Tag Archives: Asian

Crustaceans, 美食, 魚海の幸, Gastronomy, Ise Ebi, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Spiny Lobster, 伊勢海老

Japanese Crustacean Species 6: Spiny Lobster/Ise Ebi/伊勢海老

January 5, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

ISE-EBI-1

Ise Ebi/伊勢海老 or Japanese Spiny Lobster is one the Spiny Lobster varieties so popular all over the World.
The Japanese variety is smaller, or more precisely is more popular under a certain size.

Also called Kamakura Ebi, it is caught off the shores of Chiba, Wakayama, Mie and Shizuoka Prefectures.

The best specimens are aught in Winter, although imported lobsters can be found at other seasons.

The annual catch is fairly stable at 1,000 tonnes a year.
Imported specimens account for 10,000 tonnes, mainly from Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.
In the latter case they are also called Minami/South Ebi.

The Japanese appreciate their lobsters raw.

ISE-EBI-SASHIMI

As o-tsukuri/sashimi plate they are quite spectacular!

ISE-EBI-SASHIMI2

For a closer look!

And of course as sushi nigiri!

No need to mention that the Japanese also love them as gratin!

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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

Beer, Chinese Cuisine, Chinese Restaurants, Crustaceans, 牛肉, 美食, Dessert, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 車海老, 農業, Fish, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tempura, Tourism

Memorable Gastronomy with Shizuoka Products in 2011!

January 3, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Fujiyama Wagyu Beef, Utogi Wasabi and Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes!

2011 was an eventful year for many reasons, some unwanted, even dreadful, and others more conducive to social happiness. I would prefer to remember the latter to help nurture a positive attitude towards a future we cannot predict! Being a convinced agnostic hedonist does help but I’m sure that gastronomes, whatever their credo, will realize how lucky we are in Shizuoka to be able to attain to ever-growing pleasures with seemingly simple local ingredients!
Here is a proposal for a full course, albeit a long one, representative of a dinner I would have enjoyed in 2011!

APPETIZERS/STARTERS:

Rainbow Trout Sashimi Plate!
These rainbow trouts are raised by Mr. Kunugi in Fujinomiya City!

in any repast drinks are most important as they are they insure the link between the dishes!
Japanese sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!
These labels are of a particular interest as they advertized the edible seaweed varieties found in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Note: For friends who may not drink alcohol I would recommend ginger ale made with Shizuoka-grown ginger or Shizuoka green (and black!) tea under various forms!

Tomato Tempura!
Uzu Izakaya in Shizuoka City serves it regularly with organic tomatoes seasoned with home-made yuzu koshio paste!

Sakekasu tempura!
Setsugekka Soba Restaurant in Shimada City serves this tempura concocted qith sake lees produced by their neighbors at Oomuraya Brewery!

Carrot Soup and Carrot Leaves Mousse on a Tomato Bed!
All vegetables are organic served at Pissenlit in Shizuoka city making use of the whole vegetables!

Vegetables in Banya Cauda style!
As served at Piatto in Shizuoka City! All vegetables are organic and grown in Shizuoka!

FISH & SEAFOOD

Steamed Black Bass/Suzuki/鱸 from Suruga Bay and vegetables by Mr. Furuya in Asabata, Shizuoka City!
As prepared and served by Cham Chinese Izakaya in Shizuoka City with a light warm vinaigrette!

True Seabream/Madai/真鯛 with cockles and vegetables, all from Shizuoka!
As served Italian-style by Il Castagno in Shizuoka City!

Imperial Prawn/Sakura ebi/車海老 Tempura!
As served by Setsugekka Soba Restaurant in Shimada City!

MEAT

Fujiyama Wagyu Beef, Utogi Wasabi and Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes!
As prepared by the Missus and I!
Fujiyama Wagyu is one of the thirteen varieties of wagyu bred in Shizuoka Prefecture which positively compare to Kobe Beef!
The wasabi is grown by Maruichi Farm in Utogi, the birthplace of this most remarkable ingredient!
The Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes are grown in Iwata City!

Foie gras poele on Corn Galette with Madeira Sauce!
This can qualify as an extravagant appetizer too!
The galette was concocted at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City with high-grade Kankanmusume Corn grown by Chouchou Farm in Iwata City!

Jidori Chicken Poêlé served with a Old Mimolette Cheese topping!
Fuji City is famed for its Jidori Chicken and Gentil in Shizuoka City serves it in extravagant simplicity with a topping of 24-months old Mimolette Cheese!

DESSERTS

Soy sauce and Brown Sugar Mousse Cake, Frozen Organic Mandarine and Lemon Sorbet!

Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City is a master of off the beaten track desserts!
The soy sauce is created by Amano Company in Gotemba City and the brown sugar is made with sugarcane grown in Kakegawa City. As for the mandarine and lemon, they are of course organic!

Carrot Crème Brulée and Mandarine Caramelisée!

As served at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City. Both the carrot and mandarine are organic!

Organic Carrot ice Cream!
This could be served as an appetizer, a refresher between dishes or a dessert at Comptoir de Bios in Shizuoka City!

Pheasant Egg Pudding and brown Sugar ice Cream!
Again created by Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City with pheasant eggs produced in Hamamatsu City and brown sugar made from sugarcane grown in Kakegawa City!

Naturally I still have missed a lot and I sincerely hope I will be able to introduce other discoveries by the end of this year!

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French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Products at Pissenlit (Winter 2011~2012)!

January 3, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Organic Cauliflower and Cod Sperm Sacs Puree topped with same Sperm Sacs Poeles and steamed curry cauliflower!

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

Planning a “quick light” lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City always smacks of jumping into a trap of your own making…
This time I had originally asked for a plate of steamed organic vegetables, but from the moment Chef Toru Arima said he had the perfect appetizer for this cold day it was a quick slide down the gastronomic slope!

The cauliflower was nonetheless organic from Chizen no Chikara in Shizuoka City and its marriage with Cod “shirako/Sperm Sacs” (sorry, but this is the true meaning!) into a smooth puree contributed into a beautiful contrast with the crispiness enveloping the unctuous same sperm sacs topping it and the light bite of more steamed cauliflower seasoned with a light curry sauce!

My initial wish was granted with a dish of steamed organic vegetables and a Suruga Bay “te-naga ebi/Japanese Scampi” on a couscous bed!

Sorry for the fuzzy picture!
I just wanted to show the meat of the scampi lodged in the middle of a red squid ring atop the couscous bed!

Beautiful steamed organic vegetables emphasized by a light warm vinaigrette fighting for attention with the Scampi!

The Scampi is not ready to let my fork pitch into the couscous without a fight!

Morocco flirting with Shizuoka! Toru had introduced small pieces of Shizuoka strawberries into the couscous for the perfect sweet and salty balance!
By then, I was ready to fall into the next trap!

“I have the right light meat dish for you!” (he said that before, didn’t he?)
And for my masochistic pleasure he was right:
Shizuoka “Jidoori” chicken poele atop organic potato puree and organic shiitake from Shizen no Chikara Farm!

Demolishing this beautiful piece montee was such a sweet vengeance!
The Shiitake being fresh, it was very tender and each piece of it made for the perfect receptable for the potato puree!
I should have perhaps tried to eat it together some chicken in a single forkful, but I took my time!

There was only one way to escape from the clutches of another dessert: coffee and mignardises!

Home-made Shizuoka Orange jelly, and soft chocolates! The green one is coated with Shizuoka Hon-Yama Green Tea!

It will be a pleasure to meet you again in another self-inflicted trap of mine soon!

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
Entirely non-smoking!

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Japanese Crustacean Species 5: Kuruma Ebi/Japanese Imperial Prawn/車海老

January 2, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

KURUMA-EBI-1

Kuruma Ebi, or Japanese Imperial Prawn, is probably the most popular prawn in Japan!
It has different names depending on its size: Saimaki (up to 5 cm), Maki (up to 10cm)

Its season lasts from late Autumn to the end of Winter.
It is found south of Hokkaido Island down to the Indian Ocean until depths of 50 metres.
It had been successfully artificially bred for some time until diseases put a momentary stop to the venture.
The prawn has steadily become a rare morsel. Altogether, natural and domestic specimen, the annual catch amounts only to 2,000 tonnes.

KURUMA-EBI-1a

Raw, or

KURUMA-EBI-2

boiled, they make for great decoration on top of suucculent taste!

Now if you have the chance to eat them raw, try and eat them alive!

As for sushi, especially nigiri,

savor the raw,

Or boiled!

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Japanese Crustacean Species 4: Amaebi/Alaskan Pink Shrimp-Pink Shrimp/甘海老

January 1, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Amaebi (in Japanese) or by its Latin name Pandalus borealis (also called Pandalus eous) is a species of shrimp found in cold parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Many different English names are used, with little consensus (deep-water shrimp, cold-water shrimp, northern shrimp, Alaskan pink shrimp, pink shrimp, northern red shrimp, Greenland prawn (UK)). Often the word shrimp is replaced by prawn, albeit incorrectly.

Amaebi Sashimi!

In Japan, it is also known as Hokkoku Akaebi/North Country Red Shrimp, Nanban Ebi or Tongarasahi.

The season in Japan is Winter, although it can be found all year round thanks to large imports from Greenland and Canada. Yearly domestic catch amount to 2,000 tonnes in Hokkaido and 800 tonnes in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Amaebi Sushi Nigiri!

It is a species famous for its sexual properties: the shrimps are hermaphroditic. They start out male, but after year or two, their testicles turn to ovaries and they complete their lives as females. However, if there is a predominance of female Pandalus shrimp, the males will delay their transformation. Likewise should there be a shortage of females, the male shrimp will begin their transformation earlier, all for the sake of maintaining balance for procreational purposes.

They are called “Ama Ebi/Sweet Shrimp” in Japanese as they will turn very sweet after a couple of days in the refrigerator, whereas they will show no sweetness at all when fresh!

Amaebi Springroll!

They are great as sashimi on their own, in salads or as part of a larger sashimi plate such as served i Tomii in Shizuoka:

Of course, as sushi, they are a superb morsel!

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Izakaya: Hachokura in Shizuoka City JR Station!

January 1, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly
Facilities: Clean
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Lots of fresh local fish and produce. Great range of sake and shochu.

If you happen to be hungry but still limited in time, be it for lunch or dinner, Shizuoka City JR Railway Station will offer you plenty of reasonable and decent enough establishments that will serve you either fare found all over Japan, or for the more adventurous, ingredients mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Hachokura in the western building of Asty Mall is such a place.
You cannot miss it with its big board describing local fare!

Even if you are in a hurry, take the time to have a good look at all the seafood and sake on offer. You are bound to make some interesting discoveries!

You can choose a seat at the counter or in a private room.

Traditional Japanese country atmosphere?

You may also sit at tables by the window.
I paid them a visit at lunch time when it is quieter. Evenings are really busy!

Sitting at the counter can turn into a lot of reading!

Tuna Carpaccio is really reasonably-priced!

Local fish and local sake!

Again, a lot to choose from!

You can always choose one of their lunch boxes/plates but their lunch sets are a real bargain when you consider that the beer is included!

So my lunch set started with beer and a snack.

Sashimi plate (tuna, horse mackerel, salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp, tamagoyaki). Note the freshly grated Shizuoka-grown wasabi!

Tuna and horse mackerel.

Salmon, cuttlefish, sweet shrimp and tamagoyaki.

Potato and minced meat croquette and deep-fried chicken “nankotsu/cartilages”!

The croquette!

“Karaage niwatori nankotsu”, chicken soft cartilages deep-fried with some of their meat attached. Great snack for beer!

Simple, tasty and reasonably-priced traditional local fare!

HACHOKURA/八丁蔵
Shizuoka City, Kurogane Cho 48 (inside Shizuoka JR Railway Station), Asty West Building
Tel.: 054-255-8180
Opening hours: 11:00~22:30
Credit Cards OK
Parties welcome
Smoking allowed

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Italian Gastronomy: End of The Year Dinner at Soloio!

December 31, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

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

End of the year parties and dinners are a tradition in Japan before the New Year when people meet at families’ homes.
These can either be very private or quite raucous affairs with enormous crowds in the latter case.
For private reasons the Missus and I had decided to limit ourselves to a group of three (the two of us and a special friend) and have our dinner at our new favorite Italian restaurant, namely Solio in Shizuoka City!
I don’t need to introduce any more Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 and Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子, so let me just show you what we had the pleasure to savor!

The first (the others were forgotten in our conversations!) bottle of wine was a Red Chianti, Panizzi 2008 Sangovese grapes.
Very solid and fruity!

Our first appetizer was Shizuoka Suruga Bay madai/true seabream carpaccio!

Very fragrant thanks to the fresh herbs!

Second appetizer: Italian raw ham and salami with pears and liver paste!

As pasta, Genovese-style pasta with Shizuoka-grown broccoli!

Very light and tasty pasta dish making use of all the parts of a branch broccoli!

As for rice, a dish famous all over the city: Milano oven-baked saffron risotto!

As it comes out of the oven!

Very much lighter than you might expect!

And then we switched to fish: Suruga Bay kanpachi/環八/Amberjack pan-fried with Shizuoka vegetables!

Extravagant simplicity with such fresh local products! No wonder some local celebrities also start to patronize the establishment!

The meat dish was an “imported” affair: Venison/Deer foreleg from Nagano Prefecture stewed in red wine!

It was so tender you had no need for fork! Mind you, it took no less than seven hours to prepare!

Italian restaurants are not famed for elaborate desserts, but Solio’s desserts are irresistible in their simplicity!
Tiramisu!

So light and unctuous!

Pudding with almaretto caramel sauce!

Don’t bring your kids along! LOL

Panacotta with Shizuoka strawberry coulis!

I had a hard time resisting the impulse to lick the whole plate!

See you next year, or more aptly said, next season!

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

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Japanese Crustacean Species 3: Shako-Squilla/蝦蛄

December 31, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Squilla or “Shako” (蝦蛄in Japanese) is a delicacy that appears on the sushi bar counters from April to Summer, although different varieties can be found in Hokkaido markets (Otaru City in particular) almost all year round.
You will discover it under names such as “Shaku” and “Gazaebi”.
They are actually caught in almost all Japanese seas, but the best are supposed to originate from Hokkaido.

Like any crustaceans, they can be eaten in many ways.
The Japanese favour the small kind with a violet back. I had the opportunity to buy some very large specimen in Otaru, and eat them just boiled and served with rice vinegar mixed with a little Japanese mustard, or in salads.

They almost disappeared from Tokyo Bay in the 1960’s but reappeared in the 1970’s. Most fishermen in the Kanto area will place them in boxes themselves to sell them directly at fish markets. The market value can vary wildly, but look for the genuine harbour markets and buy them yourself.

Naturally, they are most popular as nigiri sushi. Customers jokingly ask for “garage” (in English) as “shako” also means (different kanji, of course) “garage”!

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Café & Brasserie: Patina in Shizuoka City!

December 30, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day.

The fashion for a long time having been to patronize famous/notorious fast-food cafes with a dubious approach to gastronomy and atmosphere the more traditional cafes with a far more authentic cachet had all but disappeared.

Unfortunately Shizuoka City had not escaped from the trend and had, but for one or two establishments, become a barren land as far as coffee shops were concerned.

At long last some courageous individuals and companies are beginning to help reverse that sorry situation.
“Patina” opened on the 12th of December in increasingly fashionable Tenmacho for the pleasure of haven seeking patrons!

Right from the moment you enter you realize that the establishment is both different and reassuringly familiar as if you were traveling back to a more comfortable era.

The whole place is a comforting kind of jumble with seats for every taste from a personal table tucked in a corner to long sofa benches along the wall and mismatched arm chairs at the counter.

You will need quite a few visits before you elect to sit at the same place!

The place doubles up as a cafe and a light meal bistro/brasserie-style coffee-shop so much in evidence in any French city worth its salt. This implies you can either settle for coffee or tea or start drinking in earnest with food to accompany any time of the day!

The whole staff are ladies and the young Chef, Ms. Akiko Kondoh/近藤亜希子さん has plenty of experience and (dinner will come in another article) her elegant confectioneries are worth the visit!

Her apple millefeuille with ice cream is fast becoming a favorite!

And their teas and coffees are not only delicious but served the traditional and proper way!
I’ll meet you in the evening in front of a pâté de campagne and a glass of wine next time in the evening!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 10:00~20:30 (last orders)
Holiday not decided yet
Non-smoking but for a small table away from the other patrons at the end of a long hall before the washroom

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Suginishiki Nama Moto Junmai Nakatori Genshu

December 29, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

What I like about Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City is that they are never short of words when it comes to explaining the manufacture and the ingredients of their nectars!

“Nama” means that it was not pasteurized.
“Nakatori” means that the sake was collected some time after the beginning of the pressing and only until some time before the end, meaning basically the best part of the pressed sake.
Finally “genshu” means that this is original sake with no later addition of pure water.

“Nama moto” means that the sake was made according to old traditions with natural lactic acid.

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: + 4.5
Acidity: 1.5
Yeast: Shizuoka HD-1
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Sharpish, fruity and complex. Pears, oranges, dark chocolate and banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dryish, fruity and complex attack backed up with a pleasant combination of alcohol and junmai petillant.
Very deep pleasurable acidity.
At first reveals oranges and a faint note of dark chocolate while warming up the palate.
Lingers on for a while before disappearing with dry mandarines. Coffee beans peek out later in further sips with a junmai petillant comeback along with notes of greens and dry almonds.
Varies little with food. Marries well with izakaya-style or European stew-like food.

Overall: Unusual by Shizuoka standards, but eminently drinkable on its own. Marries well with food.
Does not linger that long, thus inviting you to the next glass.
A sake perfect for hot winter food!
Its deep and pleasant acidity combining with complex fruitiness define its character.
A sake for people who love the izakaya gastronomy!

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Japanese Crustacean Species 2: Botan Ebi-Large Prawn/牡丹海老

December 29, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Botanebi/”Botan” Prawn/牡丹海老, or “Pandalus nipponesis” for the specialists, is a large prawn found in all seas of Japan at depths varying from 300 to 500 metres. They are caught at 200~300 metres depth in Suruga Bay and along the Western coast of Izu Peninsula In Shizuoka Prefecture. Once abundant, they have become scarce and only small specimens are found, whereas Hokkaido produces up to 20cm-long prawns.

sushiko-08-12-25-31

They are known under different names: “Toyamaebi and Kijiebi”.
It is not a cheap morsel in Sushi bars. But it is interesting to note they are essentially eaten raw as like “Amaebi”. They become very sweet after some time in the refrigerator.

Now, if you are lucky enough to find them fresh with their eggs, ask your chef to dress them as above, or even better, put the eggs on top of a “gunkan nigiri”!

sushiko-08-12-25-5

And one more thing, if they are fresh again, don’t forget to ask for the heads deep-fried!

Incidentally, botanebi change sex (gender) with age to end up as big juicy females!

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Italian Gastronomy: Risotto Symphony at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

December 28, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Milano Oven-baked Saffron Risotto!

Many local gastronomes consider that Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 concocts the best risotto in Shizuoka City and Prefecture!
Since it is possible to visit Solio just for a glass of wine and a dish, risottos are perfect by this cold weather!
Here is a collection of the risottos I’ve had the pleasure to savor!

Fresh Italian Porcini Risotto!

Unfortunately it is already not on the menu any longer as Takehiko uses only seasonal products, but it will be there when the season comes back!

Mussles Risotto!

Actually, it was never on the menu but prepared as a special request of mine!

Home-made Sausage and Chestnut Risotto!

Another seasonal dish which has already disappeared from the menu!

Italian Black Truffle Risotto!

Beautiful truffles!

This is an offering that will disappear from the menu as soon as the truffles are exhausted! Hurry up!

Milano Baked saffron Risotto!

The rizotto as it looks out of the oven!

Don’t worry, Takehiko intends to serve this risotto all year round!

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Japanese Crustacean Species 1: Shiro Ebi-White Shrimp/白海老

December 28, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shiroebi or White Shrimp is not as known as other shrimp/prawn varieties. However, it is a very popular crustacean in Japanese cuisine.
Also known under the the names of “Shiraebi, Hirataebi and Bekkoebi”, it is mainly caught between depths of 40 and 200 metres off the coasts of Toyama Bay on the other side of Japan and Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture.

shiraebi-22

It is mainlly served as sashimi with some ponzu and grated fresh ginger

shiraebi-3

or as “gunkan” topped with a dash of grated fresh ginger.

It is possible to serve it as “nigiri”, although one would need large specimen, as the usual length is only 7 cm.
Shiroebi appears on our tables between April and November in many guises:

shirebi-4

The picture above shows on the right the shiroebi in its natural flesh whereas on the left it has been kept between two sheets of wetted seaweed for a while as “kombu-jime”, another very popular way to prepare all kinds of sashimi/sushi.

White Shrimps also enter in the preparation of a kind of “Tamagoyaki”/Japanese Omelette when they are first processed into a paste and mixed thoroughly with beaten eggs, sieved and then cooked.
The Japanese also love them as soft sembei/rice crackers.

The annual catch has exceeded 600 tonnes in recent years, half of them in Toyama.
They are also exported whole.

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美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Vegetarian Gastronomy: My Best 10 dishes in Shizuoka City in 2011!

December 26, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Vegetable Sashimi Plate at Yasaitei (Japanese Izakaya)!

Although I’m neither a vegetarian or a vegan, the City of Shizuoka is a superlative venue when it comes to vegetable gastronomy thanks to the innumerable products grown by dedicated farmers in Shizuoka Prefecture!
I was going to make it a Prefecture compilation when I realized the City was far more than enough!
I sincerely hope all those pictures will entice you to visit our City!
I made a point to specify the cuisine genre to give you a better idea!

Fennel Gratin at Porta Porta (Italian Restaurant)!

Vegetarian Plate at Locomani (Japanese Health Restaurant)!

Skillet-baked Vegetables at Solio (Italian Restaurant)!

Bania Cauda Vegetables Plate at Piatto (Italian Restaurant)!

Steamed Vegetables Plate at Cham (Chinese Restaurant)!

Daikon Katsu at Waga (Japanese Izakaya)!

Vegetable Steak at Testuya Sugimoto (French Restaurant)!

Red Moon French fries at Chez Satsukawa (French Restaurant)!

“Goro Goro” Salad at uzu (Japanese Izakaya)!

If you need the addresses and contacts of all the establishments I’ll be glad to oblige!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Crab, 美食, 藻屑蟹, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mitten Crab, Shizuoka

Japanese Crab Species 4: Japanese Mitten Crab/Mokuzugani藻屑蟹

December 25, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

MOKUZUGANI-1

Japanese Mitten Crab or Mokuzugani/藻屑蟹 in Japanese is also called Mokuzou, Zugani, Tsugani or Kegani.
It is caught alsmost everywhere in Japan in Autumn and Winter.
In Autumn the females come to lay their eggs at river mouths.
Plenty are found along the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture.
They are caught in boxes baited with fish.

As for food, they can be eaten boiled in soups or crushed with their shell and cooked with miso. They could even be prepared as French bisque.

MOKUZUGANI-FEMALE