My friend chose the single fish sashimi lunch set featuring horse mackerel!

For a side view!
There is need to say that the fish was freshe than anywhere else!
I was about to forget: and so delicious!

Moreover, Heda is worth a visit for its touristic charm!
Can you see the “torii/鳥居” in the distance?
A torii is a gate found at the entry of Shinto Shrine.

Beautiful, isn’t it?
This the torii of a Shrine called “Murokuchi”
The Shrine is there for the safety and prosperity of the local fishermen and households!

Do visit after a nice walk along the small beach or through the pine grove!

UOSEI
410-3402 Shizuoka ken, Numazu City, Heda, 580
Tel.: 0558-94-2114/0558-94-2598
Open from lunch to dinner

Access: Train & Bus= change trains at Mishima JR Station and go to Shuzenji. Get off at Shuzenji Station and take a bus to Heda.
By boat: Take a bus from Numazu JR Station to Numazu harbor and board one of the regular ships.
By Car Ferry: Board at Shimizu harbor and land at Doi, then drive to Heda.

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Italian Cuisine: Shizuoka Local Land an Sea Products at Contorno!

February 9, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Many more restaurants in Shizuoka join the “Local Products” trend for the pleasure and health of their customers.
One does not have to explain why one ought to eat fully traceable food!
But we are on the very lucky side of Japan as Shizuoka Prefecture could manage to live on its own resources alone for at least 6 months, a feat unequalled anywhere in Japan!

Contorno is great place, not only for its gastronomy (naturally!), but because it is so well exposed to the sun in a quiet area not far from the sea of Mochimune whose harbor is famous all over the country for its shirasu/whitebait and other bounties from the sea.

And it has the enormous merit to be completely non smoking!

Their lunches are not only a bargain but a healthy joy!
All vegetables are organic by Mr. Nagomi in Fujinomiya City at the foot os Mount Fuji.
The above antipasto misto vegetables (except for the French cornichon) are all above-mentioned vegetables with a chicken-pork terrine and a shrimps-fish terrine.

The bread is naturally all home-made and served with a high quality olive oil!

For lunch I ordered this black bass (suzuki/鱸) from the Suruga Bay sauteed on its skin and served with Provencal-style organic vegetables.

The Missus opted for this delicious plate of prawn pasta!
beautiful colors! I managed to get a forkful!

And look forward to a great different dessert everyday!

And they serve the coffee the right way!

Dinner report to come next!LOL

Lunch sets: 1,480 yen~
Dinner: Appetizers: 500~yen, 1,000 yen~
Pasta: 930 yen~
Pizza (oven-baked): 1,180 yen~
Carte available

Please check the new postings at:
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Yamako: A tiny Izakaya Hidden in the Mountains of Mariko!

February 8, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hiroyuki and Mie Kondoh/近藤広幸、美枝

If you feel energetic (mind you, you can go there by car, but then no alcohol! LOL), take your bicycle and venture in the mountains of Mariko, one of the most celebrated stages on the Old Tokaido Road.

After all, it is only a 50-minute ride from Shizuoka JR Station. You can also take a bus until very near and walk for 1.5 km through real rural Japan!

There, you will find, almost at the end of the road, a tiny izakaya called !Yamako/山幸”/”Mountain Happiness”!
It was re-opened by the amiable Kondohs 10 years ago after Mie’s father passed away.

It is a microcosm of old Japan with its small wooden side entry to a minuscule park with flowering trees.

Nice place to sit waiting for your turn!

A view of the same from inside the tatami room.

The tatami room where up to 10 people can sit.

The inside is all old wood making for a great atmosphere.
The above picture was taken inside the other room where 5 can be seated at a table on chairs.

At lunch time you have a choice of three sets:
Tororo soba, 900 yen
Zaru Soba: 700 yen
Sansai Soba: 800 yen

I chose the latter.
Very tasty and healthy!

For (early) dinner you can either take the 2,000 yen set which makes for quite a lot of food or you can have a large plate of oden for 1,200 yen.
But it is possible to arrange for a more complete meal according to a pre-arranged budget through reservation on the phone.

They have plenty to drink for thirsty people including beer and local sake (Morimoto and Aoshima Breweries!), in glasses or bottles for the latter.

They also provide a large BBQ site just beside the izakaya I had the luck to use last year!

Know there is a tiny haven waiting for you at the end of a nice journey!

Yamako/山幸
Shizuoka Shi, Suruga Ku, Mariko, 6088
Tel. & Fax: 054-257-3228
Opening hours: 11:00~19:00 (Please call for a reservation if you come after 13:00!)
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit cards OK (within reasonability!)
Reservations expressly recommended!

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Italian Cuisine: Shizuoka Products at Aquavite!

February 7, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at counter!

Like many restaurants in Shizuoka City and Shizuoka Prefecture, many restaurants are going through changes for many reasons including some unavoidable.
When chefs decide to leave to work under other skies recruiting new and good staff is vital.
Aquavite has had to go through that time and came out for the better!

The new team (Chef: Masaru Aoki/青木優 and Maitre d’Hote: Kazuma Mochizuki/望月計満) is not only young and enthusiastic, but also professional and endeavouring to use as many local products as possible.

Vegetables from Shizuoka Prefecture!

They are always on the lookout for new producers and farmers when it comes to vegetables and fruit!

Antipasto Misto (Broccoli and Cauliflower in Anchovy sauce, stewed red and yellow pimento with dry tomatoes, mizudako octopus and Inca mezame potato and mushrooms and shrimps)

Like all good Italian Restaurants Aquavite bake their own bread!

They also propose a great variety of pasta!

Now, this excellent pasta was made with Barilla N05 spaghetti and a ragu of cuttlefish caught in the Suruga Bay!

Fish and seafood is the true specialty at Aquavite.
The above is matodai/John Dory or St. Peter’s Fish caught of Numazu Harbour fried in Meuniere style with a herb sauce!

This succulent sauteed chicken is “Jidori/地鶏” from Fuji City. All vegetables are Shizuoka-Grown!

Artistic and delicious tiramisu for dessert!

Real coffee served the proper way!

And exquisite home-made Italian biscuits!

Looking forward to the next visit!

Address: 420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

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Shizuoka Oden Fair Coming Soon!

February 6, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

One of the most celebrated traditional gastronomic events in Shizuoka City (and Japan), the Shizuoka (Shizooka in local dialect) Oden Fair will be held from Friday, February 11th to Sunday, February 12th!

The event will be held in two different locales:
-Aoba Park/青葉公園・青葉シンボルロード and Aoba Square:青葉スクエア
Time: 11:00~20:00

-Shichiken-cho Doori/七間町通り and Gofujuku-cho Doori/呉服町通り
Time: 11:00~17:00

No less than 17 shops, restaurants and izakayas from Shizuoka will sell Shizuoka-Style Oden and 6 shops from other parts of Japan and one foreign will be doing the same in Aoba Park.

One the other hand, 11 shops from Shizuoka will sell Shizuoka-Style oden, and 6 shops from other areas of Shizuoka Prefecture will serve local specialties in Shichiken-cho.

Do come early as it promises to be very busy and crazy like in precedent years (and probably more! LOL).

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Fish: Shizuoka Marine Products from the Ocean; Dried Fish/Himono/干物 at Mochimune!

February 3, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Houbou/竹麦魚、魴鮄/Bluefin Robbin (Red Gurnard) Himono

Mochimune is known all over Japan for its fishing harbor whose main catch is shirasu/白子/Whitebait. The fishing for the latter will come into full gear in Spring, but that is for another article.

The signs for shirasu/しらす will be floating everywhere soon!

Mochimune is also a fine touristic spot known for its large black pebble beach and great views of the Izu Peninsula on clear days!
Quite a few interesting shops and restaurants (one coming soon!) are to be discovered among the narrow streets.

“Marukai”, a small fish shop

Of course one can discover all the fish and the processed goods at the fish Market beside the harbor, but it is also great fun to wander away along narrow avenues to look at the small shops processing and selling seafood from the Suruga Bay.
One typical product, and Shizuoka Prefecture produces 50% of the total in Japan, is “himono”!
Himono is sun-dried fish that Japanese (and foreigners) are very fond of grilling any time of the day or the year.
Each shop has its own recipes and they are all worth a second and third look!

Saba/鯖/mackerel from Marukai drying across the street!

For a closer view!
I consider it the best way to appreciate mackerel. Perfect snack with a good beer!

You will also find orange trees everywhere (I don’t think their owners will really mind if you pick one to taste!LOL)

These are Houbou/竹麦魚、魴鮄/Bluefin Robbin (Red Gurnard), a true specialty fish from Mochimune.
Also great fresh and prepared at the local Italian restaurants!

Tai/鯛/Seabream form Mochimune. A bit extravagant for a dried fish.

Aji/鯵/Horse Mackerel from the Suruga Bay. You can eat them all. Great source of calcium!

Koshiotai/a small seabream variety from Mochimume. Can also be eaten whole.

Look forward to my next visits and reports!

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Sushi: Shizuoka Marine Products from the Ocean to the Gastronomic table: Ginta!

January 27, 2011 dragonlife 8 Comments

Suruga Bay Sushi Nigiri Tray!

Caring about local food does not concern only vegetables, fruits and meat from a certain region, but alそ its marine products!
In the case of Shizuoka Prefecture it can safely be assumed this represents half of its total food production!

Ginta

Mr. Hara, owner and chef of this miｎuscule sushi restaurant in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, has established a name as a reference products when it comes to sushi. Although he also serves marine products from other areas of Japan, it is eminently possible to devise and order solely from the Suruga Bay!

Just in case you did not know, Mr. Hara makes sure that his customers understand this the land (and sea) of Sakura shrimps!

So when we visited the restaurant last week, the Missus and I, we decided to order only locally.
The above snacks coming with Eikun sake from Yui are namako/sea slug/海鼠 lightly boiled and pickled and ika shiokara/pickled cuttle-fish/烏賊塩辛.

Top: Hirame Konbujime/sole marinated in seaweed/平目昆布〆, Tachiuo Ponzu Momijioroshi/Sacbbard Fish seasoned with ponzu and grated daikon with chili pepper/太刀魚ポン酢もみじおろし, Fugu Ponzu Negi Momijioroshi/Globefish with Ponzu, leeks and grated daikon with chili pepper/ふぐポン酢ねぎもみじおし, Kawahagi Kimo Ae/Filefish with its liver/かわはぎ肝和え

Bottom: Kanpachi/Greater Yellowtail-Amberjack/かんぱち, Aji/Horse mackerel/鯵, Ishidai/Barred Knifejaw/石鯛, Sakura ebi/Sakura-Cherry shrimps/桜えび

We both ordered the above Suruga Nigiri Tray composed of 8 different fish and shrimp all from the Ｓuruga Bay on the other side of the quay!
For 1,800 yen/20 US $, a real bargain (considering you will not find it in Tokyo!)!

You can see and check the seasonal tray on small cards on the wall!

We couldn’t resist from ordering the sakura ebi kakiage/sakura shrimps tenpura/桜海老掻き揚げ, the representative dish of the local seafood!
One dish is enough for two, I can guarantee you!

And of course a bowl of sakura ebi shiru/sakura shrimps soup/桜海老汁!

You can be sure that the next visit will come soon!

GINTA
421-3111 Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui, Konjuku, 165 (5 minutes walk from Yui JR Station)
Tel.: 0543-75-3004
Business hours: 11:00~23:00
Closed on Tuesdays

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Sushi Restaurant: Autumnal Visit to Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

September 25, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

The other day the Missus and I paid our Autumnal visit to Sushi Ko, one of our favourite sushi restaurants in Shizuoka City!

Since I have already introduced this great restaurant many a time, I will skip the niceties and introduce what we had right away!

Katsuo aburi/seared bonito as an appetizer with the first drink.

Kampachi/Japanese Amberjack (Western-style) carpaccio.

Anago/conger eel. Notice that the wasabi is on top!

Ishidai/Seabream-Snapper variety

Kujira/whalemeat

Deep-fried tuna cubes.

Hotate/Scallops.

Magurozuke/Marinated tuna.

For a closer view of the same!

Tachiuo Aburi/Seared scabbard fish.

Sushi Millefeuille. Sorry for the fuzzy pic. I’m using a new cell phone camera!

One of the best local sake, Hatsukame!

East meets West: scallops gratin!

The Missus’ favourite: spicy scallops roll!

Vegan sushi!

Sakura/Horsemest.

Seafood miso soup with seaweed.

Botan Ebi/Large sweet prawns. Sorry for the fuzzy picture again!

The heads of the same, deep-fried!

Sushi Ko
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho. 2-3-1 (Aoba Koen)
Tel.: 054-2512898
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

Please check the new postings at:
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Japanese Cuisine: Curry-marinated Pike Mackerel/Aji No Kari Marine

July 13, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Pike Mackerel or Saurel is called Aji/鯵 in Jpanese.
Shizuoka Prefecture, and especially Suruga Bay is very famous for great quality pike Mackerel almost all year round.

Here is a simple way to eat it cold, a welcome notion in these very hot and humid days!

Curry-marinated Pike Mackerel/Aji No Kari Marine!

INGREDIENTS: for 5 persons

-Pike mackerel/Saurel: 2
-Red onion: 1
-Lemon slices: 3~4
-Flour: 2 tablespoons
-Curry mix powder: 1 tablespoon
-Salad oil: 100 cc/ml/1/2 cup
-Rice vinegar: 50 cc/ml/1/4 cup
-Salt: a little

RECIPE:

-Dress the fish (cut out the fillets) and cut into 4cm long pieces. Sprinkle with a little salt.

-Cut the red onion in half. Cut out the hard core. Slice it thin. Let the onion slices rest into clean cold water long enough to take out astringency (bitterness).

-Peel the lemon slices and cut them 6~8 “quarters”.

-Mix the flour with curry mix powder and lightly coat the fish with it. Deep-fry the fish.

-Line a large enough flat vessel (preferably rectangular) with the deep-fried fish. Place the lemon bits evenly on top. Cover evenly with the sliced red onion (drain it thouroughly first). Mix the oil, rice vinegar and salt and then pour the lot over the fish.
Cover with cellophane paper and let it marinate inside the fridge long enough for the taste to penetrate the fish.

SUGGESTION:

Grill sweet red pimentoes. Peel off the skin. Cut it in strips. You could do the same with string beans you boil first and then cut in strips.
Add them to the marinate for added taste and effect.

Don’t forget that the presentation will be the more important that this dish is simple!

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Japanese Seasonal Fish: Kohada/Gizzard Shad

June 21, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

Kohada/コハダ、or “small skin” actually is not the Japanese name of gizzard shad, but a generic name for the small fish as sashimi or sushi.
The real Japanese name for gizzard shad is konoshiro/コノシロ, and even the same fish goes by other names depending on its size:
-Up to 5 cm: shinko/シンコ
-Around 10 cm: kohada/コハダ
-More than 15 cm: konoshiro/コノシロ

Although the mainfishing/angling season is around November~December, it can be found in good sushi restaurants all year round.
This said, in July, it will be the small shinko season.

Choose fresh specimens. Fish with reddish eyes and flaking scales should be avoided.
The fish is particularly popular pickled in salt and vinegar before being served either as sashimi or sushi, as the smell emanating form the grilled fish is too strong for many.

Kohada maki, with no rice, is an interesting morsel for people wishing to savour it alone with a great drink.

But it is most popular as sushi!
The small size of the fish allows for all kinds of combinations, but the fun, and the skill, reside in the “shallow cutting” practicd by many chefs for best taste.

The cutting techniques are almost infinite.
I hope that the following pictures will give an idea of what to expect, or create!

Will publish the recipe to prepare the fish soon!

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Sushi Restaurant: Yoshimizu

June 19, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

Chef Mamoru Yoshimuzu at work

Service: excellent, professional and friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to slight expensive. Good value.
Strong points: Edomae-style sushi. Good sake and drinks.
entirely non-smoking!

Thanks to a bunch of new friends, I had the occasion last night to pay my first visit to an excellent Sushi Restauarant called Yoshimizu in Shizuoka City.
It proved a good idea to have gone there with friends as there is little chance to find a seat if you haven’t made a reservation.
The oyakata prepares only enough to be served to guests with reservations every evening!

Visiting a new restaurant with new friends can be a problem when taking pictures as you do not have the time, nor the best of lightings!
At least no smoke is interfering as it is an entirely non-smoking establishement, a rare case for a sushi restaurant!

The above is an appetizer combination of Aji Namuro/Pike Mackerel Tartare and Surumeika Meshi/Rivce stuffed briled squid-cuttle fish.

All the morsels are served on/in minoyaki earthenware.
The sushi style is uncompromisingly edomae-style (Tokyo style) by an oyakata/chef who also spent 3 years in London before opening his restaurants 5 years ago.

Isaki

Whenever possible the fish and seafood are local such as the above isaki.
There is no menu to choose from because one is serve a menu set depending on the day’s avaibility.
As for drinks, there is enough to please everywhere, including some great sake from Shizuoka Prefecture and elsewhere.

Mirugai.

The service is very professional but friendly.
All questions and queries will be answered with plenty of details.

Seitoro: Toro from the back of a minami maguro/southern tuna.
The fact that the place seats only 10 guests means that everyone is sitting at a counter in full view of the chef’s work!

Aka Ika: red squid seasoned with Himalaya salt and sesame seeds.
No small saucer is provided as all mrseld come -preseasoned by the chef. No need for extra soy sauce or wasabi!

Kinjiso leaves and ikura/salmon roe.
Before starting serving the chef will chef if you have any problems and ny food (in my case I can’t stand mentaiko) and will take good note (on his notebook!) to make sure you pleased and satisfied!

Kuruma ebi, boiled and seasoned.

Sagoshi/Young Sawara/Spanish Mackerel.

Anago sho/conger eel, so soft!

Megochi/Young kochi

Tamagoyaki (made with shrimp paste)!

Alright, I will have to go there again very soon, and on my own , for better pics!

Sushi Yoshimizu/鮨よし水
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Showa-cho, 4-8, Rumankan 4F
Tel.: 054-253-3889
Opening hours: 17:30~24:00 (mon., Tues, Wed.); 17:30~02:00 (Fri., Sat.); 17:30~22:30 (Sun. and National Holidays)
Closed on Thursdays and on Mondays after National Holidays.
Cards OK

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Japanese Seasonal Fish: Kurosoi/Black Rock Fish

June 17, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

Kurosoi/クロソイ/Black Rock Fish-Schlegel’s Black Rockfish (Latin name: Sebastes schlegelii Hilgendorf,1880) is a rock fish/scorpion Fish variety even rarer than Ainame/アイナメ/Fat Greening for the simple reason that it is one of those fish great not only for its taste but for its angling challenge!

Also known as Kurosui and Kurokara (and many local names), it is caught south of the Hokkaido Island along rocky coasts as well as off the Korean Peninsula and China.
Great efforts are presently spent on the possibility of raising them either by semi-natural methods or completely raised from egg to adult state in human-controlled environment.
Its flesh can be appreciated in any form of gastronomy, raw or cooked.