Tag Archives: Bistros

レシピ, Bistro, Cafes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Dessert: Organic Apple Creme Brulee at Patina in Shizuoka City!

December 16, 2012 dragonlife 2 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. Interesting and reasonable wine and cider list.

Anyone with a sweet tooth do like its dessert but will enjoy them all the more when they are made with local products!

Today at Patina Cafe & Brasserie in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, I noticed an intriguing dessert on the menu of the day as I was ordering my usual cappucino!

Seasonal Creme brulee made with Kougyoku apples. Kougyoku/紅玉/Ruby apples are a Japanese variety renown for it red skin and sweet and sour balance in taste!

Now, let’s have a look at what’s inside that cute little pot!

That certainly beautiful and appetizing!

I just couldn’t wait to break that crispy layer of caramel!

But one thing at a time!
I first tasted a compote of the same apples.
Incidental these kougyoku/ruby apples are organically grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!
Their slightly tangy taste perfectly marries with the custard and caramel sauce!

Interestingly one the spoon had broken the caramel layer it didn’t sink into a soft liquid but cut through a cream with the perfect consistence, both soft and firm which allowed for a slow and delicious savoring of the cream together with a piece of the caramel!

The fact that the apples were first mashed before being incorporated to the cream explains the ability to spoon it without anything breaking or spilling away in spite of the very soft cream!

A little jewel!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, 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, 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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, 美食, 観光, 農業, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Terrines at Caravin in Shizuoka City!

December 5, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: very friendly if a bit shy.
Facilities and equipment: overall very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic French and European bistro gastronomy. Slow food. Excellent and reasonable
wine list.

Any French-style bistro ought to be judged on their terrine and/or pates for the simple reason it is their most popular comfort food as well as the reference test for the chef’s skills.
That alone would have me go time and time again to Caravin in Shizuoka City!

If you can’t read Japanese just ak what terrine or pate are on the menu as Chef Onoda is churning them out like nothing!
Here are some fine examples:

Now here is a terrine that not many chefs dare to tackle in Japan!
Pig ears and nose jelly terrine!

It is a very tasty dish, but maybe the Japanese are not always comfortable with pork jelly, although as a meal it is well-balanced with the vegetables served appetizingly served with it!

And it is not all jelly and fat!
Delicious!

I just loved vegetable terrines!
And Chef Onoda’s are simply beauties!

beautiful pattern and a well-balanced meal of it again!

Exquisitivly topped with tapenade!

Viewed from a more vertical angle!

Those succulent luccolla and shiitake mushrooms add so much with their different savors!

it is such gastronomic fun to dig in it a little at a time to reveal the contents!

Pate de campagne!
Actually it should be called Terrine de campagne!
THE French comfort food!

For a side view to reveal the bacon lining. Naturally served with soft Dijon mustard and cornichon!

Yummy pieces of foie gras!

I just love those whole black pepper seeds for extra zip!

Terrines are not all about meat and vegetables, but also a great dessert concept: Chocolate and Walnuts Terrine!

From another angle. The ice-cream makes for the perfect marriage!

Those crunchy walnuts proved to be a surprisingly loveable finish touch!

Convinced?

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Cafes, 美食, 観光, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Cappucino: “A Rabbit with a Moustache or with Doe Eyes?” at Patina in Shizuoka City!

December 4, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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. Interesting and reasonable wine and cider list.

This is the latest Cappucino created by Saori Chan/沙緒里ちゃん at Patina in Shizuoka City!
It could become another inspiration for my Swiss friend Sissi at With A Glass!

I had a real problem to come up with a name to describe this rabbit!

What would you say: A Moustache or doe eyes?
Mind you, I could have called it big flapping ears rabbit!

Now, who is that little heart for? LOL

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00=22:00 (last orders, 21:30
10:00~21:00 on Sundays (last orders, 20:30)
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, 牛肉, 美食, 観光, 農業, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French BBQ: Japanese “Nikomi” Hamburger Lunch at Brochette Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

December 4, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and great explanations
Equipment and facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb Washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great use of local meats and Vegetables. Very healthy BBQ and brochettes. Excellent reasonable wine list.

Brochette means “Kushiyaki/串焼き” in Japanese. One could say they mainly serve BBQ-style meat and vegetables on skewers for dinner. But it is not limited to that. They actually serve very reasonable full lunches!
I already have described their Japanese Hamburger Lunch in a previous post.
Here is another version of this hamburger lunch with a little twist: Japanese “Nikomi” Hamburger Lunch!
“Nikomi/煮込み” could be translated as “stewed/slowly cooked”.

Whenever you visit Brochette Restaurant, have a good look at the clearly described menus outside first!

“Jikasei Nikomi Hambaagu/自家製煮込みハンバーグ/Home-made stewed open hamburger”! the price is for the whole lunch (10 Euros).

Almost all the vegetables and meat are local!

Counter seats available if you want to keep away from the crowd as lunch time is very busy!

Bistro atmosphere!

Why do I always feel for a beer when eating hamburgers? LOL

Japanese “Nikomi” Hamburger Lunch!

Consomme soup and fresh salad.

French bread and premium olive oil.
You can choose plain rice instead.

The beautiful nikomi hamburger on a hot plate with its vegetables!

Plenty of vegetables!

The hamburger is topped with melting white cheese at the last moment!

Juicy and so tasty! A truly elegant hamburger my American friends would travel for!

Look forward to the dinner report! (I said that before… LOL)

FRENCH BBQ/BROCHETTE
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-Cho, 2-7-12, Takinami Bldg. 1F (along the Egawa Street)
Tel.: 054-252-1700
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 18:00~23:00
Reservations highly recommended
Parties welcome (reservation requested from 4 people)
Cards OK (for dinner only)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Boudin Blanc, 美食, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Pork, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Boudin Blanc at Patina in Shizuoka City!

November 27, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

As I said in my previous report Boudin Blanc is a delicacy dating back to the Middle Ages and is nowadays made with white meat ( as opposed to Boudin noir/Blood sausage) with pork or veal fat added. Some chefs use more or less flour or yeast to liaise the meat and make it easier to cut.

Patina in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, was offering Boudin Blanc Lunch in their weekly lunch set menus and I couldn’t resist again! At less than 10 Euros, it is a bargain!

Boudin Blanc is more of an Eastern and Central France specialty but a Bordeaux wine is fine for it!

A good start on a cold rainy day!

Hot gaspacho made with local vegetables!

The Boudin Blanc plate!
Is this really Japan!
And I already told I know of other places, but this is one of the tops!

Lady Chef kondoh’s recipe is different, but she favors pan frying her carefully home-made Boudin Blanc and serve them in a Dijon seed mustard sauce!

I wonder if one has ever heard the comment, “a Boudin blanc with a feminine touch”?

Plenty of fresh local greens for great balance!

Baked sweet potatoes make for a lovely touch!

You can choose between rice and grilled soft bread. No contest there!

Lady Chef Kondoh uses no flour or liaising agent in her Boudin Blanc. It might be more difficult to cut it cleanly but the result is a tender and so light sausage!
I had great difficulty eating it slowly… A beauty!
When lady chefs surpass their male colleagues….!?

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Bistro, Boudin Blanc, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Pork, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Boudin Blanc at Caravin in Shizuoka City!

November 26, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

I told you no longer ago I would have to visit Caravin in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City not before long!
Well, the other day I just couldn’t keep that Boudin Blanc out of my head and had to sample it again before I got mad!

Boudin Blanc is a delicacy dating back to the Middle Ages and is nowadays made with white meat ( as opposed to Boudin noir/Blood sausage) with pork or veal fat added.

It can be served in many ways. Chef Onoda’s preferred method is pan frying his home-made boudin blanc and serving it with the vegetables of the day.

You have to come to Japan to find Boudin Blanc presented as an artistic montage!

The Boudin Blanc is fried in light fond de veau/veal stock, jus de volaille/chicken broth and Dijon mustard and mounted on Shizuoka-grown organic Red Moon potatoes!

Enormous fresh shiitake mushrooms are also used for the support while a green touch is added with a long shishito green pepper!

Such a fine texture!
Did I say they were sublime?

True French bistro gastronomy in Japan!

And this is not the only place!

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro Gastronomy: Caravin Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

November 14, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

In Shizuoka we are extremely lucky as we can savor taste European food of any gastronomic level at comparatively reasonable prices, be it a high-class restaurant or a simple bistro. The choice is just mind-blogging when you consider this is only a medium-sized city in Japan!

Caravin is an unpretentious but very busy French bistro that serves food the slow way under Chef Masahiro Onoda/小野田正浩 who takes the pride in using Shizuoka Prefecture whenever feasible, which means most of the time!

When it comes to choose your order it is quite easy as it is written everywhere on the menu, the wall and even on a mirror!

You can either sit at the counter (my own preference!) or at one of the table and banquette (French style sofa) under all kinds of posters and decorations.

Their wine list is worth exploring and it is very reasonable!
I couldn’t help start with a white Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur Lie, a very popular one in Japan, actually!

I do plan to visit and write about the place but this first article should give you a good idea of what to expect!
First, Lyon-style salad with greens, bacon, terrine, chicken gizzards, croutons,…

… a beautiful poached egg!

The fine quiche Lorraine is exquisite and so light! A must for the ladies!

Caravin is a rare establishment which offers fried potatoes the Belgium way, the original and only way (don’t tell me anything about “French fries”!)!

Served with mustard and ground chili pepper!

And it was time for the second bottle for my friends and I with a very solid and fruity Cotes du Rhone, Domaine d’Andezon!

Caravin might be a bistro but they also serve extravagant classics such as this superb foie gras risotto!

Shizuoka seems to be a heaven for risotto and this particular sample with porcini is just so unbelievably reasonably-priced!

But if I had to choose one single reason to eat at Caravin it would be their Boudin Blanc!

Home-made Boudin Blanc (very soft soft white pork sausage) served with Le Puy lentils and enormous fresh shiitake!

There are desserts on the menu but this time I opted for a French cheese tray!

Can you guess what they are?

And served with properly toasted bread!

To be continued… (You can bet, and earlier than you think!)

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Cafes, Coffee, 美食, 観光, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

“Smiling Frog Cappucino”at Patina in Shizuoka City!

October 31, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Today I had another cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City because I’m steadily getting addicted to them, and also because I wanted to check a question asked by Sissi at “With A Glass”!