Tag Archives: Italian Restaurant

Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurant, Italian Trattoria, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Italian Trattoria Lunch at Terra Costa in Shizuoka City!

March 20, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: kind, smiling attentive
Equipment and facilities: very clean overall. Excellent separate gender wwashroom. Car park
Prices: very reasonable
Strong points: fine Italian style trattoria. Excellent local products. Large portions.

I must admit it was a surprise to find this uncomplicated, modest and above average Italian trattoria along the sea shore in South Shizuoka away from the crowds and even surprised to find it crowded!
If you go there for lunch make a point to reserve your seats (actually you will be offered a plate of fried potatoes for the effort! good hospitality!)!

They do have a long enough menu but before you check the other menu know that the best deal is to choose a “set menu” as in above picture!
If you are two, three of more you will be able to choose all different dishes to share together!
The three of us opted for the 1,630 yen (tax included) menu with an original ice tea, a starters plate and a choice of pizza, pasta and risotto each! Plus a choice of desserts and coffee!
Very reasonable when you consider the size of the portions!

Incidentally there is also an enormous set lunch for two at 3,700 ye, tax included for two persons!

Let me show the menus for complete perusal!

The pizza menu!

The Pasta menu, part 1!

The pasta part 2 and risotto menu!

The sweets and cakes menu!

Now, what did we share?

The plate of starters/antipasti misto!
This was the main reason we ended up with full stomachs at the end! Well above average and excellent fresh produce!

Quatro formaggio/four cheese pizza!

Crab tomato sauce spaghetti!

Porcini mushrooms cream risotto!

Chocolate cake, tiramisu and creme brulee for dessert!
And coffee to wash it down.
Pity we were driving, otherwise a glass of wine would have been welcome! LOL

TERRA COSTA

〒422-8034 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Takamatsu, 3093-33
Tel.: 054-238-1126
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 18:00~23:00, 11:00~22:00 on Sundays
Credit cards OK
Car park

GOOGLE

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ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurant, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at Il Dritto in Shimada city!

December 2, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Kind, attentive and very informative
Equipment and facilities: Overall spotless clean. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: inventive modern Italian cuisine making use of many local products. Interesting and reasonable Italian wine list including wines from Kumamaoto Prefecture!
Doubles up a gastronomic bar in the evening!

Succulent and elegant Italian cheese amuse!

I have always thought that Shimada City deserved better when it came to food. They are already blessed with some of the best sake in Japan and when it comes o Japanese gastronomy they are blessed with a couple of very good restaurants/izakaya. But when it came to Western cuisine they definitely missed higher class Italian Restaurant.
Now, they have it with the arrival of Il Dritto a few months ago!

Check he specials of the day!

It is not only a restaurant but also a wine bar (with food if desired) at a small counter until last orders at 22:00!
Otherwise it does not sit so many guests,and I recommend to reserve in advance unless you want to try your luck at opening time at 18:00. As for the week ends it is definitely crowded!
This was our first visit so I don’t know what happens at lunch time on week ends but you expect crowds and single set menus!

As for the evenings it is real fun reading and choosing from the menu board!
Do take your time! You will discover a very interesting fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine definitely served in the Italian fashion, I would say high fashion!

I know some Italian friends who would be very intrigued and tempted by the “Aburi Ankimo/Hal grilled monkfish liver”
A real fusion creation using ankimo/monkfish liver first steamed the japanese way and then slghtly grilled served an Italian-concept fish sauce! Very, very unusual which the the creative talent of young owner chef Daisuke Hirabayashi

Of course the herb bread is exclusively home-baked!

Aburi/haf grilled Sanma/Pacific saury wits liver sauce and fine vegetables!

Another fine marriage of Japanese and Italian cuisine!
Pacific saury is a Japanese fish par excellence and again my Italian friends are in for another surprise!

Kumamomoto Prefecture Horsemeat Carpaccio!
As a frenchman I just couldn’t ignore that morsel! Mind you, my Italian friends will have a pleasure to dispute that!
Smiling Owner Sommelier Megumi Hirabayashi shy (Daisuke’s wife) actually hails from Kumamoto Prefecture and you can expect some rare wines from her own Prefecture!

Talking of wines we had this reasonably-priced and very fine Valpolicella!

We had a bit of a fight to choose either pasta or risotto for our visit, but I lost the jankenpon/stone paper scissors and we opted for this beautiful seafood pescatore linguine with prawns, squid, scallops and cockles!
Don’t have to mention the little ensuing fight! LOL

Consequently I was “allowed” to choose one of my favorites for the next dish: Roasted duck breast with red wine sauce and fine vegetables! A dish that has made the French and Italian friends forever! LOL

It was time for dessert, then? Then, what did I choose to satisfy my male chauvinistic preference?

Hazelnut Catarana!
Who said the Italian are limited when it come to dessert? So sweet! corny comment, sorry!)

My only regret? I could sample all the dishes!
But I will have my revenge soon!

IL DRITTO
Owner Chef: Daisuke Hirabayashi
Owner Sommelier: Megumi Hirabayashi

427-0022 Shizuoka Prefecture, Shimada City, Hontoori, 1-9-1,Marichi TAC 1F
Tel: 0547-330790
Opening hours:
Lunch 12:00~14:00 8 Saturdays and Sundays only)
Dinner: 18:00~22:00
Closed on Mondays and 4th Tuesday
Credit cards OK
GOOGLE

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-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurant, Japan Tourism, Tourism, Yokohama City

Gastronomic Destinations: Yokohama City-Piatto Bianco In Minato Mirai

February 25, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Smiling and kind
Equipment & Facilities: very clean overall. Shared washroom, superb.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Oysters and seafood. Parties

Piatto Bianco is not that easy to find on the 2nd Basement Floor of Landmark Plaza Dockyard Garden Building in Minato Mirai in Yokohama Harbor, but it worth the search if you want to get away from the crowds and still enjoy a laid-back meal and drink.

The outside is a bit typical of a garish American-Style Italian Tratorria but the smiling service is definitely Japanese!

The staff was certainly extremely accommodating when we requested to change seats to get as far away as possible from some smokers.
It opens late by the building standards and their oysters make for a great snack with a good bottle of Italian wine.

And the big jar of olives you can eat as much as you want provided with the drinks is a great bonus!

We visited the place only for a quick fix, but we ended up staying longer for a full meal started with a very tasty smoked oysters salad!

Now, I must admit that the grilled oysters were very good, and I should know, being a Frenchman! LOL

We had quite some wine and we decided to sample one of their seafood dishes.
This plate of deep-fried prawns on a bed pf potato mousseline and tomato sauce wa a superb ide that the Dragon decided to emulate!

All in all very good value!
One of the very rare “chain” restaurant I would recommend!

PIATTO BIANCO

Yokohama City, Nishi Ku, Minatomirai, 2-2-1, Landmark Plaza Dockyard Garden Building, B 2F
Tel.: 045-227-8577
Opening hours: Monday~Friday: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~23:00, Saturday, Sunday & National Holidays: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE

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Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Dinner at SOLOIO (may 2014) in Shizuoka City!

May 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

The other day I visited Solio , my favorite Italian Restaurant in Shizuoka City for the first time since last November and I noticed some changes in the opening hours!
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23:: (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday

But as usual the specialties of the day’s boar is still a joy to read!

and it is always a pleasure to discover the smiling faces of Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さ!

As for wine as usual, too, the best deal is ordering by the carafe, eminently enjoyable Italian Riesling in this case!

And the bread is always hme-baked!

Now, what did we have this time?

A carpaccio you will be hard put to find in Tokyo at that price for that quality!

Madai/true seabream from Shizuoka!

We always make a point to order banya cauda!

The vegetables are always from Shizuoka Prefcture!

And many of them are grown in Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん’s own garden!

A favorite of mine, a French delicacy served the Italian way!

Horsemeat tartare!

Another specialty which could considered as fusion Italian!

Sea urchin flan!

An appetizer to be savored slowly!

As the last dish (we had to skip dessert this time) was taking some time to prepare, so Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん gracefully served us a small appetizer of pan-fried zucchini and burdock root!

The dish we were waiting for is called “Stracotto di Stinco”!

Can you guess what it is? And there is enough of it for two!

Pig shin stewed in white wine for more than four hours!

And we didn’t leave anything!

looking forward to our summer’s dinner there again!

SOLOIO

Chef Takehiko Katoh/加藤武彦さん/Sommelier Mieko Osawa/小澤三江子さん

420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours:
Lunch: 11:30~13:30 (l.O.) (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (l.o.), 17:00~23::00 (Friday, Saturday)
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Entirely non-smoking!

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Italian Gastronomy, Italian Restaurants, Shizuoka City

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Il Paladino in Shizuoka City (September 2014)

September 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive.
Strong points: Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables. Private room can be made non-smoking!

I finally managed to visit Il Paladino Tratorria in Takajo machi, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City after a long absence!

It was actually for the occasion of a “business lunch” with a client of mine!

It can easily become a very busy place, so at lunch they make sure to be prepared for customers in a hurry!

For lunch they offer three types of set menus.
We opted for the Chef’s recommendation!

Of course all the bread is home-baked!

Enormous antipasti misto!

Sicilian bread and beans soup!

Pasta of the day!

Stewed beef tongue!

Grilled “Isaki/Chicken grunt”! A typical fish from Shizuoka!

And a succulent small dessert to finish!

We certainly ended up full and contented!

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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レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hotels, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: Lunch at Al Porto in Shizuoka City!

November 6, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A real jewel!

Service: Kind, attentive and smiling!
Equipment & Facilities: Splendid cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (this is a hotel!)
Prices: Appropriate to expensive
Strong points: High class Italian gastronomy. Excellent wine list by the bottle and the glass. Great dessert plate!

As a general rule I do not look too much forward to eat and dine in hotels in Japan, but Al Porto Italian Restaurant is certainly the exception which confirms the rule!
Located on the 15th floor of Hotel Associa Shizuoka it is the only restaurant I would recommend to anyone inside a hotel.
And this all thanks to a great young chef named Satoshi Kakiyama, whom I know personally. But I didn’t give him any advance news of my visit for lunch the other day!

Because it is part of a hotel Al Porto can afford a wine list above average. There some real good offers by the glass even at lunch time!
I started with a glass of Gewurtzstraminer from northern Italy!

A rich wine wine equal to the same grapes wine in Alsace, France!

Home-made bread, naturally!

Antipasto misto with Parma ham, Shizuoka Sole and octopus!

Insalata di granchio e avocado con caviar: avocado, snow crab, ameera tomato from Shizuoka and caviar with a raspberry coulis!
A jewel!

Next I had a glass of Barbera Monte!

I almost forgot to take a picture of this rich red wine full of red fruits!

Capesante al gratin: Scallops Gratin!

Local charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef and local vegetables!

Potofu di fegato e ravanello giapponese: Foie gras atop stewed daikon! A must in Japan!

Spaghetti di scampi e porcini fughi: spaghetti with scampi prawns and porcini mushrooms!

All the while I also enjoyed a solid Cotes de Castillon from South West France!

Very solid and fruity indeed!

The dessert plate is brought to you so that you can have a good look before choosing your sweet tooth sin!
I actually left the choice to the eminently capable waitress!

Little details that make the difference: change of service and coffee brought to your table before your dessert is served.
Actually the cutlery was changed with every dish!

Blanc manger/panacotta, tiramisu,tart and more morsels I didn’t have the time to note down! LOL

Be sure this is only the start of a long venture!

AL PORTO
420-0851 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kurogane Cho, 56, Hotel Associa, 15F
Tel.: 054-205-8633
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 17:30~21:00
Reservations advised
Credit Cards OK
HOTEL HOMEPAGE ENGLISH
AL PORTO HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
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美食, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

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

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

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!

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Fuji No Kuni Gastronomic Fair in Fuji City (September 2011)

September 23, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

On September 22nd another “Fuji no Kuni” Gastronomic Fair was held under the auspices of the Shizuoka Prefecture Economy & Industry Bureau at Maison De Anniversaire in Fuji City to support the local food and producers.

As the event started at 7 p.m. I arrived a bit early at Shin Fuji Station where I was greeted by a beautiful sunset!
As the site of the event took place high at the foot of Mount Fuji I did well to reach the Station at 6 p.m.!

Arriving early gave me ample time to greet some friends and acquaintances like Mr. Sano, owner of Sanoman Co. in Fujinomiya City!

It also allowed me to survey the dining room and have a look at the menu and appetizers on my plate before exchanging business cards with many another guest. Actually most guests, representing companies or coming as individuals, had some kind of direct relation with the economy and agriculture of Shizuoka Prefecture.
Incidentally, the appetizers were Mangenton ball in escabeche from Sanoman Co. and the chicken roulade was made with Koshamo chicken from Aoki Farm in Fuji City!

The beer that day was brewed by Stephan Rager at Bayern Meister Beer Co. in Fujinomiya City!

And the Japanese sake was provided by Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinomya City!

A honjyozo called “Raku/楽/Enjoy Yourself!”

Guests including some celebrities taking their seats in all informality.

The MC of the day: Mrs. Kyouko Ishigami, a Shizuoka sake expert!

The dinner started with a vegetable and salmon trout jelly terrine and organic salad!

The salmon trout was bred by Kunugi Fish Farm and all the organic vegetables were grown by Mtsuki Bio Farm, both in Fujinomiya City!

Each producer involved in the preparation of the repast introduced their venture on the mike: Mr. Sano of Sanoman Co.

Beautiful mushroom soup with imo/taro. The mushrooms were cultivated by Mr. Hasegawa in Fuji City!

Madai/Seabream (brought from Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City) poelee with a galette of sakura shrimps from the same harbour. The vegetables are of course from Matsuki Bio Farm and the bacon from Sanoman Co.

For a closer view!

Charcoal-grilled Izu Venison Roast from deer meat processed by the Izu City Food Processing Center!

Very French in concept! And delicious!

The representative of Fuji-Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

The dessert!

Shizuoka Fig Millefeuille with blueberry sauce!

Financier!

A very interesting dinner indeed introducing all the good ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture!

I wonder where they are going to hold this monthly event next time!

美食, 観光, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Restaurants, Tourism

Italian gastronomy: Early Autumn Dinner at Il Castagno in Shizuoka City!

September 22, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Home-made pasta!.
Entirely non-smoking!

I make a point to visit the best restaurants in town at least once every season and it was time for my Autumnal visit at Il Castagno in Shizuoka City!

Il Castagno has an excellent list of wines at reasonable prices: we opted for this solid Veneto red!

Amarone della Valpolicella 2007

For the specialists!

One good way to taste their appetizers is to ask for their 6-dish Appricoze Set!

Naturally, all their bread and biscuits are home-baked!

The fish dish of the day was Cartoccio Di Patate, a baked seabream in a wrap made of thin potato chips with a cockles and sweet shrimps cream sauce!

A beautiful potato wrap!

Yummy seafood!

It was such a pleasure to break through the potato wrap!

The red wine having quickly disappeared we opted for a French White Alsace Riesling 2009 by Laurent Barth!

As for the main dish we ordered pasta!
Tagliorini with scallops and fresh vegetables and semi-dried Aiko tomatoes in cockles sauce!

All the vegetables and the cockles are from Shizuoka Prefecture!

From another angle!
Can you see the edamame?

We just had enough space left for the dessert plate!

Peach and plum sorbets!

Fig tart!

“Pone” expresso coffee and chocolate pudding!

Of course an expresso and hard biscuits for the finishing touch!

To be followed…

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)

美食, Dessert, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Tourism

Vegetarian Italian Cuisine at Piatto!

June 6, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Very friendly and relaxed. Slow food!
Equipment: Great cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Appropriate
Strong Points: Vegetables, especially local and organic whenever possible. Local products. Good French and Italian wine-list

I’m not a vegetarian, but if one can come up with a superlative vegetarian dish I will not hesitate!
And if the vegetables are organic and local to boot I will ignore meat and fish for the whole meal (and postpone the latter to my next visit! LOL)

Kazuo Igarashi originally comes from Tokyo, but with a wife from Shizuoka and a constant access to extravagant ingredients convinced him to open Piatto in downtown Shizuoka City on June 12th 2006.
Since then he has acquired such a fame that his own peers advised me to pay him a visit as soon as possible!

Kazuo’s cuisine is definitely Italian in inspiration but his small establishment is a happy fusion of European and Japanese influences with plates and dishes being chosen among the artworks of three different potters. Food is served on wooden (wood and fabric material and colors are everywhere!) trays with wooden chopsticks and spoons (although you can ask for forks and knives!) and in art glassware. Frankly speaking I would need to write a separate article to describe the place (which I will do next time!)!

I almost cried when I found a Mercurey white wine on his menu! Mercurey is my home-place back in Bourgogne, France!
A very tasty appetizer was served in a beautiful glass: yuuba (skimmed tofu sheet) with parmegiano, pepper and olive oil!

A first for me!

“Bagna Couda”: Italian-style hot dip vegetable tray!

The small deep dish was placed on larger pot containing a combustible to heat the dip.
Both the dish and “burner” were made of sophisticated Japanese pottery!

The dip recipe is a secret of course but it does contain parmegiano and anchovy paste!
I did not leave a drop!

The vegetables, all local and most organic, were more of a Japanese concept, proving that superlative Italian gastronomy can be successfully achieved anywhere if you have quality ingredients!

A little explanation here:
The eggplant is mizu nasu/水茄子, a variety which is eaten raw. The renkon/蓮根/lotus root and takenoko/筍/bamboo shoot are definitely Japanese in concept.
And even more so the mini melons eaten as vegetables in our Prefecture!

Kazuo’s focaccia seems to be known all over town.
Carrot focaccia to finish my dip sauce!

What did I tell you about pottery?
I know some people who would visit the place just to have the pleasure in eating with them!

A risotto was of course on the cards!
I just asked Kazuo to concoct me one with vegetables!

It just shows that green can be become such an appetizing color in the hands of a great chef!

Even the dessert was local!
Can you guess?

I almost took the same picture: Cherry tree flower Ice cream! Yes you read well: flowers!

I’m afraid this is still a bit short of an article as Kazuo Ishigarashi’s cuisine will take time to explore, but don’t woory, I’ll be back soon!

PIATTO
Shisuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Kooyamachi, 5-12, 2F
TEl.: 054-253-8844
Business hours: Lunch, 11:30~14:30 on Monday, Saturday, Sunday & National Holidays. Dinner: 17:30~23:00
Closed on Thursdays
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese and a little English)

観光, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Restaurants, Tourism

Italian Cuisine: Dinner at Il Castagno!

June 2, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Great appetizers. Home-made pasta!.
Entirely non-smoking!

Not many chefs spend their good time making their own fresh pasta in Japan, and that only would be a good enough reason to visit Il Castagno in Shizuoka City!
But Chef Kenji Inami 謙司, who spent quite some time in the South of Italy, also endeavors to use ingredients from our Prefecture, be they vegetables, meat or fish for the best freshness and quality!

I’ve visited his restaurant countless times but only for lunch. Since we have just moved in the neighborhood we finally had the chance to share a full dinner there!

One cannot enjoy a true Italian dinner without (lots of) wine!
This white Lugano was perfect for a start!

We started with the set of appetizers!

Vegetables and Parmegiano quiche!

Deep-fried Parmegiano balls!

Home-smoked salmon!

Home-made ham!

Squid ink pasta!

Pork Pate di Campani with home-made pickles!

Exclusively home-made bread!

By then the white wine had disappeared, so we switched to a fine Montalcino red!

The Suruga Bay in Shizuoka has enough varieties of fish to satisfy any cuisine in the world!

Madai/red seabream~grouper!

We then naturally switched to pasta mode!
I dare say that Il Castagno offers the best (home-made) short pasta in town!

But you must also try his own style of Bolognese long pasta!

For a closer view!
Next time I’m thinking of a pasta only dinner! LOL

Yes, we still had room for dessert!

Fig compote!

Tempting, aren’t they?

Sorry, but I couldn’t resist the cheese!

It is a promise: next time all pasta!

美食, 野菜, 観光, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Restaurants, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Tourism, vegetables

Italian Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural products: Fennel Gratin at Osteria Porta Porta!

May 23, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

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

Chef Hidetake Suzuki/鈴木秀武 has his own “secret” source of vegetables in his own home-town, Fujieda City, about 20 minutes away by train from Shizuoka City.
When I say “secret”, it is actually more or less true as the farmer who grows these Italian/French vegetables do it on the chef’s request.
Although the two of us will visit that particular garden very soon, I am not allowed to divulge the name or its address!

Regular customers or friends at such an establishment do not need to look through a menu. A quiet word to the waitress (“please ask the chef to prepare a small antipasto misti for a start”) and a succulent array of appetizers will quickly materialize!

The artichoke also comes from that “secret” garden in Fujieda City!

Beautiful Ameera Tomatoes (and other vegetables) from Shizuoka Prefecture!

But I came for this: fresh fennel grown in the “secret” garden!

Fennel gratin!
It was on the specialty of the day menu last week and although it had disappeared I knew there was still some of the vegetable in the fridge!

Incidentally, when I was a kid there were a lot of leafy vegetables I wouldn’t eat including fennel.
My departed Mum must be screaming at me from where she is seeing me having developed a craving for them!

A very light bechamel sauce emphasized the natural taste of the fennel.
As it was hot I did take my time to savor it! LOL

In France we usually boil or steam the fennel beforehand or even fry it to soften it first, but it becomes a totally different dish.
This gratin with its fennel just cooked enough to enjoy its true taste is not only delicious but also so healthy!

What will the chef come up with next time…

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 from July

Uncategorized

“Real Food Restaurant” Italytei

May 19, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Very friendly and attentive. slow food!
Equipment: Great general cleanliness
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Mainly local vegetables. Vegetarian meal ok!. Local sake, too!
Completely Non smoking!

Many Japanese and expats have special priorities when coming to a restaurant.
It could be a non-smoking establishement, the possibility of eating vegetarian cuisine, or simply healthy food in a healthy environement.
Real Food Restaurant Italytei could very well be the one you are looking for in Shizuoka City!

It is not easy to find in the basement street of Gofuku-cho street but it is worth the search!

Great traceabilty as half of their vegetables come from Matsuki Bio Farm or Nagomi Organic Farm in Fujinomiya City or from their own garden tended by Mrs. Akutsu.
As for meat, pork is first class LYV pork also from Fujinomiya City. Even the whole rice/genmai/玄米 is Shizuoka-grown!

If you are in a hurry hust buy one of their take-away meals or bento boxes!

Food is for omnivores but they can make it completely vegetarian with some advance notice. Might be a good idea to strike a special relation with the Owner/Chef mr. Aritsune Akutsu, a very affable gentleman worth knowing. Ask him about his vegetable jams!

You can also devise your own meal by choosing from the display window!

A very rural atmosphere inside!

I chose the tray on my last visit!
Certainly very healthy looking!

Organic Carrot Soup!

Roasted organic vegetables and home-made ham salad!

Organic vegetables open quiche and whole rice!

Will have to further investigate it for my health-conscious friends!

Real Food Restaurant Italytei/リアルフードレストラン伊太リ亭
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku Cho, 3-4, Basement of Gofuku Cho
Tel.: 054-251-0456
Opening hours: 11:00~20:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Private parties possible
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Restaurants, Tourism, vegetables

Italian Cuisine: Shizuoka Agricultural products-Lunch at Via Del Borgo!

May 15, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

On a hot day (and the temperature has been hovering around a very unseasonal 30 degress celsius these past days) an Italian restaurant is probaby a good bet for lunch.
About time to check the latest lunch menu at Via Del Borgo, then!

One good thing about this spacious restaurant is that you can choose your spot among the available space without having to explain your reasons (not evident in Japan!)

I have already introduced Chef Takahiko Katoh/加藤隆彦 and I intend to folllow him around if he intends to go independent someday (all great chefs are bound to in Shizuoka), so let's have a look at what I had the pleasure to taste this time:
Onion confit crostini!

Antipasti misto!

Grilled zucchini and bamboo shoot (the latter from Shizuoka) and pork and vegetables roll.

Light vegetable omelette.

Avocado and Scallops with pomegranate seeds and balsamico dressing.

Home-baked bread, premium olive oil and wine!

White beans and asapragus tips soup.

Crispy asparagus tips (not the overcooked and soggy stuff!)!

I said before this the place for risotto!
Chicken ragu and mushrooms risotto!

For a better view!

For once I chose the fish main dish: pan-fried and oven-baked red grouper with cold fruit tomato ratatouille and hot sauteed vegetables.
All ingredients are from Shizuoka Prefecture!

The fruit tomatoes offered an intriguing contrast with their chilled swetness!

All vegetables sauteed to perfection to enhance their taste and flavor: small spring onion, okra, rape seed flower and maountain wild mountain vegetables!

I usually do not eat cooked fish skin but the marriage of the tender flesh with and of the crackling skin of this madai/真鯛/red grouper was too much to ignore and I was rewarded with a supreme experience! Probably the “simplest” and best way to enjoy white-fleshed fish!

Panacotta and fruit for a light and delicious dessert!

Instead of the usual coffee I had a refreshing orange juice and the little biscuits!

To be continued… LOL

Service: professional and friendly
Facilities: Extremely clean overall and beautiful washroom
Prices: reasonable
Strong points: Local products extensively used. Good Italian wine list. Private rooms available.
Private rooms can be made non-smoking with full isolation!

VIA DEL BORGO
420-0034, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 3-2-7
Tel.: 054-221-7666
Business hours: 11:30~13:30, 18:00~21:00 (last orders)
Private rooms available.
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK

野菜, 観光, 農業, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism, vegetables

Shizuoka Agricultural products: Italian Cuisine at Via Del Borgo!

April 7, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

During the past 3 years, Via del Borgo and its Chef, Takahiko Katoh have established a solid reputation as one of the best Italian restaurants in a City and Prefecture replete with them. His secret is simple enough: top-class local products whenever possible complemented with top-class foreign ingredients and a will to experiment!

Chef Takahiko Katoh/加藤隆彦 and Manager Mieko Kozawa/小澤美江子

The service is all done with a smile great attention.
Do not hesitate to ask if something not available on the menu can be prepared for you!

The restaurant stands in a quiet district of Shizuoka City by a small park.
The place certainly looks more Italian than many!
So do come in and relax!

But before entering, do not forget to read the “Specialties of The Day” board!

On that day they had a favorite Italian wine of mine!: Mastremilio 2004 Villa Caprareccia in Toscana. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.

Broad beans and Mozzarella Crostini for the appetizer.

The fish carpaccio was madai/真鯛/Red Seabream from the Suruga Bay with tomatoes pieces, pomegranate and violet daikon sprouts!
The whole seasoned with top-class olive oil!

The bread and others are naturally all baked in situ!

The vegetable dish was Organic vegetables from Matsuki Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City. Cooked/steamed in “cocotta/heavy wrought iron pot”, they were served with a Baniacanda sauce made of anchovy, crushed garlic and olive oil!

Beautiful, aren’t they?

Chef Katoh is famous all over the city for its risotto!
There are always at 5 to choose from on his menus!
This superlative dish was made with broad beans and mozzarella!

Shizuoka Prefecture is steadily and surely establishing itself as a producer of top-class meat in Japan.
This pork comes from the west of Shizuoka Prefecture and fed with cereals: Enshyuu Mugi Ton/遠州麦豚 (“ton” for pork, “mugi” for barley or cereals, Enshyuu for the West of Shizuoka Prefecture!). A pork that many Italians would cross the seas for!

The pork and the organic vegetables from Matsuki Bio Farm were simply grilled with the minimum of salt, pepper and herbs for the best flavors!
The orange “potato” is an Anno sweet potato!

We had enough for the day. The desserts will have to wait for our next visit!

VIA DEL BORGO
420-0034, Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa Cho, 3-2-7
Tel.: 054-221-7666
Business hours: 11:30~13:30, 18:00~21:00 (last orders)
Private rooms available.
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Credit Cards OK