Tag Archives: Gastronomes

Sansai/Edible Wild Japanese Mountain Vegetables (2014 edition)

January 27, 2014 dragonlife 16 Comments

“Sansai/Wild Mountain Plants” are around the corner so I thought it might be a good idea to draw people’s attention back to them for easier reference! They also include wild fruit that can be eaten both as vegetables and fruit with various preparations.
Some can be boiled, others fried, prepared as tempura, cooked in soup, prepared as pickles or jam, etc.

As it would become far too big (already massive, but inexhaustive) a posting if I wrote everything, please pick up one item at a time if you want more explanations and I will write an individual article for your pleasure!
But some have added some since the last time I wrote about them and I added some facts!

Here we go:
(No particular order)

AINU NEGI: ALIUM VICTORIALIS
Also called: GYOUJA NINIKU/VICTORY ONION/ALPINE LEEK

High in Vitamin B1

AKEBI: CHOCOLATE VINE

High in Potassium, Vitamin B1, B2, B6, C and vegetal fibers.
Provide great stamina!
The inside is eaten raw as it is sweet.
The outside can be pickled or fried as tempura!

AMADOKORO: POLYGONATUM ODORATUM

AZAMI: THISTLE
Try it as tempura!

FUKINOTO: GIANT BUTTERBUR/FLOWER CLUSTER

High in Vitamin A Beta carotene, B1, B2, b6, C, vegetal Fibers and Potassium.
Beautiful as tempura!

HAMABOUFUU: GLEHNIA LITTORALIS

HANGONSOU: SENECIO CANNABIFOLIUS

HASUKAPPU: LONICERA CAERULEA/HASCUP

HIKAGEHEGO: FLYING SPIDER MONKEY TREE FERN

IRAKUSA: URTICA THUNBERGIANA

ITADORI: JAPANESE KNOTWEED

KATAKURI: DOGTOOTH VIOLET

Flowers are also edible.

KIBOUSHI: PLANTAIN LILY HOSTA FORTINEI ( a variety of Hosta Montana)
Beautiful lightly steamed!

KOGOMI: OSTRICH FERN (exists as green and red)

One of the most eaten wild maoutain vegetable in Japan!
Great plant as it needs no special procees to erase tanginess.
High Carotenes, Vitamin C, Amino acids and vegetal fibers.

KOSHIABURA : ASCATHOPANAX SCIADOPHYLLOIDES

KUKO: CHINESE WOLFBERRY

KUSAGI: HARLEQUIN GLORY BOWER PEANUT BUTTER SHRUB

MATATABI: SILVER VINE

MITSUBA: JAPANESE HONEYWORT
has become a common garden vegetable!

NIRINSOU: ANEMONE FLACCIDA

NOBIRU: ALIUM MACROSTEMON
Another favorite in Japan!

High in Vitamin C, Carotenes, Calcium, Potassium and vegetal fibers.

OYAMABOKUCHI: SYNURUS PUNGENS

RYOUBU: CLERTHRA BARBINERVIS

SARUNASHI: ACTINIA ARGUTA

SERI: JAPANESE PARSLEY
has become a garden vegetable in Japan!

SUBERIYU: COMMON PURSLANE

TAKENOKO: BAMBOO SHOOTS (SPROUTS)

TANPOPO: DANDELION
A green and a yellow variety are already grown in Japanese gardens!

TARA NO ME: ARALIA ELATA

High in Potassium, Vitamin A Beta Carotenes, B2 and vegetal fibers.
Another favorite in Japan!

TSUKUSHI: HORSETAIL-Equisetum arvense (Source IVY)
A kid’s favorite!
High in Potassium, Magnesium, Carotenes and Vitamin E.

TSUROGANENINJIN: ADENOPHORA TRIPHYLLA

UDO: ARALIA CORDATA
Commonly found in Japanese supermarkets!
High in Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin B1, C, Pantotene acid.
Helps combat human body acidity.

YAMAUDO: same as UDO (above)

URUI: HOSTA MONTANA
Can be eaten raw.
Great in salads. Has become a common vegetable in Japan.

WARABI: PTERIDIUM AQUILINUM/BRACKEN
High Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamin B2, C, E and vegetal fibers.
Commonly seen in supermarkets!

YAMABUDO: CRIMSON GLORY VINE

YAMAWASABI: WILD HORSERADISH
Consumed for its flowers, stalks and leaves, but not roots!

ZENMAI: OSMUNDA JAPONICA/ROYAL FERN
High in Potassium, Vitamin A Beta Carotenes, B2, B6, C and vegetal fibers.

FUKI:JAPANESE BUTTERBUR/GIANT BUTTERBUR-Petasites japonicus (Source IVY)

High in Potassium, Calcium, Vitamin B2 and vegetal fibers.

—————————
Still have to find the English names for the following ones!

AIKO/Laportea macrostachya (Maxim.) Ohwi (Source IVY)

AKAMIZU/ELATOSTEMA UMBELLATUM var. NAJUS

Found the name!

AOMIZU/Pilea Mongolica
Found the name thanks to IVY

INUDOUNA/Cacalia Hastata L. var . tanakae kitam
Found the name thanks to IVY

SHIDOKE

ITADORI
has become common in Japan! Can actually be very invasive!

HONNA/Also called SUPPON

YOMOGI/MUGWORT
Great as tempura or in rice cakes!
Not to be confused with absinthe!

NOKANZOU/Hemerocallis fulva, orange daylily
Found the name thanks to IVY

YUKINOSHITA/Saxifraga stolonifera (is the same as Saxifraga sarmentosa), known by several common names, including Creeping Saxifrage, Strawberry Saxifrage, Creeping Rockfoil, the quite ambiguous “Aaron’s beard”, and Strawberry Begonia or Strawberry Geranium (Source: IVY)

Found the name!

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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-HELLES

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: HELLES
Alcohol: 5.5%
Color: Golden, very clean and clear
Shortish head
Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread.

Tasting: Bayern-style.
Very dry attack. Nuttty
Refreshing.
Turns slightly milder with food.
Very easy to drink in spite of its marked dryness

Overall: Refreshing. Thirst-quenching.
Very similar to big Japanese brewers’ thirst-quenching beers

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

430-8691 Hamamatsu City, Naka ku, Chuo, 3-8-1
Tel.: 053-452-1146
Opening hours: Tuesdays~Fridays, 11:00~14:30, 17:00~23:00
Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, 11:00~23:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
Car park available
Entirely non-smoking!

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Ikayaki, Takosen & Takoyaki at Ebisu in Shizuoka City! 静岡市ーたこ焼きー戎!

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Osaka-style ikayaki!

Service: Very friendly. Great explanations
Facilities and Equipment: Very clean if old overall. Washroom in nearby Shizutetsu Store
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Osaka-style takoyaki, senbei takoyaki, ika yaki, yakisoba
Entirely non-smoking inosde!

I only waited two days before my second visit to Ebisu in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City as a friend of mine couldn’t wait to visit the place!
In any case I already told you I wanted to sample the rest of the menu!
Unfortunately the yakisoba were already sold out at 6:30 in the evening!

The man at work!
Years of apprenticeship in Osaka and 5 ears spent in the shop his mother and he opened 5 years ago on the first floor of their abode had made him a real artist!
Very hard work in the heat actually. A job that keeps you trim!

At last I had the pleasure to sample the Osaka-style Ikayaki!

AS it is opened!

It is actually a kind of cuttle-fish omelette/pancake the mother makes with a very strange contraption!

Plenty of pieces of cuttle fish inside!
A real comfort in the cold weather!
Actually beer cans are available at the shop, so don’t hesitate!

While my friend had her takoyaki with (cold) dashi soup stock I asked a plate of plain takoyaki!

I seasoned them myself with the shop’s tare sauce and white mayonnaise sauce for two different tastes!

The mother must have felt in love with me as she gave us takoyaki as service!
The above is a Shizuoka and Osaka love affair as they were seasoned with dry bonito shavings, a Shizuoka specialty!

Of co

Of course we had to sample another takosen!
Japanese or expat you try that!

I’ll have to come back for the yakisoba soon!
Actually the place closed one hour early because all the takoyaki were sold out!
In any case I have an inkling that the son is a rocker!

EBISU

Shizuaok City, Aoi Ku, Tamachi, 7-1 (go along the Hon Toori Street and turn right onto the karge street going at a slant before the bridge. You will find Ebisu just past Shizutetsu Stire)
Tel.: 054-253-1637
Opening hours: 11:30~20:00 (earlier if sold out!)
Closed on Thursdays
Entirely non-smoking!

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EBISU/戎
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tamach, 7-1 (along the Hon Toori Street, Turn right into the 45 degrees main street before the bridge, on your left hand side just beyond Shizutetsu Store)
Tel.: 054-253-1637
Opening hours: 11:30~20:00
Closed on Thursdays
Take-out possible
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-MUNCHNER

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: WUNCHNER
Alcohol: 5.5%
Color: Dark brown, very clean
Longish head
Very fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread, hints of caramel

Tasting: Dunkel (Schwarz) type. Bayern-Style.
Deep, drier than announced. Caramel.
Takes on an even drier turn with food.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: For all its dark style is very easy to drink.
Can be enjoyed as a thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-WEIZEN

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: WEIZEN
Alcohol: 5.5%
Live yeast
Color: whitish golden, smoky
Longish head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Citruses

Tasting: Refreshing. Dry fruity attack. Lemon, citruses
Bayern-style beer.
Varies little with food but for a drier turn.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: Another thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mein Schloss Brewery-ALT

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mein Schloss Brewery in Hamamatsu City brews 4 regular beers and a few seasonal draughts.
They can be drunk only on site as the brewery does not sell any in bottles!

Product name: ALT
Alcohol: 5.5%
Live yeast
Color: Dark orange
Shortish head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Discreet. Bread

Tasting: Refreshing. Deepish. Bread, dry citruses. Welcome acidity.
Dusseldorf-style beer.
Varies little with food.
Very easy to drink.

Overall: A thirst-quenching beer with more character than usual.

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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On the Shizuoka Prefecture Beer Trail 1: Mein Schloss Brewery & Restaurant in Hamamatsu City!

January 25, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Alt Beer at Mein Schloss!

Service: Friendly, smiling and and willing to please
Equipment and Facilities: Very clean overall. Superb washroom. Entirely non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Home-brewed beer, great variety in pub grub. Convivial

the sign just outside Hamamatsu JR Station!

Yesterday due to a sudden change of venue I found myself having lunch (and drinks!) at Mein Schloss Brewery and Restaurant at Mein Schloss in Hamamatsu City!

Mein Schloss means “My Castle”!

Very skitch, but oh well!

At least the opening hours are plain and easy to understand!

Two month schedules and menu easy to check outside!

Grand portal!

Beer garden on use during the week ends!

Entirely non-smoking!
Now, this is a big plus!

Have a good look at all the displays inside!

One can check their menu without entering!

The beer brewed on site!
Incidentally they do not sell bottles!
Everything has to be drunk inside!

The staff are ever so smiling and helpful!

A different kind of welcoming staff! LOL

Everything is brewed on site!

More displays!

Beware the guards!

Large space overhead and more displays!

Pizza oven!

Plenty of food on the menu for any taste!

Great collection of beer jugs along the walls!

Worth a second good look!

The hall can hold no less than 850 guests!
Even so, they are completely booked from time to time!

Useful beer card!
The establishment has been producing 4 regular beers and seasonal ones since their foundation in March 1997.
They also serve schnapps, cocktails, Japanese sake, shochu, spirits, wine ans soft drinks lunch and dinner!

For the collectors!

Alt Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

They have some good and reasonable lunch sets!

Deep-fried oysters with plenty of salad! A specialty more Japanese than German! LOL

I found these oysters and tartar sauce very tasty and great with the beer!

Good value!

Weizen Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Munchner Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Nice cheese plate to help with the fourth beer!

Helles Beer!
Tasting notes coming soon!

Before you leave have a good look at the ingredients that go into the making of your beers!

MEIN SCHLOSS BREWERY & RESTAURANT

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Bryan Baird Newsletter (2014/01/23): Seasonal Release: The Carpenter’s Mikan Ale

January 23, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Seasonal Release: The Carpenter’s Mikan Ale

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

We are pleased, for the twelfth consecutive year, to announce the release of a now iconic Baird Beer winter seasonal: Carpenter’s Mikan Ale.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Carpenter’s Mikan Ale (ABV 6%):

The mikans used in this brew are fresh, succulent, and local — harvested on the Heda land and by the hand of our carpenter friend, Nagakura-san. The Baird brewers hand-process the harvested mikans, shaving off the outer skin of the peel and pressing the juice. Both peel shavings and juice are added to the brew during wort production and before fermentation. The mikans serve to add depth and complexity to an already sumptuous ale; their role is to complement, not dominate.

Once again the character of this year’s version is marked most notably by the succulent aroma and piquant flavor of sweet-tart mikans and their wonderfully symbiotic interaction with our selected hop varieties (Summit, Citra, Centennial, Cascade).

The Carpenter’s Mikan Ale is available for immediate release in both kegs and bottles (360 ml). It begins pouring at our Baird Taproom pubs tonight (Thursday, January 23). If you visit our Fishmarket Taproom in the coming days, you likely will find the Carpenter perched on his counter stool sipping his namesake ale. Be sure to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you.’

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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Takoyaki at Ebisu in Shizuoka City! 静岡市ーたこ焼きー戎!

January 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

i my case for takoyaki initiated recently I got some help from Japanese friends.
The next place i was recommended no later than yesterday was Ebisu/戎 (one of the seven Luck Deities in Japan!)!

Now, this particular takoyaki is Osaka-style because the son/chef did learn his trade in that big city!

Smokers are requested to damage themselves outside in the cold!

Now, as the place is really busy at lunch time (and around 17:00 when high school teens flock the place) I had plenty of time to take pictures to supply myself with enough information!

I want this noren/暖簾/entrance curtain!

My first order: takoyaki as they are! One can use sauces et al as he/she wants or have a small bowl of cold/hot dashi stock soup with it!

it was lunch time today and I was hungry, so I asked quite a few things to the surprise of the mother! It is a mother and son’s venture.
The mother is a great smiling lady with an almost maternal attitude towards her customers she repeatedly advise on how to eat her shy son’s preparations!

The small bowl of stock soup!

You drop the takoyaki inside the stock soup, break it with your chopsticks (easy as they are soft) and eat ii by picking the pieces with your chopsticks. When you have finished you drnk the soup and all the tiny pieces you didn’t take out! Delicious until the very end!

Next I ordered another serving seasoned with sauce, chopped scallions and white sauce (mayonnaise)!

For a closer view!

Have a peek under to see how they are presented!

As they are very hot, it is a good idea to break them first….

and have a look inside!

my third order: takosen!

“takosen” is a combination of “tako” for “takoyaki” and “sen” for “senbei/rice cracker”!
The rice cracker is a large and thin but crispy and solid enough shrimp rice cracker which is broken manually to sandwich a couple of takoyaki inside and served inside a hamburger paper bag!

The insides of the rice cracker are coated with no less than three seasonings!

For a closer view!

You may eat the lt as a sandwich/hamburger, but do be careful as it is flaming hot!
I guarantee you I ate it very slowly!

Mark: 91/100

I’m planning to visit the place again with a friend the day after tomorrow as I want to taste their ika yaki/girlled cuttle fish and yakisoba!

EBISU

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Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Hansharo 75 Weissen at AOI BEER STAND in Shziuoka City!

January 22, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Very clean overall. Beautiful washroom inside Den Bulding.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Craft beers only!

Yesterday I noticed a new addition on the craft beer menu served at AOI BEER STANd’s FFACEBOOK!
I immmediately visited the establishment before the brew disappeared from the menu!

The second one on the board: Hansharo Beer (Izu Peninsula), 75 Wissen/反射炉ビール（伊豆）７５ヴァイツェン!
Hansharo Beers are brewed by Kuraya Narusawa Brewery in Izu no Kuni City in Northern Izu Peninsula (see below for details)!
AOI BEER STAND does often serve craft beers from guest breweries in Shizuoka Prefev\cture, therefore check their menu on facebook regularly!

Hansharo 75 Weissen
Kuraya Narusawa Brewery
Alcohol: 5%
Clarity: Comparatively clean
Color: Light orange
Fairly long head
Fine bubbles
Aroma: Assertive, complex. Bread, citruses
Taste: Refreshing dry attack.
Oranges, bread.
Stays deep all the time and lingers long enough in the back of the palate.
Takes a drier turn with the next sip before mellowing again on the palate

Overall: Deep, solid, reliable and refreshing. A lot of chaaracter
Very steady beer!

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

KURAYA-NARUSAWA

Located near Nagaoka Station, Izu no Kuni City, north of Izu Peninsula, it is also famous for looking after an important cultural asset, Hansharo, which has become the name of their 4 regular beers!
Izu no Kuni City, Naka, 272-1
伊豆の国市中272-1
Tel.: 055-949-1208
Opening hours (restaurant and souvenir shop): Monday~Thursday: 11:00~15:00, Friday: 11:00~22:00, Saturday, sunday, National holidays: 10:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese only)

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Takoyaki at Gindaco, Ceneovea Department Store, Shizuoka City!

January 21, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Friendly and smiling
Facilities and equipment: Cenova Department Store facilities. Very clean overall
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Tokyo-style takoyaki

Until a few years ago I wouldn’t have bothered looking for takoyaki in Shizuoka City or Prefecture as we had the best in the whole Tokai area, but following the departure of the owner to another world and squibbles between the inheritors, the building and property ( a lot of money!) were sold and we found ourselves in no man’s land.
But at the same time it offered an opportunity for new owners and chains to open shop.
Therefore, I found myself on the road again to re-discover my favorite Japanese comfort food!

Gindaco銀だこ is a big chain from Tokyo which opened a shop on the third floor of renovated Cenova Department Store in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

The takoyaki are all the same but with different toppings and you can eat them on site.

I’m not keen on food chain stores, but since a Japanese friend recommended them I had to give it a try!

Being it inside a busy department store two staff are constantly churning out the takoyaki while a third staff takes care of the orders and cashier!

Fast work in a clean environment!

Almost ready!

These takoyaki are definitely Tokyo-style.
You can find Osaka-style takoyaki in town which are quite different, especially in texture!

I ordered the basic kind to discover the real taste. Some people tend to attach more importance to the sauce and toppings, but I don’t!
At 8 pieces for 550 yen, they were reasonable.

For a closer view.
They were seasoned in the basic way with sauce/tare, finely shaved katsuo bushi/dry bonito shavings and finely chopped greens.

The outside is comparatively thin but solid and crisp, making it easy to eat with chopsticks or toothpick.
The piece of octopus is of a good size and crunchy.
The dough inside is soft and contains plenty of ingredients.

Overall: Easy to eat, tasty enough, hot and ready.
Mark: 62/100

Continuing the investigation!

GINDAKO

Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-1-1, Cenova Department Store, 3F
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00

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AOI BEER STAND: News of Forthcoming Brewery in Shizuoka City-Aoi Beer Brewery!

January 20, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Very clean overall. Beautiful washroom inside Den Bulding.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Craft beers only!

Things are starting to move fast in Shizuoka City with Aoi Beer Brewery planned to start producing craft beer in early summer!

I ordered the Kurofune Porte by Baird Beer in Numazu City!

I paid a visit to Aoi Beer Stand in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, yesterday hoping to meet Naoki mando/萬藤直樹さん to have a chat about the progress of his new venture, namely Aoi Beer Brewery.
Unfortunately he was still away on a research trip but the present staff was more than helpful!

Kurofune Porter
Alcohol: 6%
Long head
Fine bubbles.
Color: dark brown
Very clean

Aroma: Bread, caramel
Taste: Refreshing attack. Deep and dry. Caramel, bread.
Varies little with food but for a sweeter turn

I can’t wait to dink Aoi Beers in such a glass!

Naoki Mando is not only creating history by starting the first craft beer brewery in Shizuoka City and central Shizuoka Prefecture, he is also contributing to the devlopment of the local economy by building his brewery on the very site of Yasumoto sake and soy sauce Shop, which used to produce soy sauce on the same premises for 151 years until 1962 (the shop since had been stocking rice, soy sauce, sake and others in their warehouse).

In Spring 2013, Naoki struck an agreement with its owner, Mr. Masatoshi Yasumoto/安本正俊さん to reform the warehouse, located near Sengen Shrine in Miyazaki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City.
Actually Mr. Yasumoto had thought until then to eventually pull down the whole warehouse and transform it into a car park, but Naoki convinced him that the building was ound enough to be preserved and transformed into a craft beer brewery!
The outside facade will be preserved as such and only the inside will be reformed!
In Naoki’s words:”Beer is best enjoyed in its birthplace and if there is a supplementary story to the brewery and its buildings, so much for the better!”
For the moment Naoki is thinking of producing 6 types of craft beers including Pale Ale, Weissen, one very local with Shizuoka oranges and the like.

There is a new item on the menu these days!

“Very simple takoyaki”!

Simple maybe, but perfect with craft beer!

I had another craft beer before taking my leave:
North Island Brown Ale (Hokkaido)
Kurofune Porter
Alcohol: 5%
Long head
Fine bubbles.
Color: dark orange
Very clean, slightly smoky

Aroma: Oranges
Taste: Deep, refreshing,. Apricots, loquats
Lingers for a while with very dry citruses appearing later

Look forward to the next report!

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

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Japanese Craft Beer Labels: GeGeGe no Kitarō by Kumezakura Brewery in Tottori Prefecture!

January 19, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

I usually do not write about craft beers in other prefectures as I would have to start a new blog!
Actually, if there is a site I could recommend you, do visit Japan Beer Times who not only have a homepage/blog but also publish a bi-lingual magazine!

I was offered this bottle of craft beer by a good friend of mine who is a fan of beer when he come back from a trip to Tottori Prefecture!

GeGeGe no Kitarō (ゲゲゲの鬼太郎?) is a manga series created in 1959 by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki. It is best known for its popularization of the folklore creatures known as yōkai, a class of spirit-monster to which all of the main characters belong. It has been adapted for the screen several times, as anime, live action and video games. A new anime series has been made every decade since 1968.

For more information have a look at GeGeGe no Kitarō for the English version!

But for a better view of the characters have a look at the Toei Films Presentation!

The craft beer itself is a stout at 5.5 degrees of alcohol that I will enjoy tonight!

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Shizuoka Sake tasting: Kumpai Brewery-Junmai Nama Genshu Fukuro Tsuri Shibori

January 19, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Kumpai might be the smallest brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture but they certainly produce some supreme nectars!

Incidentally the Ichikawa family produces their own labels!
You can see that 2014 is the Year of the Horse!

The s\name of this sake makes for another long reading:
Junmai: No alcohol added
Nama: unpasteurized
genshu: no water aded
Fukuro Tsuri Shibori: the sake was poured inside cloth sacks hung over a tank to let the sake flow out naturally

Rice: Hyakumangoku
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: 0
Alcohol: 18 degrees
Bottled in Decmeber 2013

Clarity: Very clean and smoky (white lees)
Color: Golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Dry. Fruity
Hints of French Pernod, thick nashi pears
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Alcohol softer tan expected.
Strong bubbly feeling.
Soft and complex: liquorice, pears, nashi.
Very easy to drink in spite of its nama and genshu status.
Changes little with food but for a sweeter turn.

Overall: A thoroughly enjoyable limited quantity sake that might be very difficult to obtain (I ordered it directly from the brewery!)!
Chilled, it makes for a superb aperitif.
Could easily replace a liqueur!
Should definitely please ladies in spite of its “rough” status!
If you must eat with it, do try it with blue cheese or chocolate!

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Gastronomic Destinations: Kanazawa City 5: Lunch at Hirai Honten Sushi

January 18, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Kind and attentive. Easy-going and smiling!
Equipment & Facilities: very clean overall. Excellent washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Sushi and tuna. Great lunch sets. Entirely non-smoking!

for our last meal in kanazawa City, we decided to have d\fish again and more precisely sushi!

Hirai Honten is conveniently located on the second floor about the great Ohmicho Market whose fish only has to travel upstairs to be served on your plate!

Visitors who do not like raw fish should be discouraged (overawed? LOL) as they also serve some great cooked seafood sets!

We chose two fairly similar sets!

My donburi set, quite extravagant!
Can you spot the salmon roe with real gold flakes, the sea urchin, the oyster, the conger eel, the yellowtail and crab?

Can you spot the tuna, negitoro and sweet shrimps?

Another view of the crab!

The Dragon’s donburi set!
Can you spot the oyster, negitoro, salmon roe with gold flakes, and cuttle fish?

Can you spot the octopus, salmon, yellow tail and sweet shrimp?

Can you spot the marinated mackerel, tamagoyaki, tuna among the rest?

This was our first visit to Kanazawa City, but expect at least two more!
There were just too many good things for a single trip!

HIRAI HONTEN

920-0905 Kanazawa City, Kami ohmicho, 29 (2nd floor of Ohmicho Market)
Tel./fax: 076-222-5887
“http://www.kaisen-hirai.com/”>HOMEPAGE
Opening hours: 11:00~15:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Entirely non-smoking!

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