Tag Archives: Gastronomes

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 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, Spanish Cuisine, Spanish Gastronomy, Spanish Restaurant, Tourism

Spanish & French Dining Bar: Hoteiya in Shizuoka City!

December 27, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

Service: very friendly and easy-going if a bit shy
Facilities: very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable~a little expensive
Strong points: Spanish & French Fusion bistro gastronomy doubling as a wine bar. Open late. Reasonable wine list. Extensive use of local products.

Spanish gastronomy has always been popular in Japan although it can be disappointing at times. Some restaurants call themselves Tapas Bars, but the Spanish would have some difficulty to find themselves at home there…
On the other hand some establishments take another track by combining the characters of different European gastronomies with a far more pleasurable result for the customers. After all, if you visit a bistro in French Catalogne/Catalunia you will find that most of the specialties are “Spanish”!

Looking at the menu blackboard by the stairs leading to Hoteiya you will realize that many influences govern Chef Takashi Sugiyama/杉山猛さん’s cuisine!

Discovering the door on the second floor you realize that Hoteiya is a Kakureya/隠れ屋/”Hidden Place” that many Japanese appreciate for ofttimes much wanted privacy!

But the place for all its secrecy is not a dark place full of unknowns!

Chef Takashi Sugiyama/杉山猛さん behind a beautiful Spanish Ham!

Have a good look at the recommendations menu board first before ordering and have a chat with the Chef as well!

What I did have on that particular night should give you a good idea of what to expect.
Shall we start then?

Of course, Spanish raw ham cut in front of you!

French-style chicken liver paste!

A real beauty concocted with Port wine!
It would be enough if you came just to drink wine with a snack!

Fresh Horse Mackerel/Aji/鯵 caught off Yaizu harbor in salad with fresh local vegetables including home-made semi-dried mini tomatoes!

You just can’t beat fresh local products!

Aubergine/zucchini gratin!
Great comfort food on a cold winter night!

Hot and delicious!

I was luckily hungry on that day and I had plenty of space left for a succulent bistro-style dessert!

Nougat glace!

Creme brulee!

A little European haven away from the crowds?

To be continued (still too many beauties to sample!)….

HOTEIYA
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-2-15, Celize Building 2F
Tel./Fax: 054-251-8027
Opening hours: 18:00~01:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Private Parties welcome!

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, Chirashi Zushi, Crab, 美食, 蟹, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Red King Crab, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi

Christmas Sushi: Red King Crab/Tabaragani/タラバガニ Chirashi Zushi!

December 24, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Red King Crab is one of the most expensive crabs in the world and you won’t see it often served in a home whatever the owner’s status!

But the Missus received today as an End of The Year present from someone she helped out of a big bother!
The package for this single crab was enormous and it is a bit difficult to realize how big it is on the above photograph!
It came already as it is done most of the time for better conservation and also because people usually do not have a big enough pan to boil it.
The Missus, being her usual crass checked the price: 150 Euros/almost 200 US $!

It took her a good hour to take all the meat out of this male (the best!) Red King Crab and had enough to fill a medium size tupperware box. a good kg of superlative crab meat!

She had enough and a lot to spare (for lunch or as an extravagant appetizer for our wine and sake!) to prepare an enormous “Christmas Chirashi zushi/チラシ寿司” for a four-people dinner!

The Missus prepared sushi rice and mixed it with thin slices of a small rice vinegar pickled cucumber, golden sesame seeds, small pieces of cheese and small cubes of avocado.
She the topped the lot with loads of red king crab, avocado cubes, and salmon roe/ikura/幾ら!

The salmon roe added another extravagant touch!

And fresh kaiware daikon/カイワレ大根/daikon sprouts for perfect balance in presentation, taste and nutrients!

When healthy food becomes extravagant!

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, Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, Vegan Dessert, Vegetarian cuisine, Wagashi

Christmas Cake: Vegetarian & Vegan Japanese Wagashi/和菓子-Christmas Cakes Pictures

December 23, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!

Flowery Christmas!

What’s in Santa’s bag?

Bring your forks and knives!

Holy (Holly) Christmas!

For the toddlers!

Pity you have to eat it!

Definitely Japanese-style!

They almost look like sushi!

Elegant simplicity!

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, Cakes, Chestnuts, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Green Tea, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Matcha, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Christmas Cake: Japanese Matcha Bavarois

December 22, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

I thought it might help my friends to re-publish some of the best Japanese cakes I have introduced before for suggestions for the coming Christmas!

This one is Japanese Matcha Bavarois!

Matcha/抹茶, an ingredient readily available here in Shizuoka, opens the door to so many ideas as it can included in almost all cakes.
Moreover, its green colour is an extra attraction that is difficult to resist!
Here is the recipe for a cake that marries western and eastern traditions!
Just think of alternative decorations fro Christmas! ( a Green Christmas?)

INGREDIENTS: For a 21 cm diameter mold (can be adapted to square molds or individual molds)

-Sponge Cake:
Eggs: 3 large
Sugar: 70 g
All purpose flour: 40 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Butter (unsalted): 25 g

-Bavarois:
Milk: 200ml
Fresh cream (vegetal): 200 ml
Egg whites: 3
Sugar: 50 g
Gelatin: 5 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Water (to dissolve matcha powder): 5 tablespoons
Matcha liqueur (optional, but try and find it or replace with something else according to taste!): a little

-Decoration jelly (nappage):
Matcha powder: 2 tablespoons
Gelatin: 5 g
Sugar: 40 g
Water: 250 ml

Supplementary decoration (optional):
Chestnuts (cooked)
Black beans (cooked)
Candied mint leaves

RECIPE:

-Sponge Cake:
Separate the whites and yolks of the eggs, beat the yolks until thick and lemon colored, add the sugar gradually.
Mix matcha powder and sifted flour. Mix in butter by hand (with the tips of your fingers). Add egg yolks and sugar and mix well. Cut and fold in the stiffly beaten egg white.
Bake in an ungreased pan in a very moderate oven.
Bake until the cake is puffed, has lost its shine, and springs back when gently pressed.
Let cool completely and trim off to shape of the cake mold.
Line the cake mold with a layer of sponge cake.

-Bavarois:
Soften jelly in cold water or dissolve it depending on type.
Whisk the the egg whites thick and hard with sugar.
Bring the milk and fresh cream to boil.
Switch off fire.
Add matcha powder and matcha liqueur and mix well.
Let cool completely. Add and mix in gelatin.
Fold in egg whites.
Pour the bavarois over the sponge cake and leave in refrigerator overnight.

-Decoration jelly:
Soften gelatin or dissolve in a little water.
In a pan pour in water, matcha powder, sugar and heat to dissolve sugar. Switch off fire and add gelatin. Mix weel.
Wait until it has cooled off completely.
Take cake out of refrigerator and pour jelly all over.
Put back in refrigerator and leave it until it has properly settled.

Decorate further with chestnuts, candied mint leaves and black beans.

That is how it would look once cut.

The same as an individual cake!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/12/20): Wishing You a Jubilant Holiday Season!

December 21, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Wishing You a Jubilant Holiday Season!

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Life is a fleeting thing. Each of us is here but a very short time. The older we get, the more clearly we comprehend this inexorable reality. And despite the sometimes awful travails and the always regular monotony of life, it remains a mysteriously beautiful thing. The end-of-the-year holiday season provides wonderful occasion for reflection and appreciation of the joy of living.

At Baird Brewing, 0ur appreciation of this joy is manifested in a celebratory Christmas-New Year season holiday ale which we call Jubilation Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Releases:
*Jubilation Ale (ABV 7.5%):

This malty rich, festively red-hued ale derives its special character primarily from the addition of two wonderful indigenous ingredients: (1) fully ripened Japanse figs (ichijiku) and (2) cinnamon twigs culled from a local Japanese nikki tree. The full bodied character combined with the attendant alcohol strength will warm the flesh just as it brings jubilation to the soul.

Jubilation Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml). It begins pouring at our Taproom taps on Thursday, December 20.

Taproom O-shogatsu Schedules:

*Numazu Fishmarket Taproom: Countdown party December 31. Closed on January 1 and 2. Open for special O-shogatsu service on January 3 (noon to midnight). Resumes normal hours on January 4.

*Nakameguro Taproom: Countdown party December 31. Closed January 1-2. Open for special O-shogatsu service on January 3 (noon to 9:00 pm). Resumes normal hours on January 4.

*Harajuku Taproom: Closed on December 31 (Tokyo countdown party @ Nakameguro). Open for special O-shogatsu service on January 1-4 (noon to 8:00 pm). Resumes normal hours on January 5.

*Bashamichi Taproom: Countdown party December 31. Closed January 1-2. Open for special O-shogatsu service on January 3-4 (noon to 8:00 pm). Resumes normal hours on January 5.Holiday Season Cheers!

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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, 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

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bars, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Wines

French Organic Wine Bar & Retailer: La Vigne in Shizuoka City!

December 18, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Shop Manager Hidetaka Satoh/佐藤大高さん & Staff (calling themselves the “Nice-Looking Boy and beautiful Damsel”!)

Service: Very friendly and caring. Great explanations!
Facilities and equipment: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom. Whole establishment non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French organic wines. Higher grade wine cellar. Drinks and light food at standing bar.

The Japanese love their wines, and French wines in particular!
But they also have a care for their health.
And what’s a more healthy drink than organic wine!

You will find La Vigne very conveniently located right across the street from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit!

It almost looks like a street side cafe back in France!

“自然のワイン/Shizen no Wain” means “Natural/Organic Wines”!

The wine and the producer of the month!

Wine recommendations for coming Christmas!

A suggestion for a present for an important person!
Actually today was exactly the Fourth Anniversary of the opening of La Vigne in the 18th of December 2008!
The mother company is located in Nagoya while the most recent and third shop stands in Higashi Ginza, Tokyo!

The shop was first conceived as wine retailing establishment that offers plenty of organic wines from France.

More suggestions for Christmas!
All purchases can be wrapped as presents for a small fee!

They do offer a lot to eat with those wines: terrine, pate, sauces, jams, olives and the like!

And also plenty of cheese, hams, sausages, and other appetizers you can eat on site if you wish.

Photographs and signatures of the producers whose wines are featured at La Vigne!

The standing bar which has proved to be best investment of the establishment!
Many customers, including many local chefs, taste their wines there before acquiring them by the bottle (s)!

La Vigne also sells some great breads concocted by a local baker that find their way onto the counter more than often!

Great map of French wines to give all information and conversation topics of the day when needed!

Take your time, glass in hand , and take a good look at all the wines!

The wines to be drunk and purchased by the glass at the standing bar regularly change.
You pay your orders, be they wine or food in cash as they come, or you can before leaving either cash or by credit card.

Great explanations for each wine!

My order of the day!
Wines and food can be consumed all day long, but coffee and mineral water is also available!

Plenty of food and snacks available.
No cover charge or extra fees!

If you find a canned food of your liking just take it from the display tables, bring it to the counter and ask the staff to open it for instant consumption as it is or with bread and so on!

LA VIGNE
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 17-2, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 10:00~22:00 (Monday~Saturday), 12:00~20:00 (Sundays and National Holidays)
Credit Cards OK
Private Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely Non-smoking!

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, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mushrooms, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Vegan & Vegetarian Gastronomy: Mushrooms Cuisine at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City!

December 18, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Eringe/エリンゲ and maitake/舞茸 at Yasaitei!

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

The Japanese have always been in love with their mushrooms and the number of varieties they grow is simply mind-blowing!
Mushrooms, although they don’t contain many calories offer a lot of healthy ingredients on top of their beautiful taste. You never feel guilty when indulging in them!

Yasaitei/やさい亭, which could be roughly translated as “vegetables station” in English, is the izakaya to visit in Shizuoka City for gastronomes who love mushrooms and vegetables in particular as their priorities can be cateｒed for with the minimum of fuss and explanations.
The following describes recent dishes I have savored there including other vegetarian and vegan tidbits!

When I visit Yasaitei I always “Doman”, a rice shochu distilled by Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

A “o-tooshi/お通し/snack served with the first drink!

Lotus root/renkon/蓮根 in “kinpira” fashion!
Such a satisfying crunch!

Grilled fresh shiitake/椎茸!

The shiitake were simply grilled and seasoned with soy sauce before being served over shiso/perilla leaves.

Freshly grated daikon and ginger were provided for further seasoning and enjoyment.

Surely one of the best ways to enjoy fresh shiitake!

Another o-tooshi!

Mushrooms and fried tofu o-hitashi/お浸し/Japanese-style light appetizer!

Maitake, tomato and spinach stir-fried in sesame oil and served with fresh coriander!
Maitake/舞茸 in English stands for mushrooms called Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram’s Head or Sheep’s Head!

Juicy and so tasty mushrooms!

Note the coriander for beautiful balance in presentation and taste!

Another o-tooshi!

Mushrooms and mekabu/芽蕪/small turnips! If you are vegetarian or vegan just tell them not to top it with katsuo bushi!

Steamed eringe (or eringi)/エリンゲ/known in English as king trumpet mushroom, French horn mushroom or king oyster mushroom!

The eringe were steamed together with fresh cucumber and served with freshly grated Shizuoka-grown wasabi!

Looking for more of the same!

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

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake: “Homare Fuji” Sake Rice Actively Promoted Locally and Nationally!

December 16, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun

Shizuoka sake brewed with Homare Fuji Rice being tasted at “Shizuoka Green Tea Plaza, Tokyo Prefectural Tokyo Tourism Office in Yuraku-Cho, Tokyo.

On the 13th of December no less than 20 Shizuoka Breweries, including internationally famous Doi (Kaiun) and Hatsukame Breweries, organised a tasting feast in Tokyo at the “Shizuoka Green Tea Plaza, Tokyo Prefectural Tokyo Tourism Office in Yuraku-Cho, to actively promote sake made exclusively with Homare Fuji Sake Rice first developped and grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, a feat noteworthy for its uniqueness in the very traditional world of sake brewing in Japan!

Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun.

On the Prefectural scene many breweries are active promoting sake made with Homare Fuji rice such as Kanzawagawa Brewery (Shosetsu) which has been organizes brewery viewing and sake seminars since 2005 on a regular basis! This year no less than 49 sake lovers participated to the latest seminar! Knowing the brewery well, the establishment must have been really crowded!

At least the future of Japanese sake is quite rosy here in Shizuoka Prefecture!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake: A New” Brewery Born: Hiraki Shizuoka Brewery!

December 15, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun,

A”New” sake brewery is born in Shizuoka City!

Why “New” then?

Actually, by Japanese law you cannot/may not obtain a new brewery license. The only way to create/establish a new brewery is to acquire the license from a brewery which has decided to cease business before they give their license back to the government. In fact such a license can be kept indefinitely although the Tax & Excise Bureau do all it can to get it back as soon as possible. Strangely enough, such a rule applies only to sake breweries, brewers and owners…

Hiraki Company in Shizuoka City, a company with roots back in Edo Period, the biggest distributor of large spirits and drinks companies in Shizuoka Prefecture had momentarily moved from Kakegawa City in Shizuoka Prefecture to Okayama Prefecture in 1956 to acquire Hiraki Brewery while the law permitted it. They consequently moved back to Shizuoka City in 1967 to expand their business as the local distributor for big corporate companies producing drinks and spirits. Naturally, they sold their sake brand called Kihei (and still do. “Kihei” actually is the inverted name of “Hiraki”!) in Shizuoka Prefecture and were also very active in offering contracts between the local sake breweries and the big companies in Nada (Kobe area) to produce sake to the latter according to their requirements.

According to them they decided to produce sake again in Shizuoka Prefecture after a 45-year lapse (I think dates are manipulated there, but who am I to say?) after the new sake rice brand, namely “Homare Fuji” was recognized as such by the Shizuoka Prefecture and the Ministry of Agricultre and Forestry.
In 2009 they applied to the Japanese Tax & Excise Bureau after acquiring the license of Sogatsuru Brewery in Kakegawa City which had kept it (they had actually lent it to Hagi No Kura Brewery, presently Suruga Brewery for a while) ever since they stopped all activities more than 10 years ago.
Although you are not supposed to buy it, but just acquire it, I know from reliable sources that Hiraki Company obtained the license for 30,000,000 yen….

On the 1st of November 2012 they obtained permission from the Tax & excise Bureau and starting making sake end of November. They have moreover announced they are brewing real “Shizuoka sake” (although they have admitted they will also produce sake from other brands of sake rice from other Prefectures) with Shizuoka-grown Hoamre Fuji rice, Shizuoka yeast and Shizuoka water from the Abe River basin.

They have officially become members of The Shizuoka Prefecture Brewers Association and their sake will be on display at the next Shizuoka Sake Tasting Fair in March.
I was assured by the Shizuoka Prefecture Brewers Association that they were serious and did not plan to use their new brewery to facilitate sales of their Okayama Brewery sake…

Time will tell…

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美食, 魚海の幸, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shellfish, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine

Marine life & Food Stock Preservation: Farm-bred Abalones to be put on the Market soon!

December 14, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun. December 14th, 2012.

Abalones/awabi/鮑 is another seafood delicacy that has been endangered in Japan and in many other areas worldwide.
The Japanese have been working hard for some years now to farm breed abalones not only to preserve and increase the natural stocks but also to have them grow faster and bring their cost down.

Shizuoka Prefecture and the Tokai Marine Studies University in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City have succeeded in raising abalones in tanks away from the sea in association with the Shizuoka Chamber of Commerce and the abalones will appear for the first time in local markets and restaurants next January!

Because an ideal temperature of 18 degrees Celsius can be maintained all year round in tanls, the abalones achieve a constant and consequently faster growth.
The project was initiated in 2005 and have at last brought to fruition for the pleasure of seafood lovers who will know that they are not depleting the seas any longer!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

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Bluefin Tuna, 美食, 魚, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, tuna

Tuna Stocks Preservation: Farm-bred Bluefin Tuna released in The Pacific Ocean!

December 14, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Courtesy of Shizuoka Shinbun, December 14th, 2012

The Japanese, in spite of their being reviled for eating tuna, especially bluefin tuna, have been ever so busy experimenting and farming bluefin tuna in three locations, Kinki University, Shimizu Marine Studies University and in Kyushu Island.
Not only have they succeeded in raising the bluefin tuna from the eggs, but they have bred them to a sufficient weight to release them in The Pacific Ocean to find out if the repopulating of fish stocks in the ocean could be effectively done in a two-stage process from farms to the seas!

Kinki University had released 1,800 young fish in Wakayama Prefecture in October.
In December 8 of them have been caught between Shizuoka and Wakayama Prefectures and brought back to Kinki University for further study.

Since the experiment started in 2002 it has been confirmed for the first time that bluefin tuna farm bred from the egg could be safely released into a natural environment, namely the Pacific Ocean!

It just shows that Japan has been showing more responsibility towards restocking endangered species than many countries which criticized them without doing anything to redress the situation!

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Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Bryan Baird’s Newsletter (2012/12/13): Seasonal Release: Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA

December 13, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Craft beer enthusiasts, including us, have a love affair with the hop. It’s character, be it fruity or floral, spicy or herbal, provides good beer its panache. India Pale Ale, of course, is the beer style that reigns in the kingdom of hops. Today, with the craft beer renaissance in full swing, there exist myriad takes on and interpretations of an IPA. We are happy to announce the release of one such Baird version: Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA.

New Seasonal Beer Releases:
*Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA 2012 (ABV 6.7%):

We love the flavor of rye malt in beer. It lends a spicy, dry character that we find especially pleasing when combined with large doses of piquantly bitter and pungently aromatic hops. The problem with using significant portions of rye malt in the mash is that it tends to make the wort more viscous and gummy, thus rendering lautering (separation of liquid wort from particle grain material) slow and difficult. This year, in an act of prudence trumping bravado, we dialed down the additions of rye malt to the mash from a nightmarish 50% of the grist last year to a more reasonable 25%. Sure enough, the lauter time was cut back to a more traditional 90 minutes or so, compared with 5 hours previous. We ended our brewer’s nightmare while still preserving the dream flavor combination of peppery rye malt and fruit-forward hops.

This year’s hop bill consists of an all-star lineup of five U.S. varieties (Columbus, Summit, Simcoe, Santiam, Glacier) added in multiple dosings to the kettle boil, the whirlpool, and, but of course, to the conditioning tank for two rounds of dry-hopping. Do you like hops? Do you fancy yourself an IPA drinker? Merry Christmas!

Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA begins pouring at our Taproom pubs today (Thursday, December 13), and is available for immediate shipment to craft beer retailing pubs, restaurants and sakaya throughout Japan.

Cheers,

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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