Tag Archives: Recipes

Party with Bourgogne Wine Producers at Le Comptoir de Bio-S in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3355

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness and splendid washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A palette of Shizuoka Prefecture Products! Great use of organic vegetables, fish and meats from Shizuoka Prefecture. True healthy gastronomy! Excellent wine list!

On Friday February 8th Le Comptoir de Bio-S witnessed the visit of three wine producers from Bourgogne, France, who introduced their creations to wine lovers in Shizuoka in the company of gastronomy based on local products!

SN3O3366

Arnaud Chopin, a fourth generation producer in Nuits Saint-Georges who contributed:
Cotes de Nuits Villages Rouge 2010
Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bas de Combe 2010

SN3O3367

Rodolphe Demougeot, who has been producing wines since the age of twenty in Beaune contributed:
Beaune Clos Sainte Desiree Blanc 2009
Beaune Les Beaux Fougets Rouge 2009

SN3O3368

Georges Lignier, whose family started their trade back in the 19th Century in Morey saint Denis contributed:
Morey saint Denis 2008
Gevrey Chambertin 2009

Quite a palette as you can imagine!
Arnaud, Rodolphe and Georges, ably helped by their interpreter/guide Ms. Emi Tanabe, proved the model of gastronomic ambassadors who helped so much on that night make some very lucky guests discover the marvels of Bourgogne (my home, incidentally!)!
Their wines married splendidly with the repast concocted by the chefs which proved a discovery for the French wine producers themselves!

SN3O3352

Tartare of root vegetables, Suruga Beef and wheat and its green organic salad!

SN3O3354

All organic vegetables are grownin Fujinomiya City by Matsuki Bio Farm whose owner Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩さん organised the festivities in the company of wine importers!

SN3O3357

Charcoal grilled winter vegetables from Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

SN3O3359

The wine producers themselves confided me they were so happy enjoying truly delicious healthy food and discovering Shizuoka’s products!

SN3O3362

Grilled venison, “Honshu Shika/本州鹿1” raised at the foot of Mount Fuji with red wine Balsamico sauce!

SN3O3363

With more splendid organic vegetables!

SN3O3364

A rare dessert!
Organic taro/sato imo ice-cream!

A big thanks to Chef Kouji Okukumura, Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki, Producers Arnaud Chopin, Rodolphe Demougeot, Georges Lignier and Ms. Emi Tanabe for a truly memorable night!

Le Comptoir de Bio-s by Bio Farm Matsuki
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kooya machi, 12-8, Sankousha Bldg, 1F
Tel./fax: 054-221-5250
Business hours: 11:30~15:00 (Last orders 14:00), 17:00~23:00 (Last orders 22:00)
Closed on Mondays
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
This is MY LIFE by Ashley Harvey

American Gastronomy: Avocado & Salsa Hamburger at Tequila’s Diner in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3318

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

Today saw some dog day’s weather with an insistent cold rain to make you feel reaaly reasonable.
That is when I suddenly felt a craving for a hamburger for lunch! I mean a real one!
And there is only one place to go then in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3314

A little time slip…

SN3O3315

keep your eyes open at daytime and nighttime! You will certainly discover something to your liking!

SN3O3316

There is a lot of offerings even for lunch!
This time I tried something new: Avocado n’ Salsa with an extra drink!

SN3O3313

Beer, of course!

SN3O3317

The lunch set also included some coleslaw and cold grilled chicken!

SN3O3318

The Avocado n’ Salsa Hamburger!

SN3O3319

Fresh and tender avocado and more vegetables for appetizing colors!

SN3O3320

The avocado above wipped dressing cream!

SN3O3323

The salsa under the avocado and cream dressing!

SN3O3321

Plenty of fresh vegetables under the meat!
Always appreciated!

SN3O3324

The fried onions add some welcome sweetness to the whole balance!

SN3O3322

And nicely seasoned fried potatoes!

To be continued… naturally! Still more dishes to explore including some yummy hot dogs!

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Gastronomy: Sauteed Oyster on Cauliflower Flan at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3272

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 Pissenlit French Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, came up with a new recipe marrying land and sea!
Cauliflower and oyster!

SN3O3281

The French flan is made with two locally grown cauliflowers, yellow and green!
Unfortunately only some of the green was left for a photograph!

SN3O3273

The very large oyster is of a japanese variety called “Akou/赤穂” and was sauteed/seared and rolled into a mild garam masala sauce before being served astride a French flan and decorated with organic thin leeks/menegi/芽葱..

SN3O3274

The picture above shows the flan once the oyster has been put aside.

SN3O3275

the whole dish was in fact seasoned with the same mild garam masala sauce for a succulent West-East marriage!

SN3O3276

The French flan was made with two kinds of cauliflower as indicated above with the addition of pieces of the same kind of oyster!

Again when health and flavors combine for a gastronomic experience!

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Organic Wine Bar & Retailer: La Vigne in Shizuoka City!

SN3O3126

Shop Manager Hidetaka Satoh/佐藤大高さん & Staff (calling themselves the “Nice-Looking Boy and beautiful Damsel”!)

Service: Very friendly and caring. Great explanations!
Facilities and equipment: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom. Whole establishment non-smoking!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: French organic wines. Higher grade wine cellar. Drinks and light food at standing bar.

The Japanese love their wines, and French wines in particular!
But they also have a care for their health.
And what’s a more healthy drink than organic wine!

SN3O3105

You will find La Vigne very conveniently located right across the street from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit!

SN3O3106

It almost looks like a street side cafe back in France!

SN3O3107

“自然のワイン/Shizen no Wain” means “Natural/Organic Wines”!

SN3O3108

The wine and the producer of the month!

SN3O3109

Wine recommendations for coming Christmas!

SN3O3114

A suggestion for a present for an important person!
Actually today was exactly the Fourth Anniversary of the opening of La Vigne in the 18th of December 2008!
The mother company is located in Nagoya while the most recent and third shop stands in Higashi Ginza, Tokyo!

SN3O3110

The shop was first conceived as wine retailing establishment that offers plenty of organic wines from France.

SN3O3112

More suggestions for Christmas!
All purchases can be wrapped as presents for a small fee!

SN3O3113

They do offer a lot to eat with those wines: terrine, pate, sauces, jams, olives and the like!

SN3O3115

And also plenty of cheese, hams, sausages, and other appetizers you can eat on site if you wish.

SN3O3116

Photographs and signatures of the producers whose wines are featured at La Vigne!

SN3O3117

The standing bar which has proved to be best investment of the establishment!
Many customers, including many local chefs, taste their wines there before acquiring them by the bottle (s)!

SN3O3121

La Vigne also sells some great breads concocted by a local baker that find their way onto the counter more than often!

SN3O3119

Great map of French wines to give all information and conversation topics of the day when needed!

SN3O3120

Take your time, glass in hand , and take a good look at all the wines!

SN3O3118

The wines to be drunk and purchased by the glass at the standing bar regularly change.
You pay your orders, be they wine or food in cash as they come, or you can before leaving either cash or by credit card.

SN3O3125

Great explanations for each wine!

SN3O3122

My order of the day!
Wines and food can be consumed all day long, but coffee and mineral water is also available!

SN3O3124

Plenty of food and snacks available.
No cover charge or extra fees!

SN3O3123

If you find a canned food of your liking just take it from the display tables, bring it to the counter and ask the staff to open it for instant consumption as it is or with bread and so on!

LA VIGNE
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 17-2, 1F
Tel/Fax: 054-205-4181
Opening hours: 10:00~22:00 (Monday~Saturday), 12:00~20:00 (Sundays and National Holidays)
Credit Cards OK
Private Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Desserts: Tarts at Patina in Shizuoka City!

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

When it comes to cakes I’m a loser for tarts!
You simply cannot beat them when you are looking for the tastes you enjoyed at all times of your life.
They probably are the best example of seasonal cakes back home in France and in many other countries!

When it comes to indulging in them I go straight away to Patina in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City where I enjoy them at my convenient leisure with a large cappucino!

Here are two I recently enjoyed:
The first one was advertised as apple and oranges, fruit you find in abundance here in this season!

Tarts there are usually served with a big dollop of ice cream to marry with the tart lightly grilled under a salamander!

For a better look of the fruit baked atop a light marzipan and crispy pate sucree!

With some delightful apple compote and elegant custard sauce and mint for the finishing touch!

The second one served with an elegant cappucino.
Can you guess what fruit are used this time?

Apple, fig, orange and banana!

Really appetizing, isn’t it?

Custard sauce with raspberry sauce, caramel sauce and ice sugar for a sin of a dessert!
So elegant!

And naturally exquisite ice cream to marry with the warm tart!

I always keep the dark baked pate sucree for the last bite!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

French Bistro-Izakaya: Chez Satsukawa in Shizuoka City!

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

Chez Satsukawa is probably the oldest favorite restaurant of mine still standing in Shizuoka City!

I’ve known Chef Tomio Satsukawa/薩川富雄さん since the days he was looking after a Restaurant called Chez Chinois before he went independently in 1989!
His restaurant moved twice to the present location where he conceived his establishment in what he calls “Bistronomie”, and what I call French Bistro-Izakaya!
Simply said it is a happy marriage of French and Japanese ( and a little Chinese!) traditional culinary trends.
It is the kind of place where you can come on your oe\wn and sit at the counter or visit in company and sit at a more elegant table.

The menu is easy to understand thanks to personal drawings. If you don’t read Japanese just ask him and hewill gladly reply in his gruff voice!

Don’t foregt to check the day’s specilas!

Like in an izakaya you will be served appetizers with the first drink. The difference is that they are made with a French concept in mind!

Japanes pickled daikon and open quiche.

Stewed burdock roots and cucumber salad.

It would take quite a few visits to smaple all the specialties but there is one you must start with: Chinese-style raw fish salad/Salade de Poisson!

This time the fish was Shizuoka sole!

You are supposed to mix all ingredients in the dish before transferring it to your plates!

Expect many French bistro classics!
The one above is a seasonal Shizuoka wild boar terrine/Terrine de sanglier sauvage!

I would kill for that!
Notice the pieces of foie gras!

Another specialty of the chef: Chinese Pekin Duck-stylle duck served with crepes!

The pancakes and the sauce!

The duck and the finely chopped white leeks!

Et voila!
Just roll the pancake and eat it with your fingers!

For the potato lovers the Red Moon (Organically-grown in Shizuoka) Potato “Frites” are a nust!

For the hungry client in need of hot food Chef Satsukawa even have a yaki kare/Oven-baked curry inpired from a recipe originating from North Kyushu Island!

Indian? American? Japanese? French? Fusion gastronomy, certainly!

To be continued…

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

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Food & Drink Bloggers in Japan (amended November, 21st, 2012)

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin
The Best of Sapporo by Ben!

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Japan Eat’s Videos
Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with DominicTokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscence in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo
Japan Farmers Market in Tokyo by Joan

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
“Made in Matsue” in Shimane prefecture
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito
Quixotidienne in Kagoshima Prefecture
Christine Molero in Kyushu & elsewhere (French)

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Musk Melons: The Best in the World grown in Shizuoka Prefecture! Tasting Heaven!

When it comes to fruit, and especially melons, the Japanese must be the most extravagant farmers and consumers in the World!
Not so long ago Roland Buerk of The BBC wrote a fine article about the musk melons grown in Shizuoka Prefecture:
Check here and you will be convinced I’m not biased!: Shizuoka Musk Melons-Japan’s obsession with perfect fruit by Roland Buerk of the BBC

Last night I received a phone call from a home delivery company checking my address as they were going to deliver me one these extravagant melons today as a gift from a friend!
Would you believe I stayed home all day just for that melon as it arrived only at 4:30 in the afternoon (on a Sunday!)?

Before I start describing the experience let me tell who is growing these beauties:
The Company is simply called Shizuoka Crown Melons and is located in Fukuroi City, although they are actually members of the Shizuoka Greenhouse Growers Association!
Although it is written in Japanese check their homepage here: SHIZUOKA CROWN MELONS.
Also check the CROWN MELON FARMERS INTERVIEW VIDEO!
Mind boggling!

Let me continue today’s story then:

The package! With indications “FRAGILE” and “KEEP IT STANDING”!

Another package inside the first package!
Japanese attention to care and details!

Japan Agriculture Forestry and Fishery Minister Award/Shizuoka Crown Melon/農林水産大臣賞受賞!

Such a beautiful box!
Alright, let’s open it!

English that anyone should be able to understand although the fruit are not exported!

To be consumed between November 16th and November 18th! Let’s hurry, then!

Plenty of explanations for the consumer’s attention!

Well, you must read Japanese! LOL

Actually the pamphlet is very informative, but once again you must be able to read Japanese! LOL again!

The melon!

Note the perfect T-shaped stem!
Would you believe that the melons are brushed every day by hand?

WOW!
Look at that color and the perfect smooth grain of the flesh inside.
The seeds are so small!
Only one melon is allowed to grow on each plant!

The flesh is just perfect with a regular color, a fine grain, juices bursting out but with just the perfect smoothness and firmness for the ultimate bite!

It will be tough to eat other melons after having tasted a Crown Melon, believe me!
It is unfortunate that one can’t convey the perfume and taste on the Internet!

Shizuoka Crown Melon
437-0056 Shizuoka Prefecture, Fukuroi City, Oyama, 239
Tel.: 0538-42-4146
Fax: 0538-42-3208
HOMEPAGE

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japanese Easy Recipe: Crispy Lotus Root Pie

Although I call this recipe Japanese, it is more fusion food than anything else as pies are universal!
As for the lotus root, if you cannot find them fresh use canned/tinned ones. Don’t forget to wash them in clean water and sponge out all humidity first in that case!

INGREDIENTS: (For one pie)

Lotus root: 100 g
Echalottes (or leeks if you don’t have them): 20 g
Mixed pork/beef minced meat: 100 g
Frozen pie sheets: 2 standard
Sake (dry white wine is ok!): 1 tablespoon
Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
Mirin/sweet sake (if available use sweet white wine or sweet sherry!): 1 tablespoon
Sugar beet sugar: 2 teaspoons
Tomato ketchup: 1 teaspoon
Salad oil: as appropiate
Egg: 1
Water: 60 ml/a little more than a 1/4 cup
Rice vinegar: as appropriate

RECIPE:

cut the lotus root into small cubes. Drop them in a bowl. Add the rice vinegar and mix. Chop the echalottes finely.

Pour some salad oil in a fry pan. Heat. Fry the minced meat. When the color of the meat has changed add lotus root and juices and echalottes.

Add the water, soy sauce, sugar, tomato ketchup and stew until all water has evaporated.
Let cool until room temperature.

On the first pie sheet spread the meat mixture in the middle leaving enough space to make a sufficiently wide rim.

Place the second pie sheet as above. Press/seal the two sheets together with a fork all around the rims.
Make indents on the top as shown in picture above.
Brush generously the whole surface with beaten egg.
Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes.

Serve it as hot as possible with plenty of leaf greens!

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Sushi Restaurant: Local Fish at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake

Shizuoka City is located right in the middle of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka prefecture, a bay known in Japan for producing the largest number of seafood varieties in the whole country!
If you happen to come to Shizuoka City, don’t hesitate and visit Sushi Ko in Aoba Koen/Aoba Park Street in Aoi ku, Shizuoka City!
There you will be hard-tried to sample all that is on the menu! And this at reasonables prices clearly shown for all to see!

Now what did we have during our last visit the other day?

Negi toro/葱トロ appetizer coming with the first drink!

Very fat katsuo/鰹/bonito sashimi!

Traditionally served with grated ginger, chopped thin leeks and sliced red onion. You may also order grated or sliced garlic!

Now what is the chef trying to catch alive inside the tank?

We had ordered some fresh Shima Aji/縞鯵/Striped Horse Mackerel!

Beautiful Shima Aji/縞鯵/Striped Horse Mackerel sashimi plate!

The grilled tail from the same fish with grated daikon and lemon!

Kaki Aburi/牡蠣炙り/Seared oysters!

Beautifully sliced cucumber!

Tachiuo Aburi/太刀魚炙り/Seared scabbard fish nigiri with momijiorosi/紅葉下ろし/grated daikon with chili pepper and ponzu!

Piri kara Hotate Maki/ピリ辛帆立巻/spicy scallops Roll!

Piri Pon Kara Maguro/ピりポン辛鮪/Deep-fried tuna cubes served with momiji oroshi and ponzu!

Magurozuke/鮪漬け/Marinated tuna nigiri. A must!

Another chef caught a live lobster for our neighbors!

The perfect vegan sushi: Menegi/芽葱/Scallion Sprouts Nigiri!

Itaria Maki/イタリア巻/Italian Roll for the Missus: leeks, squid and spicy pickled cod roe!

And Ankimo Gunkan/あんきも軍艦/Frogfish Liver Paste Gunkan for me!
Note that the frogfish/monkfish liver was first steamed in sake!

To be continued…… You bet!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours: 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 (Sundays)
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

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

French Bistro Gastronomy: Terrines, Savouries and Cakes at Patina in Shizuoka City!

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

Due to various reports, meetings and what else, I visited Patina no less than three times within a single week!
This has become an opportunity to show you what to expect in our good city of Shizuoka City!

The entrance by a very shiny day!
It is large by Shizuoka standards!

they have been actively specializing in terrines and pates recently! The real French comfort food!

They have also increased the number of wines you can drink by the glass!

You must try the Cremant de Bourgogne, so much better than Champagne, yen for yen!

Vegetable terrine and herb cream dressing!

Just love the bacon included with it!

Delicious and elegant herb cream dressing!

And plenty of leaf vegetables for great balance!

Zuwagani/Snow crab terrine!

So fine and light!

Sanma/Pacific saury and potato terrine!

The fish and the potatoes married to perfection!

At Patina they serve French cider in a bowl as it should be!

Marinated mackerel salad!

Another comfort (Norway?) food so nicely presented!

Pork and chicken liver terrine de campagne!
As yummy as back home in Bourgogne, France!

No need of bread! Just fork it together with leafy vegetables!

Quiche Lorraine!

I doubt they make it so elegant even in France!

Their cakes are always tempting!

If you ca read Japanese it says “Figs and Cheese Cream Baked Tart”!

A little beauty!

The tart!

And the home-made ice cram with the custard and caramel sauces!
Another sin! LOL

Far Breton, the elegant way!

Now, what would be bast with it, a strong coffee or glass of Calavados? LOL

To be continued… You bet!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00

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

Halloween Kabocha Coconut Milk Muffin

using a rice cooker can be so useful for creating cakes when you don’t have an oven!
For this particular muffin use a rice cooker with a capacity of 5 “go”/900ml/4 and a half cups!

INGREDIENTS:

Kabocha: 200 g (without the seeds)
All-purpose: 160 g
Baking powder: 5 g (1 + 2/3 of teaspoon)
Sugar: 85 g
Salt: 2 pinches
Egg: 2
Coconut milk: 100 ml/1/2 cup
Salad oil: 1 tablespoon
Raisins: 2 tablespoons
Cinnamon: a little

RECIPE:

Cut kabocha in 2 cm side pieces. Wash in clean water . Cook inside microwave for 2 minutes at 600 W or until soft.
In a large bowl mix flour and baking powder.
Add sugar and salt and mix well.
Coat the inside of the rice cooker dish with salad oil.

Break the egg in the middle.
Pour in the coconut milk.
Mix starting from the middle and incorporate the rest little by litle.

Add salad oil and mix well.

Add kabocha and raisins am\nd mix roughly.

Pour the mixture inside the the rice cooker dish.

That is how it should look once cooked.

Turn it over onto a serving dish.

Cut and serve!

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

“Leafy” Cappucino at Patina in Shizuoka City!

Service: Very friendly and smiling
Facilities: Very clean. Beautiful washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: A true cafe where to relax and enjoy a good light meal any time of the day. Interesting reasonable wine and cider list.

patina is very probably the most authentic French-style bistro/cafe in the whole of Shizuoka prefecture!
Not only they serve reasonably-priced yummy food at lunch and dinner, it is one of those rare (in japan) places where you can sit by a coffee and read a magazine at your ease any time of the day.

I just love their cappucinos.
They come in different patterns on requests but I just love that very creamy version with a leaf pattern!
So nice and so cute (even to a macho French male!)!

Don’t forget to drink up the leaf in the right direction!

PATINA, Café & Brasserie
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-266-9500
Opening hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~21:30 (last orders) for meals, 11:00~22:00 for the cafe, Sunday~Saturday
10:00~22:00 on Sundays
Closed on Tuesdays

BLOG
Non-smoking until 15:00

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

Halloween Baby Kabocha Gratin

The witches are gathering for the coming Halloween.
They told they love to concoct magical recipes inside pumpkins, especially the small kabocha the Dragons bring them from the Isle of The Rising Sun!
They seem to take a lot of pleasure out of baking them in hellish ovens!

INGREDIENTS: (for two baby kabocha)

Baby kabocha: 2
Onion: 1/2
Fresh Mushrooms (of your choice): 50 g ~
Chicken breast fillets/sasami: 2
Butter: 30 g
All-purpose flour: 30g
Milk: 300 ml/ 1 1/2 cups
Cheese (melting cheese, pizza cheese or cheese of your liking: as appropriate
Salt, pepper, spices: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Cut the top of the kabocha as to form a lid.
Scoop off the seeds and make a small “pot”.
First heat the kabocha inside a microwave oven for 3~4 minutes or until soft enough. Do check from time to time.

Cut onion, mushroom, chicken in equal bite size pieces.
Fry them all in a little olive oil, salt and pepper over a low fire until soft.

Prepare the white sauce/bechamel (it will be as liquid as a stew sauce. Over a low fire melt the butter. Once melted add the flower and whisk. Once the mixture is smooth add the milk in about three times whisking all the time for a smooth sauce. Once you have attained the wanted smoothness switch off fire.

Add the fried chicken and onion with their juices into the white sauce and stir gently for a uniform stew. Check the taste and add salt, pepper and spices according to your taste and priorities.

Fill the two baby kabocha with the stew and cover with melting cheese.

Bake until the top has melted and cooked to a nice brown color.

Serve immediately with its lid for decoration.
Sprinkle a little chopped green herbs for better effects.

Great comfort food in the cold nights!

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

Halloween Kabocha Muffin Cupcakes

Some people like muffins.
Some people like cupcakes.
Some people like Halloween.

Let’s combine them all!

INGREDIENTS: (For 6 cakes)

Kabocha: 120 g
All purpose flour: 120 g
Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
baking powder: 1 teaspoon
Milk: 40 ml (1/5 cup)
Unsalted butter: 50 g
Sugar: 50 g
Egg: 1

RECIPE:

Peel the kabocha and throw away their seeds.
Put inside a cooking bowl.
Cook in microwave oven for 30 seconds at 500 W.
Break with fork to make it easier to mix.

Bring butter and egg to room temperature.
In a bowl pour butter and sugar.
Whisk until mixture whitens.
Add beaten egg one third at a time and mix well.

Add kabocha and mix roughly.
Add flour, baking powder and cinnamon and mix.
Add milk one g\half at a time and mix.

Pour mixture inside 6 paper cupcake cups.
Bake at 170 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes.
Let cool completely.

Points: Do not mix all ingredients too much.
If you have too much mixture you can freeze it.
Re-heat muffins inside microwave oven before eating them!

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