Tag Archives: Gastronomes

美食, Dessert, Desserts, 豆腐, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tofu, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Vegetarian terrine

Vegan Japanese Dessert: Tofu Wagashi with Kinako!

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For the pleasure of vegans and vegetarians alkie tofu can be prepared into delicious, healthy and simple desserts!
Here is a suggestion making use of soybeans in two forms: tofu and kinako (grilled soy bean powder)!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 standard pack
-Kinako (Grilled soy bean powder): plenty
-Salt and sugar: as appropriate

For the syrup:
-Granulated sugar: 100g
-Water: 100 cc/ml/1/2 cup

RECIPE:

-Cut tofu into small one bite cubes. Drain water from tofu. take excess water with kitchen paper.
In a saucepna pour water and sugar and sugar. Heat until the mixture has reached a syrup texture. Do not make caramel! Switch fire and let cool. Chill the syrup for a while inside refrigerarator.

-In a large enough vessel drop the tofu in carefully. Pour the syrup over the tofu. Chill inside refrigerator for 1 hour.

-Take tofu out of the refrigerator. Add salt, sugar and kinako. Mix in carefully with a spatula to cover the whole tofu with kinako.

-Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with plenty more kinako!

-Serve with a small wooden spoon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 野菜, 豆腐, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Vegan Japanese Gastronomy: Sweet and Sour Fried Tofu and Mushrooms

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For the pleasure of vegetarians and vegans tofu can be prepared as a hot and very satisfying dish all year round!
A typical example is Agedashidofu/揚げだし豆腐, tofu first deep-fried and then served in dashi.
As for the dashi use seaweed/konbu dashi!

INGREDIENTS: For 3 people

-Tofu: 2 standard blocks
-Cornstarch: as appropriate
-Shimeji mushrooms: 1 standard pack
-Enoki mushrooms: 1 standard pack
-Nameko: 1 bunch

Note: you can adapt with any ind of mushrooms.

-Seaweed/Konbu dashi: 600 cc/ml/3 cups
-Salt: a little
-Soy sauce: 3 tabelspoons
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon
-Grated ginger: 1 tablespoon
-Yuzu koshio: a little
-Cornstach dissolved in water: as appropriate
-Grated daikon: as appropriate
-Chopped leeks: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Wrap tofu in kitchen paper and leave it for an hour for excess water to be absorbed (about an hour).
-Place tofu on a dry wooden cutting board. Place a plate and weight on top and enough water will come out. Dry in kitchen paper.

-In a large pan pour the dashi, salt, soy sauce, mirin, sake, ginger, and yuzu kshio.
Bring to light boil.
Drop the mushrooms in.

-When the mushrooms are cooked to satisfaction pour the cornsatrch dissolved in water. Stir until you have obtained a smooth texture. Keep hot.

-Cut the tofu in adequate large bit sized cubes (you could have done it beforehand and take out excess water)>
Roll them in cornstarch. Shake away excess cornstarch powder.

-Fry tofu cubes in shallow oil until they have attained a very light bron color.
Take ou and pace in a dish.
Pour the sweet and sour mushrooms all over.
Decorate/season with grated daikon and chopped leeks.
Serve immediately!

You may also place the lot over freshly steamed rice!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Iazakaya: Late Spring Quick Visit at Waga (2012) in Shizuoka City!

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One of the superlative sake served at Waga: Junmai by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going! Slow food!
Facilities: Very clean overall. Large and clean washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great list of sake and shochu. Typical izakaya gastronomy with a personal touch!

As I said before it is not easy to socialize equally with all the good restaurants and izakayas in Shizuoka and arrangements have to be done sometimes! LOL
Anyway, to cut another long story short I managed to persuade the Missus again to pay a belated visit to Waga, one of our favorite izakayas in Shizuoka City!

Superb salmon sashimi from Norway!

Waga is another of those great places, totally unpretentious, where you are efficiently served with a constant genuine smile, without a fuss and with plenty of interesting explanations!

Another view of our salmon sashimi!

But when it comes to fish and sashimi in particular, Waga is well above the izakaya average, so have a good look at the menu or ask about the day’s offering to the staff who will only be glad to oblige!

A great marriage of the land and sea: Amadai/Seabream sahimi Salad!

Next you have to order their celebrated daikon katsu. Not so much a revoplutionary concept but I haven’t found a place which served a better version!
Not many are prepared every day so come early or reserve the dish over the phone!

And do not forget to check the day’s specialties!
If you do not read Japanese, the staff who are mostly Shizuoka Prefectural University students should manage to explain in English!

A great izakaya offering: Yasai no Tappuri Katayaki Soba!
Crispy soba/ramen served in soup with pork and plenty of vegetables!
Hot and yummy!

A tasty and satisfying dish for all seasons!

And don’t miss their desserts: mango Creme Brulee!
I know a lot of establishments who would be surprised at the quality of such a dessert in an izakaya!

To be continued…

WAGA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-1-20, Kuroyanagi Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-271-7121
Business hours: 17:30~23:30, 17:30~26:00 (on Fridays, Saturdays and National Holidays)
Closed on Mondays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shirogisu, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: “Quick Dinner” at Soloio in Shizuoka City (Late Spring 2012)

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Another superlative risotto!
Check below!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

There are days and nights when Solio Restaurant is so practical as it opens as early as 16:00 and as late as 24:00!
But it is could also be said it is a venture fraught with dangers, what with the constant temptation to drink and dine late! LOL

Solio always has an array of appetizers/antipasti ready to be chosen from, a boon for hungry and busy people!
We had this little delicious asparagus and shrimps salad!
It was with the beer we had first after a long day of shopping!

Apart of the regular printed menu and specialties of the day written on the overhead blackboard make sure to have a look at the small seasonal menu included on a loose sheet inside the menu!
There are discoveries to be made as the above white shrimps from Toyama Prefecture served deep-fried!
Another beauty for the beer!
Alright let’s discover what we had with the wine!

Roma-Style rice croquettes!
You had better keep those away from kids! They are just too dainty and scrumptious! LOL

Home-made sausage!
We should have kept some beer for that!
A rare time when I called a sausage “elegant”!

We had to have one of the two risottos of the day (I wished we had both!)!
Spring cabbage (very tender and sweet) and cockles risotto cooked in the cockles soup/juices!

It was a fight as whether to have pasta or dessert!
This fight resolved it was a second struggle as to which pasta we would order!

Nagano Prefecture wild boar stew with rosemary parpadelle!
Do I need to comment any further?

To be continued…

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 葡萄, 観光, 農業, Food, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Grapes, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Fruits to Look Forward to This Summer-2: Pione Budou-Pione Grapes

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PIONE1

There are a lot of fruit which either originated or grew to be characteristic of Japan.
I’m trying to introduce them to help my vegan and vegetarian (I’m not) friends in particular as fruit can be adapted into so many ways!

1) Nashi/Asian Pear
2) Jirou Kaki/Jirou Persimmon

Grapes are relatively new to Japan, but its people have compensated this with an eye to create new strains with great success. Actually grapes were first cultivated in Shizuoka Prefecture in Meiji Era!

PIONE3
Pione Grapes are grown in aerial style.

Pione Grapes are a typical example.
They are a cross between Kyoho Grapes and Cannon Hole Muscat.
Kyoho grapes (巨峰葡萄) are hemselves a Concord-like cross (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca) between Campbell and Centennial grape varieties.

Kyoho grapes were first produced in 1942 in Shizuoka Prefecture, but were not so named until 1946.

PIONE-MUSCAT
Pione Grapes compared to Muscat Grapes

Pione Grapes (ピオネ葡萄) were also first produced in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1957 by a farmer called Hideo Ikawa.
Pione is an Italian name.

PIONE2
Pione grape

Pione grapes are usually seedless, juicy and very sweet making them very versatile for all kinds of desserts:

PIONE-MOCHI

A typical Japnese dessert:
Pione Grape inside mochi!

PIONE-TART
Pione Tart!
Irresistible, isn’t it?

But Pione Grapes, especially their flesh in “Concasse” style can be used in salads:

PIONE-ORGANIC-MIZUNASU

A dream salad for vegans!
Pione Grapes flesh on organic “Mizu nasu”/Mizu egg plant sashimi.
This particular kind of (Japanese) egg plant is eaten raw.
A little pepper and voila!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Persimmon, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 柿

Shizuoka Fruits to Look Forward to This Summer-1: Jirou Kaki-Jirou Persimmon-Squat Persimmon

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JIRO-KAKI1

Jirou kaki or Jirou Persimmons/Squat Persimmons are not to be confused with “normal persimmons”, or heart-shaped Hachiya which is the most common variety of astringent persimmon. Astringent persimmons contain very high levels of soluble tannins and are unpalatable if eaten before softening.

JIRO-KAKI-FALSE

Hachiya Persimmons

The astringency of tannins is removed through ripening by exposure to light over several days, wrapping the fruit in paper for heating it, and/or artificially with chemicals such as alcohol and carbon dioxide which change tannin into the insoluble form. This bletting process is sometimes jumpstarted by exposing the fruit to cold or frost which hastens cellular wall breakdown. These astringent persimmons can also be prepared for commercial purposes by drying.

JIRO-KAKI-TREE

The non-astringent persimmon, or Jirou kaki, is squat like a tomato and is most commonly sold as Fuyu. Non-astringent persimmons are not actually free of tannins as the term suggests, but rather are far less astringent before ripening, and lose more of their tannic quality sooner. Non-astringent persimmons may be consumed when still very firm to very very soft.

JIRO-KAKI-DRIED

Dried Jirou Persimmon

Actually, Jirou Kaki/Jirou Persimmons are the pride of our Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, as they were first grown in 1844 by a farmer called Jiroushi Matsumoto in Mori-Cho, Western Shizuoka Prefecture!
Their trees were finally successfully raised in 1869.

JIRO-KAKI-JAM

Jirou Persimmon Jam

The persimmons were finally given their name, Jirou Kaki, by the Emperor of Japan upon his meeting with Fujitarou Suzuki (the grower of that time) in Mori-Cho where a Shinto Temple is still dedicated to the Emperor of Japan.

JIRO-KAKI-CAKES

In Shizuoka Prefecture, Jirou Persimmon are found under many guises such as cakes (above)

JIRO-KAKI-WINE

Jirou Persimmon wine!

JIRO-KAKI-VINEGAR

Jirou Persimmon vinegar, a rarity created by Bembei Kawamura, the Father of Shizuoka Sake!
It can drunk as a health drink mixed with with good wateror used as a finish on many dishes!

JIRO-KAKI-DRYING

Although I personally like them fresh either as dessert or in salads with vegetables, my favourite is dried persimmons, a big business in Shizuoka Prefecture!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 観光, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tex Mex Gastronomy, Tourism

American Gastronomy: Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City (The Sequel)!

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Fish and chips! American-style?

Service: Shy but very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Good general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive but very good value
Strong points: Tex-Mex gastronomy of superior quality. Doubles up as bar in evenings

As promised I went again to Tequila’s Diner to explore more of their menu!

In day time!
Actually this article is a combination of two reports in late afternoon and evening, and I still have only scratched the depth of their carte!

At night!

A peek inside although I favor the small table outside on the terrace!

“French Fried potatoes”!
I must say they are above average!
Great with beer!

Grab the menu!

And check the specialties written in English!

Inside check the “Lunch Of The Day” as you can also order it at night!

This is Japan!
Tequila’s Diner Shochu!

Impressive collection of MONIN liqueurs for cocktails!

Turkeys don’t last long there!

Actually you can visit the place for drinks only!

Deep-fried beer-marinated tripes! A discovery!

Fish and Chips, American-style!

As good as the British and Irish ones!

The little but important detail!

Great composite vegetable salads for well-balanced meals!

Now, their nachos are absolutely scrumptious!

And well-balanced!

Even the back looks so yummy! A good sign!

And they sell exquisite T-shirts for the collectors!

To be continued… naturally!

TEQUILA’S DINER
420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 8-6 (near Aoba Park Street), ACT 7, 1F
Tel.: 054–255-7595
Business hours: 12:00~14:00, 18:00~24:00
Closed on Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

焼酎, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shochu, Tourism

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Takashima Distillery-Brewery: Dai Ippoh

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Takashima Brewery in Numazu City does not brew only superlative Japanese sake but also distill some incredibly extravagant rice shochu as well!
Their latest jewel is Dai Ippoh!

When you look at the simple calligraphic design you will understand it represents the nearby Mount Fuji!

Dai Ippoh/第壱峰 (old-style calligraphy) means “The First Peak”!

Alcohol: 25 degrees
Ingredients: Rice and rice malt

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Almost sweetish and spicy. Alcohol. Rice.
Body: Fluid
Taste: At first sweetish and complex attack.
Dry dark cherries.
Turns quickly drier.
Does not linger long in mouth or under palate.
Very clean, elegant and fruity approach.
Alcohol impact relatively soft with fruits appearing with each new sip.

Overall: A very elegant rice shochu which should be drunk on its own first at room temperature without ice or water for a true appreciation and taste discovery.
All the qualities and more of a superlative rice shochu.
Varies little with food.
At the most pour it over a lot of ice but there is no reason to mix with anything!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Yamanaka Brewery-Aoitenka-“Jin”-Junmai

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Yamanaka Brewery and its main brand, Aoitenka, are not much known in Japan and little away from the Western part of our Prefecture, but they certainly deserve all their praise in spite of their rarity!

This particular limited sake is called Jin/陣. “Jin” is a military term meaning “camp” or “position”.
In the old days the “jin” was marked with banners bearing the Arms/”mon” of the army overlord or commander.
The label features some of these “mon” for a beautiful design!

The “mon” represented with the bottleneck label is that of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to retired to Shizuoka (called Sumpu at the time) at the beginning of the 17th Century!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku 100% grown in Shizuoka Prefecture
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 2.0
Acidity: 1.4
Yeast: No 1401
Bottled in March 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Fruity and fleeting. Nice alcohol. Cocoa, cherries
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up by junmai petillant.
Complex. Dark chocolate, coffee beans, oranges.
Starts soft to finish on a very dry note.
Becomes a lot drier with food with a predominance by oranges.
Dark chocolate making a strong comeback away from food, adding a soft note again all over the palate.

Overall: A sake obviously designed to be enjoyed with food but worth tasting both away and with food for interesting comparison.
Could be drunk at all temperatures for more fun and more discoveries.
A solid and dependable sake for all seasons in spite of its limited production!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Abekaido Tokubetsu Honjozo

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“Abekaido” which means “Abe River Route” was part of the old “Tokaido/East Route” which ran from Edo to Kyoto.
People then had no recourse but to cross the Abe River in Shizuoka City, then called Sunpu, unless they wished the country beyond the Southern Alps.

The Abekaido brand was originally created by the defunct Yoshiya Brewery that the present Suruga Brewery acquired upon the retirement of its last sake masterbrewer!

Rice milled down to 60%
Dryness: + 5~; 8
Acidity: 1.0~1.2
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in December 2011

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Banana, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity strong attack backed by pleasant alcohol.
Warming up the back of the palate. Complex.
Lingers for a while on a dry note.
Dark chocoleate, banana, dry almonds, oranges.
Fairly strong but pleasant.
Assertive but attractive.
Gets drier with food with a stronger accent on oranges and almonds with an appearance of lemons.
Dark chocolate reappears away from the food with a sweeter note.

Overall: A sake definitely conceived for food as it doesn’t vary much.
Marries very well with any food, even curry!
A bottle you could keep carrying around as you never know… a B.B.Q., a new friend, an old one, or…

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

Beche de Mer, 美食, 観光, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Namako, sashimi, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, sushi, Tourism, 海鼠

Japanese Seafood Species 4: Beche de Mer-Sea Cucumber-Namako-海鼠

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NAMAKO-RED

Red Sea Cucumber

Beche de Mer in French, Sea Cucumber in English, Sea Rat (海鼠) in Japanese, this marine creature has been called all kinds of names in many different countries over the ages.
French sailors were catching them and trading them with the Chinese as far back as the XVIIIth Century.
They are presently the most poached single creature in the Japanese seas by illegal fishermen from China, North Korea and Russia to the tunes of thousands of tons every year.

NAMAKO-GREEN

Green Sea Cucumber

NAMAKO-BLACK

Black Sea Cucumber

Quite a few varieties are found in Japanese markets, but the highest quality specimen are the red sea cucumbers.

The best season is Winter, although they are sold over the counter well beyond Spring in Japan.
They ave many names in Japanese: Namako, Manamako, Akako, Aoko, Kaiso and are caught almost all around the Japanese islands.
They lay eggs from late Spring to early Summer, hence their best taste in Winter when the Japanese find them almost sweet.
Choose red ones as they are softer and tastier. Choose specimens with firm flesh and healthy skin.

NAMAKO-BACHIKO

Namako Bachiko

The Japanese eat them in many ways. Like the Chinese they eat them in their dried form, or “Bachiko”.

NAMAKO-GREEN-TEA

They are popular boiled in green tea!

NAMAKO-SASHIMI

Of course you will find them as sashimi!

NAMAKO-NIGIRI

Or as sushi nigiri!

NAMAKO-KONOWATA

Their innards, called “konowata”, are considered a delicacy!

NAMAKO-KONOWATA-GUNKAN

Most popular as gunkan sushi!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

Cherry Shrimp, 由比, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Harbors, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shrimps, Tourism, 桜海老

Sakura Shrimps Fisherman in Yui: Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!

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A samurai of old? Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!

The cherry shrimps spring catching season will be finished in three weeks before being resumed in late fall.
So yesterday, 23rd of May, it was high time I went looking for an old friend working half of the year as a cherry shrimps fisherman in Yui, Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

The cherry shrimps entry gate!

Although Yui has lately been incorporated into Shizuoka City it is still a bit far from the center of Shizuoka City, 5 stations away along the Tokaido Railway Line.
Once you get off Yui Station turn immediately to the right where you will see the Cherry Shrimps Gate at the entrance of Cherry Shrimps Street!

Have a look at the map conveniently set up near the station entrance!

Looking at the pictures you will discover there is lot to see in this little fishing village!

Now, be a bit nosy and you will find copies of old pictures on vending machines!

A fisherman’s life was really hard toil not so long ago, but they already knew how to enjoy themselves!

If you do not miss the entrance to the small (but nationally-known!) harbour past under the railway track you will notice this signboard!

It features a map of Suruga Bay between Omaezaki and the Izu Peninsula.
Every two days the departure time is clearly indicated, varying between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.!
The ships will be back between 10:30 and 12:00 p.m. depending upon the catch.

The ships, all owned by the Yui Cherry Shrimps fishermen Association are divided into four groups with a new destination every two days as well as a different departing order!

You will find two kinds of fishing ships inside Yui harbor:
The smaller cherry shrimps boats.

And the larger differently-equipped shirasu/sardine whiting boats.
The season and departing times are different for those and they do belong to another Association.

A grand view of the highly protected harbour from its land’s end!

The shirasu boats and private vessels are moored at the end of the harbor.

The Yui Harbor Fishermen Association building where the morning auctions are conducted! I will report there as early as 6:30 a.m. for my next interview!

The exit to the sea under the Tomei Expressway!

A view of the harbour from the sea’s end!

Both quays are dotted with accesses to fuel from where the ships can pump in their individual needs directly!

Ice is brought in bags in small trucks.

I finally found my man: Hiroki Kubota-窪田弘毅!
Hiroki is now a very young 43-year old samurai figure.
After graduating from Tokai University in Yokohama 23 years ago he decided to come back home and work as a cherry shrimp fisherman in Yui half of the year and spend the rest of the year abroad, Bali these days, to enjoy his passion: surfing!
He actually lost half of his right thumb this year in a surfing accident and still wears a plaster around his right hand and wrist!

It doesn’t matter how long you have been in the business, but you still have to go through a lot of very important chores such as oiling the machinery!

Checking the nets!

A last check to ensure the good unfurling of the nets!

Hiroki’s ship: Dai Ichi Wakamiya Maru!
Dai Ichi stands for “First” as the ships always work in teams of two with six crew on each ship!
“Maru” means “Ship”!

This little box is the privies!
They didn’t have it a long time ago!
The ships have been equipped with siphons only ten years ago to haul the shrimps from the nets held between ships!
The work had to be done with large baskets, ropes and pulleys before.
Hiroki assured me that the fishing has definitely become easier on the body!

Each ship is equipped with a stove constantly burning as the nights are cold at sea!
Hiroki’s crew mates, all great lads, invited to join me in the near future! I’m definitely tempted although the Dragon at home will probably disagree!

Checking one’s wet suit and personal belongings for a last time.

Waiting for the official start always announced over a loudspeaker.
Fishing is done only in the evenings of Spring and Fall when the shrimps rise from their usual depth under 200 metres to up to 50 metres below surface.
In Spring fishing is concentrated in the eastern half of the bay whereas in the fall it will be done in the Central part of the Suruga bay.

Still some time left to share a joke and a rumor!

Some mooring lines are already loosened and taken away.

Some of the crews are already putting on their fishing wet suits. Hiroki does seem to need his yet…

What may such men laugh about at such a time?

Our samurai does seem to be an old hand!

Getting the ice ready in the proper place!

Putting some of the protective buoys back aboard.

All ships are equipped with powerful radio and radar!

A last call to the girlfriend?

The last ships leaving!
Hiroki’s was one of the last that day as his ship would work in the nearby sea!

Hiroki’s ship leaving at last!

Speeding away!

Good luck guys, and have a good catch!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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

美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Fish Markets, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Local Shizuoka Fish at Parche Fishmarket in Shizuoka City!

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Shizuoka Prefecture is blessed with two of the richest sea areas in Japan with the Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula.
The Prefecture boasts the largest number of seafood and edible seaweed in the whole country and a simple visit to a good fish market such as the one on the first floor of Parche in Shizuoka JR Station will give you a good idea of what is available in our region!

Come and visit as early as possible, ideally before 10:00 a.m. before the first rush of customers of the day and you will discover the full range at ease!

First have a look at the fish just brought to the Yaizu and Numazu harbors early in the morning before being directly transported to the market just after the local auctions!

All the fish except the last one are from Shizuoka Prefecture.
The prices are for 100 grams.
Count 100 yen for 1 Euro and 80 yen for 1 US $!

These fish will be exhibited at the entrance of the kitchen!

Can you recognize some of them?
The employees will gut and dress them on request!

Horse mackerel/Aji/鯵 from Yui!

Live spiny lobsters/Ise Ebi/伊勢海老!

Shizuoka specialty! Raw Cherry Shrimps/Sakura Ebi/桜海老!

A bit pricey by Shizuoka standards, but dead cheap for Tokyo (that is, if you find them!)!

Now, that was for the fresh arrivals!
If you take a good look at the displays on the right of the of the space reserved for the employees in front of the sashimi you will find fish not one day old yet cleanly packed for immediate sale .
Keep your eyes open and you will find that almost 40% of them are local and still very fresh by usual standards!
Now, what was on display this morning?

Above picture and below:
Red Sole/Aka Shita Birame/赤舌平目.

Below: Rosy Seabass/Aka Mutsu/あかむつ
Above: Crimson Seabream/Porgy/Hana Dai/花鯛

Goldline Seabream/Hedai/へだい

Japanese barracuda/Kamasu/かます

“Devil Rockfish”/Scorpaenopsis cirrhosa (Thunberg)/Onikasago/おにかさご

Flying Fish/Tobiuo/とび魚

Golden threadfin-bream,Besugo/Itoyori/いとより

Chicken Grunt/Isaki/イサキ

White croaker, Silver jewfish/Guchi/ぐち

True Seabream/Madai/真鯛

Akou Rockfish/Sebastes matsubarae/Akoudai/あこうだい

Below:
Dark Sleeper/Donkou/どんこう

Above:
Japanese bluefish, Bigeye/Kuro Mutsu/黒むつ

Silver “Dabera”/Gin Dabera/銀ダベラ

Sillago/kisu/鱚

White “Mebaru”Shiroi Mebaru/白めばる

Pacific rudderfish, Butterfish/ebodai/えぼだい

Below:
“kana”/Kana/かな

Above:
Thread-sail Filefish/Kawahagi/カワハギ

Time to visit some harbors (coming articles!)!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 蛸, 観光, 魚海の幸, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Octopus, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tako, Tourism

Japanese Seafood Species 3: Octopus Varieties

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OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-SALAD

Mizudako Octopus Sashimi Salad

Octopuses are common on the markets along the Mediteranean Sea, especially Greece, italy and Spain.
Tey are also very common in Asia, especially Korea and Japan.

OCTOPUS-MADAGO-TSUKIJI

For people living in Tokyo, you will find plenty inside the Tsukiji Market.

OCTOPUS-NUMAZU-HARBOUR

As for people living in Shizuoka Prefecture, go and visit the Harbour in Numazu City!

There many kinds of octopus, some edible, some definitely not!
I will talk here about the main varieties found, sold and eaten in Japan!

MADAKO

OCTOPUS-MADAGO-1

Madako or “True Octopus” will be sold from late Autumn till early Spring.
50,000 tonnes are caught in Japan while 100,000 tonnes are imported, 60% fromm Morocco, 20% from Mauritania and some more from South Africa.

OCTOPUS-MADAGO-2

Boiled Madako from Japan

OCTOPUS-MADAGO-3

Boiled Madako from South Africa

It is very often found boiled in the supermarkets and are appreciated in salads, chyawanmushi, takoyaki and so on.

OCTOPUS-MADAGO-4

But lightly as sushi nigiri is probably the best!

MIZUDAKO

OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-1

Mizudako, also called Shiodako and Oodako is a large variety reaching up to 3 metres. It is caught in Autumn and Winter at depths bewteen 100and 1,000 metres in the Northern half of Japan.
It is usually sold frozen. It is then cut when half thawn for:

OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-3

Mizudako sashimi

OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-SALAD

Mizudako Salad

OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-2

It is also very common boiled and pickled in rice vinegar.

OCTOPUS-MIZUDAKO-EGGS
Its eggs are a rare morsel eaten as sushi on a gunkan!

IIDAKO

OCTOPUS-IIDAGO-1

Iidako, also known as Komochidako or Ishidako are caught south of Hokkaido Island. They are comparatively small and do not measure more than 20 cm. A lot are caugt along the Korean Peninsula and China at depths down to 20 metres. They tend to lay their a bit everywhere, even inside empty cans at the bottom of the sea!
Imports have been increasing of late.

OCTOPUS-IIDAGO-2

Iidago are much appreciated cooked whole with their eggs or

OCTOPUS-IIDAGO-3

whole again, boiled or raw, as sushi on nigiri!

CHIHIRODAKO

OCTOPUS-CHIHIRODAKO-1

Chihirodako is local Shizuoka variety found at Numazu Harbour.
It is appreciated boiled or in Tenpura

OCTOPUS-CHIHIRODAKO-2

Its tentacles, boiled, are popular as sushi nigiri!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Common Sea Squirt, 美食, 観光, 魚海の幸, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hoya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Sea Cucumber, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 海鞘

Japanese Seafood Species 2: Sea Cucumber/Common Sea Squirt/Hoya-Mahoya-海鞘

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The Common Sea Squirt or Hoya/海鞘 in Japanese, very often called Sea Cucumber is neither a coral, seaweed, shellfish or whatever.
It is an animal of its own class.

HOYA

In its natural habitat, already a prey to many marine predators, it has become rare because of the extensive catch by humans.

HOYA-NATURAL

Its natural colour is whitish out of the water while (see pic above) Hoya rasied by humans are of a deep orange colour.

We are just in the middle of its season, May.
They are mainly raised in Miyagi Prefecture while natural ones are caught in Iwate Prefecture.

Hoya sashimi!

You have to cut it open to reach its edible part.

It can be eaten raw, slightly boiled or pickled.
It is said to be the rare sea animal combining the four tastes: sweetness, saltiness, sourness and acidity.

HOYA-4

For a better view of its insides.
It is called sea squirt, because it is mainly filled with sea water which can be expelled at will.

I personally appreciate it as gunkan,

or sushi nigiri, although it is a bit of an acquired taste!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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:

-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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery