Tag Archives: Restaurants

美食, 野菜, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables

French Gastronomy Design by Touru Arima at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City (May 2012)

May 5, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

The other day, the Missus wanted to pay a belated (for her) visit to our favorite French Restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Pissenlit, where Chef Touru Arima/有馬亨さん is busier than ever, what with creating a whole new range of organic jams with local produce and promoting good food at all levels in our Prefecture!
I have always been struck by the seemingly simple presentation of his dishes and I would like to share my views in this particular article!
Now, what did we have?

There were oysters on the menu!
When we debated how many we would order, we were told that one each would be more than enough, so we ordered one poelee and one in gratin!
The first one served poelee on a bed of local organic broccoli was truly enormous. I’m not lying, it was as big as the Missus’ palm!

Viewed from the other side!

You needed to cut it at least three times with fork and knife!
Absolutely succulent, a steak of the ocean?

The other served as gratin will give you an idea of the size with the very deep shell!
The sauce under the gratinee surface is ore a Mornay sauce than a Bechamel, a lot lighter and more delicate in flavors!

A view from a different angle will give you a little idea of the light and unctuous/creamy Mornay sauce!
The colors alone will have you tremble with impatience!

A true dish from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Touru calls it a warm carpaccio of bonito/katsuo topped with local organic greens.

The first picture was actually a back view. This is the front view!

A side view with the lovely mayonnaise to fully appreciate the incredbly tender bonito which had been lightly seared!

You can always expect Touru to come up with rarities!
Tablier du Sapeur!

The “sapeur” in French means a member of a special military engineer corps originally created by Napoleon who tended to copy anything Roman for his Legions.
These sapeurs used to wear a thick apron/tablier as part of their parade uniform!

They consist of veal stomach/tripes first separately cooked and then paneed in breadcrumbs!
Even the Missus who cares little for offal appreciated it!
I just loved it!

Here is another fine example of creating a superlative dish with offal: White asparaguses with Suruga Shamo Chicken livers and gizzards!

The raw and fresh enormous asparaguses were first poele before the offal was added to the same frypan!

Suruga Shamo is one of those extravagant shamo/軍鶏/fighting chickens/cocks raised in our Prefecture.
The offal was accompanied with some local bacon and organic greens for a last touch!

A true Shizuoka dessert?
Creme Brulee concocted with Shizuoka City Hon-Yama tea!
The strawberry and edible flowers are all organic from Shizen No Chikara Farm!

Another Green Fairy?
Certainly a dessert that JRR Tolkien and his Hobbits would have loved to sample!

Going for the kill! In my case!
An Italian grappa by Poli, a Marc de Bourgogne 1976 by Bernard Roy, a Vieille Fine de la Marne (Marc de Champagne) or a 15 year-old Cognac by Paul Giraud?
Well, I was born in Bourgogne, so you must have guessed!

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
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, Deep-fried Chicken, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Karaage, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 唐揚げ鶏肉

Karaage Chicken-Deep-fried Chicken by the Dragon (the real one!)

May 4, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Karaage Chicken/Japanese-style deep-fried chicken is not much of a mistery. The recipe to obtain a properly fried chicken with a juicy and steaming flesh is quite easy.
The Dragon (the real one!), that is, the Missus, had to prepare some food for lunch as her family was visiting us for lunch today which was a National Holiday.

As I was on shopping duty yesterday, I bought four pieces of chicken momo/thigh. I got them already rid of their bone and opened. If you buy them with the bone, choose them large. With a very sharp knife make a full cut lengthwise and detach the flesh from the bone into one block.
Leave their skin on!
In a vinyl pouch pour an equal amount of cornstach and rice flour. Mix well.
You may of course use your own mix, be it flour, panko, breadcrumbs or what else. The Missus does not usually any form of batter.
Drop the whole chciken pieces (you may cut them in small pieces beforehand if you wish, but that will make the process a bit burdensome) inside the vynil pouch and mix well to have the chicken wholly coated in cornstarch and rice flour mixture.

Now come the little trick!
There is no need to prepare a whole deep pan of oil. If you have it, fine, but it is far better to “shallow fry” in no more than a 1 cm deep oil in a frypan large enough to comfortably cook one piece at a time.
Drop the piece of chicken skin down (VERY IMPORTANT!) and fry. With a spoon pour oil from the frypan over thechicken all the time.
Check if the skin has reached a crispy light brown. If so, turn it over with large chopsticks and cook it still pouring oil over the exposed side with a spoon.
Once the piece has reached a nice light brown, take it out of the oil and place it on a grill to let the oil drip away.
Proceeed the same way with the other pieces.
Once you have finished the fourth piece the first should have cooled down enough.
Drop the first piece again in the oil and fry till you reach a perfectly uniform brown color on both sides. No need to pour oil over it then.
Take the piece out and place it on some kitchen paper to soak out the oil.
Once you have deep-fried all the four pieces (I’m saying four but the number is not important!) slice them and place them on a serving dish.

The chicken should be steaming and pour out some of its juices.

Before frying the Dragon had prepared a sauce by frying finely chopped echalottes (red onion would be fine) in olive oil. Once the echalottes had become translucent she switched off the fire and added rice vinegar, Thai sweet and hot chili dressing and funely chopped thin leeks.
She poured the whole dressing all over the chicken before serving
As you can see this it is pretty easy and adaptable.
The little secret is the two-step cooking in shallow oil.
Deep-frying in deep oil may be fine but there is always a danger of the chicken cooking too fast if you are not absolutely vigilant!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Beef, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamburgers, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Hamburgers in Shizuoka 3: Tequila’s Diner!

May 4, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

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

These past years, for the pleasure of quality-minded hamburger lovers, we are witnessing the emergence of new diners (as they say in the States) which not only have the merit not to be part of chain stores with all the consequent disappointments, but which also endeavor to serve full and appetizing repasts in a slow enough manner to guarantee unhurried satisfaction.

I had meant to visit Tequila’s Diner in Aoi ku, Shizuoka City for quite some time, especially at lunch.
The problem is that it is really busy and the waiting is long, it being slow food!

They do make an effort at their English!

Pick your sign!

The menu is clearly posted outside! A plus, definitely!

And written in both languages!

I had decided on my order before entering the place!

The Japanese customers prefer to sit inside in a congested room sitting about 14~16 people but I wouldn’t give away that small table outside to anyone!
The place was full so the table outside was gladly agreed with on my request!
The Chef even asked me if I wanted the parasol fit in for me (which I declined!)
Next time I’ll make sure to have the same place in the evening!
For all his tattoos and scars, Chef Chihirou Okamoto is a shy and friendly bloke always ready to serve!

For 200 more yen I got a glass of beer and one soft drink and two small appetizers!

My “Tequila’s Favorite” order!

I noted with pleasure that the fried potatoes were not served with the usual mountain of salt but with just enough salt and black pepper!

The appetizers: corn salad and ham on coleslaw!

No, I didn’t use my hands but ate the whole the slow way with fork and knife!

The egg was fried to perfection, although I’m sure you can request it cooked longer for those who don’t like runny eggs!

Being from Bourgogne I always add mustard on my potatoes!

I told you that a good hamburger is a full meal: bread, Fresh and cooked vegetables, beef, bacon, cheese and egg!

I’m definitely planning to come back soon one evening with an American friend and enjoy real American food outside, away from the smoke!

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

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Healthy Vegetarian Lunch at Locomani in Shizuoka City (Spring 2012)!

April 30, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very friendly although a bit shy!
Equipment: Great overall cleanliness
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Vegetarian menus. Healthy rice flour cakes.
Completely non-smoking!

Whenever I have to take lunch away from work and that I wish to avoid the great but heavy on my system repasts, the place for a nice, healthy and tasty meal is Locomani only a 3-minute walk away!
They have three great lunch sets. either vegetarian or omnivore, that you can enjoy at all ease inside a comfortable all-wood set-up so conducing to relaxation. Although busy at lunch time, the atmosphere is perfectly clean as no smoking has ever been allowed there!
All the ingredients are carefully selected, most of them local and many organic!

What did I have this time, then?

Rice can be either plain white or genmai/whole. I chose the combination of the two!

Although the menus change regularly the miso soup is always vegetarian and you can expect healthy and yummy tidbits like mushrooms and hijiki sweet seaweed!

And there is always a dish of freshly cooked seasonal greens!

The main dish!
Note that organic red tea is also included!
Now if you are vegan, have a talk with the chef one day when the place is not busy and I’m sure he will know how to satisfy your priorities!

There will always be fresh and often organic salad!

This time I had delicious, crunchy and juicy deep-fried vegetable Imperial rolls!

As you can see, you don’t have to be omnivore to be satisfied!
Even if you are not a vegetarian like me!
Once again I managed to keep myself away from their cakes! LOL

To be followed…

LOCOMANI
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 1-10-6
Tel.: 054-260-6622
Closed every Wednesday and one Monday
HOMEPAGE/BLOG (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Beef, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Veal, 仔牛

French Gastronomy: Veal Liver at Pissenlit in Shizuoka City!

April 28, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly.
Facilities: Great cleanliness overall. Superb washroom (mouthwash and toothpicks provided!)!
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive, very good value.
Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products, especially organic vegetables and Shizuoka-bred meat.

Veal is not an easy meat to savor at restaurants in Japan as the Japanese farmers do not usually raise calves the way they do back in Europe or America to obtain a white flesh.
On the other hand veal in Japan is always a tender pink.
The Japanese have always had a special fondness for any veal and veal or beef liver is very much appreciated if somewhat rare.

When Touru Arima/有馬亨さん told me he had just received veal liver fom Fujinomiya City I did not hesitate!
The more for it that we don’t eat any at home! LOL

The veal liver had been sauteed the French way with vinegar and the sauce was prepared with Dijon seed mustard.
Just the way back home in my native Bourgogne!
But the vegetables were definitely Japanese!
The great wedge of bamboo shoot is of course local, slowly fried to a crisp, a very unusual way to cook it in Japan.
So tender inside and so crunchy on the outside! A treat!

Now, the small cabbage is a real organic cabbage harvested very young at Kitayama Farm in Fujinomiya City.
It did require some preparation, though!

Touru Arima/有馬亨さん boiled it a little first to be able to open it carefully. He then filled it with wild boar stew/ragout (the wild boar comes from Shimada City!). He closed the leaves back and sauteed the lot with the liver!
A French delicacy with four ingredients from Shizuoka Prefecture!

A bliss!

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
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Hamburgers in Shizuoka 2: Taiwan Hamburger at Gonta Chaya!

April 28, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Service: easy-goin, smiling and very friendly.
Facilities: old but clean.
Prices: very reasonable, extremely good value.
Strong points: Enormous portions but very healthy slow food on the whole
entirely non-smoking!

Gonta Chaya (notice the no-smoking sign!)

This all started with an article posted by my new foodie friend at Local Lemons who wrote an article about the trouble she bumped into thanks to MacDonald’s who threatened to sue her for using the word “Mac” in the name of her new restaurant in SanFrancisco:

To state the obvious, the notorious diner, thanks to its untold wealth, is not only making a profit out of its dubious junk food, but is also suing (for money!) everyone in sight at the mere mention of the word “mac”. I wonder if all these friends of mine with a surname starting with mac or Mc will be one day forced to change it!

I do not like the burgers of that company for the simple reason that they are unworthy when it comes to nutritious value and health damage!

Unpretentious decor in Gonta Chaya. Keep to the taste!

Alright, let’s stop babbling about the horned liars and talk about real food, and slow at that!

Gonta Chaya (Manki Neko) was opened on April 15th, 2008 in Sengen Street, the thoroughfare leading to Sengen Shrine, the major Shinto Shrine in Shizuoka City. Husband and wife were originally born in Yamaguchi and Aichi Prefecture but moved to Shizuoka about 12 years ago.
They always had wanted to offer slow (and real) food and finally got their wish when they open Gonta Chaya in our city.
Not only they do greatly care for good food, but also for their environment as they uncompromisingly banned smoking from their premices!

Have you heard of Maneki Neko?

They started as a Taiwanese-Nagoya-style ramen restaurant but heir love for good meat and hamburgers incited them to add the American delicacy to their menu.
And they certainly haven’t achieved half-measures, and that with ridiculously cheap prices (count 80~85 yen for 1 US $/10 % reduction for people over 60!):
Burger menu (ramen and others is another long and yummy propostion!):
Sengen Junior Burger: 350 yen
Sengen Burger: 500 yen
Sengen Double Burger: 700 yen
Sengen Triple Burger: 999 yen
Super Sengen Burger: 750 yen (drink included)
Super Sengen Burger Double: 1,100 yen ( ” )
Sengen Oyako Burger: 300 yen
Sengen Burger Set (Lunch only)

What did I choose!
The Super Sengen Burger!
An incredible half-pounder of Australian beef, not overcooked but slow-cooked (be patient!) to the perfect cripsy outside and juicy inside!
It is further enhanced with a crispy fried piece of bacon!

As for the Super Sengen, the buns are mercifully thinner but still home-made and toasted to a crisp bite.
You are going through a real maze of tastes thanks to sauces and dressings added in the right proportion.
Open/lift the bun, and you will discover a full meal with a load of fesh vegetables!

The cheese is real sliced cheese and the egg is fried to a juicy peak!
It is a full meal, I can’t guarantee you!

The place is open for lunch every day, but for dinner only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
They offer plenty to drink from Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Tea Shochu, Shochu, German and japanese beer, wine and soft drinks.

They also can lodge foreign backpackers for a good price in their home above the restaurant! Will write an article about that son!

Are you convinced?

(Maneki Neko) Gota Chaya
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Baban-cho, 117-1 (just past the big red Torii Gate at the entrance of Sengen Street
Tel.: 054-254-2701
Business hours: 11:00~14:30, and dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Hamburgers, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Hamburgers in Shizuoka 1: G.O.T. Hamburger at Good Old Table in Shizuoka City!

April 27, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Very Friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Old but clean. Very clean washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Hamburgers and Tec-Mex gastronomy.

I’ve always wondered about the meaning of “Junk & Soul Food”!
Friends of mine had told me their hamburgers were nice enough so I took the opportunity to visit the place during my lunch break today!

The whole place is inspired by US and Mexican lore, but I’m sure it is a lot cleaner!

The writing on the walls certainly invites you to enjoy the food! LOL

Have a look at their “newsletter”!
Someone might feel inclined to give an American English lesson!
Although I’m sure no one did in their four years of existence!

The menus are everywhere, on the tables, pinned on the walls and even in the washroom!

The menu on the table!

My order: GOT (Good Old Table) Hamburger Lunch Set including potatoes (Fried or mashed), soup, salad and drink (I had a hot coffee).

Hot soup and mixed coleslaw salad.

The GOT hamburger!
The size is definitely American!

You cannot eat it with your fingers as it is a nikomi/slowly cooked and simmered style.
Forks, knives and spoons are provided.

I had chosen mashed potatoes to scoop with all the hamburger sauce!

It actually makes for a copious well-balanced meal!

And yes! The meat was tender and properly cooked!
And very tasty! Heads and shoulders above McDonald’s. And volume for volume, cheaper!
A very good place indeed for hungry expats and Japanese alike!

GOOD OLD TABLE
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 8-15, Asahi Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-273-0707
Opening hours: Monday~Saturday, 11:30~15:00, 18:00~02:00. Sundays. 12:00~22:00

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 酒, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 豚肉, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Izakaya: Kohaku in Shizuoka City!

April 22, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Extravagant sashimi plate at Kohaku!

Service: Very friendly and welcoming. Great explanations.
Facilities & Equipment: Very clean and great washroom
Prices: Appropriate
Strong points: Traditional and modern izakaya gastronomy. Very inventive cuisine with introduction of some Western concepts. Great seafood. Great sake list. Wine and other alcohols available. Intensive use of local products combined with ingredients from other prefectures!

It is always an intense pleasure to discover a new izakaya even in a town where you have lived for 36 years!
My good friend, Yasushi Imaizumi, owner of IMAIZUMI Co Ltd. had been raving about Kohaku so we decided to visit the place last Friday!

Located in Shichiken-Cho Street which has recently become a “back street” with the disappearance of all the cinemas/movie theaters relocated to the 9th floor of Cenova Department Store it moved to its new address under a new name last November significantly contributing to the revival of an interesting street of Shizuoka City!

A daily hand-brushed menu posted outside is always a good sign!

Takashi Kawauguchi/川口貴士さん works there everyday at lunch and dinner with a true passion for his craft. The family is helping especially his mother, a great source of local lore, and occasionally by his sister and father. The latter surprised me when he mentioned a now defunct izakaya called “Wa no Ji” I used to patronize in the late 1970’s! I wonder if he knows some of my “secrets”!

A small but traditional entrance.
Sorry for the fuzzy picture but it was a dark rainy night!
As I will report again for lunch (they apparently serve an extravagant curry with all kinds of different toppings!) I promise to come up with a better picture!

Great calligraphy again!

The place was empty at 7:00 when we entered but we soon found out it had almost been completely reserved so be warned!
Reserve a seat the counter where you will be able to share some genial talk with the chef and the regular customers!

If you don’t read Japanese, do not worry. You will probably end up with everybody explaining everything!
Now, if you do read Japanese take your time in choosing the dishes because there is enough to tempt you coming back every week!

A traditional Japanese setting!

You will discover a great attention to details with an individual wooden tray for your plates and cups!

Plenty of drinks to choose from, especially local sake and shochu from everywhere else!
But it might be a good idea to check with the Chef first!

These top-class local Shizuoka sake were not on the menu!

Neither were these sake actually concocted by a winery in Yamanashi Prefecture!

You are in Shizuoka Prefecture looking at the richest sea in Japan, so you must order a plate of sashimi which is always bound to include a great majority of local products, some of which you will never find elsewhere unless you have very deep pockets!

The specialty of Shizuoka, fresh sakura ebi/cherry shrimps, surrounded by maguro akami/lean tuna, aji/horse mackerel and saba/mackerel!

Another rare specialty from Shizuoka, raw shirasu/hard mouth sardine whiting flanked by another famous fish of our Prefecture, katsuo, bonoto sashimi!
I know a lot of people who come all the way from Tokyo just to sample those three seafoods!

But like any izakaya worth its salt, the cooked cuisine is the main attraction at Kohaku!
Home-made liver paste! As a Frenchman, I can assure you it was a real beauty!

Now, pate and terrine spell the difference between bistros back home in France, but here in Japan home-made satsumaage/deep-fried fish and vegetable paste will tell you at once which the good izakayas are!

I will have to forget other izakayas for a while as there are just too many beauties to sample at Kohaku:
Kakuni/角煮! Dongpo pork (pork belly)!

Chef Kawaguchi takes a long time in cooking his kakuni, but he will coat it with cornstarch before frying it lightly for a last touch! You simply must sample this Chinese/Japanese true delicacy!

What with all the great sake we were drinking, there was a limit to what you could eat in a single evening. Therefore we decided to try another dish for which Kohaku is celebrated: Ox tail stew!

Now, this is real Western gastronomy served with fresh fried potato wedges!
With all that great sauce available Yasushi asked the Chef to boil some pasta on the quick, which was done on the spot. Before savoring the pasta we had poured on our plate with plenty of sauce, Takashi’s sister came to us to grate some fresh parmesan on it without being asked!
Now, I call that great attention!

To be continued, of course, what with the lunch curry!

KOHAKU/旬彩こはく

420-0085 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Shichiken-Cho, 18-1, PIVOT Shizuoka, 1F
Tel.: 054-221-0589
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~23:00

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Beef, 美食, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism, Wagyu, 和牛

Fuji Okamura Ranch in Fujinomiya City.Fuji. Beef by Chiyoji Okamura!

April 17, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Ever solid Chiyoji Okamura!

Last Friday after our superb lunch at Restaurant Bio-S, the owner Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩 kindly drove me and my journalists friends, Camille Oger and Julien Morelo, through forests at the foot of Mount Fuji to Okamura Ranch.
Okamura Ranch is one of the three beef producers established at the foot of Mount Fuji (there are 13 in all the Prefecture).

View of Mount Fuji from Okamura Ranch!

Chiyoji Okamura/岡村千代次さん was born in Shiga Prefecture in 1955.
The fifth child of a large family there was little left for him back home.
Having graduated from Tokyo Agricultural University in 1978 he tried his hand at agriculture before coming to Fujinomiya City in 1990 to establish a beef producing ranch with 30 heads of cattle. He is now looking after 300+ heads throughout a year.

The meadows reserved to pregnant cows.

He basically breeds his own cows (there is not a single bull on the premises) from 2-months old calves bought from a calf breeder or breeds his own calves after having artificially inseminated his cows.
If a male is born he is castrated while females will be later inseminated.

Very healthy but a bit shy pregnant cows.

The cows are culled for meat after 24 months, a short time compared to meat cattle in Europe.
The abattoirs are located so far from the ranch that the cows never realize their fate and feel very little stress.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Okamura does not produce calves for meat.

A smiling cow!

The beef breed in Okamura Ranch is originally a hybrid of meat-producing cattle and milk-producing cattle.
The BSE problem a few years ago convinced him that the traceability of his meat was of the utmost importance.
He will always meet personally his clients, be they traders or restaurants, before he agrees to sell his meat to them.

In spite of the daily care (no holidays there) vital for the good health of his cows, Mr. Okamura and his wife seem happy enough to spend all their time on the ranch and in their enormous (by Japanese standards) house where they regularly hold bbq’s. After all the two of them look after the cows and have to assume all the roles of cattle farmers and veterinarians!

The cow sheds and the farm were all rebuilt in 2003 and Mr. Okamura’s Fujisan Beef was officially recogniszed as an independent beef brand by the Shizuoka Prefecture Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2006!

Each calf lives in its own shed for maximum comfort and well-being.

The sheds are a model of cleanliness!
What with Mount Fuji and the surrounding nature, there is no pollution and the water and natural grass are of superlative quality.
As for fodder Mr. Okamura imports it all from America through a very strictly regulated route.
The used straw and droppings are recycled as natural fertilizer for neighboring farmers.

All these animals need a lot of feed, mainly consisting of cereals including corn and barley!
Mr. Okamura’s own blend of feed devised trough his years of experience and experimenting make the difference!

The sheds are regularly cleaned and provided with fresh straw for maximum hygiene.
Mrs. Okumura takes charge of feeding the calves twice a day and of all the accounts of their business while Mr. Okamura takes care of all the rest.
Quite a few students ask to work with them as interns but only a few are accepted after careful screening.

A very hungry calf!

This is all extremely hard work and I very much doubt that the Okamuras will ever get fat. They are actually extremely fit and smiling and passionate in spite of their shyness.
The result?

Superlative meat difficult to surpass!
it was interesting to note, and Mr. Matsuki concurred, that Mr. Okamura produces an extremely tender red beef without the use of fat as found in other famed beef, a feat that will ask a lot to equal indeed!

Fujisan Okamura Ranch
418-0102 Fujinomiya Shi, Hitoana, 137-318
Tel.: 0544-52-3668
Fax: 0544-52-3668
E-mail: oka5@alpha.ocn.ne.jp

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 野菜, 野菜亭, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Sashimi at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City (April 2012)!

April 17, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean, Beautiful washroom
Prices: reasonable
Specialties: Vegan and vegetarian Cuisine, Izakaya gastronomy, local products, oden. Good list of sake, shochu. Wines also available.

With the warm days coming quickly one is always in search of refreshing food and drinks.
Fortunately in Shizuoka City this is not a problem at all with the abundance of vegetables!

Yasaitei, like many izakayas in Japan, puts salt in front of their entrance to ward off evil spirits.
They even asked a oni/goblin to look after them!

A single look at the counter will let you know you have entered vegan and vegetarian heaven although the food is designed for all tastes and priorities!

Although you might have to check the dashi, the first snack coming with my shochu (shochu is vegan by the way!)! People with special priorities will appreciate!

Thick boiled wakame seaweed and new bamboo shoots o-hitashi/japanese-style appetizer!

The main attraction of the day: Vegan Sashimi Plate conceived with local vegetables!

The dressing is made of sesame oil, salt and red miso paste only, so no problems!
Now what did the plate consist of?

“Cindy” orange tomatoes (very sweet) and ice plant.

Small red radish and red pimento.

Juicy and mild daikon on shiso leaves.

Crunchy and juicy cucumber and mini tomatoes.

And finally chopped red onion giving support!
So tasty and healthy!

To be followed…

YASAITEI
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-Cho, 1-6-2 Green Heights Wamon 1-C
Tel.: 054-2543277
Business hours: 17:30~22:00
Closed on Sundays
Reservations highly recommended
Seating: 6 at counter + 14 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
Individual orders (carte) welcome
Parties welcome
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Smoking allowed

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Desserts, 観光, 魚, 農業, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

French Gastronomy: Local products at Restaurant Bio-S in Fujinomiya City!

April 14, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

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

MAP (Japanese)

It has been a long time I have wished to visit Restaurant Bio-S in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji although it has been opened only 3 years!

Even in overcast weather it is such a pleasure to work or eat under the benign protection of Mount Fuji!

I finally had the occasion yesterday as I accompanied two new friends of mine, Camille Oger and Julien Morello from Antibes, France, and both journalists on a grand tour of Japan, here above standing on both sides of Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki/松木一浩, the founder and owner of Bio Farm Matsuki, Restaurant Bio-S, Bio-Deli in Fujinomiya City and Comptoir de Bio-S in Shizuoka City!

Menu posted outside as in France.
Kazuhiro Matsuki, originally from Nagasaki, Kyushu Island, worked for two years (he speaks great French!) at Hotel Nikko, Paris, before he moved to Shizuoka Prefecture (his wife’s family lives in Shizuoka City) in Fujinomiya City to start the cultivation of organic vegetables in 2000. In 2009 he opened Restaurant Bio-s to promote organic cuisine.

Mr. Kazuhiro Matsuki and his young talented chef (also a hunter!) Mr. Yoshinori Kawasaki/川崎芳範 (born in Hyogo Prefecture!)!

The entrance!

A French 2CV Citroen!

With a plate registered in Fujisan/富士山/Mount Fuji!

Bio Farm organic vegetables on sale in the entrance hall!

Mr. Matsuki is famous all over the country, what with the many books he wrote on organic farming and cuisine!

Plenty of explanations!

The table the three of us sat at for a great degustation lunch!

Champagne!
Offered by Mr. Matsuki who wanted to thank us for coming all the way!

Of course vegetables at a premium!
Now, what did we savor?

This sage, mint and rosemary are organic and for decoration, but you are encouraged to taste them!

A finger herb croissant!

Really cute!

The legs of ham are imported from Spain but matured on site!

Mr. Matsuki cut ours in person!

Raw ham on organic greens salad!

From another angle!

Chicken and mushrooms terrine! I did require a lot of patience to take the pictures before I could jump on it!

The chicken comes from Mr. Aoki’s Farm and the mushrooms from Mr. Hasegawa’s Farm, both in Fuji City!

Home-baked walnut bread!

The first fish dish: Iwana/岩魚/Char/Charr/Salvelinus with cress sauce!

The char is bred by Mr. Iwamoto in Fujinomiya City and was lightly smoked before being sauteed/baked!

All the cress was picked in the wild along streams flowing down Mount Fuji!

The second fish dish: Bass with Japanese echalottes!

The bass was caught in Suruga Bay, Shizuoka Prefecture!

The Japanese echalottes baked to a crisp are grown organically in Bio Farm Matsuki!

Before the meat dish we enjoyed a succulent organic carrot potage!

The meat dish: Fujisan Wagyu Beef from Mr. Okamura’s Ranch and organic vegetables from Bio Farm Matsuki!

From another angle for a better view of the vegetables!

They included carrot, Red Moon potato, Broccolini, bamboo shoot, turnip, and daikon!

The piece de resistance: Fujisan Wagyu Beef which was awarded its title as Product of Shizuoka Prefecture in 2006!
No need to go to Kobe! LOL

Before tackling the dessert we refreshed ourselves with this beautiful Suruga Elegant Orange Soup!

We were first shown the main ingredients of the four desserts!

Suruga Elegant Orange Chilled Soup and Mousse topped with Hazelnut Sorbet and dark chocolate chips!

Organic Carrot Creme Brulee topped with Cardamon Sorbet!

Blanc-manger made with Fujinishiki Brewery (Fujinomoiya City) premium daiginjyo sake white lees/sakekasu/酒粕 and kiwi fruit sauce!

Shizuoka Matcha Tea Powder Mousse Cake and Kumquat Sorbet!

We just had enough space for the expresso, tea and mignardises!

Matcha Castella with azuki beans and yuzu macarons!

Before we left with Mr. Matsuki to interview Mr. Okamura in his ranch we had a small tour of the vegetables he grows for the pleasure of his customers!

Carefully nursed before being re-planted!

All lovingly cared for by Mr. Matsuki himself and his farm staff!

Onions!

The restaurant makes a very large use of leafy vegetables!

Broad beans!

I surely intend to come back soon and have a closer look at all the farm plots!

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 居酒屋

Izakaya: Table Ribbon in Shizuoka City!

April 12, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Easy-going, informal and friendly
Facilities and equipment: Clean. Psychedelic Washroom!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Typical Japanese izakaya food and drinks for all ages. Open late.

MAP (Japanese)

Sometimes (actually as often as possible) it is a good idea to take a break from the great restaurants in Shizuoka and to mingle with great easy and friendly customers and staff in a typical Japanese izakaya!
There are loads of them in town and some open until really late!
I have just discovered one which seems to be extremely popular with the locals of all ages, genders and classes: Table Ribbon!

The whole place right from the entrance is a happy bric a brac from vinyl covered kitchen tables to rugs on the floor!
You must visit the washroom! It is definitely crazy!

The whole menu is written in brush paint, but if you don’t understnad don’t worry you will be able to communicate!

As I said the food and drinks are typical izakaya fare: from pasta…

nikomino/Japanese simmered food…

deep-fried sausages…

If you ask for room-temperature Japanese sake it is served in a tea pot!

Great vegetable tamagoyaki! A must try!

I loved their sui-gyoza/boiled gyoza!

Savory beansprouts!

And of course Shizuoka-style yakisoba!

It is a busy place! Make sure to reserve on week-ends!
Great fun for ladies and gentleemn, Japanese and expats!

TABLE RIBBON
420-0044 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Seimon Cho, 1-22, Takuma Bldg, 1F (10 minutes walk from JR station North exit)
Tel.: 054-8670-1937/090-8670-1937
Opening hours: 17:00~02:00
Closed on Mondays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Dessert, 観光, 農業, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, vegetables

French Gastronomy Design: Tetsuya Sugimoto in Shizuoka City, Japan!

April 12, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

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

Map (Japanese)

Tetsuya Sugimoto has gaine a highly respected name in French gastronomy and in gastronomy as a whole in Shizuoka Prefecture and far beyond our boundaries because he has always strived for local products, be they vegetables, meat, seafood or fruit by scouring the whole Prefecture for local producers and fishing harbors.
Even his sugar and salt are made in Shizuoka Prefecture! The vegetables and meat are directly delivered by farmers he has personally visited and the seafood arrives daily fresh caught in the morning.
But what makes the real difference is his constant search for the ideal balance between design, marriage of flavors and simplicity which will encourage the visiting gastronomes to enjoy their food both in ease and awe!

As an illustration let me introduce what I had the pleasure to enjoy on a horrible rainy day I completely forgot for a blissful moment!

A little detail that makes the difference for the atmosphere!

Testuya Sugimoto in his kitchen!

The wines are reasonable and well-chosen!

Chateau d’Angles, la Clappe in Languedoc, France.

Created in 2007 with Shyrh, Grenache and Mourndre grapes. Very solid and reliable!

The vegetables for the first diash were organically grown by Mr. Kaneko in Hamamatsu City!

The top-class pork added for taste and sauce qas bred by Mr. Morishima in Hamamtsu City!

From another angle to understand the arrangement of seasoned fresh greens atop sauteed and baked vegetables.

From another angle to dicover the beautifully sauteed/baked pork!

The vegtables for the fish dish were organically grown by Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City1

The fish was matodai/John Dory, St. Peter’s fish (English), Saint Pierre (French) caught off Mochimune harbor in Shizuoka City!

Pan-fried and oven -baked matodai with fukinoto/giant butterbur sauce!

From another angle to understand the architecture of the dish!

A rear view of the vegetables!

The crumbs covering the baked fish were made with crushed sembei made in Shizuoka City!

Now for dessert both the mousse and sorbet were made with organic Akihime strawberries from Shizen no Chikara Farm in Shizuoka City!

The perfect and healthy dessert!

To be followed…

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

Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Drinks, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Food & Drink Bloggers in Japan (Spring 2012)

April 10, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

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

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)
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 Dominic Tokyo 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
Reminiscenec in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo

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)
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)
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

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

Must-see tasting websites:

Cakes, 美食, Dessert, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Matcha, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, 抹茶

Japanese Cake: Matcha Bavarois

April 9, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

MATCHA-CAKE-1

Matcha/抹茶, an ingredient readily available here in Shizuoka, opens the door to so many ideas as it can included in almost all cakes.
Moreover, its green colour is an extra attraction that is difficult to resist!
Here is the recipe for a cake that marries western and eastern traditions!

Matcha Bavarois Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For a 21 cm diameter mold (can be adapted to square molds or individual molds)

-Sponge Cake:
Eggs: 3 large
Sugar: 70 g
All purpose flour: 40 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Butter (unsalted): 25 g

-Bavarois:
Milk: 200ml
Fresh cream (vegetal): 200 ml
Egg whites: 3
Sugar: 50 g
Gelatin: 5 g
Matcha powder: 1 tablespoon
Water (to dissolve matcha powder): 5 tablespoons
Matcha liqueur (optional, but try and find it or replace with something else according to taste!): a little

-Decoration jelly (nappage):
Matcha powder: 2 tablespoons
Gelatin: 5 g
Sugar: 40 g
Water: 250 ml

Supplementary decoration (optional):
Chestnuts (cooked)
Black beans (cooked)
Candied mint leaves

RECIPE:

-Sponge Cake:
Separate the whites and yolks of the eggs, beat the yolks until thick and lemon colored, add the sugar gradually.
Mix matcha powder and sifted flour. Mix in butter by hand (with the tips of your fingers). Add egg yolks and sugar and mix well. Cut and fold in the stiffly beaten egg white.
Bake in an ungreased pan in a very moderate oven.
Bake until the cake is puffed, has lost its shine, and springs back when gently pressed.
Let cool completely and trim off to shape of the cake mold.
Line the cake mold with a layer of sponge cake.

-Bavarois:
Soften jelly in cold water or dissolve it depending on type.
Whisk the the egg whites thick and hard with sugar.
Bring the milk and fresh cream to boil.
Switch off fire.
Add matcha powder and matcha liqueur and mix well.
Let cool completely. Add and mix in gelatin.
Fold in egg whites.
Pour the bavarois over the sponge cake and leave in refrigerator overnight.

-Decoration jelly:
Soften gelatin or dissolve in a little water.
In a pan pour in water, matcha powder, sugar and heat to dissolve sugar. Switch off fire and add gelatin. Mix weel.
Wait until it has cooled off completely.
Take cake out of refigerator and pour jelly all over.
Put back in refrigerator and leave it until it has properly settled.

Decorate further with chestnuts, candied mint leaves and black beans.

MATCHA-CAKE-3