Tag Archives: 観光

Shizuoka Agricultural Products from the Producer to the Gastronomic Table: Suruga Shamo Chicken at Sunmario

February 23, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Suruga Shamo Chicken has not only become a famous agricultural product from Shizuoka but it is also celebrated beyond the borders of our Prefecture.
It is considered a high class delicacy with the consequent price.
Only 5 farmers produce it in Shzuoka Prefecture, in the cities of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka and Kikugawa, most of the time in high altitude in a very natural environment.
It is a hybrid from Black Shamo and other upscale breeds.
As a comparison, Shizuoka Prefecture produced 5,570,000 “broiler chickens”, but only 8,550 Suruga Shamo chikens!

Sunmario Restaurant

In spite of the small numbers, no less than 41 restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture feature it on their menus!
It is also sold and processed by 8 companies in Shizuoka Prefecture and Tokyo.
There is also an Association of Suruga Shamo Chicken Lovers and no less than 55 guests crowded into Sunmario to enjoy a full Suruga Shamo menu on February 22nd!

The guests were coming from all parts of the Shizuoka Prefecture and represented all kinds of businesses including restauration, large industries, government bureaus and the mass media. No less than 2 representatives from Agrigraph Japan were present!

The Menu!
Now, what did we enjoy?

Poached egg in Onsen/ot Spring fashion with Suruga Shamo Chicken confit salad.

The tidbits including Suruga Shamo liver paste to help you wait!

Suruga Shamo Chicken Consomme with Shizuoka Vegetables.

Sole poele/sauteed from Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City and Shizuoka mushrooms and Chinese cabbage Cream.

Suruga Shamo Chicken in Coq au Vin fashion.

Shizuoka Matcha Tea Creme Brulee with Shizuoka Bioran Eggs (Endo, Aoi Ku) and Sakura tuiles.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I had toe eat, report and talk to dozens of people all at the same time! LOL

Shizuoka Prefecture Suruga Shamo Lovers Association
Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Tenosei, 2-19
Tel./fax: 054-365-6114
HOMEPAGE

Sunmario
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Toro, 2-14-26
Tel.: 054-654-3060
Fax: 054-654-3067
HOMEPAGE

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Sushi: Local Seafood at Ekimae Matsuno Sushi

February 14, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

The great thing about (good) sushi restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture is that they try to serve as much local seafood and products as possible.
One such establishment is Ekimae Matsuno Susuhi,the oldest existing sushi restaurant in Shizuoka City.
Not only the food is (reasonably-priced) first-class but it is mostly from Shizuoka Prefecture.
Here is what I had the pleasure to sample on my last visit:

Maguro no akami/マグロの赤身/ lean part of the yuna. I prefer the lean part to toro which is only for the status-minded or snobbish gastronomes. We do have many kinds of tuna roaming the waters of Suruga Bay and there is not much need to “import” it, either from the rest of Japan or of the World.

Hirame/平目/Sole and Tairagi/タイラギ/Pen shell.
The seaweed, orange and wasabi are all from Shizuoka Prefecture! LOL

Mr. Ueda is experimenting with a new chawanmushi/茶碗蒸し/Japanese salted pudding. Can you guess what it contains?

Ankimo/アンキモ/Steamed frogfish (monkfish) liver.
It is also called “Japanese foie gras” and made with the liver of Frogfish/Ankou/鮟鱇 steamed in Japanese sake!

Deep-fried Red Trumpet Fish/Karaage aka yagara/唐揚げ赤やがら.
A very versatile fish that can enjoyed raw, marinated or cooked!

Vegetables are always welcome: lightly boiled Na no Hana/菜の花/rape plant and grilled Take no Ko/竹の子/bamboo shoots!

Aji no Tataki/鯵のたたき/chopped raw horse mackerel.

The fish is so fresh that you can ask for the bones and head to be deep-fried!

Tamagoyaki/卵焼き/Japanese omelette made with Shizuoka-raised eggs!

My favourite: Tachiuo Aburi Nigiri/Seared Scabbard Fish Nigiri/太刀魚炙り握り
The Scabbard Fish is seared on the skin only and lightly seasoned before being served as nigiri sushi.
A must! So simple and so tasty!

First dessert: Kanpyou Maki/Dried Gourd Shavings Roll/干瓢巻き.
I must mention this is a sushi fit for vegans!

Second dessert: Creme Brulee!
Mr. Ueda is really eclectic and proves he is a good chef with any food!

Are you tempted?

Ekimae Matsuno Sushi/駅前松乃鮨
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 9-3 (in front of Shizuoka City JR Station, North Side)
Tel.: 054-251-0123
Business hours: 11:00~21:00
Closed on Wednesdays and third Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Shimizu Harbor Food Fair: Shimizu Minato Yatai Matsuri

February 13, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Grand old Ladies serving local food from Kiyozawa Village Station up the Abe River In Shizuoka City!

Today was the second day of the Shimizu Harbor Food Fair/清水みなと屋台まつり, an increasingly popular event already in its 3rd year.
Even at 10:00 in the morning it was already pretty crowded and reporting (and eating) was quite a tussle!

The event seen from Shimizu JR Station platform.

The sun was back with us after 2 days of miserable weather and people were keen to go out and enjoy great local food at the stands/yatai/屋台!

Don’t forget to take a picture of snow-capped Mount Fuji whenever you come to Shimizu as the elevated station is a great viewpoint!

We were still at 10:00. I don’t want to imagine the crowds early in the afternoon, or even in the dark as the event is held until 20:00!

The banner for “inoshishi man/steamed wild boar meat bun”!
All the way from Kiyosawa up in the mountains along the Abe River!

I had to wait 20 minutes before I could get mine!
Actually, one the ladies chased me as I was reporting to kindly hand me the steaming hot wild boar bun in person!

Kintsuba, already almost gone!
A favorite Japanese cake of mine! Actually, it is vegan!

The stand of the famous yakisoba/fried noodles from Fujinomiya City!

Hands off, LOL!
I know a lot of non-Japanese who would not stop eating them!

That is, unless their eyes catch the fried food in that stand!

Appetizing, aren’t they?

But if I were you I would take my time and after two rounds maybe sample of these yakitori!

But there is plenty for those who don’t fancy meat: Scrumptious-looking sastuma sticks/fried sweet potato wedges!

Many local izakayas like “Ashika” had raised their stands for some great PR!

How about some kushiyaki/串焼き/Japanese brochettes?

Don’t forget to sip a glass of great Shimizu Sake: Garyubai/臥龍梅 by Sanwa Brewery/三和酒造!

Takoyaki/たこ焼/Fried octopus dumplings are a universal favorite!

And so much fun to see them being prepared!

And more brochettes and other morsels that Japanese and non-Japanese would love to sample with a (big) glass of beer!

Now, this is a very local specialty: Stick ginger (fresh) and leek bun from Kuno Yamaguchi Garden (Near Kunozan Shrine!)!

I kept this for the end and my just reward for reporting (lol): Shizuoka Ken Suruga Shamo/Shizuoka Prefecture Suruga Shamo Chicken/静岡県駿河しゃも!
Now, this is true (and comparatively expensive: 200 yen a small stick or 500 yen a small bowl of soup) gastronomic food as this variety of chicken raised in Shizuoka Prefecture is known all over the country for its superlative taste!

No need to say that I exchanged business cards with the breeder as I will interview him soon at his farm up in Umegashima in the mountains near the source of the Abe River!

Looking forward to the next event in Shimizu Harbor, a major fishing harbor in the whole of Japan (and the izakas in the vicinity)!

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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

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

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

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

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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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JAPAN-I: The new source of information for Visitors in Japan!

May 6, 2009 dragonlife 2 Comments

sumo_a_light

A new Website and Magazine called Japan-I was born in January this year and has been fast becoming the perquisite for newcomers and residents alike in Japan!

The free magazine, both available in English and Chinese (180,000 copies) is available in Tokyo at main airports and stations, and will be on stands in other airports soon, including Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport!

As for the website, it provides information in English, Korean, Mainland Chinese and Taiwan Chinese.

All articles and information are exclusively written by residents in Japan, offering veracity, authenticity and invaluable service for all!

If the tabloid is not available in your region, contact the editors at ad-info@japan-i.jp!

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