Tag Archives: French Gastronomy

レシピ, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Dessert: Wasabi Panacotta and Sweet Soy Sauce at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

December 19, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

When it comes to desserts Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, has never been afraid to experiment with ingredients that would discourage many a vaunted chef to try!

His latest creation has involved products Shizuoka Prefecture are justly famous beyond the mere borders of Japan!

Here is another overview as the “lengthy appearance” is not easy to represent in a single photography!
Apart of strawberries (topped with organic mint) and squat persimmons, what famous Shizuoka products have been used?

Not inside the succulent pistachio in spite of its great marriage with the rest of the dessert!

Shizuoka-grown wasabi!
Freshly grated wasabi extract wasincorporated in this exquisite panacotta!
The taste, but with not real piquancy, of the wasabi inside a sweet panacotta is difficult to describe, and simply said, I felt privileged with the discovery! Chili pepper or black pepper can be found in ice creams or choclate but this is different , and so elegant!
Note that the edible flowers are organic shiso/perilla flowers!

And the sauce was made with soy sauce from Amano Company in Gotemba City as it was generously united with a caramel sauce!

More than a discovery, a study in succulent artistry!

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!

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, 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

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, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Mackerel Appetizer at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

December 16, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, is one of the most active chefs in our Prefecture when it comes to promote local products be they vegetables, fruit, meat or fish!

The other day I went on my regular pilgrimage there for lunch and had a long good look at the menu while other customers wondered why that strange foreigner stood so long in front of it….

Lunch on week day means no alcohol…. Non-alcohol home-made ginger ale it was then!

Real torture to sit besides those nectars…!

I did have quite a copious lunch and I thought it would be better to introduce each dish in a separate article.
So, what did I Have a s a first appetizer?

Saba/鯖/Mackerel from Kogawa Harbor in Yaizu City, a city classified as a major fishing harbor in Japan (You will find Yaizu City between Shizuoka City and Fujieda City)!

The mackerel had been lightly marinated as a kind of a half raw preparation and simply laid above a few cubes of apples for a great marriage between saltiness and sweetness!

The decoration is very much Japanese and also Shizuoka as the shiso/perilla flowers and menegi/leek sprouts are organically grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!
The flowers are edible and these vegetables make for a great finishing touch not only in presentation but also so much in a perfectly balanced superlative taste!

Extravagant simplicity!

Second appetizer coming next!

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, 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, Bistro, Cafes, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Desserts: Tarts at Patina in Shizuoka City!

November 26, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

When it comes to cakes I’m a loser for tarts!
You simply cannot beat them when you are looking for the tastes you enjoyed at all times of your life.
They probably are the best example of seasonal cakes back home in France and in many other countries!

When it comes to indulging in them I go straight away to Patina in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City where I enjoy them at my convenient leisure with a large cappucino!

Here are two I recently enjoyed:
The first one was advertised as apple and oranges, fruit you find in abundance here in this season!

Tarts there are usually served with a big dollop of ice cream to marry with the tart lightly grilled under a salamander!

For a better look of the fruit baked atop a light marzipan and crispy pate sucree!

With some delightful apple compote and elegant custard sauce and mint for the finishing touch!

The second one served with an elegant cappucino.
Can you guess what fruit are used this time?

Apple, fig, orange and banana!

Really appetizing, isn’t it?

Custard sauce with raspberry sauce, caramel sauce and ice sugar for a sin of a dessert!
So elegant!

And naturally exquisite ice cream to marry with the warm tart!

I always keep the dark baked pate sucree for the last bite!

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, 美食, 観光, 農業, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Meat, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Bistro-Izakaya: Chez Satsukawa in Shizuoka City!

November 22, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and easy-going, more professional in the “room”.
Facilities: Very Clean and beautiful washroom!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French food in Izakaya style. Great sake and wines! Extensive use of local ingredients!

Chez Satsukawa is probably the oldest favorite restaurant of mine still standing in Shizuoka City!

I’ve known Chef Tomio Satsukawa/薩川富雄さん since the days he was looking after a Restaurant called Chez Chinois before he went independently in 1989!
His restaurant moved twice to the present location where he conceived his establishment in what he calls “Bistronomie”, and what I call French Bistro-Izakaya!
Simply said it is a happy marriage of French and Japanese ( and a little Chinese!) traditional culinary trends.
It is the kind of place where you can come on your oe\wn and sit at the counter or visit in company and sit at a more elegant table.

The menu is easy to understand thanks to personal drawings. If you don’t read Japanese just ask him and hewill gladly reply in his gruff voice!

Don’t foregt to check the day’s specilas!

Like in an izakaya you will be served appetizers with the first drink. The difference is that they are made with a French concept in mind!

Japanes pickled daikon and open quiche.

Stewed burdock roots and cucumber salad.

It would take quite a few visits to smaple all the specialties but there is one you must start with: Chinese-style raw fish salad/Salade de Poisson!

This time the fish was Shizuoka sole!

You are supposed to mix all ingredients in the dish before transferring it to your plates!

Expect many French bistro classics!
The one above is a seasonal Shizuoka wild boar terrine/Terrine de sanglier sauvage!

I would kill for that!
Notice the pieces of foie gras!

Another specialty of the chef: Chinese Pekin Duck-stylle duck served with crepes!

The pancakes and the sauce!

The duck and the finely chopped white leeks!

Et voila!
Just roll the pancake and eat it with your fingers!

For the potato lovers the Red Moon (Organically-grown in Shizuoka) Potato “Frites” are a nust!

For the hungry client in need of hot food Chef Satsukawa even have a yaki kare/Oven-baked curry inpired from a recipe originating from North Kyushu Island!

Indian? American? Japanese? French? Fusion gastronomy, certainly!

To be continued…

CHEZ SATSUKAWA
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya Machi, 4-9, Matsunaga Kooya Machi Bldg, 2F
Tel.: 054-205-5133
Business hours: 12:00~14:30, 17:30~23:00 (22:00 on Sundays)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesday for lunch
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: “Amago”-Red Spotted Masu Trout Simmered in Wine by Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

October 26, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Today I was actually called by Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん who told me he was preparing a fish bred in our Prefecture!

The fish is called Amagi Amago.
Amagi stands for the place where it is bred.
Amago/あまご translates as Red Spotted Masu Trout in English.

Shitayama Fish Farm in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula!
The Fish Farm is located beside wasabi fields for the best natural environment.
Wasabi leaves are actually introduced in their feed!

Pissenlit Restaurant and Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん were awarded the title of Shizuoka Prefecture Recognized Restaurant and Chef last year!
Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん never misses an opportunity to experiment with new ingredients, especially if they are local!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work as I arrived at his restaurant today after lunch service had been finished!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん had first fried the fish in olive oil before gently simmering them in wine with local organic nameko mushrooms!

Dressing the fish on a plate!

The sauce before it was further reduced!

A beautifully sauteed local organic shiitake mushroom being added!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん pouring the reduced wine sauce and mushrooms on the fish!

Waiting for the finishing point!

Golden eggs from the same trouts! Absolutely delicious and extravagant!

A few sprigs of local organic leek sprouts!

Et voila!

Absolutely delicious and extravagant!

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,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:

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

French Gastronomy: Autumn Lunch at Beau Ciel in Shizuoka City!

October 15, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and attentive
Facilities and Equipment: Extremely clean. Superb separate washrooms!
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Elegant restaurant and French gastronomy. Superb panoramic view of Shizuoka from Mount Fuji to the Suruga Bay. Building totally non-smoking!

It was only my second visit to Beau Ciel for lunch today.
The first time was for a special function and I was curious to go there by myself.
The restaurant is located on the 25th floor of Aoi Tower just across the street from Shizuoka JR Station North exit, No wonder the restaurant is mostly full at lunch time (almost ladies, mind you!)!

The three lunch menus (you can reserve for a different course in advance) were on display at the entrance.
The top course was priced at 3,000 yen (30 euros) and it looked pretty reasonable considering the dishes it offered.

If you wish to enjoy the great panoramas from Mount Fuji down to the Suruga Bay come early or reserve your table in advance!

Classical table setting.

The service there is professional, unobtrusive, polite and actually quite helpful.
Very reminiscent of a classy hotel.

The cold appetizer:
Salmon, prawns, kabocha and vegetables terrine!

I must admit this is far better fare than in many vaunted hotel restaurants!

From another angle:
The vegetables were very fresh and tasty.
Beautiful and tasty!

Hot appetizer:
Sweet potato and kabocha soup!

Quite elegant.

Hot, tasty and very comforting!

The “fish course” consisted of a small pot of fricassee sole/shitabirame and mushrooms in Bourguignonne cream sauce.

Very appetizing!

The tomato and spinach at the bottom made for a remarkable complement to the delicious sole!

The main dish:
Japanese premium beef with onion sauce and mushroom gratin.

From another angle to give an idea of the general size and arrangement.
Makes for some beautiful pictures!

The beef!
A bit small but absolutely succulent!
Actually the whole lunch made up for quite a hearty proposition!

Japanese beef is comparatively extravagant at all levels and actually small portions are probably a good idea!

The mushroom gratin was a judicious and beautiful accompaniment!

The dessert:
Seasonal chestnuts pound cake!

For a closer view!
The Chantilly cream reminded you of Mont Blanc Cake!

For once I took my time to savor it!

And coffee served as it should be!

All in all, very reasonable considering the quality, quantity, service and locale!
Highly recommended for lunch!

BEAU CIEL
25F Sky Restaurant
GRANDAIR Bouquet Tokai
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi, 17-1, Aoi Tower, 25F (right across from Shizuoka JR Station North exit)
Tel.: 054-273-5250
Fax: 054-273-5251
Opening hours: Lunch 11:30~14:30, Tea Time-14:30~17:30, Dinner-17:30~21:00
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
Completely nonsmoking!

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,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:

レシピ, Bread, Cafes, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Bakery & Cafe: Singe in Shizuoka City!

October 10, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. Superb toilets
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Small range but Authentic and crispy breads, fancy breads, soft breads, and dessert breads. Shizuoka tea and vegetable soup available.

A friend of mine, knowing my love for the bread of my country advised me to visit Singe downtown as it was not only a superb bakery but also a very practical cafe.
So I went in its search yesterday!

The approach by the moat of Shizuoka Castle.

It is located by the very wall and moat of the Shizuoka Castle, making it also a stopover during a leisure walk!

No mistake in the French but why “Singe/Monkey”? I will ahve to ask next time as I’m pretty sure it has nothing to with the English word “singe”!

An unusually clear explanation of the opening hours (closed on Sundays)!

It is also clearly advertised not only as a bakery but as also as a cafe opened all day long!

They have just celebrated their first Anniversary!

The Japanese pennants attract the eye from far!

It says, “freshly baked bread cafe”!

Interesting seating for couples! Almost secret!

I came during the afternoon just before the last batch, so there was not too much on the shelves, but the quality was really top class and the design so cute!

Of course you can take your purchase out but the cafe offers really reasonably priced drinks and soup!
I can guarantee you that a lot of people including some from the neighboring offices come here for lunch!

If you come on your own I suggest you take a seat at the counter with a view on the moat of Shizuoka Castle!

But couples will love the seats inside the small alcove!

What’s more, you can have a peek inside the workshop and ovens!

This is what I ordered!
I must admit that I got hungry upon seeing all the breads!

Potatoes, mushrooms, bacon and cheese sauce in real crispy/crunchy French bread!

I really loved that small pie with eggplants, tomato and minced pork stew!

And that small Italian-style closed pizza made up for the right lunch combination!

And local Shizuoka green tea!
A must for the locals and tourists!

To be continued as I’m planning to buy bread to take back home….

Pain SINGE
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Oote Machi, 9-18, Shizuoka Chuo Bldg. !F (in front of Niseki/Red Cross Hospital by the Shizuoka castle moat)
Tel.: 054-251-0551
Opening hours: 07:00~19:00
Closed on Sundays
Entirely non-smoking!

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,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:

レシピ, Chicken, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 茶, 蕎麦, 虹鱒, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 鱒, 農業, Fish, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Ice Cream, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mishima City, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Prefecture Gastronomic Week Lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

October 6, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizauok City has been designated by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government as one of the top chefs promoting the gastronomy of our Prefecture.
The same Prefecture has designated the last two weeks of Septmber as the “Shizuoka Shoku no Bu Shigotonin Week/静岡食の部仕事人ウイーク/Shizuoka Gastronomy Craftsmen Week (although it lasts two!)”

The official poster printed by the Government!
Toru therefore conceived a special full lunch course menu for the occasion for 7,000 yen/70 Euros, extremely reasonable considering the quality!

The special menu also celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the opening of Pissenlit!

The restaurant was offered some magnificent bouquets for the occasion!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

The menu!
Actually it was more of a guideline as some items were changed according to the products available that day.
In fact two friends of mine who visited the place the following week-end were served two different versions!
Lucky ones!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん also initiated a great idea by offering local tea in lieu of alcohol for people who cannot drink or may not like on that particular day!
You can either have one variety prepared in two different ways for 200 yen or the whole set of three teas for 500 yen!

The first glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea”!

Eggplant/Aubergine Mousse! The aubergine came from Hirokawa garden in Mishima City
Most other vegetables on that day were organic and grown at Kitayama Garden in Fujinomiya City!

The second glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Marinated rainbow trout and iwana/Japanese char bred by Kakishima Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Note the iwana skin baked to a crisp and the edible perilla/shiso flowers!

From another angle to show the vegetables placed between the fish including menegi/leek sprouts!

The first glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea”!

A French classic with a Japanese/Shizuoka twits: (Shizuoka-grown) buckwheat pancake/galette with Amagi Shamo chicken (Bred in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula) liver, heart and gizzards and poached egg with Utogi wasabi leaves!

For a better view of the delicate fine pieces of liver, heart and gizzards!

The poached egg!

The wasabi leaves!

Fresh buckwheat seeds!

Itoyodori/Golden threadfin bream from Suruga Bay, poele and served atop fine mashed potato cream and served with red paprika sauce and steamed/fried organic vegetables!