Tag Archives: Italian Gastronomy

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French Gastronomy: Shizuoka Prefecture Gastronomic Week Lunch at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

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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.

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at Restaurant Pissenlit in Shizauok City has been designated by the Shizuoka Prefecture Government as one of the top chefs promoting the gastronomy of our Prefecture.
The same Prefecture has designated the last two weeks of Septmber as the “Shizuoka Shoku no Bu Shigotonin Week/静岡食の部仕事人ウイーク/Shizuoka Gastronomy Craftsmen Week (although it lasts two!)”

The official poster printed by the Government!
Toru therefore conceived a special full lunch course menu for the occasion for 7,000 yen/70 Euros, extremely reasonable considering the quality!

The special menu also celebrated the 4th Anniversary of the opening of Pissenlit!

The restaurant was offered some magnificent bouquets for the occasion!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

The menu!
Actually it was more of a guideline as some items were changed according to the products available that day.
In fact two friends of mine who visited the place the following week-end were served two different versions!
Lucky ones!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん also initiated a great idea by offering local tea in lieu of alcohol for people who cannot drink or may not like on that particular day!
You can either have one variety prepared in two different ways for 200 yen or the whole set of three teas for 500 yen!

The first glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea”!

Eggplant/Aubergine Mousse! The aubergine came from Hirokawa garden in Mishima City
Most other vegetables on that day were organic and grown at Kitayama Garden in Fujinomiya City!

The second glass of “sencha/煎茶/decocted green tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Marinated rainbow trout and iwana/Japanese char bred by Kakishima Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

Note the iwana skin baked to a crisp and the edible perilla/shiso flowers!

From another angle to show the vegetables placed between the fish including menegi/leek sprouts!

The first glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea”!

A French classic with a Japanese/Shizuoka twits: (Shizuoka-grown) buckwheat pancake/galette with Amagi Shamo chicken (Bred in Shuzenji, Izu Peninsula) liver, heart and gizzards and poached egg with Utogi wasabi leaves!

For a better view of the delicate fine pieces of liver, heart and gizzards!

The poached egg!

The wasabi leaves!

Fresh buckwheat seeds!

Itoyodori/Golden threadfin bream from Suruga Bay, poele and served atop fine mashed potato cream and served with red paprika sauce and steamed/fried organic vegetables!

The fish was caught off Sagara in the western part of the Prefecture!

Shikaku mame/Square beans are getting increasingly popular in our Prefecture!

The second glass of “fuka mushi Cha/深蒸し茶/deeply steamed tea” prepared in a slightly different way!

Amagi Shamo Chicken bred in Horie Farm in Shuzenji, Izu peninsula, prepared in three different manners!

The thigh and its skin poele and baked, served with a wine sauce!

Breast, steamed and served with an unctuous Bleu d’Auvergne cheese sauce!

Halｆ-raw sasami/breast fillets, cooked in “tataki” style!

Earl Grey Tea jelly before the next dish!

The first glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea!

The second glass of Hoji Cha/ほじ茶/oven-roasted tea prepared in a slightly different manner!

The dessert!
It is a millefeuille but the contents are quite unusual!

The red fruit in the middle is actually eggplant/aubergine cooked in red wine!
Absolutely delicious and incredibly elegant!

Creme Chantilly and custard sauce!

Peach Sorbet with its fresh organic mint!

And coffee served as it should be with its mignardises!

Someday i will have to attend one of their wine-tasting dinners!

PISSENLIT
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 2-3-4
Tel.: 054-270-8768
Fax: 054-627-3868
Business hours: 11:30~14:30; 17:00~22:00
Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday evening
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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,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, Fish, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine, Spanish Gastronomy, Tourism

Gastronomic Study Group: Kakishima Rainbow Trout and Japanese Char by Wasabi no Kai Group

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Wasabi no Kai Gastronomic Group in Central Shizuoka Prefecture was founded about 4 months ago to help promote the Shizuoka Gastronomy with chefs, producers and the media.
We have already held a seminar on Shizuoka Green Tea and visited Kakishima Fish Farm in Fujinomiya City in July and August.
This time three chefs members of Wasabi No Kai Group met at Il Castagno Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City to demonstrate various ways and methods of cooking Rainbow Trout and Japanese Char/Iwana from Kakishima Farm!

Chef Kenji Inami/稲見謙司さん at Il Castagno Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Camera-Shy Chef Takeshi Sugiyama/杉山猛さん at Hoteiya Spanish Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Chef Masahiro Onoda/小野田正浩さんat Caravin French Restaurant in Shizuoka City.

Inside the kitchen!

Taking a sneak peek at the Japanese char!

A magician’s lair!

Taking shape!

The advantage of a photographer/writer is that he/she has first pick at the information and an open door inside the kitchen!

Almost ready!

An eager audience patiently waiting for the creations to come out of the kitchen!
Now, what did we have the pleasure to savor?

Marinated Japanese char by Chef Onoda!
The fish was marinated in salt, soy sauce and mirin at 40 degrees Celsius inside an air-tight pack.
The bottom piece on the left is the same covered with golden and black sesame seeds.

Japanese char smoked with salt and sugar and served with olive oil by Chef Sugiyama!

Japanese char brandade seared under a salamander by Chef Onoda!

Japanese char with home-made cocoa parpadelle and organic vegetables by Chef Inami!
The cocoa powder parpadelle was a discovery!

Rainbow trout with home-made Taglionni and organic vegetables by Chef Inami!

Rainbow trout, Serrano ham and mushrooms risotto by Chef Sugiyama!
If I had to choose one dish, this was the one!

Japanese char poached with its skin, paprika and fresh cepe/porcini in wine, stock and cream sauce by Chef Onoda!

All these local celebrities certainly enjoyed a long talk during and after the demonstration!

The next event will be a visit to a local sake brewery!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,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

リゾット, レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Lunch at Hana Hana (2012 Fall) in Shizuoka City!

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Seared Foie Gras in black truffles sauce on Porcini risotto!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean overall. large superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Typical French, Southern French and Italian Fusion gastronomy. Great products. Excellent wine list.

I have known ever so laughing Chef Jirou Hanabata/花畑次郎さん for what seems like an eternity.
It was such a pleasure to meet him again in his cosy restaurant Hana Hana in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Such a simple and welcoming facade and entrance!

The walls inside are decorated with paintings of Southern France and signed by all kinds of people!

The kitchen and his magician!

A small private corner near the kitchen!

Choose your table according to your priorities!
I usually take one by the bay windows!

Jiro’s cuisine is a happy singing mixture of French, especially Southern, and Italian homey gastronomy.
Generous and so reasonably-priced!
For that long overdue lunch I started with chilled seasonal kabocha vichyssoise soup!

A typical Southern French starter: poelee/sauteed scallops salad!

Enormous scallops cooked to perfection!

Plenty of local vegetables for beautiful balance and colorful design!

The star of the day featured a traditional marriage of French and Italian gastronomies: Sauteed Foie Gras in black truffle sauce atop Porcini mushrooms risotto!

Blast the calories! The foie gras was sauteed to a sublimely unctuous extravagance accentuated by the black truffle (plenty of them) sauce!

The lightly baked risotto! All Italy for you!

Another French classic: Cotes d’Agneau/Lamb cutlets!

So tender and beautifully supported by its deglasse sauce made up of the cutlets juices, Madeira and a touch of butter!

Simple but perfect accompaniment: Southern French Ratatouille!

And at last one of Jiro’s simple but so delicious desserts!

Peach compote and home-made raspberry ice-cream!

Important detail: Coffee as it should always be served, even for lunch!

Looking forward to visit the place again when the weather gets colder to warm myself up!

HANA HANA
420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado Cho, 1-3-12
Tel.: 054-221-0087
Business hours: 11:30~14:00 (LAST ORDERS), 17:30~21:00 (last orders)
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,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, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Restaurant: Autumn Lunch (2012) at Aquavite in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Small but beautiful washroom
Prices: Reasonable to expensive.
Strong points: Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people

It was about time I paid a long overdue visit for lunch at one of the best Italian restaurants in Shizuoka City and Prefecture, namely Aquavite in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, and check what Chef Masaru Aoki/青木優 was creating with products mainly from our Prefecture!

Great new board introducing the team!

Lunch menus according to your budget!

I always eat at the counter for a good reason!

But tables and chairs are more comfortable!

All these vegetables are organically grown in Shizuoka!

Now, what was I served?
Japanese-style grilled eggplant with Serrano Jamon Ham from Spain!
All vegetables organically grown by Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City!

Naturally all bread is home-baked!

An unctuous cold organic corn (from Ikawa, Shizuoka City) soup conceived only with olive oil and salt. No dairy products! A vegan treat!

Corzetti pasta in creamy daikon leaves and bacon sauce!

For a closer view!

The corzetti pasta stamp!

Madai/True Seabream poelee with organic vegetables!
Let’s have a look around that dish!

Can you see the delicious fish from Shizuoka?
The Trevise is Italian but the other vegetables, including the violet potato, are all organically grown at Shizen no Chikara Farm (Shizuoka City) and Matsuki Bio Farm (Fujinomiya City)!

So yummy and well-balanced!

The fish! So soft and juicy!
And so artistically presented!

Time for dessert!

Can you guess?

Watermelon granite atop vanilla custard ice-cream!

Soft almond tart!

And for once, I had tea!

To be continued (count on that!)….

AQUAVITE
420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00 18:00~22:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK
Non-smoking private room available!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,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, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Il Castagno (June 2012) in Shizuoka City!

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Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Home-made pasta!. Great use of local products from the land and the sea. Southern Italy and Sardinia gastronomy.

Kenji Inami/稲見謙司 of Il Castagno in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, has just come back from a two-week research and tourism trip from Sardinia Island!
It was about time to pay a belated visit!

Every time I eat there I cannot keep my eyes off their home-made crostini!

You can buy them separately to take back home!

Note that the place is entirely non-smoking!

Next time you go there have a good look at the photographs and comments on their Sardinia trip while you wait for your order!

Kenji Inami/稲見謙司 at work!

Nice list of wines by the glass!

I had a couple of glasses of Sardinian wine to accompany my lunch!

Cannonau di Sardegna, 2008, red, by Sella & Mosca!

Very reasonably-priced and generous lunch sets!

This is the set I ordered!

I chose the second pasta dish!
Now, what did I have?

Assortment of appetizers!

Shitake Mushroom puff, quiche and onion confit!

Vegetable salad with crispy Sardinia-style unleaveend thin bread!

Home-made rustic bread!

Home-made Tagliorini pasta with wild shiitake, beef, pork and mini tomato sauce!

Thin and light but very satisfying pasta with a beautiful sauce!
I’m becoming Italian!

Most of the ingredients are from Shizuoka Prefecture!

The dessert assortment!

Cinnamon apple tart, egg cake and strawberry sorbet!

Coffee as it should be served!

And the crostini!

See you at dinner next time!

IL CASTAGNO
420-0843 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Tomoe Cho, 48
Tel/Fax: 054-247-0709
Business hours: 11:45~14:00, 17:30~21:00
Closed every Monday and 3rd Tuesday
Credit cards OK (dinner only)
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG (Japanese)
ENTIRELY NON-SMOKING!

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, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Osteria Porta Porta in Shizuoka City (May 2012)

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Squid Ink Pasta!

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Mainly local vegetables. excellent wine list.
Non smoking at lunch time!

Osteria Porta Porta and his young chef, Hidetake Suzuki/鱸秀武 are slowly and surely achieving a well-deserved fame in Shizuoka City for the homey but inventive Southern Italian gastronomy served in a very informal and so friendly, if a bit shy, manner!

I make a point to pay them regular visit as they use only seasonal products mainly from Shizuoka, but also from Italy and Europe!

My favorite place at the small counter by the window!

The pasta served at Osteria Porta Porta!

Even at lunch look at the “carte” on the blackboard!
You will get tempted away from the regular menu!

Interesting traditional pasta making tools!

A painting of Puglia houses!

Reasonable Italian red wine and beautiful home-baked bread!
I was very hungry at that particular lunch so I ordered the biggest lunch menu!

Antipasti misto plate!
Always so generous at Osteria Porta Porta!

If I hadn’t been so hungry that would have been enough, what with caprese salad, pork terrine, fish escabeche, quiche, ham, and vegetable salad!

Squid ink pasta with plenty of local squid! So fresh and delicious!

Fujinomiya RYB Ton (pronounce “Louis Vuiton!) pork steak and vegetables!

From another angle to show you the attention to details!

I love lentils!

The dessert!

What do we have there?

Non wheat flour hazelnuts cake!

Home-made dry fruit cassata ice-cream!

And coffeee served asit should be!

Alright, alright, i promise another report at dinner next time! LOL

Osteria Porta Porta
420-0839 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-13-11, Topia Takajyo, 103
Tel./fax: 054-266-7320
Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30^22:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit cards OK

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, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Gastronomic Feast: Spring Dinner by Pissenlit and Nori-Behind the Scene!

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On Saturday March 10th a very special dinner organised by two of the best chefs in Shizuoka, Fuminori Nishitani/藤谷文紀 of Nori in Fujieda City and Tooru Arima/有馬亨 of Pissenlit in Shizuoka City was held at Pissenlit Restaurant in Shizuoka City with the help of two great farmers, Mr. Yoshinori Iguchi/井口芳則 in Fujieda City and Mr. Masaaki Hirakaki/平垣正明 in Fujinomiya City who provided the vegetables. most of them organic!

The event was called:
“春の食の都　仕事人ウイーク”スペシャルディナー
“Spring Gastronomy City (Shizuoka) Chefs Week” Special Dinner

For once I was not sitting at the table enjoying the food and drinks but in the kitchen reporting behind the scene(s)!
This report is thus a photography rendition of the event seen from the other side of the fence:

Tooru Arima/有馬亨 and Fuminori Nishitani/藤谷文紀!

The dining room staff planning in the dark…

table setting.

White Asparagus flans were ready.

What are these dried mini carrots for?

We’Il see those again later!

Seasoning the fish.

Was that enough seasoning?
Yup!

The dining room is ready to welcome the guests!

Rainbow Trout from Kunugi Fish Farm in Fujinomya City!

Getting ready for the aperitifs!

Mr. Yoshinori Iguchi/井口芳則 and Mr. Masaaki Hirakaki/平垣正明, the men who made it possible!

Searing the fish beforehand.

Only seared but already beautiful!

Home-made bread naturally!

Organic vegetables!

The aperitif was umeshu flavored with matcha by Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

Brushing pies with egg yolk.

The first (cold) hors d’oeuvre taking shape.

I had a hard time keeping my hands off these!

Adding the Genovese capellini.

The first cold hors d’oeuvres!

Searing the veal caillette in crepinette!

The second (hot) hors d’oeuvres in the starting blocks!

The white asparagus flans on parade.

Almost ready with the leek and spinach pies flavored with truffles!

The second (hot) hors d’oeuvres!

Oura burdock chips.

Oura burdock veloute.

Takinogawa burdock agnelotti being boiled!

The pasta dish taking shape!

Almost ready…

Some Pecorino cheese…

The pasta dish!

Some veal caillette in crepinette still to be prepared.

Fresh bamboo shoots from Fujieda City!

The sasa bamboo leaves to support the fish.

Shiso/perilla flowers for decoration.

The fish course taking shape.

Almost ready…

Rainbow trout on a black plate!

The same on a white plate!

Back to the veal caillettes in crepinete…

The same being seared…

into the oven…

The sauce!

finished with a torch instead of a salamander!

Onto the plates…

A meat dish so simple and so beautiful!

The last touch!

The meat course!

Organic deep red carrot gelato!

Sugar on the dried carrots…

Organic Takinogawa burdock tart!

You won’t find these outside Japan!

Such a healthy and beautiful dessert!

Time to go!

Incidentally, part of the bill was earmarked for charity for the victims of the Fukushima disaster!

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)
E-Mail: pissenlit2008@ybb.ne.jp
Credit Cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

NORI

426-0204 Shizuoka Ken, Fujieda Shi, Tokigaya, 864-3
Tel./Fax: 054-641-4778
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00; 18:00~22:00
On reservation only for dinner
Closed on Tuesdays and first Monday
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese, but do check it for great photographs of the house and garden!)
Entirely non-smoking!

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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, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Late Night Escapade at Soloio in Shizuoka City!

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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!

The other day, after an “official function” with chefs, producers and journalists the Missus and I still felt somewhat unsatisfied and at 10:00 p.m. were looking for a decent place before returning home.
This was a bit of a no-winner as the Missus’ radar was already fixed on Italian food and she knew too well that at that time of the night the options were pretty reduced. It was only natural (I still suspect my “worst half” to have it planned all the time!) that we ended up in Soloio, one of the very best Italian restaurants in town, and definitely the best at this time of the night!
Alright, what did we have/savor?

A plate of all vegetable antipasto!
Most of the vegetables are locally grown, naturally!

We discovered the above on the day’s specials: Scampi al Form!

Just beautiful and succulent!

Pan-fried seabream/”madai” from Suruga Bay!

Soloio is fast becoming famous for their great care when it comes to choosing and preparing vegetables!
Vegetarians are welcome there!

The skin of the fish was fired to a perfect crisp. I’m not that fond of fish skin, but I would go for that any time!

Then we noticed something interesting at the bottom of the overhead board! Mind you, you need some reading knowledge!

Wagyu Beef rump Tagliata!

Nothing less than an extravagant variety of carpaccio!

By then the escapade was turning into a full meal!
Finally it was down to a fight between having pasta or risotto. The latter won by a whisker!

Risotto made with the last Piemonte truffles in store!
We’ll have to wait until next year for another one!

We needed something sweet to finish!

Strong expresso coffee poured over vanilla ice-cream!

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

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, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Il Paladino (September 2011)

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Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive.
Specialty:Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made non-smoking!

It was about time I paid a belated visit to one of my favorite Italian Restaurant In Shizuoka City, namely Il Paladino.
They serve some excellent lunches at reasonable prices considering the quality, so I didn’t hesitate yesterday when I didn’t have the time to come back home!

They have a big kitchen you can look into from the counter and certainly need as lunch time see the place crowded early!
Now, what did I order?

First, a big salad with plentyy of local and Italian vegetables, succulent eggs and prime parmeggiano cheese!

Appetizing colors, aren’t they?

Focaccia bread baked on site every morning!

The main dish was an enormous prime pork steak in Madeira Sauce!

Wait until I show you the cut!

What do you say!
The right dish for a big appetite!

You must absolutely try Il Paladino’s home-made gelato/ice creams!

This semi-freddo with lods of crucnhy nuts and nougatine is simply a sin!

And coffee served as it should be, even at lunch!

To be followed…

Tratorria . Il Paladino
420-9839 Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Takajo, 2-8-19
Tel.: 054-253-6537
Opening hours: 11:30~13:30, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK (Dinner only

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POPCORNHOMESTEAD in Tokyo by Joan Lambert Bailey,
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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, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Restaurants, Tourism

French & Italian Dessert: Mascarpone Tiramisu & Glazed Organic Fig!

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Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to slightly expensive, good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.
Entirely non-smoking!

The other day after the two succulent eggplants/aubergines dishes I savored at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City I simply had to have a dessert:
Italian-style Mascarpone Tiramisu with a glazed fig organically grown in Shimizu ku, Shizuoka City!

I had some problems choosing the top picture, so I’ll show you the other two!
First, the second one!

And next, the third one!
Frankly speaking, as for the pictures, I did not know whether to taste the tiramisu or the fig first!

I opted for the Mascarpone Tiramisu!

It might be a classic of the Italian Gastronomy but I must say I’ve not been often impressed with this type of dessert…

But Chef Touru Arima’s creation reconciled me with the whole of Italy!
Unctuous and so well-balanced with neither the coffee or the mascarpone taking the lead!
Niether a cake, a cream or an ice-cream, it was difficult to describe lost as I was in savoring it!

Now for the glazed organic fig! The mint is organic, too, by the way!

It is inddeed a large variety grown organically at some altitude in Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City, an area well exposed to the sun.
It was first pan-fried with plenty of brown sugar and then finished inside the oven.
Cutting through the sugar crust gave you the impression of breaking a creme brulee!
For all the sweet taste of its crust, the warm insides produced a highly perfumed flavor which married so well with the first flavor encountered through its crust!

To be continued…

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Pork, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Shizen No Chikara Garden Organic Vegetables and Mangenton Pork at Aquavite!

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<a href="http://shizuokagourmet

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive. Top-class Italian wines. Private room for~8 people.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at counter!

On August 6th, Aquavite opened the second page of their “Shizen no Chikara Garden Presents” Series featuring organic vegetables from Shizuen no Chikara Garden in Shizuoka City and Mangenton Pork from Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City!

As this kind of report is both work and pleasure I always sit at the counter to be able to share a word with Chef Aoki!

And like this focaccia with organic mini tomatoes I can see everything coming out of the oven!

Little beauties, aren’t they?

A menu was provided for all to consult and take away!

This was service, semi-dried tomatoes and mushroom crostini.

First pasta dish: Cold Capellini with organic tomatoes and Italian water buffalo Mozzarella.

For another view!
Lke all the vegetables of the day, the basil is organic from Shizen no Chikara Garden.

My piece of focaccia!

The antipasti misto!

Grilled eggplant/aubergine rolled in raw ham.

Kabocha pumpkin marinated in balsamico.

Okra and their flowers!

Potato fritatta and goya/bitter melon fritatta!

Okra flower!

The second pasta dish!

Home-made stamp pasta corzetti with oba/large perilla leaf sauce and sauteed shrimps!
That soft sauce was a beauty indeed in perfect coupling with the home-made pasta!

Beautiful finish as usual. The care of a great chef!

The pasta stamp!
Which means that each piece of pasta has to be cut individually!

The main dish!
Mangenton pork belly confit and Shizen no Chikara Garden organic vegetables combination!

The Mangenton having been confit beforehand, the fat was crispy and combining so well with the leaner meat without any fat dripping away!

This is what I call a flying tomato!

For a better view of the vegetable design!

I know you were waiting for it: the dessert!

For a closer view at the tip of the “fork”!

Blueberries and raspberries tart!

Soft red tea panacotta!

To be continued… of course!

AQUAVITE
Address: 420-0034 Shizuoka Shi, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg. 3F
Tel. & fax: 054-2740777
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00 18:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Homepage (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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

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Chicken Meatballs Spaghettini with Marutaka Farm Puree

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Cooking, especially at home, shouldn’t be difficult.
The point is to find and use good ingredients

Marutaka Farm/まるたか農園　in Miyakoda, Hamamatsu City makes a truly extravagant tomato puree made with tomatoes originally grown solely to be eaten fresh. Not wishing to throw away good produce during the peak harvest season they started making this sauce with the pulp of the tomatoes with the sole addition of salt!

You can adapt it to any Italian recipes but must keep in mind it is not as concentrated as European tomato purees but more like sauces.
Each jar contains 270 g, enough to devise a recipe for two.

Chicken Meatballs Spaghettini with Marutake Farm Puree

Meat balls:
Minced chicken
Grated garlic
Grated Ginger
Japanese sake or white wine (just enough for taste)
Salt
Pepper
Mayonnaise (to liaise instead of eggs)

Above proportions are up to your taste, so experiment!
Mix the whole and make small balls.

Fry some thinly sliced onions in olive oil first in a large and fairly deep frypan onver medium high fire until they have become transparent.
Add meat balls and fry until they have change color to a light brown. Lower fire to medium low.

Start preparing the spaghettini.

Add a whole jar of Marutaka Tomato Puree and cook for a while. Add 1 large tablespoon of Port wine, 1 large tablespoon of basil sauce, pepper and a little curry mix powder. Add chili pepper powder if you like your pasta hot.

Add plenty of grape tomatoes and cook on a medium fire for a while or until spaghettini are ready.
Drain the pasta and transfer it into the sauce pan. Mix well. Add edamame and sliced black olives and mix again.

Serve hot!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

With a Glass,
Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, 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, My Bento Box, 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, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Shizuoka, Tourism

Italian Cuisine: Dinner at Contorno in Mochimune!

6 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong points: Many local products be they from the land or the sea. Organic vegetables. Car park.
no-smoking-logo1 Entirely non-smoking!
Map

Mochimune in Shizuoka City is famous all over Japan for its shirasu/シラス/sardine whiting but it has other treasures to be discovered such as white peaches, oranges, a whole array of fish and seafood and a more than excellent Italian restaurant, Contorno!
I had never visited it for dinner although I had the occasions to enjoy great lunches there.
I finally had the opportunity when the young IT staff of Agrigraph joined me for dinner on a busy Friday evening!

As I had three specialists armed with all kinds of electronic devices with me, for once I didn’t have to worry about taking photographs!

The heat had been hellish that day so a beer was in order!

All vegetables used at Contorno are cultivated organically at Nagomi Farm in Fujinomiya City and the salmon is smoked on site!

24-months old raw Parma Ham!

The same with an organic vegetable salad! Extravagant!

The Italian wine amateurs will be happy to learn that Contorno has a decent list for all tastes and budgets!

For the connoisseurs!

Contorno is also renown for its pizza entirely prepared, fermented and baked in a large oven on site.
The above pizza is a Mochimune specialty: Shirasu and mozzarella pizza!

A second great pizza made with semi-dried tomatoes (organic) and raw ham!

I judge the quality of an Italian Restaurant on its gnocchi more than anything else!
These gnocchi in peperocino sauce and large prawns are a certainly a must in Contorno!

It certainly deserved a closer view!

If you must have pasta, then I would definitely recommend their short pasta!

And don’t go for anything fancy! The tomato peperocino is the best!

Served with a beautiful piquant olive oil for the customers who like their food spicy!

If you can manage some space in your stomach you must try Contorno’s desserts!
The sole lady among us couldn’t resist this chocolate cake in blueberry sauce!

As for the “boys” it was cappucino! Sorry, I had already sipped half when I took the picture!

See you again in the Fall/Autumn!

CONTORNO
421-0122, Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 5-1-10, Sunrise Mochimune (5 minutes walk from Mochimune JR Station. Second stop after Shizuoka)
Tel.: 054-2565877
Business hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG

Lunch sets: 1,480 yen~
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Shizuoka Agricultural Products from the Producer to the Gastronomic Table: Suruga Shamo Chicken at Sunmario

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Suruga Shamo Chicken has not only become a famous agricultural product from Shizuoka but it is also celebrated beyond the borders of our Prefecture.
It is considered a high class delicacy with the consequent price.
Only 5 farmers produce it in Shzuoka Prefecture, in the cities of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka and Kikugawa, most of the time in high altitude in a very natural environment.
It is a hybrid from Black Shamo and other upscale breeds.
As a comparison, Shizuoka Prefecture produced 5,570,000 “broiler chickens”, but only 8,550 Suruga Shamo chikens!

Sunmario Restaurant

In spite of the small numbers, no less than 41 restaurants in Shizuoka Prefecture feature it on their menus!
It is also sold and processed by 8 companies in Shizuoka Prefecture and Tokyo.
There is also an Association of Suruga Shamo Chicken Lovers and no less than 55 guests crowded into Sunmario to enjoy a full Suruga Shamo menu on February 22nd!

The guests were coming from all parts of the Shizuoka Prefecture and represented all kinds of businesses including restauration, large industries, government bureaus and the mass media. No less than 2 representatives from Agrigraph Japan were present!

The Menu!
Now, what did we enjoy?

Poached egg in Onsen/ot Spring fashion with Suruga Shamo Chicken confit salad.

The tidbits including Suruga Shamo liver paste to help you wait!

Suruga Shamo Chicken Consomme with Shizuoka Vegetables.

Sole poele/sauteed from Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City and Shizuoka mushrooms and Chinese cabbage Cream.

Suruga Shamo Chicken in Coq au Vin fashion.

Shizuoka Matcha Tea Creme Brulee with Shizuoka Bioran Eggs (Endo, Aoi Ku) and Sakura tuiles.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture. I had toe eat, report and talk to dozens of people all at the same time! LOL

Shizuoka Prefecture Suruga Shamo Lovers Association
Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Tenosei, 2-19
Tel./fax: 054-365-6114
HOMEPAGE

Sunmario
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Toro, 2-14-26
Tel.: 054-654-3060
Fax: 054-654-3067
HOMEPAGE

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