Tag Archives: 静岡

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/2): Karaage bento!

It seems we are going through an unusual cold wave these days in Shizuoka Prefefecture. Even Hamamatsu and Shimada Cities woke up under snow! Mind you, it will take a bit more for snow to fall on Shizuoka City, but the day it does, we will be able to say that it is really cold as Central Shizuoka Prefecture is the “mildest” region after Okinawa in Japan!

This time, the Missus prepared one of her favourites: Karaage Chicken/唐揚げ鶏肉/Japanese-style deep-fried chicken.
To tell the truth, I can’t remember the last time I ate deep-fried chicken in one of those notorious eateries.
The point is that the chicken, after being sprinkled with “a bit of this and a bit of that” (the Missus’ secret that I am not even privy to! I know it includes panko, conrnstarch, sometimes eggs, but she has many recipes!), has to be deep-fried into two stages to keep the meat soft, tender and juicy, even after it has cooled down.
So, after after steamed plain white rice she filled the main box with, she placed the karaage chicken on top of the rice and and seasoned each piece with a little wasabi dressing, roasted yellow and black sesame seeds, and some cress/cresson (Shizuoka-grown).

As for the side dish she aimed at combining ingredients and colors.

The little white “blobs” are boiled 百合の根/yuri no ne/ (edible) lily bulbs! Very tasty, seasoned with gomadare/胡麻ダレ/sesame dressing. The soft-boiled eggs had been “pickled” overnight for better taste (hence the brownish color of their whites) and sprinkled with black sesame seeds. The (Shizuoka-grown) red daikon had been pickled in amazu/甘酢/sweet rice vinegar. Some lettuce was used for the partition and more vitamins and fibers.

More fibers, vitamin C and iron were contributed with Shizuoka-grown (raw) plum tomatoes and (boiled) Brussels sprouts.

More welcome nutrients and colors with green kiwi fruit (Shizuoka City) and Red Pearl Benihoppe strawberries (Fujinomiya City)!

Perfect bento before going out into the cold again!

Related favorite websites:

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)

Please check the new postings at:
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Sato Imo Sembei/Taro Crackers

Many people have pressing dietary priorities caused by allergies.
For example wheat flour is a big problem when you want to create bread, cakes or crackers.
Here is a simple suggestion to make crackers with sato imo/里芋/taro.
They should please vegans and vegetarians, too!
Very healthy and tasty!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~3 persons

-Sato imo/taro: 3~4, boiled, peeled and diced
-Soy Sauce: 1 large spoon
-Sugar: 1 large spoon
-Water: 1 large spoon
-Sesame oil: as appropriate

RECIPE:

1- Mash the boiled sato imo/taro. If too hard, soften them inside a microwave oven first.

2-Pour the mashed sato imo in a large bowl. Add soy sauce, sugar and water mix well. For extra taste you can use green tea or oolong tea instead of plain water.

3-Shape the paste into sembei (square, round, oval as you like). Brush sesame oil on both sides and grill them.
Try and press them all the time while they grill! They will taste better!

Easy, ain’t it?

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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“Faces” of Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula

An avatar from Star Wars?

When you travel, be it in Japan or abroad, there are plenty of unusual sights to take in photo in posterity!
I found quite a few the other day in Shuzenji in the heart of Izu Penisula in Shizuoka Prefecture!

It’ s only a question to be lucky and attentive to details!LOL

A grinning lion?

A ravenous dragon?

One of the Seven Deities…

A hand-waving goblin?

Looking for more!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Shizuoka Local Products at Shuzenji Station, Izu Peninsula

The only real Wasabi Shochu in the whole world by Bandai Brewery in Shuzenji!

If you wish to visit the Izu Peninsula, especially away from the beaten tracks, Shuzenji Station should be your starting point!
Wherever you come from in Japan or Shizuoka Prefecture, first go to Mishima City and change trains from the JR Railway Line to the Private Izu Hakone Senzu Line which will take you all the way to Shizenji, its final destination.
Shuzenji is a, if not the, major hubub in Izu Peninsula whose hot springs have been famed for unknown centuries.

Shuzenji Hot Springs sign in front of the station.

But when it comes to discover and buy local products for really original gifts and souvenirs, Shuzenji Station is the best place as it provides for all in small enough space to enjoy browsing!
Let me take you on a quick tour!

Shuzenji Station seen from the outside.

What’s that small food booth by the entrance?

Local ekiben/railway bentos, 7 of them! A must for your meal on your way back!

There are two entries to the shop. Pick yours!

But you are already hungry?
No problem, there is a hot food stand inside the souvenir shop!
Once you feel revived, we can start shopping!

Izu Peninsula is by definition is surrounded by the sea. Now, how about some nori/dry seaweed seasoned with wasabi? Incidentally, Shizuoka Prefecture produces no less than 80% of the whole Japanese wasabi crop!

The shop is full of artifacts to remind you this is wasabi land! (actually the second land in Shizuoka Prefecture, as wasabi was first grown in Utougi/有東木 in Shizuoka City!)

When it comes to wasabi related processed products, it is just an embarrassment of choices!

Now, something for the vegans and vegetarians, Kuromai Daifuku/Black Rice Buns/黒米大福, Soba Daifuku/そば大福, Mame daifuku/Soy Beans Buns/豆大福 and more!

Jam Sticks made with fruit cultivated in Izu Peninsula whose fruit is another major product!

For vegans and vegetarians again: Kuromai Udon/黒米うどん/Black Rice Udon, and Jinenjyou Soba/自然薯/Wild Yam Soba!

More wasabi-related processed products!

Japanese sake line-up (of the more reasonable prices) from Bandai Brewery, the only sake brewery in Shuzenji and Izu peninsula!

Forget the bottle on the left… the bottles in the center are shochu from local rice by Fujinishiki Brewery (located nesr Mount Fuji), a white loquat wine bottle by Bandai Brewery and some fiey shochu by the same!

The only real Wasabi Shochu in the whole world by Bandai Brewery in Shuzenji!

Real wines by the Naka Izu Winery, the only wine-producing compabny in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Again, more wasabi-related processed products!

This is only a small round-up, and I’m sure you will find more to your liking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Bentos: The Missus’ Best 10 in 2010!

I thought it was grand time to pay my respects to the Missu who prepared all those bentos last year!
Here are arguably the best 10 of them!
The top 1 is on the above picture!

No 2!

No 3!

No 4!

No 5!

No 6!

No 7!

No 8!

No 9!

No 10!

Related favorite websites:

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)

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2011/01/11)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

2011 Release: Dark Sky Imperial Stout; Bashamichi Taproom Opening January 15

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Do you need help taking the bite out of the winter chill? We have just the beer antidote for you: Dark Sky Imperial Stout.

New Seasonal Beer Release:
*Dark Sky Imperial Stout 2011 (ABV 8%):

This foreboding stout is a beer lover’s winter dream come true. It is pitch-black in color, unctuous in body, elusively complex in flavor, warming in alcohol and piquantly hoppy. This 2011 version marks a return to our house Scottish ale yeast (from last year’s experiment with a British ale yeast). We also have increased the hop IBUs from previous (65 to 75) and added, for the first time, ample quantities of roasted wheat, which increases body but also lends a nice sprite and tangy character to the flavor.

Fortunately, we remembered to keg a good quantity of this year’s batch so draught Dark Sky Imerial Stout is back. Our Taproom pubs and other Baird Beer retailing pubs/restaurants will begin pouring draught Dark Sky on Friday, January 14. It also will be released in bottles (633 ml) on that same day. Individual consumers can purchase bottles direct from the brewery via our online E-Shop.

Other News:
*Bashamichi Taproom Opens its Doors Saturday, January 15 at Noon:

Yes, the wait is almost over. Our newest Taproom, the Bashamichi Taproom in Yokohama, opens for business at noon on Saturday, January 15. The Bashamichi Taproom is our first pub to focus on authentic American BBQ (i.e. meat smoked and cooked low and slow over a wood fire). This match between barbecue and Baird Beer is, in a word, profound! Stop in and see for yourself.

In addition to serving fresh cuts of Pit Master Chuck’s glorious BBQ (brisekt, ribs, pulled pork …), we will be pouring a tremendous lineup of Baird Beer including some new offerings such as Bashamichi Ale (peat-smoked brown ale), Port City Pils and Bashamichi Celebration Ale (rye-accented IPA).

We look forward to welcoming you to the Bashamichi Taproom on Saturday. Bashamichi Taproom operating hours will be as follows:

-Weekdays (5:00 pm -Midnight), Weekends & National Holidays (Noon – Midnight)

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE


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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
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Shizuoka Products from the Producer to the Gastronomic Table: SPICE in Mishima City

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Great use of local products. Vegetables extensively used.

More and more restaurants in the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture are not only conscious of good food and health but actively promote local products. You do not have to be pretentious about it, but just show your love for good food and health!

SPICE in the City of Mishima is such an establishement which opened only a few years ago and has acquired a fame spreading well over the cities boundaries. After all it’s on the other side of our large Prefecture!

The place will fill very quickly at lunch and dinner. Either you come ealry or reserve!
The staff are all young local people who know farmers in Mishma and West Hakone, a region famed for its vegetables all year round.
They also the merit to organize parties with great hors d’oeuvres/starters to please vegetarians and omnivore alike!

Last week we manged to grab a table for lunch on our way to Izu Peninsula and ordered the set menu for 2011 yen (because it was the beginning of 2011 year!).
It comprised the the hors d’oeuvres tray above with beautiful local vegetables,

a choice of pasta dishes: I chose (above) the vegetables and parmegiano cheese one,

and the Missus chose the Mushrooms pasta in sea urchin sauce.

The set menu also included the dessert of the day, raspberry panacotta, coffee 8or tea) with a real fresh cream pot (a luxury in Japan) and cane sugar!

Extremely great value!
Another must druring my next visit to dear Mishima City!

SPICE
Shizuoka ken, Mishima Shi, Hon Cho, 7-30
Tel.: 055-981-8889
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 18:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Lunch sets: 1.050~1890 yen
Special Chef’s Lunch: 2,625 yen
Dinner: Vegetables dinner: 2,280 yen
A la carte: 420~1,890 yen
Parties on reservation

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/1): First Bento of the Year!

Today’s bento was not only the frist one of the year, but it could have been called the “’11/1/11” Bento too for being the 11th of January 2011!

Once again, the Missus made a good use of what she could find inside the fridge:
She steamed the rice with sakura ebi/桜海老/cherry shrimps (they are found only in Shizuoka Prefecture!) she later mixed with some sesame seeds. She seasoned the whole with home-pickled wasabi stems (from Izu Peninsula).

As usual, plenty of colors with the main dish!

Carrot tagliatelle, black beans and celery leaves salad with home-pickled violet daikon and more lettuce.

As for the meat she prepared slices of pistachio soft ham in tonkatsu style! A little lemon, a great trick!

For dessert, a home-made compote of apples and kiwi fruit!

Simple and healthy, and delicious!

Related favorite websites:

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)

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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French Cuisine: Shizuoka Products at Pissenlit (end of 2010)

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products. Organic vegetables extensively used.
no-smoking-logoentirely non-smoking!

Pheasant/Kiji/雉 rasied by Mr. Horiuchi/堀内 in Enshyu/遠州 and organic vegetables by Mr. Hirooka/広岡 in Mishima City/三島市

Mr. Touru Arima/有馬亨 has written his name all over the Prefecture for his extensive use of Shizuoka products. I have already introduced him many a time, so I will keep things easy this time as I intend only to publish and comment on photographs I took recently at his famed restaurant, Pisssenlit in Shizuoka City!

Here is the other side of the top picture showing the organic vegetables grown by mr. Hirooka In Mishima City.
The sauce is basically a cognac brandy cream sauce. The flesh of the pheasant was so tender and superlative!

This three-colored vegetable terrine was made with organic carrots and spinach and non-organic mushrooms, all from Shizuoka Prefecture!
Healthy and so tasty!

Anago/Conger Eel/穴子 terrine.
The conger eel are from Shizuoka Prefecture as well the the lettuce and tomatoes. The whole terrine was wrapped into Italian pancetta bacon. A east and West marriage?

Ezo Shika/Venison from Hokkaido/エゾ鹿 in wine sauce and organic vegetables.
Although the succulent Ezo Shika/venison was from the island of Hokkaido and the was was mainly made with red wine from France, the vegetables are all organic vegetables by Mr. Hirooka in Mishima City!

For a better view of the organic vegetables!

Usuiton Pork/湧水豚 from Fujinomiya City/富士宮市 roasted in Dijon Mustard with Cheese and organic vegetables.
Shizuoka Prefecture is becoming famous for some truly extravagant pork. I already have tasted at least 3 kinds of prime pork produced in the Prefecture!

Organic vegetables Pasta!
Although Mr. Arima’s cuisine is basically French, this Italian-inpsired pasta in cream sauce with a host of beautiful organic vegetables has become a specialty of his!

Don’t worry, this is far from being the end!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Oranges in Shizuoka City

Shizuoka prefecture is not only known nationally and internationally for its tea and strawberries but also for its oranges.
We have so many here that Shizuoka City use them as ornaments!

If you walk around the moat of Sumpu Castle you will find orange trees planted in big pots along the pavement.
These oranges are winter oranges and will a couple more months to mature.
As nobody steals them, the birds usually take of them!
The same pavement is very popular with tourists and locals alike as it unveils some surprises along the way!

How about sitting and having a chat withose guys from another era? LOL

Unfortunately the present Sumpu Castle/駿府城 is only a 2-thirds replica of the grand castle which was burnt down in the 17th Century!
Incidentally, the old name of Shizuoka City wa Sumpu City!
You can also stroll inside a large park on the Castle, a great palce for relaxation.
I’ll see if I can find some fruit trees inside!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Kiwi Fruits & Agritourism at Kiwifruit Country Japan

Masatoshi and Tsuneyo Hirano/平野正俊・常代 at Kiwifruit Country Japan in Kakegawa City.

“Let’s introduce the greatness of the nature, importance of agriculture and taste of the real thing! Let’s learn together! Discover the valuable life!” is Masatoshi Hirano’s motto, in his own words, for farm management.

Entrance to Kiwifruit Country Japan

Mr. Masatoshi Hirano (and his two sons, too) speaks fluent English, because he spent a long time researching about citruses in four different States in the US before starting agriculture at his parents’ farm. His family has seen a lot of history go by as he is the 19th generation!
Nonetheless, as a youngster he understood that tradition was one thing, and good farming management another.

Kiwi fruits across the parking lot!

This led him, originally against his parents’ disagreement, to enlarge the family enterprise and introduce new cultures.
One was that of kiwifruit which he started from a single spoonful of seeds he had brought back home!

Agritour programs in front of the shop.

Then for the last 21 years he has expanded the cultivated land to include the largest Kiwifruit Agritour Orchard in Japan, tea, organic citruses, organic vegetables, organic edible flowers, space for domestic animals (as food and pets), self service stand direct sale shop, a whole forest for kids and adults alike, a BBQ area capable of welcoming 500 guests, a campsite, onsite field classes for children and students and agritours for Japanese and foreigners.

Baby goat.

A pet sheep.

A pet goat.

Pet rabbits.

Mischievous baby goats!

A baby pig, not a wild boar!

A peacock (there are two varieties, actually!)!

Kiwifruits, according to varieties (he grows 80 of them and conduct experiments on 500!), are either grown in an enormous greenhouse (which also serves as an BBQ and event space) or in open-air fields.

This kiwifruit tree wood is actually very popular with local artists!
Another great way to recycle nature!

Greenhouse-grown kiwifruit on display for practical information!

Kiwifruit varieties ready for sampling!

One can study about kiwifruits in Japanese and English while eating them!

Chickens for their meat and eggs.

More chickens!

And even more chickens! These are pets kept together with rabbits!

And more chickens. These always seem hungry!

The whole range of edible organic flowers and mountain vegetables/sansai/山菜 grown on site!

Organic shiitake.

Organic pumpkins!

Peaceful sheep.

Organic mandarines/mikan/蜜柑.

The grass and plants are left to grow naturally from the soil mixed with natural compost.

Another variety of organic mandarines.

Tea fields.

Vast open-fields of kiwifruit trees. Would you believe that Mr. Hirano pollinate them all by hand? A back and shoulder-breaking work!

A view inside the very old forest. It is actually crossed by a centuries-old path!

Small concerts are organized in that space inside the forest!

A kids’ heaven!

Look at these air-breathing roots. Now, this is an ancient tree!

100% organic potatoes sold at the shop!

Kiwis on sale at the shop.
One can eat as many as one wants onsite for a fee!

All kinds of varieties and packaged kiwifruit can be sent all over Japan directly from the shop!

These are the ones I took back hoe!

Obviously this is only the first of a long series of articles as the place will have to be visited every month by your servant or reporters from Agrigraph!

Kiwi Fruit Country/Experience & Learning Farm
Masatoshi & Tsuneyo Hirano
436-0012 Shizuoka Ken, Kakegwa Shi, Kamiuchida, 2040
Tel.: 0537-22-6543
Fax: 0537-22-7498
Free dial: 0120-014791
E-mail: wbs02626@mail.wbs.ne.jp
HOMEPAGE(Japanese, but phone calls can be taken in English)

Business hours: 09:00~17:00
BBQ (even by rainy weather) and tours possible on reservation.

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2010/12/28)

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin
bryan-sayuri.gif

Taproom Countdown Festivities; Hatsujozo 2011 Debut; Baird Beer 10-year Debut Commemoration Party

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We will be ushering out 2010 and drinking in 2011, per our normal custom, with New Year’s Eve Countdown festivities at all two of our Taproom pubs: Numazu Fishmarket Taproom and Nakameguro Taproom (the Harajuku Taproom will be closed on New Year’s Eve). Event details follow:

Taproom New Year’s Eve Countdown Festivities:

Numazu Fishmarket Taproom Countdown Party (5:00 pm – 1:00 am or so; Friday, Dec. 31):

All-You-Can-Eat Mexican-Cajun Spicy Fusion Buffet @ 1,500 yen per person (5:00 – 10:30 pm)
Great beer, music and camaraderie
Midnight Debut of Hatsujozo 2011 Imperial Pale Lager (complimentary glass to all patrons for 2011 inaugural toast)
Reservations NOT required

Nakameguro Taproom Countdown Party (5:00 pm – 1:00 am or so; Friday, Dec. 31):

Sumptious All-You-Can-Eat Buffet @ 1,500 yen per person
Baird Beer: Numazu prices all night (700 yen pints and 500 yen half-pints)
Midnight Debut of Hatsujozo 2011 Imperial Pale Lager (complimentary glass to all patrons for 2011 inaugural toast)
Reservations NOT required
New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
Hatsujozo 2011 Imperial Pale Lager (ABV 7.3%):

At Baird Beer we mark the transition to each new year with the release of a special “First-Brewed” commemorative beer in celebration of the fresh possibilities represented by the turning of the calendar. Hatsujozo 2011 is what you might consider an Imperial Pale Lager. Brewed with a similar grist to our Suruga Bay Imperial IPA, Hatsujozo 2011 is different in that it is fermented with our Numazu Lager yeast. Also different is the hop regime, which is packed with European aroma varieties including Saaz, Tettnanger, Tradition and Hersbrucker. The result is a gloriously hoppy and strong pale lager which enjoys a perfectly balanced complexity of flavor.

Hatsujozo 2011 will be tapped at our Taproom pubs and at other fine Baird Beer retailing pubs at precisely 12:00 am, January 1. It also be be available in bottles (633 ml) early in the New Year at fine liquor shops throughout Japan. Consumer purchases and deliveries direct from the brewery (via our online E-Shop) will begin on Tuesday, January 4.

Baird Beer 10-Year Debut Commemoration Party:

As many of you know, Sayuri and I opened the doors of the Numazu Fishmarket Taproom for business in July 2000, without having Baird Beer on tap. The reason we were not pouring Baird Beer is that our brewing license had yet to be granted. Instead, I was serving Hoegaarden White and Guinness on tap and offering an array of bottled American and Belgian craft beers while Sayuri was cooking up her unique lineup of beer-inspired food dishes. Our brewing license was granted finally in December, 2000, paving the way for the debut of Baird Beer at the Numazu pub on the first day of business, January 2001. The first two beers which we served, pulling them as Real Ale from our British handpumps, were Fisherman’s Wheat Ale and Kurofune Porter. Well, we plan to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of that debut on January 2 & 3 (Sunday & Monday) with a festive celebration at our Numazu Fishmarket Taproom. Event details follow.

Baird Beer 10-year Debut Commemoration Party @ Fishmarket Taproom (Jan. 2-3, noon-close):

The original recipes of Fisherman’s Wheat Ale and Kurofune Porter have been excavated from the files and brewed and will be tapped on our handpumps at noon-sharp, January 2.
A special commemorative ale, creatively called Ten (which is a sort of Imperial Red Ale), also will be tapped and pulled from our third handpump.
We have matured a small portion of Berry Big 10-Year Brown Ale for six months in a virgin Japanese oak cask which we will tap on January 2 and pour gravity-style from the bar counter.
Sayuri will be in the kitchen recreating a host of her inaugural dishes, including Sayuri’s Original Nikumaki and Tako Marinate. Big brother Michiru also will be contributing a fun lineup of delicious New Year-style small dishes. Food prices will range from 300 to 800 yen.
Brewery Tours each day at 3:30 pm.
I will be there pulling taps and trying my best to look as youthful as if it actually were 10 years ago.
Reservations NOT required; New Year joy and enthusiasm required.
Taproom O-Shogatsu Business Hours:
The Numazu Fishmarket Taproom will be closed on Saturday, January 1 and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 4-5. Normal business hours will resume on Thursday, January 6.
The Nakameguro Taproom will be closed January 1 – 3, re-opening with new business hours in the New Year on Tuesday, January 4. The new business hours are: Mon-Fri (5:00 pm to Midnight); Sat-Sun & National Holidays (Noon to Midnight).
The Harajuku Taproom will be open from noon until Takeshita Dori is empty and lonely from Saturday, January 1 through Tuesday, January 4 (normal business hours resume on Wednesday, January 5). If you are planning a trip to nearby Meiji Jingu or Togo Jinja, stop in and warm up with a pint, a skewer and some friendly service.
Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE


The Japan Blog List

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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
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Please check the new postings at:
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日本語のブログ
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Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’10/90): Snow Crab Sushi and Kiwi Bento

Winter means that we can get a lot of Snow Crab/Suwagani/諏訪蟹 on the markets.
As I did some shopping last night for the Missus, I bought a big batch of them. Most of it went into a “nabe dinner”, Japanese pot-au-feu, but some was kept for our bentos today!
As for the kiwi fruits, I had the pleasure to interview the owner of the largest individual kiwi farmer in Japan, namely Kiwifruit Country Japan in Kakegawa City (report coming soon!).

The Missus prepared sushi rice and mixed it with snow crab, thinly sliced cucumber (Shizuoka-grown), pickled perilla seeds and chopped Italian parsley.
She topped the lot with more snow crab, olive and lemon.
A bit extravagant, I must admit!

As for the salad, she included mini-tomatoes and cress (both grown in Shizuoka City), with some celery leaves, chopped carrots and walnuts.
Plenty of fibers and Vitamin C!

For dessert, the kiwi fruit!
She peeled and sliced one of each of the 3 varieties grown by Mr. Masatoshi Hirano (he actually grows 80 of them!):
-Kousen/光線, yellow with a red center
-Kouryoku/香緑,beutiful green
-Tear Drop/ティーヅロップ, beautiful yellow

These are packed with Vitamin C and many other great nutrients!

Healthy, healthy, healthy, and delicous!

Related favorite websites:

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)

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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日本語のブログ
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Ice Plants & Tomatoes in Yaizu City: Ooba Garden

Mr. Hiroyuki Ooba/大場弘之, growing ice plants and tomatoes at Ooba Garden/おおば農園 in Yaizu City/焼津市

“Looking forward to diversify!”

Meeting 100 students in my classes at University does prove useful when I wish to discover new producers and farmers as in Shizuoka Prefecture some of these very students are bound to be the sons and daughters of local farmers!

One such student was kind enough to introduce to her father, Mr. Hiroyuki Ooba (51) growing ice plants and tomatoes in his farm!
He kindly accepted to pick me up at Fuijeda City JR Station last Sunday on a beautiful day.

Yaizu City and its surroundings being a very flat area we can admire Mount Fuji in the distance all day long!

Mr. Ooba is second generation farmer.
His father was mainly cultivating tomatoes and cucumbers before he took over.
He has since stopped growing cucumbers to concentrate on other green vegetables, always experimenting on new varieties and species.

Mr. Ooba apologized for the “messy” farm, but actually I found it very welcoming with those old pine trees at the entrance!

Well, this certainly looks like a real farm!
Many bicycles! Mr. Ooba has two daughters, the second one being my student and a son, the youngest of his children still at high school, but who already has decided to attend Agricultural university to follow in his father’s steps!

Mr. Ooba grows ice plants in greenhouses covering 6a and 5a, whereas tomatoes are grown in 3 greenhouses for a total area of 12a.

Mr. Ooba started growing ice plants/アイスプラント a couple of years ago, thinking that these African vegetables should be easy to grow in a hot environment. He was surprised to find out that they didn’t like heat much after all!

Enormous ice plants!

The Japanese eat only the top part of the ice plant raw which is crispy and are not interested in the larger leaves as they don’t cook them. on the other hand the plant grows quickly and can be continuously harvested for its top crispy young leaves.

Mr. Ooba allots some space for his own needs: Qing geng cai/チンゲンサイ and thin leeks/細葱.

He also grows and partly sells cabbages as the land is propitious to vegetables whereas trees such as orange trees are not really suited.
Incidentally a great part of Yaizu City farmland is dedicated to rice, which is of very good quality.

Mr. Ooba and his father have been growing tomatoes for about 40 years.
They used to grow Momotaro tomatoes, but Hiroyuki thought he was getting better results with Misora 64 tomatoes.
he grows between August and December and again between January and May. Between May and August he will grow some Momotaro tomatoes.

The cultivation system is nutriculture/養液栽培, a system that he found most practical over the years allowing for a better control and reduction of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

For all the practicality of this system, cultivation is not that easy.
Plants have to be regularly trimmed and prunes.
One big tomato might look good (above picture) but all tomatoes after that big beauty will not develop properly.

You have to choose two sizes and the consequent technique according to consumer and market demands.
Either you grow them big and few as above or,

or clusters of smaller but more regular and abundant tomatoes!

I personally tend to like them in-between but I’m being selfish.
In any case we already agreed on a second interview next may when i will be able to find great quantities to choose from!

Messrs. Hiroyuki Ooba/大場弘之 and Hajime Matsuda/松田肇 of Six berry Farmers!

I found out that Mr. Ooba is actually a friend of Hajime Matsuda, one of the six merry Berry Farmers growing Toukun/桃薫, peach strawberries!
Funnily enough it was discovery for Hiroyuki!

The three of us shared a long constructive talk about future ventures.
Hiroyuki is seriously thinking of starting grapes and fancy pumpkins next year. great fun in store for me!

Although Mr. Ooba’s vegetables are sold in Yaizu City markets, direct orders are gladly accepted through the phoneor by mail!

Ooba Garden, Mr. Hiroyuki Ooba
421-0212, Shizuoka ken, Yaizu Shi, Riemon, 250-2
421-0212静岡県焼津市利右衛門250-2
Tel.: 054-622-2661
Mobile: 090-3839-7027
E-mail: rynca@live.jp
Mobile E-mail: lycoper@ezweb.ne.jp

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Producing Shizuoka Tea Bags on Order: Saikou Chaen Co. ltd.

Asami Itoh/伊藤麻美 at Saikou Chaen Co. Ltd./彩香茶園有限会社

“Always trying to expand business onto new avenues”

Tea bags have been an established business for long in Europe and in the Americas, but Japan is only coming very slowly to accept the idea for its green tea.
This is a business opportunity with great potential but also fraught with risks as the Japanese do not easily forget their traditions even they are obviously narrow-minded.

Asami Itoh is a young entrepreneur who only recently joined her father’s long-established tea factory business to find new ways to expand the family business.

The compulsory “cleaning room” all visitors and staff have to go through.

She spent 5 years in Tokyo and Shizuoka studying and working in architecture and interior design. This experience proved useful when designing her own annex in her father’s company, Marufuku Tea Factory/丸福製茶.
It had to be conceived small, compact and in an absolutely clean environment.
Any visitor or staff must first go through the “cleaning room” where powerful air jets will take care of any dust or particles you might carry on your clothes.

A staff of 5 is looking after all operations including the transformation of tea into powder/funmatsu/粉末 (I was not allowed to take pictures of that particular process as they use a machine of their own concept), tea grading, blending and packaging.

Space had to be planned for the inclusion of 2 tea bags machines and more equipment for packaging.
Temperature and humidity have to be controlled very tightly, especially during the rainy season and in Autumn.
Static electricity is the biggest problem.
The place must be cleaned every morning mainly with vacuum apparels and everything has to go through one more and complete cleaning session every week.

Tea bags as they come out of the machine.

Green tea being blended with genmai/whole rice/玄米.

Tea sometimes does have to be treated the traditional way!

The final product as a package of tea bags!

All tea bags are made on order to avoid any waste and to provide best quality.
The competition is fierce and copying is inevitable, but the key of a successful business is quality and service.
As for the future Asami knows she still has plenty to learn including the English language for business expansion and the manufacture of Chinese Oolong tea for a new type of tea bags.

Do visit her official homepage/CHA-O and you will realize how much work is put into her venture! Great explanations and pictures to be discovered!

Saikou Chaen Co. Ltd./彩香茶園有限会社
420-0006 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu Cho, 94
Tel.: 054-253-8421
fax: 054-253-8413
Mobile: 09032504188
Free dial: 0120364188
Business hours: 09:00~17:00
Closed on Sundays and 2nd + 4th Saturdays

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi