Tag Archives: Gastronomy

Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Japan, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Mori No Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)-Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mori No Biru which iathe brewery of Gotemba Koogen Beer Company owned by the Yonekyu Company in Gotemba City does produce some seasonal brews in the craftbeer fashion!

The company for all its big size is still new as it was founded in 19797!

The regular beers are not craftbeers but this one is!

Product name: Winter Winter Seasonal Oogon Fuji
Unfiltered
Ingredients: barley malt, hops, yeast, water from a well dug 50 meteres deep into Mount Fuji!
Volume: 400 ml
Alcohol: 5.5%

Clarity: Very clean and slightly smoky
Color: Light yellow orange
Aroma: Bread, oranges
Bubbles: Fine and light bubble
Longish head
Taste: Dry attack.
Deep and somewhat complex.
Bread with hints of citruses.
Refreshing and easy to drink.

Overall: Thirst-quenching but better than average such beers.
Satisfying. To be enjoyed with snacks!

Mori no Biru Brewery (Gotemba Koogen)
421-0046 Gotemba City, Hodosawaji, Sumiyakisawa, 1015-1
Tel 0550-89-7611
Gotemba Koogen Homepage

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, Fujieda City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Okabe, Photography, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Goku Ginjo Hyogetsu

January 11, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

Hyogetsu is brand by Hatsukame Brwery in Okabe, Fujieda City, which have been known practically all over the world from the day its bottle recived the Best Bottle Design Award!

Even the case is a beauty!

Great stopper!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Preefcture9
Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 3.0
Acidity: 1.35
Yeast: 1801 KA-1
Bottled in September 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Elegant. Pears, nashi
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded attack backed by a discreet junmai petillant
Dry and fruity. Pears, bananas.
Lingers for a while with dry dark choclate, almonds.
very complex, almost mysterious.
Very satisfying and so easy to drink.
Changes little with food but for a drier turn with the appearance of very dry oranges.
Beautifully marries with food, especially light fare.
Tends to show new facets with next sip, with or away from food.

Overall: Best enjoyed slightly chilled and on its own although it combines so well with food.
Thoroughly enjoyable any time of the day and night, by yourself or with great company!
A superb present for a very important one!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Cafes, Cheese, Cheese Cake, 美食, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Dessert: New York Cheese Cake at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

January 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly, smiling and attentive
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom in same building separated from the cafe.
Prices: Reasonable for such big servings!
Strong points: Very generous cafe/bistro multi-genred gastronomy. Great variety. Great products. Entirely non-smoking in very modern atmosphere. Great books!

Having just come back from a lot of eating and drinking in Kanazawa City, I skipped lunch on Thursday but decided to pay a visit to my favorite cafe, namely BLUE BOOKS cafe in Aoi kU, Shizuoka City!

in the afternoon the establishment is moderately busy so I had time to talk with staff about the new cafe time menu!

My attention was caught by the New York Cheese Cake!

Certainly yummy looking!

A really thick cheese cake with a thick biscuit base!

Served with a lemon/orange sauce!

baked to perfection!

I can guarantee you it disappeared quickly!

BLUE BOOKS cafe
420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki-Cho, 4-6, Den Bldg 1F (5~10 minutes walk straight ahead from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit, around the corner at the large crossroads)
Tel.: 054-280-7644
Opening hours: 11:00~14:30 (lunch), 14:30^17:30 (cafe), 17:30~23:00 (dinner)
Entirely non-smoking!
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Boudin Noir (Blood Sausage) at Caravin in Shizuoka City!

January 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: very friendly if a bit shy.
Facilities and equipment: overall very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Authentic French and European bistro gastronomy. Slow food. Excellent and reasonable wine list.

For a long time Chef Onoda at Caravin Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City had promised to challenge boudin noir or blood (pork) sausage!

Back in France it is delicacy you can buy anywhere to eat back at home, but in Japan it is still very much a rarity, especially home-made!

A truly magnificent if somewhat of modest origins with all the extras needed!

Served with an unctuous mashed potato puree I will the pleasure to mix with the boudin later!

Caramelized apples are a must for a perfect balance!

Naturally with some leaf vegetables for a healthy dish!

It is always such a pleasure to cut the thin skin and mix the soft insides with the mashed potatoes!

CARAVIN
Shizuoka City, Takajo, 2-25-17
Tel.: 054-246-3539
Opening hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Mondays
Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Kanazawa City, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, sushi, Sushi bars, Sushi restaurants., Tourism, 寿司

Gastronomic Destinations: Kanazawa City 1-Mori Mori Sushi!

January 10, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities and Equipment: Overall very clean. Very clean wasroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Very good value for many local fish and seafood! Better than average conveyor belt sushi! Entirely non-smoking!

Usually I’m not so keen on kaiten sushi/回転すし/Conveyor belt sushi, but when you happen to enjoy food in a Prefecture and City famed for their fish and seaood I’m willing to make a concession, with a few conditions attached that is!

Mori Mori Sushi is a big sushi restaurant chain in Japan, with no less than 15 establishments allowing them to make extensive use of computerized service.

It is a busy place, but you do not have to sit elbow to elbow with other customers as the “belts” also run along the booth-style table seatings!

The table we were offered was the epitome of sushi high tech!

You can choose your morsels in two different manners:
via the computer digital screen or by picking plates running along on belts!

Now I must admit that this system should appeal to non-Japanese speaking tourists as you can switch to English, Korean, Chinese and Mandarin (Taiwan) Chinese!

The lid covered plates running along is a show by itself!

Plenty of simple instructions:
Smoking prohibited!
Do not ride the belts (that’s for silly kids!)!
Mind your sleeves!
Do not return a plate onto the belt!

You are free to collect leftovers to take back home! (no waste!)
Pay your bill to the staff at your table (no need to search for the register. You can pay by card at your table!)!
Refrain from drinking alcohol if you are driving!
No pets allowed!
Do not block large trays on the belt (such large trays are private oreders, anyway!)!

The belt move slowly enough for you to look and pick up an individual plate!

Yummy!

These trays on the train are private orders that will be delivered at only one table. Don’t try to block it!

Don’t worry, there are plenty of cartes on hands for the analogs like me to have a good look at the offereings!

have a good look at the sets, too!

Gunkans/ships and Rolls!

There is also a special additional daily menu! You might need some help there!

Our first set, all different shrimps!

Our second set!

We had just disembarked from a 4-hour train trip and were very hungry at this first lunch so we ordered some extra!
“Gasuebi sshrimps”!

Sea urchin and salmon roe!

Shiroebi shrimps”!

Scallops!

Natto and cuttle fish/squid!

Negitoro and quail eggs!

Our last order came by train!

Tamagoyaki nigiri!

When you call for your bills the staff will pass a computer reader along them and voila, your bill will be ready!
Note that the plates are of different colors indicating a pre-ordained price including drinks. So do not worry if you are served empty colored plates with your drinks!
Tea is free and you can mix it and serve it yourself thanks to a hot water tap at your table!

MORI MORI SUSHI (Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant)

Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanzawa City, Horikawa Shin Cho, 3-1, Kanazawa Forus Department Store, 6 F (near Kanazawa JR Station)
Te.: 076-265-3510
Opening hours: Forus Department Store opening hours
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Baird Beer, Bars, Beer, Beer Brewery, 美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Japan, Japanese Beer, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Bryan Baird Newsletter (2014/01/09): Winter Seasonal Release: Dark Sky Imperial Stout

January 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Baird Beer & Taproom Events Bulletin

Winter Seasonal Release: Dark Sky Imperial Stout

Dear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:

Happy New Year! 2014 promises to be an eventful year at Baird Brewing as we move into our new brewery home in Shuzenji later this spring. We also are undertaking major redesigns of our website, e-shop and newsletter. These changes will be unveiled also in the spring. One thing that won’t be changing is our classic winter seasonal ale: Dark Sky Imperial Stout.

New Baird Beer Seasonal Release:
*Dark Sky Imperial Stout (9%):

This foreboding stout is a beer lover’s winter dream. It is pitch-black in color, unctuous in body, elusively complex in flavor, warming in alcohol and piquantly hoppy. If you want to take the nip out of winter, this is your brew!

Dark Sky Imperial Stout is available for immediate release both in kegs and bottles (360 ml) and is now pouring from the taps at each of our Baird Taproom pubs.

Cheers!

Bryan Baird

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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レシピ, 美食, 里芋, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚海の幸, 豚肉, 鹿肉, 農業, France, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka marine products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Torigai

French Gastronomy: New Year Dinner at Pissenlit (2014) in Shizuoka City!

January 5, 2014 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 and caught fish. Very inventive French gastronomy.

Due to a double cold and flu we could have our New Year Dinner only last night at Pissenlit French Restaurant in Pissenlit, but it certainly was worth it!

As the first starter we were served an organic Okura Daikon/大蔵大根 (all vegetables last night were organic and grown by Mr. Hiragaki at Kitayama Farm in Fujinomiya City) and marinated herring!

From a different angle!

Satoimo/taro root terrine!

Seasoned with fresh cream and olive oil!

The Missus’ first seafood dish with a marriage of the land and the sea!

Kogamo Duck Ham and Poireau/French leek!

Poele Ako Oyster and Kadaif/Angel hair and caviar!

The kadaif imported from France!

My own first seafood dish was another marriage of the land and the sea!

Okura Daikon mounted with shirako/cod milt poele in meuniere style and decorated with rainbow trout caviar from Fujinomiya City!

The second fish dish!

The whole vegetable, stem, leaves and flowers, is called “Mibuna” in Japanese!

The fish is madai/true seabream from the Suruga Bay, and poele on its skin.
The sauce is Homard lobster bisque!

The Missus’ meat dish!

Yusui To Pork Fillet and organic vegetables, all from Fujinomiya City!

My meat dish!

Ezo venison from Hokkaido and organic vegetables!

Earl

Grey and Darjheeling Tea jelly before the dessert!

Our dessert!

Chilled Akihime Strawberry soup and its sorbet!

And balsamico sauce!

The mignardises served with the coffee are home-made chocolat almonds and Daigakuimo/Sweet potato!

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!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji Takasago Brewery-Junmai Ginjo

January 4, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

For all simple name, “Junmai Ginjo, this premium sake just released by Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City is a limited brand!

It was the last bottle in Matsuzakaya Department Store and the Brewer who happened to be there had to ask the staff to fetch it inside the store room!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 50%
Dryness: + 3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in July 2013

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity and dry. Discreet and elegant. Apricots
Body: Fluid
Taste: Well-rounded soft attack with puissant junmai petillanmt.
Fruity. Starts on a sweetish note to end up on a very dry turn. Apricots, almonds.
Elegant, easy to drink.
Disappears quickly with hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee beans.
Turns somewhat sweeter with food but chnages little.

Overall: A superb sake to be enjoyed on its own at room temperature.
Could be used as an extravagant aperitif.
Marries well with food though.
A rare and sure value!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, Crab, Crustaceans, 美食, 花咲蟹, 魚海の幸, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Hansaki Crab, Japan, Japanese crabs, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, sushi

Sushi: Hanasaki Crab Chirashi Zushi for the New Year!

January 1, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

Chirashi zushi/散らし寿司 means “decoration sushi” in Japanese!
It is a free form of sushi very popular at homes!

We received this magnificent crab directly from Hokkaido!

Its name, Hanasakgani/花咲蟹 means “Flower Blooming Crab”!
This is probably due tp its many spikes!

We received pre-boiled although the original color is almost the same!
The Dragon had a hard time to prepare it as the shell is hard. I did propose to help her but she refused!

This crab can be found only in the North Pacicific around Hokkaido, The Behring Sea and the Sakhalin.
It does not have a specila English name and goes by the Latin name of Paralithodes brevipes.

It is considered as one of the top three crabs (at least in Hokkaido) with the Kegani/Horsehair Crab and the Tarabagani/Red King CRab! It is expensive but we recived it as an End of the Year present!

The meat out of its shell!

The Dragon prepared a chirashi sushi served in the traditional round wood bowl for 4 of us, but we couldn’t finish and had more for the next breakfast!

The Dragon first prepare the sushi rice inside the wooden bowl.

She had mixed the rice with some golden sesame seeds before adding roughly shredded hanaski crab meat and chopped fresh mizuna herbs.

As this is the New Year, she also added plenty of ikura/salmon re!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fusion Gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Recommended Lunch Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Soul Food, Tourism

Soul Food: Pork & Winter Vegetables Pot au Feu at BLUE BOOKS cafe in Shizuoka City!

January 1, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

The days have sensibly gotten colder, even here in mild Shizuoka City, and that is when you really a body and heart-comforting hot food!

Not accounting for the weird grammar and the mixture of French and American this pot au feu was really tempting!

Another very good value lunch set!

As usual plenty of Caesar salad with local leaf vegetables for good balance!

And what I had called carrot bread all the time is succulent corn bread! mea culpa! mea culpa!

All the contents practically bred and grown in Shizuoka Prefecture!

All stewed in expensive French Staub iron-wrought ware!

The pork belly must have been stewed in two stages as it was as soft as “kakuni”!
Note the burdock root for a typical Japanese touch!

Vegetables included cabbage, broccoli, carrot, onion, burdock root to form a succulent soup!

When simple food becomes gastronomic soul food!
I’ll have it again anytime this winter!

Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
Twitter: @BlueBooksCafe

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, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Recommended Lunch Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Recommended Lunch Restaurants In Shizuoka Prefecture: French (as of December 31st, 2013)

December 31, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fricassee de Poulet at Ema L’Estaminet in Hamamatsu City!

Many people only have time to visit restaurants at lunch and it is certainly not easy to find a restaurant with a better lunch with all those cheap diners around!
Here is the first installment of a series of reports on recommended lunch restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture which will be classified as follows:
-French
-Italian
-Western (American, European, et al)
-Japanese
-Asian
-Vegan & Vegetarian
-Ethnic
-Healthy

Obviously some restaurants will find their niche in more than one classification.
Moreover, the listing not being exhaustive, will be expanded or amended regularly with dates cited!

CAVA.K.

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Spotless clean verall. Superb washroom
Prices: Appropriate. Reasonable when considering quality and originality!
Strong points: Gibier/Game, the best in the Prefecture! Great use of superb local and own garden ingredients. Seasonally cured meat and ham.

CAVA.K.
Chef: Hiroyuki Yamaguchi/山口祐之さん

439-0003 Kikugawa City, Sabaka, 791-11
Tel.: 0537-37-1820
Fax: 0537-37-1850
Opening hours: 11:30^14:30, 18:00~21:30
Parking: 8 cars
Cash only
Reservations advised
Entirely Non Smoking!
HOMEPAGE
BLOG (Japanese)

PISSENLIT

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!

TETSUYA SUGIMOTO

Service: Highly professional and friendly
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Beautiful washroom
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Freshest produce and ingredients only, mainly from Shizuoka Prefecture. Organic vegetables, top-class Shizuoka-bred meat and Suruga Bay seafood. Seasonal food only.

Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
４２０－００３８ Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Umeya,２－１３，１Ｆ
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
Opening hours：１１：３０～１４：３０，１７：３０～２１：３０
Holidays: undecided
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RESTAURANT BIO-S (FUJINOMIYA CITY)

Service: Professional, welcoming, very attentive and smiling. Great explanations.
Facilities & Equipment: Extremely clean. Superb separate washrooms.
Prices: Reasonable considering the extravagant quality.
Strong points: Mainly local products including wild vegetables and meat. Vegetables mainly organic and grown by the staff. Menu changing for the most part every two weeks.

MAP (Japanese)

RESTAURANT BIO-S
419-0303 Fujinomiya Shi, Oshikakubo, 939-1
Tel.: 0544-67-0353
Fax: 0544-67-0098
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~20:00
Closed on Tuesday Night and whole Wednesdays
Reservations highly recommended!
Credit Cards OK
Parking for 8 cars
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

BISTRO GAWA

Service: Friendly
Facilities: old but very clean. Very clean washroom!
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points: Excellent French cuisine without ostentation. Great local products from the land and the sea
Entirely non-smoking!

Bistro Gawa
411-0856, Shizuoka ken, Mishima Shi, Hirokoji Machi, 1-37, 2F
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~
Closed on Sunday, Thursday lunch and Saturday dinner
Tel.: 055-972-5040
Cards OK (+5% handling fees)

HANA HANA

Service: Very friendly. Slow food
Facilities: Very clean all over. Enormous beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Classical French/Italian Cuisine of very good value. Good list of wines and Japanese sake. Great lunches!
Non smoking at lunch!

Hana Hana
〒420-0037Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-cho, 1- 3-12
Tel.: 054-221-0087 ‎
Business hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK

GENTIL

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

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

FRENCH BAKERY & RESTAURANT: EMA L’ESTAMINET

Service: Extremely friendly and attentive
Equipment: Supreme cleanliness and beautiful amenities
Prices: Reasonable. Very good value
Strong points: French gastronomy conceived mainly with local seasonal products. Beautiful bread baked on site! Parking available.
Entirely non-smoking!

EMA L’Estaminet
431-3115, Hamamatsu City, Higashi Ku, Nishigasaki, 1088-1 (within walking distance from Nishigasaki Station, Entetsu Railway Line)
Tel.: 053-433-7700
Business hours: !0:00~16:00 (Bakery)
11:30~ 13:00, last orders (Restaurant)
Closed on Sundays and last week of August

BEAU CIEL

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

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

BISTRO OKAMURA

Service: Friendly if a bit shy.
Equipment & Facilities: Japanese traditional restaurant very clean overall. Cute washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fish! Gastronomic bistro-style. Extensive use of local products and catch. Reasonably-priced wine list
Entirely non-smoking!
Private rooms available.

BISTRO OKAMURA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-5-2
Tel.: 054-669-2087
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:30~23:00
Closed on Sundays and Monday lunch
Credit Cards OK
Counter: 5 seats, 4 private rooms (up to 8 seats each)
Entirely non-smoking!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie

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 reasonable wine and cider list.

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</strong> (Japanese)
Non-smoking until 15:00
Credit Cards OK

CHEZ SATSUKAWA

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

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

GRILL KURAMOTO

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

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

LAVIGNE (French Wines & Food Stand Bar)

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Facilities: Very clean. Large beautiful Washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French wines only. Great snacks.
Entirely non-smoking!

LAVIGNE
420-0852, Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Kooya Machi, 17-2, 1F (2 minutes walk from JR Station)
Tel/fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

HARMONY

Service: Easy-going and friendly
Facilities: Good general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Most of ingredients are local!
Entirely non-smoking!

HARMONY
438-0831, Shizuoka Ken, Iwata Shi, Kamishinya, 499-1
Tel.: 0538-21-1511
Fax: 0538-21-1515
Business hours: 11:00~14:00, 17:00~21:00
Closed on Mondays, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Big parking available
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

HENRI GALETTE

Service: Kind and easy-going
Facilities: very clean overall. Clean washroom (shared with another shop)
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: True French-style galettes and crepes! Cidre available. Local vegetables used.

HENRY GALETTE
470-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-12-1, Aobaen Bidg., 1F
Tel.: 054-260-6116
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

French Gastronomy French Restaurants Gastronomes Gastronomic Photography Gastronomy Japan Japanese Gastronomy Non-smoking restaurants Photography Recipes Restaurants Tourism

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Sake, Tourism

Shizuoka sake Tasting: Makino Brewery-Shimizu Minato Jirochou Junmai Ginjo

December 31, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Although Makino Brewery is located in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji, Shimizu Minato Jirochou has been one of their brand names for quite a long time!

Shimizu Minato/清水港 means “Shimizu Harbor”, a still importnat harbor nowadays, but a very important one in Edo and Meiji Times. Actually the samurai fighting against Emperor Meiji initiated their retreat from Shimizu Harbor before being finally vanquished, at least officially, in Hakodate!

Shimizu Jirochou/清水次郎長 whose real name was Yamamoto Chyougorou/山本長五郎 (February 14th, 1820~June 12th 1893 became a local hero during the struggle between the samurai clans and Emperor Meiji when he helped the harbor of Shimizu flourish and his nickname Jirochou eventually became the name of the District in Shimizu City (now Shimizu Ku, part of Shizuoka City) where he was born. One of his exploits was to clean the bay of corpses after a ship crew were assassinated during the civil war and bury them in nearby island. He went as far as running an English language school in Shimizu.

But there was a very dark side to him, leading to his fleeing from the authorities and even being imprisoned for 7 years for murder. But legends tend to grow bigger than individuals… many histprians consider him a hoodlum in spite of the many hagiographies and the small museum to his name in Shimizu Ku!

Rice: Hyakumangoku + Koshi Ibuki
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Bottled in December 2013

Clarity: very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive. Dry. Fruity. banana, almonds
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong attack with puissant junmai petillant.
Pleasant alcohol.
Very dry and fruity: apples, custard, almonds, oranges.
Disappears quickly on an even drier note.
Takes on a milder turn with food, but quickly switches back to its initial dryness.
Almonds and coffee beans tend to appear a lot later on the palate.
Turns only a little milder as nurukan/lukewarm but shows different facets: chestnuts, custard, nuts, oranges.
Dark chocolate making a late appearance.

Overall: An “old fashioned sake” away from the norms set by modern Shizuoka sake trends.
Solid and dry, obviously conceived for food in spite of its elevated status. Millage is low by Shizuoka standards.
Best appreciated with heavy food such as izakaya fare.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

Agriculture 美食酒酒造静岡 Fujinomiya City Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Japanese History Sake Breweries Shizuoka sake Tourism World Cuisines

美食, Environment, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Philately, Stamps, Tourism, vegetables, 果物

Vegetables & Fruit on Japanese Stamps!

December 30, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Arguably the first Japanese stamp on food, be it vegetables, fruit or else!
Green tea being hand-picked in Nihon Daira, Shizuoka City!

Japanese gastronomy having been just awarded World Heritage status after the French Gastronomy I checked what vegetables and fruits were celebrated on Japanese stamps!

There are quite a few!
Here we go!

Another tea picking stamp, probably modeled on Shizuoka green tea!

Green Tea picking in Shizuoka in front of Mount Fuji!

Another one exactly the same theme!

Green tea flowers on a regular stamp!

Green Tea and Green Tea Ceremony!

Apples in Aomori Prefecture!

Apples in Iwate Prefecture!

Cherries!

Plums!

Japanese Nashi Pears!

Shiitake Mushrooms!

Fruits and vegetables Series 1:
Apples, Taro Roots, Japanese Nashi Pears, Turnips and Grapes!

Fruits and vegetables Series 2:
Squat Persimmons, Green pak Choi, Chestnuts, Sweet Potatoes and Pears!

“Kyosai” or Kyoto vegetables!

Benihana/Saflower used as natural coloring in Wagashi Cakes!

Fukinoto/Giant Butterbur, a famed Japanese wild mountain vegetable!

Fukinoto again!

And again Fukinoto!

Junsai/Water Shield, an aquatic plant used as a vegetable!

Jyagaimo/Potato Field!

Katakuri, the main source of native starch in Japan!

Katakuri again!

Konnyaku Field/ konjak, konjaku, konnyaku potato, devil’s tongue, voodoo lily, snake palm, or elephant yam!

Na No Hana/Rape Flowers!

I’m sure I missed some! Help!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

Fruit Gastronomes Gastronomy Japan Japanese Gastronomy Japanese stamps Philately Tourism vegetables

レシピ, 美食, Ecology, Environment, 野菜, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Kikugawa City, Meat, Non-smoking restaurants, Recommended Lunch Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Lunch at Cava.K. in Kikugawa City!

December 30, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Bear stewed in red wine!

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Spotless clean overall. Superb washroom
Prices: Appropriate. Reasonable when considering quality and originality!
Strong points: Gibier/Game, the best in the Prefecture! Great use of superb local and own garden ingredients. Seasonally cured meat and ham.

Cava.K. French Restaurant is lost in the mountains near green tea fields in Kikugawa City, western Shizuoka prefecture for a good reason: Chef Hiroyuki Yamaguchi/山口祐之さん wants to stay as close as possible to local hunters for best supply of game whatever the season!

He also grows his own garden to supply variety to the local products!

The reason he called his French Resaurant Cava.K. is twofold: “Ca va” in French means “It’s fine”. The district where the restaurant is located is called 沢水加/sabaka. When you that “K” is pronouced “ka” in French, the whole name almost sounds the same!

The style of the building is certainly original in Japan, like a modern chalet!

All kinds of original processed foods and presents can be purchased there, too!

The specialties of the day!
If you don’t understand Japanese, don’t worry, the staff can at least tell it in French!

We came six of us that day for a business lunch. We had to skip alcohol but I can tell you that made it a feast, including game!
Alright, let’s start!

Akaei ebi shrimp, Aori Ika/great reef squid, spinach (from their garden), soupe de poisson/fish soup and tuile de noir de seiche/squid ink tile.

Gougere! I had some work to do, explaining all that French to my Japanese colleagues!
I didn’t take picture of the bread, but it was also home-made!

Another appetizer you will be hard put to find anywhere else in Japan: smoked yamadori sasami/Yamadori Chicken breast, duck and pheasant!

Another set of appetizers!

Celeriac, leeks potato soup with Karugamo/duck confit from Kikugawa!

Marcassin/Young wild boar a la creme, Trompettes de la Mort mushrooms, kohlrabi and pie!

Shojoin turnip, shiro baigai clam, scallop, Ikawa lotus root, ikura/salmon roe!

The consomme that was served then was entirely made with wild venison. The last touch was added with fennel!

The fish dish!
Sole from Omaezaki, with bisque sauce. Local vegetables including Japanese echalette and native corn from Ikawa!

Actually, before the start of the repast we were requested to choose a main dish from the gibier/game menu:
From top to bottom:
Karugamo/wild duck roast
Pheasant from Kikugawa Roast
Wild boar from Kawane Roast
Japanese deer from Ikawa Roast
Civet Roast (the first ever I’ve heard of it as a game dish!)
Hare from Kikugawa Roast
Asian Black Bear from Kawane stewed in red wine
Asian Black Bear from kawane Roast
Kamoshika Deer hamburger

What do you think we chose?

Civet roast!
We had some great fun sharing all these dishes between us!

Hare Roast including its kidneys!

Pheasant Roast!

My choice!
Asian Black Bear stewed in red wine!

Important note: for those who think we are eating Japan wild life into extinction, stand corrected! All these animals had to be culled in the wild by professional hunters as they proliferate to very dangerous numbers for the local ecology. At least they become useful!

One of the best cheese trays in the Prefecture, half of the cheese French, the other from Nagano Prefecture!

And then it was all kinds of desserts I had very little time to ask about!
I promise to be more careful next time!

It was certainly a delightful sin to break into them!

To finish it all chocolate declined into four different symphonies!

Don’t ask me how much we pay! It was ridiculously cheap considering the quality, the originality and the supreme flavors, aromas and savors!

I very much doubt you will find the equivalent in Tokyo, so reserve your train ticket!

CAVA.K.
Chef: Hiroyuki Yamaguchi/山口祐之さん

439-0003 Kikugawa City, Sabaka, 791-11
Tel.: 0537-37-1820
Fax: 0537-37-1850
Opening hours: 11:30^14:30, 18:00~21:30
Parking: 8 cars
Cash only
Reservations advised
Entirely Non Smoking!
HOMEPAGE
BLOG (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

French Gastronomy French Restaurants Gastronomes Gastronomic Photography Gastronomy Japan Japanese Gastronomy Non-smoking restaurants Photography Recipes Restaurants Tourism

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 観光, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fuji Takasago Brewery-Takasago Shiboritate Otafuku Honjozo Nama Genshu Muroka

December 29, 2013 dragonlife 22 Comments

Can you distinguish the “face” on the label? LOL

“Otafuku/お多福” is the name of a mask representing the visage of a woman with a small nose and large, round and smooth cheeks! The same woman is supposed to represent good fortune!

next year will the Year of the Horse!

Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City produces this “Otafuku” sake to be drunk during the new year festivities.

This particular brand is a “shiboritate/just pressed”, “nama/unpasteurised”, “genshu/no water added” and “muroka/unfiltered”!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 18 degrees
Dryness: + 5
Bottled in DEcember 2013

Clarity: Very Clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive, fruity, flowery, plums, cherries
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very strong attack backed up with puissant alcohol.
Complex. Fruity. Cherries, plums, nuts
Disappears quickly on a very dry note with dry almonds and macadamia nuts.
Changes very little with food. Enhances heavy food such as izakaya fare.

Overall: A straightforward strong sake for very dry sake lovers at parties and heavy celebrations!
To be drunk moderately unless you don’t care!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, 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: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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

Agriculture 美食酒酒造静岡 Fujinomiya City Gastronomes Gastronomy Gourmet Japan Japanese Cuisine Japanese Gastronomy Japanese History Sake Breweries Shizuoka sake Tourism World Cuisines

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