Tag Archives: Asian

Cuttle Fish, 烏賊, 美食, 観光, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine, Spanish Gastronomy, Spanish Restaurant, Spear squid, squid, Tourism, 槍烏賊

Japanese Cuttlefish/Squids Species 1: Spear Squid-Yari Ika-槍烏賊

April 9, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Cuttlefish or squids are eaten almost all the world as they seem to inhabit the whole planet! They are the favourite food of many big fish such as tuna, whales and birds. Although humans contribute to dwindling stocks, they will never consume the same amount as its natural predators.

The Japanese call them Ika/烏賊, roughly meaning crow shellfish/cephalopods.

This is the start of a long series. I do hope you like them, otherwise you are in for a long haul!LOL

Yari Ika Sashimi Salad!

Yari Ika/槍烏賊, or Spear Squid, are also known under the names of Sashiika, Sayaika, Shyakuhachi, Tsutsuika or Sayanaga.
In Japan they are mainly caught in Winter and Spring off the shores of Aomori, Hokkaido, Ibaragi, Mie, Aichi and Yamaguchi Prefectures. Suruga Bay in Shizuoka Prefecture is replete with many varieties.
Females are slightly more rounded than the males.
They are either caught with nets or lines.
Their flesh is comparatively thin, but soft and sweet. They are among the most popular in Japan.
The best specimens are the ones caught by line. Buy them live whenever possible.

They make for beautiful sushi with the body and tentacles (geso/ゲソ) served separately.
They can ordered seasoned with salt and lemon juice, or with tare sauce!
The best sushi restaurants will serve them sashimi or sushi with two different types of soy sauce.

Cooked Japanese style they are simple and succulent, grilled served with soy sauce!

Do try them stuffed, Japanese style!

Or Spanish style!

Needless to say, they are popular in local Italian Restaurants!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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, Edamame, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Spanish Gastronomy

Japanese or Spanish Gastronomy? Edamame Spanish Omelette!

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 7 Comments

Edamame/枝豆 seem to become ever more popular throughout the world.
It is ironic that common soy beans were not Japanese originally to later become a Japanese specialty in its unripe shape!
Everyone knows about Spanish omelettes. Here is a simple recipe combining Spanish and Japanese Cuisines that I’m sure everyone will be able to expand on:

Edamame Spanish Omelette!

INGREDIENTS: For a 20cm-diameter frypan

-Potatoes: 3 medium
-Onion: half 1 medium/thinly sliced
-Eggs: 3
-Salt: 1 teaspoon or as appropriate
-Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
-Edamame: 100 g (beans only)
-Optional: pepper and spices of your liking

RECIPE:

-Boil the edamame enough to be able to peel the beans easily.

-Peel potatoes. Cut lengthwise in 4 portions and cut each portion in about 3cm thick strips. Cut strips into 3 cm long pieces. Wash rapidly and drain.

-Pour oil in a frypan. Add salt (imporatnt point) first. Throw in potatoes and fry for a short while until potato pieces are completely coated with oil.

-Reduce fire to medium low. Cover with glass lid. Cook/simmer for 10 minutes.
Turn over from time to time to evenly cook potatoes. Avoid “burning” them. Once the potatoes have become translucent (if 10 minutes have not elapsed, stop cooking!), switch off fire and pour excess oil in a small bowl.

-Beat the eggs in a bowl and season according to preference. No need for more salt!

-Throw the edamame and sliced onion into the frypan containing the potatoes. Add the oil back.

-Turn the frypan around to coat all the vegetables with the ol. Cook over a small fire for about 5 minutes. Turn over from time to time for even cooking. Avoid “burning” the vegetables.

-Season the vegetables according to preference. No need for more salt!

-Add the beaten eggs evenly. Fry, turning over from time to time.
If you want to cook only on one side keep frying until the omelette is ready.
If you want to cook on bothe sides, get a plate ready in your other hand and turn the omelette onto the plate and let it slide again into the frypan. Repeat operation 2 or 3 times if necessary.

-Check by pressing a finger on the middle of the omelette. It shouldn’t sink.

-Serve on a large plate as it is or cut to size.

-Serve with a green salad and white wine!

OPTIONS:

I also use string beans or broad beans in season!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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:

美食, Desserts, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (8): Baked Mango Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

I have been recently asked a lot of questions, notably by Sissi at Withe a Glass about Japanese-style cheese cakes. Incidentally I had never heard of cheese cakes before I came to Japan 36 years ago. After investigation, cheese cakes have been around the world for quite a long time and developped into many varieties. Among them, the Japanese style seems to have acquired a lot of popularity, to the point that many customers expect them to be on offer in Japanese Izakayas abroad!
I decided it was about time to re-publish a series of them!

Here is a baked fruit cake recipe with mango that you can replace with othe rsoft fruit:
Keep in mind this is the basic recipe. Obviously you can add for taste all kinds of liqueurs!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18 cm diameter mold (12 inches)

-Cream cheese: 250 g
-Sugar: 80 g
-Frozen mango: 100 g
-Eggs: 3 large
-Plain yoghurt (Before drainage. Sieve it through a coffe drip paper filter): 500 g
-Cornstarch: 40 g
-Chocolate chips cookies: 150 g
-Margarine: 70 g

RECIPE:

– Bring back cream cheese to room temperature. Drain water from yoghurt.

-Heat the margarine for 30 seconds in the microwave at 600 Watts.

-Drop the chocolate chips cookies in a food processor and break them up. Add the margarine and mix.

-Spread the cookies mixture over the bottom of the mold. Use a mold with a bottom that can be lifted up, or line th mold with baking paper (oil it a bit then). Leave the mold inside the refrigerator.

-Drop in a (cleaned) processor the cream cheese, sugar, frozen mango, eggs (and liqueurs or other options) and mix well.

-Pour the mixture into a bowl, Add the drained yoghurt and mix with a hand whisker.

-Add the cornsrach and mix well.

-Pour the cheesecake into the mold over the biscuit mixture.

-Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. lower temperature to 180 degrees Celsius and bake for 50~55 minutes.

-Cool down the cake completely before unmolding it.

-Easy, ain’t it?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, Dessert, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Jam, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (7): Baked Tofu Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

BAKED-TOFU-CHEESE-CAKE

One way to lighten your cheese cake and invest into a new taste is to introduce tofu!

Here is a simple recipe that will please anyone worrying about unwanted calories:
Baked Tofu Cheese Cake!

INGREDIENTS:

-Cream Cheese (Philadelphia): 230 g
-Tofu (kinu tofu): 200g (before pressing water out)
-Sugar: 70g (of your choice)
-Eggs: 2
-Vanilla bean pod: 1 (small) (if not available use vanilla essence)
-Soy milk: a little
-Flour: 2 tablespoons (flour of any kind is fine)
-Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
-Biscuits (crushed to form a solid base under the cheese cake/optional)

RECIPE:

-Line the bottom of a oven cake mold with a layer of crushed biscuit.
You may do without it but it will help absorb excess water from tofu.

-Soften cream cheese to room temperature (you may warm it a bit inside a microwave oven) and mix with sugar.

-Once the cheese and sugar misture has become smooth, add the tofu by crushing it between your palms, addd the whole eggs and mix well with an eletric whisker until you obtain a smooth mixture.

-Cut the vanilla bean lengthwise and extract the inside (or use vanilla essence), mix it with some soy milk and add to the mixture. Mix well.

-The last three steps may be done with a food processor, but mixing all ingredients one by one give you a “right feel”!

-Pour the mixture inside the mold over the biscuit layer and flatten the surface with a spatula.

-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Bake for 50 minutes or until you have obtained the right colour and a raising mound in the middle.

-If the colour even then is too white, raise temperature to 200 degrees Celsius and bake for 10 more minutes.

-Let cake completely cool down.
Only then may you take it out of its mold and leave it inside the refrigerator overnight before eating it.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Dessert, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (6): Baked Matcha (Green Tea) Cheese cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

MATCHA-CHEESECAKE

Here is a Shizuoka recipe with matcha!
Shizuoka Prefecture, where I live, produces no less than 45% of the national crop of green tea. You can imagine the quality of green tea consumed in homes in our Prefecture!
Matcha, high quality green tea powder has increasingly become popular in cooking not only in Japan, but abroad.
It does make for a beautiful combination with cheese cakes!

INGREDIENTS:

-Cream Cheese (Philadelphia style): 250 g
-Sugar: 90 g
-Eggs: 2
-Fresh cream: 100 ml/half a cup
-Cornstarch: 1 large tablespoon
-Matcha: 1 and a half large tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Place a sheet of cooking paper inside the cake mold
Bring the cream cheese to room temperature

-Mix softened cream cheese with sugar and mix with a hand mixer. Next add eggs, one at a tim e and mix well.

-Add fresh cream and mix well.
Mix cornstarch and matcha, then sprinkle the mixture in a “rain” over the cheese cake mixture and mix.
Pour the mixture into baking mold.

-Cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 40~50 minutes.
Atfer having cooled the cake completely leave in refrigerator to chill probably before serving.

Easy, isn’t it?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, Dessert, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Jaanese Cheese Cake (5): Rare Blueberry Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

BLUEBERRY-RARE-CHEESECAKE

Here is another recipe for the summer:

INGREDIENTS: For an 18 cm diameter mold
Cheese cake
-Cream Cheese (Philadelpia type): 250 g
-Sugar: 80 g
-Eggs: 2 medium-sized
-Fresh Cream: 200 ml
-Lemon Juice: 1 large Tablespoon
レモン汁大さじ１
-Flour: 3 large Tablespoons
-Blueberries (frozen): 130 g
-Biscuits: 100 g
-Butter: 50 g

Sauce:
-Blueberries (Frozen): 130 g
-Sugar: 50 g
-Lemon Juice: 2 small teaspoons

RECIPE:
-Drop biscuits in a food processor and process until you obtain fine crumbs. Add melted butter and process.

-Place baking paper inside mold. Pour biscuits mix in and spread evenly. Leave inside fridge until further use.

-Clean the food processor. Drop in the cream cheese, sugar, eggs, fresh cream, lemon juice and flour. Process one at a time until mixture is smooth before dropping in the next ingredient.

-Transfer the mixture into a separate bowl. Add three fourths of the frozen blueberries. Mix them in carefully so as not to break them.

-Pour the cheese cake mixture directly onto the biscuit base. Place remaining blueberries on top. Cook in bain-marie at 170 degrees Celsius for 60 minutes.

-Leave cake inside the refrigerator after having completely cooled down.

-Blue berry sauce:
Drop blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a cooking recipient.
Cover with cellophane paper and cook inside a microwave oven at 500~600 W fro 3~4 minutes. Take out and stir for a while. Let cool completely and leave inside refrigerator.

-Serve the cheese cake chilled with a good dose of chilled sauce.

NOTE:
When you add blueberries to cheese cake mixture, do not overmix, otherwise the whole thing will turned blue!
Best served when chilled.
Think about about extra decoration for better efffect (mint leaves, etc…)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, Dessert, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (4): Baked Blueberry Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

BAKED-BLUEBERRY-CHEESE-CAKE

Here is a very popular recipe in Japan:

INGREDIENTS: For a 15 cm wide mold
-Cream Cheese (Philadelphia style): 200 g
-Sugar: 4~5 large tablespoons
-Eggs: 2
-All-purpose flour: 3 large tablespoons
-Fresh cream: 100 ml
-Lemon juice: 1 large tablespoon
-Blueberries (frozen): 120 g

RECIPE:
-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Place baking paper inside mold.

-In a larg bowl drop cream cheese. Add sugar, eggs, flour, fresh cream in that order and mix well one by one. Last add lemon juice and mix well.

-Drop bluberries in and quickly mix. Pour cheese cake mixture into mold and bake for 40~50 minutes.

NOTES:
-You could use an 18 cm wide mold, but it will take less time to bake.
You may use a square mold to allow you to cut the cake into “sticks” for a different presentation.
Above picture shows a cake to which 60 g of crushed Graham Crackers mixed with 15 g of butter to provide a more solid base!

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美食, Desserts, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese cake (3): Japanese Mango and Rare Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

MANGO-CHEESE-1

The Japanese make a distinction between two kinds of cheese cakes:
-Just “cheese cake” means it has been baked
-“Rare Cheese cake” means that the cake is not cooked.

INGREDIENTS: For 4 servings (18×9 cm pound cake mold)

-Cream cheese (Philadelphia): 150 g
-Lemon juice: 1 large Tablespoon
-Sugar: 45 g
-Plain yoghurt: 150 g
-White wine: 3 large tablespoons
-Gelatin powder or agar agar powder: 5 g
-Fresh cream: 100 ml (half a cup)
-Rum: 1 large tablespoon
-Cake margarine: 30 g
-Coconuts sable biscuits: 60 g
-Allspice: half a teaspoon
-Dried mango: 3~4 slices
-Fresh or canned mango: 4 cubes
-Green pistachio: 4

RECIPE:

MANGO-RARE-CHEESE-2

Place cooking paper inside a pound cake mold.
Mix crushed coconuts sable biscuits, margarine and allspice.
Spread equally on bottom of the mold.
Leave inside refrigerator.

MANGO-CHEESE-3

Cut dried mango into small pieces and season with rum.

MANGO-RARE-CHEESE-4

In a separate small bowl/deep plate pour in wine. Then (the other round will result in failure!) sprinkle with gelatin powder and mix until smooth.

MANGO-RARE-CHEESE-5

Soften cream cheese in a microwave oven for about 30 seconds. Add lemon juice, sugar and yoghurt. Mix well until smooth.

MANGO-CHEESE-6

Add wine and gelatin to cheese cake mixture and mix well, taking care not to make bubbles!

MANGO-RARE-CHEESE-7

In a separate bowl, whisk fresh cream up to 7/10 solidity (too solid is not welcome!) . It should still be bubbly. Add a small part to cheese cake mixture and mix well. Add rest of fresh cream and mix carefully, taking care not tobreak bubbles.

MANGO-CHEESE-8

Add rum-soaked dried mango to cheese cake mixture. Mix just enough for uniformity.
Pour the lot into mold and leave insid eefrigerator until it has completely solidified.

MANGO-CHEESE-9

Decorate with whipped cream, pistachio and mango cube before cutting and serving!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, Desserts, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (2): Soft Peach and Cheese Cake

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-1

Here is a more “Western” version:

INGREDIENTS:

-Cream Cheese: 250g
CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-9
This is the Cream Cheese most used in Japan. -Fresh cream: 100~130 ml according to preferences
-Canned white peaches: 1 can
-Sugar: 40~50 g
-Canned syrup: 35 g (from the peaches can!)
-Eggs: 2
-All-purpose flour: 30 g

RECIPE:

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-2

Take peaches out of the can. Keeping six slices apart for topping, crush the other peach slices with a fork.

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-3

Soften cream cheese inside microwave oven for 20~30 seconds. Strongly stir it inside a bowl until it becomes absolutely smooth.

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-4

Add sugar and syrup and stir well.
Make sure the whole is smooth and without any “solid” parts left.

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-5

First add egg one at a time and stir until completely smooth. Add flour and stir until completely smooth (important!).

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-6

Add fresh cream. Mix until smooth. Add crushed peaches. Mix until smooth.

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-7

As on the picture above, inside a baking mold/dish place lightly oiled (light vegetal oil) wide strips of kitchen paper. This will help takinf\g the cake out of the mold as it is very soft!
Pour in the whole cake mix and place peach sliced on top for decoration.

CREAM-CHEESE-PEACH-8

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes.
As all ovens have their own “character”, check the colour until you are satisfied.
Stab with a thin wooden toothpick. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready!

Note: The cake might be difficult to unmold as it is soft. Do it carefully.
If you have one, use a mold with a movable bottom.
It’s best to let it cool first and leave it in the refrigerator for a night before serving.
The above recipe is for the whole family. Adults can add peach liqueur and pistachio nuts as topping for a finishing touch!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Cakes, 美食, Desserts, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Cheese Cake (1): The Basic Recipe

April 8, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

CHEESE-CAKE-1

Here is the basic recipe as far as it goes in this very country.
It should provide a base from which one can create more sophisticated desserts!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18cm-diameter cake
-Cream cheese (Philadelphia style): 250 g
-Fresh cream: 1 cup/200 ml
-Eggs: 2
-Sugar: 80 g
-All purpose flour: 3 large tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 2 large tablespoons
For the base:
-Biscuits (or crackers of your choice): 90 g
-Unsalted butter: 40 g

RECIPE:
CHEESE-CAKE-2

-Put biscuits/crackers inside a tight seal vynil pouch. Close. Crush until fine.
Take crumbs out and mix with melted unsalted sugar.
Lay cooking paper inside a cake mold.
Spread crumbs on the bottom. Press with masher for uniformity and solidity.

-Soften cream cheese inside microwve oven for 30 seconds~1 minute.
Divide into 3 or 4 parts.

-In a mixer/blender drop eggs, sugar, lemon juice and flour. Mix well.

CHEESE-CAKE-3

Pour in fresh cream and then cream cheese little by little. Mix well. Stir with a spatula from time to time to help.

CHEESE-CAKE-4

-Pour the cheese cake mixture over the crumbs.
Preheat oven at 170 degrees and bake for 40~45 minutes.

CHEESE-CAKE-5

The colour should be a nice brown-orange. In Japan they say “kitsune iro/fox colour”!
Leave inside the mold.
Let it cool completely.
Leave inside the fridge at leat 12 hours. before unmolding and serving.

For better cutting, wipe the knife clean after every cut!

If the cake attains its colour before the cooking time has elapsed, cover with foil paper and put back into the oven.
In the case colour does come quickly enough raise the oven temperature.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Risotto, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Spring “Tidbits” at Soloio in Shizuoka City, Japan!

April 7, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Now, what was that superlative risotto made with?
Read below!

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!

Whenever I discover a new risotto concocted by Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦, who unofficially make the best in Shizuoka Prefecture, it seems to reminds me of Charles at Five Euro Food.. It might be time to challenge him to create a risotto for 5 euros!

I’ve already introduced Solio in Shizuoka many a time, but I go there regularly for a glass of wine and a single dish in between work I’ll just proceed directly to introduce the “tidbits” I recently enjoyed!

This salad was prepared with enormous lucolla/roquette leaves organically grown by one of the Chef’s neighbors!
In Shizuoka there is very little in using imported or mass-produced vegetables!

Beautiful lucolla leaves! Enormous, crispy and so delicious with a minimal dressing. Health in heaven!

The orange tomatoes are also grown in Shizuoka City!

Solio’s risottos are mostly seasonal.
The other day I asked if Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦 had any secrets for his famous recipes.
He simply enough replied:
“Any good chef can come up with truly great risottos if he uses good and fresh products. The only difference is the stock/stock soup!”
Great answer, but I will never know his secret stock!
Now, what was the above risotto made with?

Shizuoka-grown Na no Hana/Broccolini and Hokkaido “Kegani/毛蟹/Horsehair crab, Horse crab, supposedly the best crab in Japan!
Extravagant!

Now, how about this creamy one I had last night?

Sora mame/蚕豆/Broad beans and Talegio Cheese!

Takehiko asked me to try and come when the restaurant is not too busy as I tend to request dishes that are written on the official menu…

To be continued…

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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美食, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Fish Recipe: Curry-marinated Pike Mackerel/Aji No Kari Marine

April 7, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

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

Here is a simple way to eat it cold, a welcome notion for the coming summer!

Curry-marinated Pike Mackerel/Aji No Kari Marine!
INGREDIENTS: for 5 persons

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

RECIPE:

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

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

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

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

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

SUGGESTION:

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

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Cherry Shrimp, Crustaceans, 美食, 観光, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Sakura ebi, Sakura shrimp, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, Yui, 桜海老

Japanese Crustacean Species 7: Sakura Shrimp-Sakura Ebi-桜海老

April 7, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

My favorite, sakura ebi sashimi served with grated ginger!

SWakura Ebi Portal in Yui!

“Sakura Ebi” or Sakura shrimp/桜海老 is a vey small (maximum 5 cm) crustacean mostly caught in the Suruga Bay off the shores of Shizuoka Prefecture. Most of ships are anchored in Yui, formerly a city recently merged to Shizuoka City in Shimizu Ku, and also Oigawa Harbor in Yaizu City.

Sakura ebi ships leaving Yui before dusk!

The modern technique is to catch them in a net between two ships and next to syphon them out of the net for a neat separation from other seafood.
The shrimps are displayed in special net baskets according to long traditions before they are put on the market immediately for auction.
Many fishermen open their own sushi restaurants, bars and often serve their catches of the night until early in the afternoon before taking a well-earned sleep.

For people who prefer them as sushi, the gunkan style is the most appreciated!

Most French and Italian Restaurants in Shizuoka City and around will serve them in quiches!

Another popular way to eat them is of course as a tempura called kaki-age, either with fresh sakura ebi in season or dried ones.

The same in my bento!

Fishermen use to dry their catch for sale and export until the government had the great idea to run an expressway just along the harbour!

The shrimps are now dried along nearby Fujikawa River, creating large quaint rose expanses in the most useen for locations!

Next time you visit Shizuoka don’t forget to buy sakura ebi senbei as a souvenir!

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Cheese: Queso Fresco made by Jean Sabedora Garcia in Shizuoka City, Japan!

April 6, 2012 dragonlife 10 Comments

Who said they don’t make cheese in Japan?
Actually, a lot is made especially in the North, that is, in Hokkaido Island, and some had been made in the Eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture from cow’s milk for at least ten years, not withstanding the numerous smoked cheese made here and there…

And now, I discovered a cheese maker in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City who makes his cheese from cow’s milk!

Jean Sabedora Garcia (I will have to check the proper spelling in a soon to come interview!) is a Peruvian gentleman who makes his cheese the way they fabricate it in South America.

The cheese is made with pasteurized cow’s milk, food salt, potassium chloride and rennet, all clearly indicated on the package label.

The consumption date is also clearly indicated and it is double-packed for maximum food safety. It should be stored at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.

Queso fresco (Spanish), Queijo Fresco (Portuguese) or “Natural Cheese” (Japanese) is of a beautiful white color and very firm, making it easy to cut and serve.
It is quite similar to feta in concept, firmness and color but slightly more salted.
The aroma is very pleasant.
Surprisingly well-balanced and easy to eat.
Although made from cow’s milk, it tastes very much like a very young goat’s milk cheese.
Best appreciated on its own with high quality crackers, or in caprese style salad.
I had a little weakness for it toasted on home-made bread!
Really worth discovering!

Jean Sabodera Garcia
DEKASEGUI PRODUCTS-JF Shokuhin Kougyou
Shizuoka City, Shimizu ku, Minato Minami Cho, 1-11-1F
Tel.: 054-537-0374
Mobile Phone: 090-65953065

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Masu Ichi Brewery- The Last Bottle? Masu Ichi Dai Ginjyo

April 5, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Masu Ichi Brewery has not been making sake for the past year and will not ever as his owner/masterbrewer Denjirou Masui/増井伝次郎 just passed away at the age of 49 leaving no successor willing to take over the brewery founded in 1882.

Denjirou Masui

Denjirou was his brewer’s name given by his mentor Denbei kawamura, the godfather of Shizuoka Sake and the creator of the Shizuoka sake yeast. He was one of the only three brewers of the Shida School.
His sake is fast disappearing and this particular one is the first of a series of “last bottles” I’m scouring the Prefecture to get my hands on for posterity!
This is therefore the third bottle! (More coming!)

This is a Dai ginjyo, meaning the top premium variety blended with pure rice alcohol!

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Light, elegant and fruity. Melon, pineapple, banana.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Oranges, melon, pineapple.
Disappears quickly.
Very elegant in spite of its dryness.
Drinks very easily.
Oranges asserting themselves with the second sip.
Varies little with food with a drier note.

Overall: Very elegant sake!
Best appreciated on its own, as food tends to interfere with it more than marrying with it. Nevertheless would make for an extravagant aperitif and would enhance the taste of light vegetables such as white asparaguses!
Obviously a sake conceived for tasting!

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