Tag Archives: Food

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/31): New Home Bento!

Due to our moving to a new home just completed the Missus simply had not the time to make a bento for me for nearly a month!
Thus this is my first bento made in our new home!

The Missus kept everything simple this time. She said more complicated affairs will still have to wait!
After having steamed she rice she mixed it with her own pickled Japanese pepper seeds/sanshou/山椒 and added a “kinpira” of carrots and burdock roots/gobou/牛蒡 she had prepared last night. It certainly made for simple and nice colors.

The “side box/dish” also came in simple colors and healthy balance!

She deep-fried (actually shallow-fried) “tontoro/soft pork” cut into rough strips, not with breadcrumbs, but with karaage crumbs which are a lot finer. She placed them on a bed of Shizuoka-grown celery (our Prefecture grows half of the total Japanese crop!) and added a touch of color and balance with lemon pieces for seasoning and sweet pearl tomatoes for taste and vitamins!

She finally added her own pickled cucumber (with black sesame seeds) and boiled black beans (bought in a market).

If she plans to concoct something more complicated in the future I’m not going to complain! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Tomatoes & Kabocha in Yaizu City: Ooba Garden

One cannot talk about a producer in a single article!
Actually it is a true pleasure to visit such farmers time and again! There is so much to learn from them!

Therefore I paid my second visit to Mr. Hiroyuki Ooba/大場弘之’s Garden in Yaizu City yesterday!

Mr. Ooba mainly grows tomatoes, especially a variety called Misora 64.
But like most farmers he also grows his own rice, cabbage and a few vegetables on top of his regular crops of iceplants in winter and tomatoes, the last two in greenhouses.

For almost 6 months every year tomatoes have to be selected and harvested almost every day.

According to the market demands tomatoes come into various sizes.

This is the most popular size, although my own preference would go for larger ones!

These yellow stickers are insects/pests traps. But one has to be on a constant lookout for civets, too!

Only two seedlings per pot set in pairs about 1 meter away from each other. Even so, it is a veritable jungle!

Loads of paring and cleaning to do everyday. Even so it all looks pretty clean!

Mr. Ooba’s father built those solid greenhouses!

Each plant has to be secured on poles and along lines!

A proof of a hard work day!

This year Mr. Ooba has decided to experiment with different varieties of kabocha! This one is called “Utsukiyaseakakuri/打木早生赤栗/Red Kuri squash in English, Potimarron in French.

This one is called “Yumemi”/夢味/grey-white squash.

Even among the seemingly common green kabocha there are many varieties. This one is called “Hakkori Ebisu”/はっこりえびす.

Mr. Ooba has set apart a small space to grow his own thin leeks!

And even grapes!

A general view of very healthy looking squash plant rows!

Too much water is detrimental to squash, so the soil is kept dry and free of pests with sheets of fabric.

The selected flowers an fruits will have to be hung on lines to preserve color and shape!

Once again a lot of paring has to be done as only the best flowers will be chosen!

A beautiful flower promising a great squash!

I will come again to have a good look at all those kabocha.
For the moment I was interested in acquiring tomatoes!
The scale above shows the various stages of ripeness!

I bought two cartons of these!
These Misora 64 have a great balance between acidity and sweetness, a great change from the usually sweet tomatoes in demand these days!

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

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

French Cuisine: Grill Kuramoto

Service:A bit shy but friendly
Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Interesting combination of French and Japanese bistro-style cuisine. Traditional tarts and cakes.
Entirely non-smoking!

Sometimes one wonders how you could define some restaurants in Japan as they very often tend to combine many genres at the same time.
Grill Kuramoto in busy Gofuku-Cho in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is a typical example!

Unusual for such an establishment it is located on a basement floor, although the stairs are welcoming!

I wish they could serve it on their menu! LOL

The interior concept is a bit unusual too.
If you wish to see chef/owner Tsuyoshi Kuramoto at work, you can sit at the semi-hemispherical counter looking over the kitchen.

Or you can sit at a cozy table, especially when in company. And don’t forget the establishment is entirely non-smoking!

You might need to keep some space for one of their desserts!

I went for lunch for my first visit and I must admit they do have set courses above the average.
The appetizer was carrot and sea urchin mousse with consomme jelly.

Can you see the sea urchin?
Mr. Kuramoto uses local products whenever possible, especially eggs and vegetables.

The second appetizer was a remarkable seafood and vegetable terrine.
The red eggs are flying fish roe.
Very light and tasty!

Typical French Bistro fare!

The main diush was definitely a Japanese bistro offering: “omu rasiu/rice omelette”!
If you sit at the counter you will be able to pick up Mr. Kuramoto’s tricks!

The omelette is perfectly cooked outside.

But the omelette is very light and almost runny under its firm outside.
The rice reminiscent of paella inside makes it a very interesting dish!

Creme brulee for dessert!

Creme brulee has become integral part of Japanese gastronomy these days, and this particular one is a proof ot the Japanese chefs’ mastery!

Real cream and real sugar with coffee (important)!
Will have to check their dinner soon!

Grill-Kuraramoto
420-0081 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-cho, 2-5-17
Tel.: 054-255-3090
Business hours: 11:30^14:00, 17:30~20:00
Closed on Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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

SHIZUOKA X CANNES 2011-Part 2

The cities of Shizuoka and Cannes in France (you know, the Cannes Film Festival!) have been sister cities for quite a while now.
The citizens of Shizuoka have been holding their own event every year in the middle of May in Shikencho Street in Aoi Ku in Shizuoka City.
This year Agrigraph joined the event as a great opportunity to introduce local farmers and their produce.
This year the event is held on May 14th and 15th as well as on the 21st and 22nd of May from 13:00 to 17:00 in Shichikencho. You still have tomorrow left! Do visit and I can guarantee you will discover quite a few things to your liking!

This time our stand concentrated on vegetables from Iwata City and sandwiches by Subway Company made with them!

Among the vegetables from that city featured organic lettuce, enormous luccola and small red daikon/radishes.
We also had some beautiful corn (that can be eaten raw. They are so sweet!) and various kinds of tomatoes!

Great sets for ridiculously low prices: 1 large lettuce + 1 enormous bunch of luccola, 1 bunch of small red daikon and 2 big corn ears for 980 yen. All top-class restaurants ingredients!

Three types of sandwiches by Subway Co.!

I chose the fresh vegetables and balsamico one!

Quite appetizing, isn’t it?

Nice bread!

Nice contents!

The event is being held again tomorrow on Aoba Koen/Aoba Park Street in Shizuoka City Aoi Ku from 12:00 to 17:00.
The Agrigraph stand is near the fountain bowl!
From what I saw today, tomorrow promises to be busy!

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

SHIZUOKA X CANNES 2011

a href=”https://shizuokagourmet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shizukan-1.jpg”>

I know this guy! LOL

The cities of Shizuoka and Cannes in France (you know, the Cannes Film Festival!) have been sister cities for quite a while now.
The citizens of Shizuoka have been holding their own event every year in the middle of May in Shikencho street in Aoi kU in Shizuoka City.
This year Agrigraph joined the event as a great opportunity to introduce local farmers and their produce.
This year the event is held on May 14th and 15th from 13:00 to 17:00 in Shichikencho. You still have tomorrow left! Do visit and I can garantee you will discover quite a few things to your liking!
Anyway I visited the event today and I hope this quick report will encourage you to have a good look tomorrow!

I actually visited the place twice before the start and later in the afternoon!

The Agrigraph staff busy organizing their stand!

This stand was designed especially to show and seel farmers’ produce!

Unpacking the goodies!

Red orange jam pamphlets!

Enormous zucchini harvested in the morning!

Beautiful turnips. The leaves and stems make for great soups and pickles!

Busy writing the boards!

Not only in Japanese, but also in French!

I came back later to see how things were going.
I found the Shizuoka Prefecture Agricultural High School busy selling their famous bread and cakes!

Busy cutting samples to taste!

I found some good friends like Matsukiya Wine Shop selling French wines!

There were all kinds of shops selling curios, wares, souvenirs and wahtnot!

Cooking ware from France!

<

Cute little things!

A bycicle taxi, Japanese version!

Back to the Agrigraph stand…

So much great food to try there!

I love these mixed sets. Quite a few of the vegetables were organic.

Sampling the farmers’ jams!

I know that the kid was after the little tomatoes!

See you tomorrow!

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

French Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural Products by Ms. Keiko Kubota at Gentil!

Ranking
Service: very professional
Facilities: Very clean, superb facilities.
Prices:~ Slightly expensive to expensive
Strong points: Beautiful and fresh ingredients presented and combined to perfection. Local ingredients whenever possible. Superb wine list. The best cheese trays in Japan! Everything thoroughly and kindly explained!

Map
no-smoking-logoNon-smoking at tables (bar’s smoke does not reach tables)!

Things have been moving recently at Gentil, The oldest French Restaurant in Shizuoka (founded in 1964!)!
The chef having had to leave due to his wife’s conditions, Ms. Keiko Kubota, the only Japanese Compagnon d’Honneur du Guilde des Fromagers (フランス熟成士の組合ギルドデフロマージュからコンパニオンドヌール), decided it was time to take things in her own hands. With the help of an able apprentice (the whole staff is feminine!) she has taken the reins of the kitchen to propose a very healthy and sophisticated gastronomy based on local products.
She is coming with all kinds of refreshing ideas I plan to report on in earnest.
Let’s start with the “quick” lunch I had the other day!

Have a look at the appetizers’ plate above before you read the explanations!

Kokabu/small turnip soup made with the whole vegetable inclusding its leaves.
This kokabu is grown by Mr. Muramatsu in Fujieda City!

Left: kochi/鯒/Sand Borer Flathead sashimi in carpaccio style and kasago/瘡魚/False kelpfish; Marbled rockfish in escabeche style.
The fish were both caught in Suruga Bay and the vegetables as well as those below were grown by Mr. Tanabe in Hamamatsu City!

Zucchini and cress roll, red daikon/koshin daikon/紅芯大根 over roasted ham from Mr. Kuwahara in Fujinomiya City. Actually the raw ham was purchased from Mr. Kuwahar before being processed by Mochizuki in Ikawa.
How about that for traceability!

This chicken called “Jidori/地鶏/ raised by Mr. Aoki in Fujinomiya City was first processed in Japanese-style “nanbanzuke” before being sauteed to perfection.

For a better look of the chicken and the fresh vegetables!

The whole was topped with thin slices of old Mimolette chesse for a superlative mariage of savors (don’t forget this THE PLACE for chees in the whole Prefecture if not in the whole country!)!

The dessert tray!

This sorbet was conceived with “Ibupiacce” roses grown in Shimada City!

Shizuoka Matcha pound Cake!

Panacotta made with coconuts milk and milk, sorbet made with Shizuoka-grown strawberries and a little “ai/for love” biscuit!

Ms. Kubota told me she expects me in June for experiments with cheese and local products!
You bet I will come!

Restaurant Gentil
Address:420-0031 Shizuoka Shi, Gofuku-cho, 2-9-1, Gennan Kairaku building, 2F
Tel.: 054-2547655 (Reservations advisable)
Fax: 054-2210509
Opening hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~last orders for meals at 21:30. Bar time 18:00~23:30. Closed on Mondays.
Credit cards OK
Homepage (Japanese)

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

Izakaya: VILLA D’EST QUISINE

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!

It seems ages since Toshiharu Matsuura opened his charmingly quaint izakaya, Villa D’Est Quisine, in Takajyo, Shizuoka City, when the area was not yet the famed gastronomic venue it has become since!

The whole place was conceived in Traditional Japanese style all with dark wood for a cozy meal, especially appreciated by ladies.

From the inside you don’t see the street hidden by greenery.

You can sit at the counter, tables or on the floor at a Japanese traditional low table.

View of the counter and kitchen from the table seat!

Mr. Matsuura will be glad to explain if you cannot read the hand-brushed menu!

Cute white wine decanter!

Tasty snacks (o-tooshi) coming with the first drink!

A favorite sake of mine, Morimoto Brewery from Kikugawa City!

Mr. Matsuura’s cuisine is a mixture of Japanese, ethnic and European creations, making for an interesting fusion-style style.
The above is fresh Spring vegetables and asparagus salad with Parmeggiano cheese.

Fried Spring Vegetables with Katsuo bushi/dry bonito flakes.

Another favorite sake of mine: Kaiun by Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City!

Mr. Matsuura’ specialty: maboodofu!

Sansai/Wild Mountain Vegetables tenpura!

Home-style yummy and crunchy!

For a closer view!

Sauteed “Jidori” Chicken from Fuji City!

Don’t worry, this is only the first article as I will visit it again to taste seasonal food!

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)

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

BBQ with Shizuoka Agricultural Products Under Mount Fuji!

Last Monday we were lucky and blessed with splendid weather before Typhoon No1 fell around our ears the next day!

Our merry band of gastronomes rode from Shizuoka City to Fujinomiya City getting nearer and nearer Mount Fuji!

We finally arrived at our destination, Bayern Meister Bier, run by Stephan Rager already busy preparing the BBQ in the space outside the Brewery.
Alright before I lose them for good let me imtroduce the true gastronomes of Shizuoka Prefecture who attended the event:

Mr. Yoshimura from Uzu Restaurant in Shizuoka City.
The leader of the band! Sorry, but I just couldn’t catch him alone during the whole day!

Mr. Shimura from Narusei tenpura Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Mr. Takashima from Takashima Sake Brewery in Numazu City.

Mr. Nakata from Hiro Sushi Sushi Restaurant in Kikugawa City.

Mr. Sano of Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City.

Mr. Tozaki (nice guy, actually!) from Hana Oto Chinese Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Mr. Sano from Kamoshibito Japanese Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Mr. Kuawahara from Yukai Co. in Fujinomita City.

Mr. & Mrs. Rager from Bayern Mesiter Bier in Fujinomiya City.

At any BBQ (in Japan) you expect beer and a lot of it!
What better place then to hold our BBQ at Bayern Meister Bier! Stephan Rager, the only German Beer masterbrewer owning and making beer in his own brewery in Japan founded his establishment 7 years ago.

Stephan’s Diploma!

One can visit the brewery any time of the year as it also includes a small restautrant and shop (it can be really cold in winter there!).

Of course the whole place, inside and outside can be rented for parties!

Stephan even grows his own hop for special limited brews!

The bier!

The three regular beers: Weissen, Prinz and Spezial (don’t worry, a more detailed interview is in the offing!)!

All the meat, beef, pork and chicken (all local!), and local vegetables were provide by Mr. Sano of Sanoman. Extravagant!

That’s the Man!

Fresh vegetables from Fujinomiya City.
Soon I will run articles on the incredible vegtables grown in that area!

Prime beef!

Not only Mr. Sano provided all the food but he spent most of his time cooking it!

Prime pork. Sorry for the blurry pictures, what with beer and the sun, I had a hard time focusing!

A novel way to draft black beer!

Sausages, of course!

The whole range (well, a small part) from Sanoman Co.!

Fresh liver!

A late arrival, Mr. Kunugi from Kunugi Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

A whole plate of sashimi of Fuji Rainbow Salmon Trout!

Yakitori!

While the yakitori grilled we took a pause for the very Japanese tradition of self-introctions (mine was the shortest!LOL)!

Ready to eat! With a little salt and pepper, nothing else, just perfect!

And then the start of the real Fujinomiya Yakisoba!

Sano San of Sanoman Co. busy at work again!

The real Fujinomiya Yakisoba for the true gastronomes only!

After the BBQ we visited Mr. Kuwahara’s Yukai Farm where truly extravagant pigs are bred in incredible surroundings!

Right under Mount Fuji which provides all the water to the farm!

Everyone had to comply to the strict hygiene rules and sterelize their footwear!

Although the pigs tend to herd together they benefit from more space than in any usual farm. And their sties are cleaned twice a day.
The pigs are taken away from other herds kept at a long distance to avoid any disease and the culling is done away from the farm by a specialized company or maximum quality and minimum stress.

Visitors must go upstairs to observe the pigs without causing any stress to the animals.

They are literally kept in an incredibly clean “house” naturally ventilated. Not only the water but also the air they breathe is pure!

As for their feed, even humans can safely eat it. I actually did (sweet corn!)!
The motto is: “Quality, not quantity”!
As for traceability, you just can’t beat them!

As the last stage of our day we visited “mangenton” delicatessen owned and run by Mr, Sano’s Sanoman Co.

They even have a restaurant for private parties!

An embarrasment of choice!

The sausages!

A very busy place, any tine of the day of the season! Just look at the number plates of the cars and you will be surprised!

They even have a TV screen to suggest you recipes!

Last but not least they sell their own smoked ham!
I don’t need to tell you what my next visit will be all about!

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

Yakisoba: Fujinomiya Yakisoba-The real one!

Fujinomiya City is famous all over Japan for the so-called B-Class Gourmet Fujinomiya Yakisoba.
Actually I have little liking for this “B-Class Gourmet/B-Kyu-Gourmet/B級グルメ” branding which has been invented by scoop-hungry TV channels in Japan with a total disregard for authenticity and true local gastronomy.
Well, at least some honest gastronomes are fighting hard to put things into their right place!
Yesterday I spent the whole day in Fujinomiya City as I was invited to a grand BBQ (article coming soon!) where a true Fujinomiya-style yakisoba was prepared with the best ingredients that could be found in Fujinomiya City!

The pork, the same as shown in above picture was provided by Sanoman Co/さの萬株式会社 which produces some of the best pork in Japan.
As for vegetables, good quality cabbage (especially in the Spring!) grown in Fujinomiya City is enough as it will contribute all the water you need!

Just a little good oil to fry the pork and the cabbage together. The pork will add all the necessary extra fat for a lighter fare!
Good salt and pepper only for first seasoning! The yakisoba are first put on top while more pork is added.

And naturally who else but Mr. Sano, President of Sanoman, would graciously volunteer to cook it all!?

Hot work, even for Mr. Sano!
Luckily the BBQ was held at Bayern Meister Bier run by Stephan Rager, the only German Brewmaster to run his own Brewery in Japan (article coming, too!).

The best yakisoba are not prepared with water, but with beer!
And Stephan added his own beer! Extravagant!
(A lot of picture taken for posterity!)

A good (not cheap common stuff!) yakisoba sauce chosen in person by Mr. Sano and here you are:
Healthy, tasty, simple and extravagant Fujinomiya Yakisoba!

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

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/30): Wasabi Pork Sausage Bento!

Wasabi sausages!!??
Yes, they certainly exist!
These were conceived with the best pork you could find in Japan produced by Sanoman Company in Fujinomiya City. The wasabi of course is from Shizuoka Prefecture, that is, from a nearby wasabi field.
Actually, I went to Fujinomiya City yesterday to report on a grand BBQ organized by Sanoman Co. and I just couldn’t resist bringing back these sausages to the Missus!

The Missus just steamed plain rice before filling the box and sprinkling them with black roasted sesame seeds and adding some fresh ginger pickled in sweet vinegar.
As for the vegetables she prepared “kinpira” with burdock roots/gobo/牛蒡, local chili pepper and dry shredded cuttle-fish. She filled the other other half with hot Chinese-style sauteed eggplant and green pepper.

As for the side dish she prepared her specialty, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette and simply boiled and fried the sausages to which she added fresh celery.
The dessert was made of grapes and oranges wedges.

For a better view of the wasabi pork sausages!
A real delicatessen’s delicacy (the oxymoron of the day!)!
You must absolutely try them!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/29): Sakura Anago Sushi Bento!

The Missus was very busy this morning as she had to prepare not one but three bentos!
She did have to come up with practical ideas, hence a sushi stylle!

After having steamed the rice and prepared it as sushi rice she made three types of “te-mari/手まり sushi, that is sushi in the shape of small balls ( you shape them insde cellophane paper:
1-Sakura Te-mari: the rice was mixed with real pickled cherry blossoms.
2-Anago te-mari. She mixed the rice with home-pickled sansho/Japanese pepper seeds and topped them with broiled anago/conger eel.
3-Pickles and cheese te-mari. She mixed the rice with finely chopped Japanese cucumber pickles before introducing small pieces of processed cheese inside.

As for the side dish she prepared tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette with chopped shiso/perilla inside. She placed them in the box with shizuoka-grown cress and Ameera Rubbins pearl tomatoes and quite a few broad beans.
For dessert she added sweet stewed beans.

Solid and tasty!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/28): Wasabi Zuke Bento!

Wasabi Zuke/山葵漬 is wasabi fermented and pickled with the white lees of Japanese sake. This is a prime product of Shizuoka Prefecture which outputs 80% of all wasabi in Japan!

The Missus being very this week didn’t have much time for shopping yesterday and made ends meet with waht was available in the pantry!

After steaming the rice she mixed it with home-pickled wasabi stems and chopped seaweed/konbu (she pickled them together).
She added wasabi zuke (very high qulaity even in Shizuoka Prefecture made by Tamaruya Co.) for extra seasoning and zip.

As I like yakitori hot, cold or canned, she opened a small tin of it and spread it over the rice. Simple and effective!LOL

The side dish looked like a flag!

The Missus included her favorite trick, half an avocado fille with the half of a boiled egg. She coated the inside of the avocado with tartatre mayonnaise for seasoning. The cut tomatoes on a thick bed of Shiuzoka-grown cress is Shizuoka-graown Ameera tomatoes (very sweet!)

She added some cheese for the necessary balance. As for dessert, home-made apple compote and (imported) blueberries.

Today promises rain. I wonder what the Missus will come up with?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/27): Salmon & Seaweed Bento!

To tell the truth the Missus was very grumpy today and you could almost feel it through the colors of her bento! LOL

She filled the first box with two dinstinctive layers of rice.
First she laid the first one and covered it with dry seaweed, a typically Japanese technique. She then spread a second layer and placed two smalls quares of nori/dry seaweed fo pattern and sprinkled the lot with plenty of roasted sesame seeds.
She finally placed on top a slice of salted salmon (fried in light teriyaku styke) she had been frying after the rice had been ready.

Beans, corn, tomato and sweet hijiki seaweed salad with lettuce, lightly pickled zucchini and sliced renkon/lotus roots fried with black sesame seeds,

No dessert… I told you she was in a bad mood!LOL

Very tasty and soid in spite of her character!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/26): Bamboo Shoots Bento!

Bamboo are in season and “take gohan/bamboo shoots rice” can be seen everywhere!

A very colorful rice dish!
The Missus prepared the finely chopped carrot and the bamboo shoots (cut into small triangular pieces) beforehand to soften them a bit and than steamed them on top of the rice before mixing the lot.
She placed a fresh sansho/Japanese pepper sprig (very much in season) on top for more color and seasoning.

A solid side dish! (I’m just recovering from a very bad cold and I need the calories!)

Pork fillet she pan-fried and which she seasoned (while still frying) at the last second with mayonnaise and capers. Very Italian/French/Japanese!
Shizuoka-grown Ameera Rubbins Peral Tomatoes, green and white asparagus tip, stick Junior Broccoli and lettuce.

<

The other showing the kabocha and sweet black beans salad!

I did have a dessert consisting of ornage, grapes and prunes!

Healthy, solid and really tasty!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/25): Soboro Bento!

Soboro in Japanese cuisine means an ingredient presented in small lumps, be it scrambled eggs or minced meat!. It does for great decoration in bentos!

Hint: for a better design divide your topping slightly at a slant instead of a straightforward division and use the division line for a better accent!

The Missus used minced pork (you can use beef of course!) which she pan-fried with a generous portion of black sesame seeds. It was slightly sweet as the Japanese like it. For design (it is edible) she placed a sprig of sansho/Japanese pepper.

The second half was covered with sweetened srcumble eggs.
As for the “division line” she boiled some peas in their pods (edible). Thn she cut the pods finely for the line and placed the peas for extra color over the eggs.

The side dish was colorful as usual!
From the left, stick junior broccoli, boiled and seasoned with crushed walnut coarse powder, home-pickled myoga ginger in sweet vinegar, “chikuwa” (fish paste tubes) stuffed with home-pickles fresh ginger roots, and local oranges.

The colors should be enough to attract anyone!LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-