Tag Archives: Hamamatsu

Eel Restaurant “Atsumi” in Hamamatsu City!

Shiroyaki Unagi

Service: traditional and friendly
Facilities: old-fashioned but clean
Prices: Slightly expensive (“real” eels are expensive anywhere in Japan!)
Strong points: True traditional Japanese eel restaurant.

Hamamatsu City is famous all over Japan for some of its large companies (Yamaha, Kawai, etc) but it also known all over the country for one of its gastronomic specialties, eel, or unagi/鰻!
Eels have been a favorite food in that City for untold ages to the point that they have developed different competing “schools” as pertains to its preparation!

One of the most celebrated restaurants is Atsumi in Naka Ku, the downtown area.
Even in freezing weather customers form a queue a long time before they open for lunch!

It was first opened in 1907!
The English and Japanese noren/entrance curtain proves it is also popular with expats!

Be it downstairs or upstairs, it looks venerable indeed!

Only the signs are modern!

Very traditional surroundings. Old fashioned but clean, the more for it that the establishment is entirely non-smoking!

These critters will end up in our plates and bowls!

The Missus ordered “Kabayaki/蒲焼 style” set. The eels are dipped into “tare/sauce” while being grilled over charcoal.
The tare makes the difference, and it is a good indication of the proficiency of the chef!

The Missus ordered it with some tare on the rice, too.

I ordered the “shiroyaki/白焼き lunch set”.
Shiro stands for white, and yaki for grilled.
Shiroyaki means that no tare was applied on the eel while being grilled.

But I ordered it on top of rice seasoned with tare for perfect balance!

The great thing about shiroyaki style is that you can season each piece of eel with grated garlic, ginger, onion or wasabi before savoring it!

The liver/kimo” of the same fish is served in a clear and delicious soup!

And they always serve a Shizuoka fruit for dessert!
In this case muskmelon!

Eel Restaurant ATSUMI
430-0934 Hamamamtsu Shi, Naka Ku, Chitose Machi, 70
Opening hours: 11:30~13:40, 17:15~19:30 (could close earlier if run out of eels!)
Closed on Wednesdays (with two more holidays either on Tusdays or Thursdays. Reserve beforehand anyway!)
Reservations highly recommended
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

French Cake by Bernard Heberle: Foret Noire

My good friend, Bernard Heberle, the owner/chef of Abondance in Hamamatsu City has just been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture (4,000,000 souls) by the biggets Food Blog Community in Japan, namely Tabelog!

He was kind enough to send me his latest creation with the following comments in French:

“Biscuit léger au chocolat surmonté de copeaux de chocolat imbibé de liqueur de griotte sertie d’un moelleux au chocolat blanc et griottine et une mousse au chocolat amer et finition a la crème chantilly vanillée.”

“light chocolate biscuit topped with chocolate flakes imbibed with griotte/cherry liqueur surrounded with a white chocolate moelleux and griottine/cherry, and a sour chocolate mousse and vanilla scented Chantilly cream.”

Hope you understand!
In any case an absolute marvel!

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Bento Boutique, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

French Cakes: Bernard Heberle-2009 Anthology

Bernard Heberle is an extremely talented French patissier who after teaching patisserie in Japan for many years, decided to show and market his own creations in Hamamatsu City and Shizuoka Prefecture, rapidly proving he was the undisputed master of French Patisserie to the 4 million souls gracing our Prefecture.

Below is a short anthology of cakes he created during the past year!

4810

4810

4810!
Yes, you read well, this cake’s name is a number!
Can you guess?

In his own words:
“En cette période des Kinmokusei , je te présente ce gâteau bien connu des japonais et peut être leur favori avec les short cake.
Son nom 4810 ( Non , ce n’est pas son prix , seulement l’altitude de notre Mont Blanc )
Celui ci , le notre est une base de meringue au lait avec une crème de marron et une génoise a la vanille , crème pâtissière et crème montée, nous utilisons des marrons italien du Piémont.”

“In the Kinmokusei (fragrant orange-colored olive, the tree of Shizuoka Prefecture. Look below for picture) season, I would like to introduce a cake well known to the Japanese and perhaps their favourite with short cake.
Its name is 4810 (No, it’s not its price, only the height of Mont-Blanc!).
This particular creation rests on a milk meringue, then a marron cream and vanilla genoise. Next a creme patissier and a creme montee.
We use Italian marrons from Piemonte.”

TARTE AUX FIGUES

FIGUES-HEBERLE

Tarte aux Figues/Fig Tart!

In his own words:
“Voici une tarte de saison , la combinaison de figue et de framboise sur un fond de pâte sucrée a l’amande régulée par une douce crème pâtissière , un vrai mélange de saveur et de parfum avec une sensation croustillante et mielleuse a la fois.”

“Here is a seasonal tart. The fig and raspberry combination on an almond pâte sucrée is enhanced by a soft crème pâtissière/custard. A true mixture of savours and perfume with a crusty and honey sensation.”

CASSIS EVOLUTION

CASSIS-EVOLUTION

Cassis-Evolution!

In his own words:
“Une nouvelle création … ” Évolution Cassis ”
C’est un gateau a base de mascarpone avec une douceur myrtille au chocolat blanc sur un pain de Genes et une touche de gelée de cassis. Très frais et de saison, les myrtilles sont excellentes cet été , malgré la pluie incessante. ”

“A new creation…”Evolution Cassis”
It is a cake with a mascarpone base qith a sweet blueberry and white chocolate layer on a Genes bread/short cake and a touch of cassis jelly.
Very fresh and seasonal. The blueberries are excellent this summer, in spite of the unceasing rain.”

TISANE

TISANE

“Tisane”, or herb tea infusion.

In his own words:
“Voici un gâteau au nom de ” Tisane ” et pour cause il est a base d’herbe fraîche et plus spécialement de Verveine.
La combinaison Verveine, crème, oeuf, lait et amour se marie très bien surtout en approche de la saison chaude et humide.”

“Here is a caked I called “Tisane” because it is prepared with a fresh herb base, especially Verveine.
The combination of Verveine, cream, egg, milk and love is just perfect as we approach the hot sultry season!”

ELEGANCE

ELEGANCE2

“Elegance”/Elegance

My Good French friend in Hamamatsu City is very busy: His message was very laconic this time. LOL

“Robert
Voici ” Élégance” un gâteau au chocolat , lait et noir 70% avec un biscuit chocolat sans farine…très léger et plein de saveur.
Au plaisir…
Bernard”

“Here is “Elegance”, a chocolate cake, milk, and a 70% black cocolate.
On top of a biscuit. No flour used. Very light and full of flavour”.

He forgot to mention the small macarons!

NOISETTE/HAZELNUT

noisette

“Noisette”, hazlenut

In his own words:
“Voici le gâteau du mois ” Noisette” tout simplement un mélange de chocolat noir et de lait avec une dacquoise aux noisettes torréfiées ainsi que base croustillante le tout surmonte d’une chantilly légèrement chocolatée. Très agréable en bouche , un mélange de saveurs et de texture façon criollo.”

noisette-2 noisette-3

“Here is this month cake, “Noisette/Hazelnut”.
It consists of a simple mixture of milk and black chocolate with a roasted hazelnuts Dacquoise as a crusty base. The whole is topped with slightly chocolate -flavoured Chatilly cream and black chocolate.
Very soft on the tongue. A combination of savours and texture in criollo fashion.

As usual, I doubt I need to add any comment!

TARTE SICILIENNE/SICILIAN TART

tarte-sicilienne

“Tarte sicilienne”/Sicilian Tart

In his own words:
“Voici le gâteau que je te propose ce mois ” Tarte Sicilienne ” qui est une tarte a base de Mascarpone et de pistache avec des Fraises de notre belle région ” 紅ほっぺ” sur un fond de pâte sucrée a la crème d’amande et coulis de fraise. Toute la Sicile dans l’assiette.”

“Here is the cake I would like to propose you this month, Sicilian Tart”, which a tart based on Mascarpone and pistachio with strawberries from our beautiful region called “Behi-Hoppe”/”Red Cheeks” on a bed of pate sucree with almond cream and strawberry coulis/sauce. All Sicilia in the plate!”

Need I comment? LOL

TENDRESSE/TENDERNESS

abondance-tendresse

This particular creation is named “Tendresse” in French, meaning tenderness in English.
In Bernard’s French words:

-“Voici le gâteau que je te propose ce mois ” Tendresse ” qui est un gâteau a base de Fromage blanc et de pâte a bombe , très léger et même ceux qui n’aime pas le fromage y trouverons leurs plaisir. Léger et onctueux décoré avec des macarons a la Framboise.”

-“Here is the cake I would like to introduce your friends to this month. It is called “Tenderness” and is made with a very light combination of Fromage Blanc/White cheese and Pate a bombe/very fine sponge cake variety. Even people who do not like cheese will appreciate it. Light and soft, it is decorated with raspberry macarons”.

I’m ready to take the 30-minute bullet train to Hamamatsu to savour it!

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Bread + Butter, Comestilblog, Greedy Girl, Bouchon For 2, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Mangantayon, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles, Lexi, Culinary Musings, Eats and Everything, Bite Me New England, Heather Sweet, Warren Bobrow, 5 Star Foodie, Frank Fariello, Oyster Culture, Ramendo, Alchemist Chef, Ochikeron, Mrs. Lavendula, The Gipsy Chef, Dodol-Mochi

——————————–
Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Abondance’s Classic Cakes (3): Noisette/Hazlenut

noisette

As promised, this is another cake created by my good friend Bernard Heberle In Hamamatsu City!

In his own words:
“Voici le gâteau du mois ” Noisette” tout simplement un mélange de chocolat noir et de lait avec une dacquoise aux noisettes torréfiées ainsi que base croustillante le tout surmonte d’une chantilly légèrement chocolatée. Très agréable en bouche , un mélange de saveurs et de texture façon criollo.”

noisette-2 noisette-3

“Here is this month cake, “Noisette/Hazelnut”.
It consists of a simple mixture of milk and black chocolate with a roasted hazelnuts Dacquoise as a crusty base. The whole is topped with slightly chocolate -flavoured Chatilly cream and black chocolate.
Very soft on the tongue. A combination of savours and texture in criollo fashion.

As usual, I doubt I need to add any comment!

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage


The Japan Blog List

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Abondance’s Classic Cakes (2): Tarte Siciliene/Sicilian Tart

tarte-sicilienne

As promised, this is another cake created by my good friend Bernard Heberle In Hamamatsu City!

In his own words:
“Voici le gâteau que je te propose ce mois ” Tarte Sicilienne ” qui est une tarte a base de Mascarpone et de pistache avec des Fraises de notre belle région ” 紅ほっぺ” sur un fond de pâte sucrée a la crème d’amande et coulis de fraise. Toute la Sicile dans l’assiette.”

“Here is the cake I would like to propose you this month, Sicilian Tart”, which is a tart based on Mascarpone and pistacchio with strawberries from our beautiful region called “Behi-Hoppe”/”Red Cheeks” on a bed of pate sucree with almond cream and strawberry coulis/sauce. All Sicilia in the plate!”

Need I comment? LOL

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage


The Japan Blog List

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

Abondance’s Classic Cakes (1): Tendresse/Tenderness


The Japan Blog List

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

abondance-tendresse

Bernard Heberle in Hamamatsu City has become the reference in the whole of Shizuoka Prefecture when it comes to French cake and confectionery.
A man of character, he has steadfastly kept faithful to his principles and ethics and blessed us with uncompromising creations of a level diificult to equal!

This particular creation is named “Tendresse” in French, meaning tenderness in English.
In Bernard’s French words:
-“Voici le gâteau que je te propose ce mois ” Tendresse ” qui est un gâteau a base de Fromage blanc et de pâte a bombe , très léger et même ceux qui n’aime pas le fromage y trouverons leurs plaisir. Léger et onctueux décoré avec des macarons a la Framboise.”
-“Here is the cake I would like to introduce your friends to this month. It is called “Tenderness” and is made with a very light combination of Fromage Blanc/White cheese and Pate a bombe/very fine sponge cake variety. Even people who do not like cheese will appreciate it. Light and soft, it is decorated with raspberry macarons”.

I’m ready to take the 30-minute bullet train to Hamamatsu to savour it!

Abondance
Address: Hamamatsu Shi, Sumiyoshi, 2-14-27 (in front of Seirei Hospital)
Tel.: 053-4738400
Fax: 053-4738401
Opening hours: 10:00~20:00. Closed on Tuesdays.
Homepage

Shizuoka Cheese: Gigio Smoked Cheese


The Japan Blog List

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

The other day, as I was looking around the supermarket in Kakegawa JR Station, my eyes fell on some cheeses displayed in the refigerated area. As I know that this particular establishment sells solely Shizuoka products I decided to investigate.
I thus discovered a company called Gigio in Hamamatsu City. Upon investigation it turned out to be an Italian Restaurant whose chef makes his own cheese!

Out of its airtght packaging their smoked cheese comes with a nice dark nut colour and an appetizing aroma typical of a smoked cheese.

It also has the merit not to be encased in one of those obnoxious wax casing you have to fight your way through.
It cuts easily in spite of its tenderness, and can be served with salads or other cheese and pickles for example.
It makes for a great morsel with beer as its taste marries really well with the tangy flavour of hops.
I did not try, but next time I shall experiment with pizza or toast or even gratineed vegetables!

Gigio
Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Takaoka Kita, 1-48-18
Tel.: 053-4383994
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

Shizuoka Izakaya: Takasagotei

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

—————————————-
日本語のブログ
—————————————-

takasagotei-restaurant.jpg

If you happen to be staying, let’s say for a single night in Hamamatsu City, near the JR Station, I would suggest you visit Takasagotei Restaurant on the second floor of Hamamatsu Sago Terminal Hotel just right of the JR station south exit.

As a hotel izakaya since the 1970’s they are definitely above the run of the mill level of the fare usually delivered in business hotels.

tagasagotei-1.jpg
Their sashimi offerings are within the good level prevalent throughout the Prefecture.

tagasagotei-2.jpg
I found their mushroom tenpura (vegetarians, please note!) excellent.

tagasagotei-3.jpg tagasagotei-4.jpg
They also had an unusual “shirasu gyoza” (deep-fried whitebait dumpling), which would go well with a beer.

They also have the great merit to offer a large range of Shizuoka sake out of their long drink menu, which warrant a visit by other Prefectures’ guests:
Hana no Mai (Hamamatsu City: 2)
Hamamatsu-Tenjingura (Hamamatsu City: 1)
Senju (Iwata City: 1)
Doi-Kaiun (Kakegawa City: 1)
Oomuraya-Wakatake (Shimada City: 1)
Isojiman (Yaizu City: 1)
Hatsukamei (Shida Gun-Okabe Cho: 2)
Shosetsu (Yui: 1)
Fuji-Takasago (Fujinomiya City: 1)

Takasagotei
430-0926
Hamamatsu City, Sunayama-cho, 322-7, Hamamatsu Sago Terminal Hotel, 2F
Tel.: 053-4538686
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~22:00

Homepage