Tag Archives: Asian

Cakes, 美食, 農業, Gastronomy, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Sweets, Vegan, vegetables, 和菓子

Japanese Vegetarian & Vegan Cakes: Wagashi/和菓子2: Recipe-Anko/Sweetmeats

November 29, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

WAGASHI-4

One main ingredients in traditional Wagashi/Japanese Cakes is “anko/餡子” (or more simply “an”) which can be translated as “sweetmeats” or “bean jam”.

I would like here to introduce a simple way to make one’s own “anko” at home:

INGREDIENTS:

Azuki/Adzuki/red beans (in Japanese: 小豆): 150 g
Sugar: 150g
Salt: a little

RECIPE:

a) Wash azuki lightly. Put in a large basin with an equal amount of water and turn on heat to high.

b) Bring to boil. If beans level is higher that of water, add water till beans are completely covered. Let simmer. Add water 2 or 3 times as soon as the water does not cover completely the beans and this until beans stop floating on water.

c) Drain beans, put them back into basin with same amount of water and turn fire to high. Repeat a) operation.

d) Cook as c) for 40~60 minutes.

e) Mash azuki beans lightly. Add sugar. Simmer and stir to mix, making sure the jam does not overboil.

f) Add a little salt (to your taste) and mix.
Let cool completely.
You can eat it as it is of course, but you will need it to make your cakes!
You can either sieve it to make it a very fine paste, sieve a part and mix it with the unsieved part, or use it as it is. In any case it will be easy to fashion!

WAGASHI-ANKO

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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

美食, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mushrooms, Organic Vegetables, Shiitake, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, 椎茸

Shiitake Mushrooms Cultivation without Agrochemicals: Shizuo Nanjyo in Shizuoka City!

November 29, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

It is never too late to become conscious of health and to contribute to its betterment!
I did not enquire about his age but Shizuo Nanjyo is definitely my elder but he has never lost his enthusiasm and belief when it comes to insure a healthy product of the highest quality.
A second-generation tea grower for 58 years but a first-generation shiitake mushroom grower for 50 years he decided to get away from the beaten tracks this year and assume not only the cultivation but also the marketing of his shiitake mushrooms.

Logs to be used for shiitake cultivation.

I finally managed to pay him a visit thanks to my good friend Asami Ito who kindly drove me all the way up the Abe River in Shizuoka City into the middle of wasabi and green tea land (mountains) in Do District.

Mr. Nanjyo grows his shiitake in a large greenhouse in a very clean environment without the use of any agrochemicals to ensure the heath and safety of his products.

As a further proof of his attention to health he had the government survey his crop and give him a certificate stating that his mushrooms are radioactivity free!

Insects and pests are taken care of with sticking tape traps (can you see the yellow pieces overhead?)
The wood logs come from kunugi/椚/Sawtooth Oaks (90%) and nara/楢/Japanese Oak from neighbouring Yamanashi Prefecture.

Logs are first inoculated with shiitake mushroom mycelium (also from Yamanashi Prefecture).

The logs are then soaked into clean water to help the mycelium to spread inside the log.

When the first tiny mushrooms start appearing the logs are then stacked and stored outside for 6 months.

They are protected from the sun, rain and big temperature gaps with reeds imported all the way from lake Biwa!
What about that for ecology!
Vinyl sheets are ineffective as they don’t allow air drafts and actually negatively help the temperature to rise under them.
This type and method of cultivation is only a return to traditional farming after all!
Logs are used for 4 years and then will be sent to specialized companies who will turn them into compost or sawdust for effective recycling.

When the logs are ready for fructification Shizuo will then move them inside the greenhouse kept at a regular temperature of around 25 degrees between October and May. Each log will be dated to know exactly when the mushrooms will be ready for harvest.

After that it is a question of timing as some customers want their mushrooms small,…

Others larger…

Shizuo kindly offered me to choose mine from those beauties as a souvenir!

Actually, I was still very busy talking with the kind producer about farming in general and Asami kindly picked some (plenty!) for me (in her left hand!), but Shizuo would not let me go without accepting an even bigger bunch of them (in Asami’s right hand!)!

Not only that, but I also ended up with two succulent daikon and a truly enormous cabbage from their personal garden!

Their garden is very popular as they have to protect it with a double netting to fend off monkeys, wild boars and deer which regularly pay an unwelcome visit to farms in the mountains!

It was only natural to put all these beautiful super fresh mushrooms to good use and bring plenty of them to Yasaitei Izakaya to be served and introduced to customers!

There is no better way to advertise great produce than having them served at once to happy gastronomes by knowledgeable chefs!

Shizuo Nanjyo, Shiitake Grower
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Do, 504-2
Tel.: 054-298-2155
Individual orders welcome
Mr. Nanjyo’s shiitake mushrooms will also be on sale every Sunday from 9:30 to 12:30 from December 11th at the car park of Marufuku Tea Company, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Wakamatsu, 112.
Fpr more details call Ms. Asami Ito: 0120-36-4188

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Cakes, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Wagashi, 和菓子

Japanese Vegetarian & Vegan Cakes: Wagashi/和菓子1: Introduction

November 28, 2011 dragonlife 6 Comments

WAGASHI-1

There is a traditional way of making cakes in Japan that ought to please no end vegans and people allergic to wheat flour and dairy products, namely Wagashi!

Wagashi (和菓子) is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, azuki bean paste, and fruits.

Wagashi is typically made from natural based (mainly plant) ingredients. The names used for wagashi commonly fit a formula—a natural beauty and a word from ancient literature; they are thus often written with hyōgaiji (kanji that are not commonly used or known), and are glossed with furigana.

Generally, confectioneries that were introduced from the West after the Meiji Restoration (1868) are not considered wagashi. Most sorts of Okinawan confectionery and those originating in Europe or China that use ingredients alien to traditional Japanese cuisine, e.g., kasutera, are only rarely referred to as wagashi.

WAGASHI-2
Assortment of wagashi for a tea ceremony

During the Edo period, the production of sugarcane in Okinawa became highly productive, and low quality brown sugar as well as heavily processed white sugar became widely available. A type of sugar, wasanbon, was perfected in this period and is still used exclusively to make wagashi. Wagashi was a popular gift between samurai, in significance much like a good wine. Wagashi is served as part of a Japanese tea ceremony, and serving a good seasonal wagashi shows one’s educational background.

WAGASHI-3
Wagashi in the shape of rape flowers/Na no Hana

There are many, many kinds of Wagashi.
I will (re-)introduce them in the next postings, followed by other postings on the basic preparation.

WAGASHI-ABEKAWAMOCHI-2
Shizuoka’s Abekawa Mochi

Just know that about every region in Japan has its own traditional Wagashi!

Avaibility:
Wagashi is widely available in Japan, but quite rare outside it.
–Minamoto Kitchoan (源吉兆庵)
Has a varied selection, and stores in New York City (shipping throughout the US), London (shipping throughout Europe), and Singapore, in addition to Japan.
–Toraya (とらや)
Has a full Paris store, stores in Japan, and sells a limited selection (yōkan only) at New York stores.
–Fugetsu-do
Family owned and operated in the USA, since 1903, Fugetsu-do now ships anywhere in the USA.

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Japanese Vegetarian & Vegan Cuisine Ingredient: Yomogi!

November 27, 2011 dragonlife 8 Comments

“Yomogi”, also called “Mochigusa” (mochi grass) has been picked, used and grown for ages in most of this country, first as a medicinal herb and second for food.
Its latin name is “Artemisia princeps”. It mainly grows in mountains on sun-exposed slopes. Not to be confused with “niga-yomogi”, the Japanese name for thujone, e.g. absinthe!

Preparation of wagashi/Japanese cakes made with rice flour, yomogi and anko/sweetmeats!

It blooms in June~July. Farmers have long used its roots as medicine, after pressing water out and drying them.
The leaves are considered to help against lack of appetite, thin blood, stomach colds, diarrhea, nose bleed, constipation and gout. They are aslo extensively used in baths.
As for medicine make Yomogi sake: Leave 300g. of leaves in 1.8 l. of sake for half a year. Drink a 20ml, 3 times a day.
Leaves can be applied on insect-bitten skin.

“Kintsuba/Sabre guard” wagashi made with rice flour, yomogi and sweetmeats (Miwa Supermarket, Shizuoka City)

There are many ways to enjoy them as food as well as medicine:
-Tempura
-Sasa Dango

Sasa Dango

In Shizuoka, you will also find many farmers selling a sweet in the shape of a hot cake with sweetmeats (anko) inside.

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French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Products at Pissenlit (October 2011)!

November 26, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

The Fall in Shizuoka, like in many countries all the world is a time of plenty with food provided by the land and sea overwhelming vegetables, fruit, meat and seafood. It is the time to re-visit your favorite restaurants and chefs and learn so much about new products and techniques!

The board advertizing the B Lunch Menu at a very good value of 2,500 yen convinced me away from work for a while!

Impatiently waiting for the beauties to land on my plate…

Not being able to drink alcohol during my break I opted for the ever delicious home-made ginger ale!

Never mentioned on the menu, Chef Touru Arima always awards your patience with one of his superb amuse!

Hot potage made with organic carrots from Chizen no Chikara Farm!

Mousse made with the leaves of the same carrots on a bed of pureed tomatoes!

The appetizer: Quiche made with lotus roots grown in Asabata, Shizuoka City, small chestnuts and organic spinach with an organic green salad!

Being French, no wonder I’m a sucker for quiche!

Especially when East meets West. Can you see the sliced lotus root?

The entree: Tender and juicy Yuusui　Ton/湧水豚 Pork bred in Gotemba City!

From another angle! The pork was poeleed in mustard sauce.

All vegetables are organic, either from Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City or Hirokawa Garden in Mishima City!

Great dessert of the day as usual, but this time it was really special and would deserve an article of its own!

Organic carrot Creme Brulee!

When a great vegetable becomes an unctuous dessert… What more can you ask?

…: hot organic mandarine caramelized with all kinds of nuts!

With nuts inside the mandarine! What painstaking work!

Incidentally I belatedly realized that I started and finished my meal with carrots! To think I hated them when I was a kid…

Finally, coffee served at it should be! With black tea madeleine and jellied orange peel!

Difficult to get better value!

To be followed 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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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Haginishiki Brewery-Toro No Sato Tokubetsu Junmai

November 24, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

The labels of Sake Breweries make for a good support for advertising cultural assets among others to the rest of the world.
Haginishiki Brewery in Shizuoka City has long been producing a fine sake under the name of Toro no Sato/登呂の里:Toro Village to commemorate the Ruins of Toro.

The site of a village dating back to the late Yayoi Period (about 2,000 yeras ago) was unearthed on the 11th of July 1943 in the middle of Shizuoka City. It is registered as a National Historic Monument and is open to the public as well as a Museum.

Rice: Biyama Nishiki/美山錦
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: + 1.4
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Almost transparent
Aroma: Discreet, complex. Greens, faint notes of coffee beans and vanilla
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very dry attack backed by Junmai petillant.
Complex and fruity: Coffee beans, banana, dry nuts.
Starts and ends up very dry with pleasant alcohol.
Lingers on very little.
Turns even drier with food with strong hints of coffee beans and dark chocolate competing with very dry banana and greens.

Overall: A sake obviously devised for food that can be drunk lightly chilled, at room temperature or lukewarm.
More complex and drier than expected. Its dryness makes it a good sake for any food, especially izakaya fare.
Very solid and dependable. No wonder we see it often in Shizuoka Izakayas!

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Izakaya Gastronomy: Villa D’Est Quisine in Shizuoka City (Fall 2011)

November 24, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and unassuming
Facilities: old-fashioned but very clean with cute washroom
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Home-style seasonal cuisine. Wines, sake and shochu. Very traditional Japanese atmosphere! Patronized by true izakaya gastronomy lovers!

In a city like Shizuoka, almost notoriously famous for its many hidden gastronomic havens, many true izakaya lovers will keep their own favorite hangout as secret as possible. Personally, I don’t think this is very fair, but at the same time you do not want to advertize too much such establishments for fear that uncaring customers spoil the atmosphere. On the other hand, if you wish to share and promote taste for good food, drink and atmosphere, you do have a duty to make such gastronomic venues better known.

In my case I hesitate to patronize Villa D’Est Quisine too often as it is very near my workplace, and it is not a good idea in Japan to revel too close to your professional address.
Therefore I keep my visits away from the week-ends when too many people are present for comfort. On the other hand, visiting an izakaya at comparatively quiet times will almost surely offer the opportunity to meet and discover like-minded souls!

Villa D’Est Quisine has many reasons to please:
It is located away from the centre of town in one of the few original and still left untouched alleys of fashionable Takajyo District.
It exudes a quaint warm atmosphere, almost taking you back ages away with its unusual architecture all of dark aged wood with a counter, large table and an elevated tatami, original ceramic tableware, hand-brushed daily menu, potted plants and wall pictures.
The food is eclectic, concocted with mainly local products to satisfy any taste, be it Japanese or of whatever country.
The short and very efficient list of Japanese sake, shochu and wine will ensure that your food marries well with your drinks.
The Chef, Toshiharu Matsuura, has an unflappable will to please customers with a quiet respect for privacy, although you will always find him ready for a great conversation.

Two nights ago, we decided to flee the city noisily celebrating a coming holiday and enjoy some welcome slow life there. It proved momentous as we had the luck to make acquaintance with two new like-minded friends!
The tone was immediately set with the first drink, a nectar from Morimoto Brewery in Kikugawa City, served in original pottery with a simple but succulent o-hitashi/lightly cooked and marinated appetizer made with vegetables including chrysanthemum petals!
The only reproach I would make is that although the place is comfortably dark it is not very propitious to photography!

You will be surprised to find out that the single sheet menu will take you longer to peruse than expected, so take your time before ordering!
Now the menu featured as its very first item “koshiodai/こしょう鯛/Peppered Seabream (litteral translation!)” sashimi.
I asked Toshiharu where he found the fish and he had a hard time evading my question. I suspect he caught it himself in Suruga Bay or acquired it in a market I know he patronizes!
The sashimi was not as soft as most as that of seabream but proved a great combination of fine taste and bite!

Amitake Oroshi daikon Ae/アミ茸下ろし大根和え/Jersey cow mushroom-suillus bovinus served with freshly grated daikon.

The above dish will endear vegetarians! Actually, if you have such a priority talk to the Chef and he will help you!

Tebasaki to yasai no kuriimu shityu/手羽先と野菜クリームシチュー/Chicken wings and Vegetables Cream Stew

Now, the above should please Westerners especially on a cold night! Very typical Japanese Izakaya offering in spite of its obvious Western inspiration!

Kaki fuwafuwa mushi/牡蠣ふわふわ蒸し/Steamed oysters with a light sauce served with grated wasabi.

The above is more typical of the Japanese treats concocted by Toshiharu! A discovery for oyster lovers!

An Izakaya Classic: Yurine to ebi kakiage/ユリ根と海老かき揚げ/Deep-fried lily bulb and shrimps!

When it comes to kakiage and tempura tha Japanese are simply the best!
Have you ever tried yurine/ユリ根/lily bulbs? A must!

Iro Iro Na Potato Furai/色々なポテトフライ/Varied fried potatoes

Another Izakaya classic! Three types of tubers: Thick Sweet Potato Chips, boiled and lightly fried potatoes and again boiled and lightly fried satoimo/里芋/taro!
A true delicacy for vegans and vegerarians!

And to think we only scratched the menu…

VILLA D’EST QUISINE
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 3-10-19
Tel.: 054-251-4763
Business hours: 17:00~24:00
Closed on Thursdays
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)
Smoking allowed

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For Better Diners: SUBWAY in Shizuoka City!

November 22, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly, attentive and efficient
Facilities: Functional and very clean. Very clean washroom.
Prices:reasonable
Strong Points: Fresh vegetables, local whenever possible. No pervasive smells (oil, etc…).Well-balanced healthy sandwiches

I remember my good friend Patrick telling me that there are good fast food restaurants and “less good ones”!
Fast food, when good enough, is much appreciated when in a hurry, and the more for it if it is reasonably healthy!

SUBWAY has many diners in Shizuoka and all over the country and abroad, but the one which opened very recently just right of the north exit of the Shizuoka JR Railway Station is a winner!

I do not make a habit of patronizing diners (I will not cite names…) but I was happy to discover the place yesterday much in a hurry as I was for lunch!

All signs and menus are bilingual (no mistakes!), a sign of good business sense.
The above board advertizes the fact that one variety of sandwich is offered at a discount price every day! Another good way to have customers sample everything!

You do not have to be inside to check the menu and decide your order!

And they use fresh local lettuce!

Even at 2:00 p.m. the place was busy but everything went smoothly and more quietly than expected!

Transparency is always appreciated!

Efficient and quick service.

Good hygiene!
The staff will always ask you if there are vegetables you do not like.
The sandwiches are made entirely in front of you!
Incidentally, you can choose from 4 types of bread, as they are or toasted on order!

I noticed many businessmen and well-heeled travelers, always a good sign.
You can either eat onsite inside or under a parasol outside, or buy a take-out order.

I ordered Cheese Bulgorgi Sandwich with Homard Lobster Bisque Soup!

Another good mark for hygiene!

My Bisque soup!

I must admit I was favorably surprised by this fast food rendition of a French delicacy!

My sandwich!
Very appetizing!
Note that the bread used in Japan by Subway is always comparatively soft but certainly not soggy!

I wish all diners could take note!
By the way, their fried potatoes are oven-cooked, which means no pervasive oil smells!

Definitely a model for the genre!

SUBWAY
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka JR Railway Station, outside left out of north Exit, or right of the entry outside.
Business hours: 07:00~22:00 (Monday~Friday), 10~22:00 (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking inside!

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French Pastry: “Splendeur by Bernard Heberle at Abondance Patisserie in Hamamatsu City!

November 20, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

My good friend, Bernard Heberle, the owner/chef of Abondance Patisserie in Hamamatsu City has recently been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture (almost 4,000,000 souls) by the biggest Food Blog Community in Japan, namely Tabelog!

Not only he is a first-class Patissier, but he also makes use of local products whenever possible, especially eggs, milk and fresh fruit!

He was kind enough to send me his latest creation with the following comments in French:
“Voici le dernier nouveau.
Splendeur. À la base de noisette croquante sur un mousseux aux fèves de Tonga. Avec un biscuit dit “Dauphinois”
Au plaisir.”
“Here is my new creation/
Splendeur/Splendor. With a crakling almond base on a mousse made with Tonga beans atop a biscuit called “Dauphinois”.
Best regards!”
He forgot to mention the cute little chocolate macaron and the golden leaves!

ABONDANCE
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
HOMEPAGE

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Healthy French Gastronomy in Shizuoka City: Le Comptoir de Bios-s by Bio Farm Matsuki!

November 17, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A palette of Shizuoka Prefecture Products! Great use of organic vegetables and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy!

When Fujinomiya City-based Bio Farm Matsuki decided to open their new restaurant in Shizuoka City on the 2nd of November they certainly did a great favor to its inhabitants!
Not only did they adorn the City with a new and elegant venue at very reasonable prices, but they also and mainly offered health to their customers through first-class fresh products from Shizuoka Prefecture, and this in a completely non-smoking space!
But their greatest quality is that they are the newest establishment proving that there is a true Shizuoka Gastronomy in Japan!

Smiling and so kind staff!
Le Comptoir is located very near Shizuoka JR Station in an increasingly fashionable and well-lighted area of the City just behind the former abode of the last Tokugawa Shogun.

The design is very reminiscent of France with a large counter and high stools…

and a large blackboard with the recommendations of the day!

As you enter have a good look at the organic vegetable cookies…

and a few organic vegetables from Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City you will be tempted to cook back home!

Simple, warm and elegant settings at tables from which you can peek outside through large bay windows!

I finally found the time to pay them my first visit for lunch today and I was gratified to discover they served wine by the glass even at lunch time!

I chose the chicken main lunch set from a very reasonably priced menu which came with corn potage first.
Incidentally all vegetables are organic and are grown organically at Bio Farm Matsuki in Fujinomiya City!

Such an appetizing and healthy dish!

Asahi Doori chicken from Fuji City sauteed with Champagne vinegar!

Splendid salad consisting of cute greens and…

Red Moon potatoes and onion!

The lunch course also included bread or rice but I had to order the dessert of the day: Carrot ice cream! So soft and delicious! Could be served at any time of a large repast!

And coffee served as it should be with real cream and sugar!

Dinner report coming very soon!

Le Comptoir de Bio-s by Bio Farm Matsuki
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya machi, 12-8, Sankousha Bldg, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-221-5250
Business hours: 11:30~15:00 (Last orders 14:00), 17:00~23:00 (Last orders 22:00)
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Vegetables Gastronomy at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City (November 2011)!

November 15, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean, Beautiful washroom
Prices: reasonable
Specialties: Vegan and vegetarian Cuisine, Izakaya gastronomy, local products, oden. Good list of sake, shochu. Wines also available.

If your first interest is vegetables, especially local, and your second interest Shizuoka, there is only one place you may visit: Yasaitei!
(Just a warning for the non-smokers, come early at 5:30 or rent the whole place for a party!)
The whole lady staff in traditional dress will kindly prepare and serve you vegetables in all manners and according to your priorities, be they vegan, vegetarian or omnivore!
To help me convince you here is a photography and explanation report I took last night in the company of a friend! I kept it on purpose to vegetables only (incidentally I’m an omnivore but I do appreciate any priority!)!

A light snack is always brought with your first drink. Both of us had shochu, a vegan drink par excellence!
The light appetizers consisted of “o-hitashi”, a very simple and healthy way to prepare small vegetables typical of Japanese gastronomy.
Make sure to tell you do not want the katsuobushi if you are vegetarian!
As for dashi, if you do not want anything cooked in fish-based dashi, just tell the ladies beforehand and they will adapt accordingly!

For a closer view of the “o-hitashi”!

My friend had a similar offering with her shochu!

Can you see the tofu karaage?

for the two vegetable main dishes of the night we first asked the Chef, Ms. Aki Suzuki/鈴木朋さん to concoct us a “European-style” salad with her own olive oil dressing!

Can you see the golden sesame seeds for extra taste?

Healthy potato salad to help satisfy your hunger!

Now, what are these?
“Mukago”, a truly seasonal vegetable delicacy!
These are the aerial seeds (no flowers) growing directly on the vines of Yama Imo/Japanese yams!
You can eat them steamed, stir-fried, deep-fried or stewed!
The spoon to give you an idea of the size is a coffee spoon!

As for the second main vegetable dish we asked for the specialty of the house, Vegetables Sashimi (vegans, rejoice!)!

For a closer view!
Let me show it again from different angles to discover the design!

Aerial view!

Red onion, daikon, tomato, ice plant!

Myoga ginger, red onion.
Cucumber, shiso/perilla, tomato.
Carrot, radish, celery, daikon.

Radish, carrot, cucumber, myoga ginger.
Ice plant, celery, daikon, shiso, red onion.

To be followed…

YASAITEI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 14 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
Individual orders (carte9 welcome
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Smoking allowed

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hana No Mai Brewery-Junmai Shiboritate Fuyu Gentei (Genshu)

November 14, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hana no Mai in Hamamatsu City (formerly Hamakita City) is the largest Sake Brewery In Shizuoka Prefecture although still a medium-sized one by Japanese standards.
They do export quite a lot to the US.

Every year in Autumn when they start putting out new sake they come up with a couple of gentei (limited editions) to celebrate the beginning of the brewing!

On top of local water, most of their sake are made entirely with Shizuoka Prefecture ingredients, that is, their own sake rice and yeasts!

Rice: Shizuoka-grown Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast: own yeast
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees (genshu)
Bottled on October 28th, 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Strong and fruity: pineapple, pears. Alcohol.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack backed up with junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Very fruity and slightly dry.
Pears, liquorice, chestnuts.
Lingers for a while warming up the palate.
Pleasant and easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Disappears on a dry note with more chestnuts and mandarines.
Changes little with food, although gets drier with dry mandarines and pears.
Dry mandarines tend to take over after a cup or two.

Overall: In spite of the high alcohol contents it is a very pleasant and complex sake.
The same high alcohol contents make it fit to drink with food.
A slightly unusual sake for Hana No Mai Brewery which tends to concoct brews for a younger generation, especially ladies. That could explain its limited edition status!

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Gastronomic Izakaya: Autumnal Dinner at UZU in Shizuoka City!

November 13, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

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Service: Excellent and very friendly. Very Japanese atmosphere.
Facilities: good washroom facilities. Great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong points: Splendid use of local vegetables, meat and seafood! Great sake from Shizuoka and Japan Great Shochu. Home-made umeshu.

Kenya Yoshimura/吉村健也, the owner-chef of Uzu in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, although it is celebrated as one of true exponents of Shizuoka Gastronomy, has always averred that his establishment will be first and always an izakaya!

In Shizuoka City this is a fine line which is easily crossed over and over by many establishments, whatever the genre, in a rare region of Japan where almost all ingredients are available all year round!
It is Paul Bocuse who said, “There are no great chefs, only great ingredients!”. A bit simplistic, although it could be very well the best way to describe gastronomy in this Prefecture!

Kan Sawara Aburi/寒鰆炙り/Seared “Cold Weather” Spanish mackerel

To put it briefly, it had become grand time to pay a visit to Uzu in Shizuoka City and check what seasonal fares were on offer!

Spanish mackerels come back in reduced numbers through the Suruga Bay in Autumn and they are best appreciated seared on the skin and served in fairly thick and tender sashimi!
Kenya exclusively uses wasabi roots from a single producer up the Abe River/安倍川　in Umegashima/梅ヶ島. He added that he uses only medium-sized roots for best taste!

Take your time before choosing your drink and do not hesitate to ask for advice!
I chose a beautifully strong Ginjyou Genshu by Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe/Fujieda City!

Always served in glassware or earthenware created by local artists!

I always order the seasonal “goro goro” salad mainly consisting of local organic vegetables lightly sauteed beforehand before being seasoned into a magnificent salad. Enough to feed a vegetarian!
Can you see the chestnuts in front cooked whole with their crispy “skins”. A discovery!

For another view!
Bear in mind that this is a very limited offering you had better order in advance on a busy night!

Uzu is one one of the few establishments in Shizuoka to offer Mokomodake/もこもだけ/Manchurian Wild Rice whose swollen crisp white stems are edible in many manners!

In season Kenya simply serves them grilled with mayonnaise!

Another great treat for vegetarians!

Last for the night we ordered a truly extravagant and rare delicacy only found in Shizuoka!
Grilled thigh of Amagi Shamo Chicken/天城軍鶏 exclusively bred by Mr. Horie/堀江さん in Izu Peninsula and served with a fresh wasabi dressing!
This is arguably the best chicken in Japan and it certainly tastes more like game than anything else!

To be followed…

UZU
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking on Sundays!

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Italian Gastronomy: Soloio in Shizuoka City! (The sequel!)

November 12, 2011 dragonlife 2 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!

Well, one or two visits in a good new restaurant are never enough, especially when they tell you they have decided to ban all smoking for the first 4 hours every day! Everybody should now be happy to visit this remarkable addition to the Shizuoka Gastronomic World!

Soloio is simply the name of an excellent wine concocted in Toscana, Italy!

Like many good Toscana wines it was made with Merlot grapes!

As I mentioned before Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 is a master of risotto!
You don’t need to check the menu. If you have a special request, just ask!
This time I asked him to concoct me a risotto with mussels!

I know a lot of people who would fly all the way from Belgium (and Italy!) to savor it!

My companion of the day had to ask for her own!

Home-made sausages and fresh seasonal chestnuts risotto. A true Autumnal delicay!

Now, if you like the true taste of fish ask for the carpaccio of the day!

Madai/真鯛/true Seabream freshly caught in Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture!

We did sample other dishes last night which I have already described, so let’s see what’s on offer for dessert:

Tiramisu!

Elegant!

Perfumed with almaretto, a true beauty!

Semifreddo yoghurt dessert!

Once again the little details that make the difference!

Definitely a dessert for a lady, but I did appreciate it!

I still have to check two more risottos, the fish and the meat, so expect another article soon! LOL

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

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Hatsukame Nama Ginjyo

November 11, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Japanese breweries all over Japan sell their brews in small bottles containing only 300ml/cc of their sake, which makes it very easy to transport, and although ml for ml it is more expensive it means you do not have to spend too much money at once and at the same time allows you to finish the bottle quickly, especially if you drink it on your own! Moreover, it helps you taste more nectasr of the same brewery. The only problem is that breweries will put out only 3 or 4 varieties in such small bottles!

The labels of Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe (recently part of Fujieda City) are popular with collectors as their designs are simple, retro and artistic!
This particular brand being “nama/生/unpasteurised means you have to drink it up quickly. Therefore this small bottle is most practical!

Hatsukame Brewery-Hatsukame Nama Ginjyou
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on August 8th, 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Strong and fruity: banana, nuts, faint oranges and notes of pineapple
Body: Fluid
Taste: Softer attack than expected.
Starts sweetish to quickly end up very dry.
Fruity: oranges, almonds. Banana appears later with very dry oranges.
Complex. Changes so quickly inside palate.
Lingers only for a little while.
Very dry coffee beans pick out later backed up by more dry almonds.
Changes very little with food.

Overall: A very complex sake with ever-changing facets.
The fact it is a “nama” does come very much in play.
Beautiful sake on its own although obviously conceived to marry well with any food.
Could be happily used with strong food with cheese coming to mind!

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