Tag Archives: Restaurants

Sushi Restaurant: Dinner at Sushi Ko (Shizuoka City, ’10/04/22)

April 24, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Take-away Sashimi Tray!

As promised, here is the full photograph report of pur dinner at Sushi Ko the other day.
Some pics are fuzzy, pressed for time as I was by the missus!
Sorry!

The Man In Charge: Mr. Oda!

Generous serving of Shosetsu sake (Shizuoka City, Yui)!

Like in any good sushi restaurants one can have a good look at their ware in glass displays!

The sashimi we ordered for the day!

Katsuo/鰹 or bonito (from Shizuoka Prefecture!).

Kinmedai/金目鯛 or Splendid alfonsino (from Shizuoka Prefecture!)

Served with chopped leeks and grated ginger.

The next sake: Junmai ginjo by Fujinishiki Brewery (Shibakawa Cho), rice milled down to 55%. Priveate label for Sushi KO!

Japanese-style tako/蛸 octopus Carpaccio plate!

Anago/穴子 or conger eel tempura.

Maguro zuke/鮪付け or marinated tuna

Botan ebi/牡丹海老 or large sweet prawn

Hotate/帆立 or scallop

Hirame/平目　or sole. Seasoned with lemon juice and salt only!

The deep-fried heads of the botan ebi!

Kujira/鯨 or whale

Vegan sushi tray! Menegi/芽葱 or thin leeks sprouts, Himesoba/姫蕎麦 or buckwheat sprouts, Mitsuba/三つ葉 or trefoil and Kawairedaikon/かわいれ大根 or daikon sprouts (lightly boiled) with umeboshi!

Hamaguri/蛤 or large clams. Unusual as they are quite a work to do for little profit!

Pirikara Hotate Futomaki/ピリ辛帆立太巻 or Spicy Scallops thick roll, one of Mr. Oda’s specialties!

Anago/穴子 or conger eel

Shiso, Nattou to Umeboshi Maki/紫蘇納豆梅干巻 or sushi roll with perilla leaves, fermented soy beans and pickled Japanese plum. Vegan!

Sakura Ebi Gunkan/桜海老軍艦 or fresh cherry shrimps. Only available in Shizuoka (cheap) unless you want to pay a helluva money in Tokyo!

Ikura Ko Donburi/イクラ小丼 or small bowl of salmon roe.

Nameko Jiru/なめこ汁 or nameko mushrooms miso soup

And Shizuoka Green Tea to finish!

SUSHI KO
shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho. 2-3-1 (Aoba Koen)
Tel.: 054-2512898
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Italian Cuisine: Appetizers at Il Paladino

April 23, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to expensive.
Specialty:Sicilian Cuisine. Top-class Italian wines and great collection of Grappa.
Non-smoking at tables.

I’ve found over the years that in Japan, and especially Shizuoka, that it is more fun to ask for a few appetizers with a couple of glasses of good wine at Italian Restaurants (mind you, the same would apply to Spanish Restaurants and izakayas!).
When a good restaurant like Il Paladino in Shizuoka City agrees to it, it is simply great fun!

Here are a few examples of what I had the pleasure to savour recently:

Although Italian in concept, I would call this appetizer the “Tomato Road”! Sorry for the bad pun!

Tomato mousse.

Scallops in jelly with green peas, carrot and zucchini.

Involtini di Melanzane/Egg-plants rolls

Egg plant slices are rolled around Emmental cheese, Prosciuto Cotto ham, Mozzarella and Parmegiano.

This Sicilian specilaty is then covered with tomato sauce and baked in the oven.
It is served with a topping of high quality extra virgin oil.

Insalata Carapippara

Red pimento and celery strips, mozzarella wedges, Parmegianno strips, Green olives, Balsamico, Basil leaves and olive oil.

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

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sake, shochu and sushi

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French Restaurant: Hana Hana (2010/04/16)

April 16, 2010 dragonlife 3 Comments

Cassoulet

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Generous portions (for a Japanese restaurant), classic French and Italian and unpretentious. “Special” Wine list!

Last night saw cats and dogs falling anew with the unpredictable weather. Neither of us felt going back home and starting cooking. It was about time we visited an od friend of ours at Hana Hana!

The greatest quality of this unpretentious and very friendly restaurant combining the delicacies of Southern France and Italy resides in its succulent fare served in generous portions (for a Japanese restaurant), and all this at reasonable prices (for japan, again!)

Here is what we had last night:

Appetizer: deep-fried /shiroebi/white shrimps/Glass shrimps on a potato chip and amadai/Tilefish tartare on a lotus root chip.

Tilefish or amadai/アマダイ/甘鯛、尼鯛　in Japanese

Glass Shrimps/White Shrimps or shiroebi/白海老 in Japanese.

The Missus ordered a “Country-style” salad, but it was so big that the chef served a single portion on two different plates without even asking us! Great home-made sausages, duck and so on!

As for the beautiful duckling terrine, the two of us had to dig in as the portion was definitely not Japanese-sized! LOL
It certainly wasn’t easy to keep off the bread!

Now, the Missus’ main dish as a great combination of French and Japanese cuisines: Baked amadai/tilefish with wasabi sauce!
Did I tell you that Shizuoka Prefecture grows 80& of all wasabi in Japan?LOL

When I was wondering what main dish I would order, the chef just suggested, Alsation Choucroute or Cassoulet?
Not fair! Being a Burgundian, I was truly caught halfway!
Alright, I’ll take the Cassoulet!
…..
My, my, now, that was big!
The Missus: -I’ll have the finest little piece of each: Duck confit, pork belly cut and home-made sausage!
She could have tried to help me more…. LOL again!
Do you know the hree basic cassoulets? To give you an idea, mine included two of them!
No need to tell you it was perfect!

We don’t make a rule of eaing dessert, but we have never been able to escape from Hana Hana’s offerings!
The Missus had this Creme Blanche (meringue, fresh cream and cottage cheese) with a red fruit soup, a beautiful combination in colours and tastes!

I’ve always been a sucker for Hana Hana’s Creme Brulee!
Just the right amount of cream and plenty of caramel and a beautiful ice-cream on top!

I’ll have to find a reason to go back on my own!
Why?
There is still this Alsatian Choucroute bugging me!

Hana Hana
Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
420-0037 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Hitoyado-cho, 1-3-12
Tel. & Fax: 054-2210087
Credit cards OK

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Horse Meat Sashimi at Tomii

April 15, 2010 dragonlife 10 Comments

Horse meat has been a favourite of the Japanese (and only the French and the Tatars!). They call it “Sakura” as it is reminiscent of the colour of cherry blossoms!
The best quality is produced in Kagoshima Prefecture in the Island of Kyushu.

It is usually served in very thin sashimi/carpaccio-style slices.

In sushi restaurants, it will usually be frozen for easier cutting, but Tomii beig a high-quality restaurant they avoid frezzing which might add water to the meat.
It is very sweet and tender, and a very special morsel.

It is always served with two types of seasoning at Tomii:
Soy sauce (light variety) with freshly grated ginger, or the same soy sauce with grated garlic. Both are complemented with very finely chopped fresh thin leek!

To be enjoyed with a great sake or shochu!

TOMII
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg, 1F
Tel.: 054-274-0666
Business hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi; Happy Little Bento

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Mando: Neo Japanesque Bar/SpanishTapas Bar

April 15, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great and very large washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable to a little expensive.
Specialty: Tapas. Japanese sake, including many local Shizuoka Brands, shochu and wines.

More and more culinary specialties are being presented for the ever-growing pleasure of revellers in Shizuoka City.
The latest addition, which opened last month, is a very interesting combination of Japanese and Spanish cuisines served in a bar/restaurant very reminiscent of Spain.

A very-easy going place with very friendly staff (7) ably coached by veteran manager Takeshi Hirai (who also looks after two more establishments), one can first quaff one’s thirst in many ways:

Japanese sake (350~1,200 yen for a 90ml glass) is top-class　including no　less than 19 different bottles from Shizuoka Prefecture: Isojiman, Aoshima, Kokkou, Sugii, Doi, Takashima, Morimoto, Oomuraya, Kanzawagawa, Eikun and Hatsukame Breweries!
Other prefecture are represented by 11 more brands.

Incidentally, if you come there just drinking,there is a space for guests who prefer standing with a glass in hand!

Plenty of wine, naturally!

Wine is available by the bottle, half-bottle, and glass.
7 liqueurs, plenty of cocktails, soft drinks, Japanese tea and herbal teas are also on the menu!

And shochu: 13 imo/tuber, 11 mugi/barley, 8 kome/rice, 3 awamori from Okinawa and 7 limited editions!

As for food, you had better check the menu of the day written on blackboard as it changes every day.
On the average 13~ tapas (300~600 yen) and 16~ dishes (200~1,400 yen) are on offer, although one can ask the chefs about avaibility of other foods!

If you can’t read the menu, no problem, just point at the food inside the glass display boxes: Fish,

Tapas,

More tapas,

Vegetable terrine,

and even more tapas!

Eating tapas with a glass of wine is probably the cheapest way to truly enjoy the place!

Mind you, they quickly add up!

A great place on your own for a quick fix or with good company for a long night out!

MANDO, Neo Japanesque Bar
420-0031 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-cho 2-4-6, Mori Bldg 1 & 2F (along Genan Street)
Tel. & Fax: 054-221-5103
Opening hours: 17:00~02:00
Closed on Sundays
Parties possible on reservation (second floor can turned into private party space)
Credit cards OK

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi; Happy Little Bento

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Italian Cuisine: Cipolla Ripiena/Stuffed Onion at Il Paladino

April 15, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Just had to go for a “glass of wine” after a long work day before definitely calling it a day and have dinner at home!

The chef came up with an interesting “appetizer”, a specialty from Piemonte: Cipolla Ripiena/Stuffed Onion!
NOTE: Thanks to Foods & Crafts for correcting me! Incidentlly I’m french! LOL

A large onion is cut in half and “dug out” to just leave a couple of “layers” of fresh onion inside the outside skin.
It is then filled the chopped dug out part mixed with wild boar ragu/stew. The wild boar came from Shimada City in the Central part of Shizuoka Prefecture!

It was topped with a generous measure of parmiggiano and Italian parsley before being baked to perfection!

Will definitely have to make it back home!

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

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi; Happy Little Bento

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Italian Restaurant: “Quick Fix” at Il Paladino

March 25, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Rainy day/evening…
Having a break…
Il Paladino almost next door…
A no-brainer!

And I was there before I could say “it’s still raing cats and dogs outside!”.

“A plate of antipasti misto and make it small as I have to eat dinner back home!”
“Bona!”

Madago/octopus and Uikyou/Japanese fennel salad, Fritatta of zucchini and eggs, Broccoli AOP Peperocino with anchovy seasoning, and marinated tomato. And home-made focaccia and bread!

“You know, we have these big white asaparaguses from Holland…”
“Not fair! OK, I’ll have one of them!”

For another view.
The asparagus is simply grilled and served with a delicious dressing.
The new bamboo shoot is fried. It is actually the extremity of the shoot called “himekawa/姫皮/Princess’ skin”. The inside is almost fruity and part of the “leaves” are edible and crunchy! A great asociation of European and Asian vegetables!

Now, how was I going to explain that to the MIssus….

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

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

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Italian Restaurant: Acqua di Fonte

March 24, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Excellent and very friendly
Facilities: very clean all around
Prices: reasonable
Specialty: Central and south Italian-style cuisine. Very reasonables prices. Very reasonably-priced wines.
no-smoking-logo1 Non-smoking at tables and most of the counter!

Acqua di Fonte/The Fountain Water followed in the steps of the good Italian restaurants in Shizuoka City when it opened this year on March 11th.
It is located in a former fashion shop in the Takajo district, which is fast becoming a reference in the whole Prefecture when it comes to tasting gastronomies from all corners of the world in a single area, and this at the highest level. As there arejust enough seats for 8 at the counter and 12 at tables, it is a good idea to reserve.

Young chef Hidetake Suzuki is a local as he was born in Fujieda City. Before working in another Italian restaurant in the same city, he spent no less than three and a half years studying his trade in Napoli and Sicilia, and it shows. Notwithstanding the great taste his cuisine is light, precise and very traditionally Italian in concept with great products and this at very reasonable prices.

The wine list is a welcome show of reasonability:
White and red wines are listed in three different parts at 2,800, 3,800 and 4,800 yen a bottle.
You can also order by the glass at 550 yen.

I ordered a very solid wine for 4,800 yen from the Campania region, KLEOS, Luigi Maffini, Aliano grapes.

Very deep red with a good fruity flavor. Very solid with welcome tanginess. Very good with meat in particular.

Dinner set menus are priced at 4,200, 6,000 and 8,000 yen but the carte is worth exploring with 9 Primi Piatti, 5 Secondi Piatti and 3 Dolce.
A short carte, but to the point and with some unusual discoveries.
Here is what I chose for my first visit:

Caprese salad. The tomatoes are Ameera Tomatoes from Shizuoka. The luccolla is wild luccolla!

Solento Gnocchi

Vitello Taliata/Veal with a sauce made with chestnut flower honey, red wine and balsamico!

A plate of Italian charcuterie!

The Focassa is home-made.

Semi-freddo di Mandorle/almond ice-cream!

Second visit planned soon! I certainly need to take better pictures next time!LOL

ACQUA DI FONTE Antica Osteria
420-0839 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajo, 1-10-10, Pia Takajo, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-6440
Opening hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~22:00
Closed on Wednesdays and first Tuesday
Credit cards OK

Please check the new postings at:
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Japanese Restaurant: “Quick Fix” at Tomii

February 18, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

Kazuya Tomii/Chef-Owner at Tomii, Shizuoka City

There are times when I just fel too hungry to finish the day at work.
I always have a break at around 18:00 (I usually finish my day at 21:00), and I call it the “Stomach Pang Hour”. It is hard to resist the temptation everyday, so I’m bound to fall prey to mu\y yearnings and make a quick run for one of my favourite haunts.

When I reached Tomii the other day, they were really busy with big groups, which allowed me to take my time at te counter and take some pics of what stands or lies there for the guests’ attention (I mean the appetizers!LOL)

This is the full range of the sake form nurukan/warm sake. Four of them are from Shizuoka Prefecture!
As for the cold sake count three times as many varieties waiting in the fridge!

Being busy, Chef Tomii served a a few morsels/appetizers.
The above one is fresh bambaoo shoot from Oshika, Shizuoka Prefecture deep-fried in kabushi-age style sprinkled with o-kaka/fine fish shavings and pan-fried wakame seeweed with sesame seeds.

As I said I had plenty of time to take pictures of what was on the counter.
The above are small seguro/black back sardines from Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, prepared in Mirin boshi style/marinated in mirin sweet sake and generously sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Boiled Umi-tsubu-gai/ a popular variety of small conch shellfish.

Chef Tomii makes a point of mixing Japanese and Shizuoka specialties.
He serves real Shizuoka-style oden (Japanese pot-au-feu9 in a dark broth typical of our region.

On a plate just before serving. Hot Japanese mustard and dry seaweed powder will be added.

A dark Japanese/Shizuoka Witch Brew?

Another appetizer: Matsumaezuke/marinated finely cut vegetables and seaweed.

The sashimi plate I was waiting for!

Bottom line:
Suzuki/Seabass/鱸 on a slice of red daikon.
Next to it going to the right: Murasaki Uni/Violet sea urchin/紫海栗, Sayori/Japanese Halbeak/細魚 on a slice of yellow Kyoto Carrot.
Above the seabass, Aori Ika/Bigfin Reef Squid/煽り烏賊.
And above: Honmaguro/Blue Fin Tuna/本鮪 Akami/Lean part/赤身

On the shiso/perilla leaf/紫蘇, Madai/True snapper-Seabream/真鯛 and Aori Ika/Bigfin Reef Squid/煽り烏賊 again on a slice of red Kyoto carrot.

The wasabi is naturally freshly grated Shizuoka wasabi root!

For a better look at the tuna and the sprouts! (a bit fuzzy, actually! Sorry!)

TOMII
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tokiwa-cho, 1-2-7, Tomii Bldg, 1F
Tel.: 054-274-0666
Business hours: 17:00~22:00
Closed on Sundays
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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

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Italian Restaurants: New Team at Aquavite!

February 9, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

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

High quality Italian Cuisine is a trademark of Shizuoka City thanks to the extravagant supply of impeachable ingredients both from the nearby sea and the land, which have contributed to an ever-increasing level in all kinds of cuisines. But Italian gastronomy must be the most competitive specialty inthis status-conscious city.

Like in many top restaurants, recruiting first-class staff upon the departure of established chefs to other shores is a constant headache for Aquavite who are justly proud of their rank as the best Italian Restaurant in town and feel responsible for constantly maintaining and improving standards.

The regulars know only too well, and the place being crowded on a Monday evening just proved it was “business as usual”!

The new team in charge of the kitchen is now Chef Kenichi Honda who worked in Roma for two years and holds an Italian Sommelier License,

and his sous-chef Yuhei Kajiyama.

Both are born in Shizuoka City, a marked advantage when it comes to choosing the best local products which for the majority of their creations.
Like the best Japanese chefs they bring another dimension to Italian cuisine with their almost obsessive attention to every detail.

I managed to pay them a quick visit last night to have a chat (a long one as they were very busy!) and a few pics before I visit them for a full dinner and report in the near future.
Please forgive the inferior quality of the pics, but taking them over the counter in minimum time was not easy!LOL

Stir-fried scallop and grilled “Kinki seabream”.

Italian charcuterie!

Beef Roast.

Porcini cream gnocchi.

Extravagant Minestrone!

Mekajiki/Marlin and Scampi on a bed of couscous.

See you next time!

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

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi,
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French Restaurants: Dinner at Pissenlit

February 4, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

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

The other day, the Missus finally got her wish, dinner at Pissenlit (as for me I already had a couple!)
I already introduced this particular French restaurant time and again as one of the best in town using great ingredients, seasonal only, at really “soft” prices!

Actually we had timed this visit perfectly as the chef was going to call me as he had finally received something I’d been crying for time and time again (tell you later!)

To put things short again here what we had:

First the wine: a very well-priced honest Bourgogne Pinot Noir red by Domaine Malvoissine 2007 distributed by Louis Latour.

Very dark clean red, plenty of nose, a bit young, but just appropriate for the whole meal.

Cute gougeres to help overcome our impatience and start tasting the wine!

As the Missus also wanted to have a try I chose the new white asparaguses with cod sperm sacs sauteed meuniere with Provencale sauce. Something you won’t get outside Japan! Even the Missus who usually can’t face cod sperm sacs appreciated them!

The Missus had been waiting for that!
Cassolette de Champignons et d’Escargots de Bourgogne!
I can tell I had some of these mushrooms and snails!
They were perfect and not overwhelmed with garlic!

The Missus delved into this colourful beef cheek in cassis sauce and Shizuoka Organic vegetables. I also made sure she left me a bit!

Now I was looking forward to these little beauties: Rognons de Veau/Veal Kidneys!
The Missus was not convinced this time. Cooked to perfection, soft outside, crunchy inside flambee with cognac in cream sauce!
My Dad would cross the World for these (a specialty of my brother!)!

To ned it (and the wine with it) I had a small plate of French cheese: Cote, Camembert at Pave d’Affinois.

The Missus went for the specila strawberry short cake. A very light and tasty marvel miles ahead of what we find at cake shops!

Red Fruit Dance!

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

Please check the new postings at:
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French Cuisine: New Year Lunch at Pissenlit

January 6, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Last Monday (I mean the 4th of July), we belatedly visited that favourite French restaurant of ours in Shizuoka City for the lunch out of the year.
I’ve already introduced that particular restaurant and his chef, Mr. Arima.
The prices are not only reasonable but the ingredients are simply extravagant.Moreover they are exclusively seasonal, be they from Shizuoka, Japan or abroad. A great emphasis is done on local bio bvegetables and one can expect a feast of colors!

Here what we enjoyed on tha particular day:

The Missus chose that beautiful plate of sauteed mushrooms topped with fresh truffles!

When I eat French food, I tend to a bit rustic. LOL.
Simple but elegant and perfect chicken liver terrine!

A beautiful kabocha cream for both of us before the main dish.

For once, we both opted for fish.
The Missus ordered sauteed “Sawara/Spanish Mackerel” with cassis sauce. Look at those veg!

As for me, I devoured “Inada or young buri/yellowtail” sauteed and served with a dijon mustard cream sauce. Look at those veg again!

And it was time for dessert:
The Missus delved into Panacotta and raspberry sorbet.

As for me, marrons and almonds tart with cassis sorbet.

Alright, alright, you want to know how much we paid for that?
30 US$ per person, bread, butter and coffee included.
We had 3 glasses of wine each. The total bill was 110 US$.
Worth it, wasn’t it?

Please check the new postings at:
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Vietnamese Restaurants: Annam (revisited)

November 20, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pa in seo/Japanese okonomiyaki!

Annam is probably not only the only authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture, but is definitely in a clss of its own.
If I listened to the Missus we would visit the place every week!LOl
Antway, the other day my best friedn, who happens to be Irish, and his Jpanese wife came to visit us after a lapse of two years.
We just couldn’t find a better reason to visit our favourite South Asian restaurant!

Here is what we ordered:

The Vietnamese have brewed beer for a long time and thier 333 is as good as any!

Artistic and very light raw spring rolls with shrimps.

Healthy green papaya and shrimp salad.

Stir-fried chicken and deep-fried rice cakes.

French influence in the steamed French bread with shrimp and peanuts topping.

As the beer and the sake (from Shizauok) has disappeared quickly, we chose a honest and reliable bottle of French Cotes du Rhone from Annam’s very decent wine list.

Home-made Vietnamese ham as a complimentary dish!

Stir-fried chicken and deep-fried imperial rolls with cold rice noodles salad.

Very light stir-fried vegetables in sweet and sour sauce.

Pa in seo/Vietnamese okonomiyaki, the specialty of the restaurant.
Enormous but as light as a feather and filled with loads of beansprouts!

No we did not have dessert, but pho soup instead!

Can’t wait for the next visit!

Shizuoka City, Aoi-Ku, Tenmacho, 17-9
Tel.: 054-2502266
Fax: 054-2502323
Lunch: 11:30~14:30
Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (last orders: 21:30)
Closed on Mondays and day after National Holidays
Homepage
Credit cards OK

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

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French Restaurant: Tetsuya SUGIMOTO (the approach)

August 25, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

TETSUYA-SUGIMOTO-12

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Very fresh local ingredients extensively used. Seasonal ingredients only.

Tetsuya Sugimoto, former owner of Sugimoto Restaurant, has finally come back to us after venturing into unchartered waters to open his new restaurant, Tetsuya SUGIMOTO, in shizuoka City for the great pleasure of his many fans.
I personally consider him, and many friends agree, to be the best French in town and probably in the Prefecture.
As he has only just started again, the menu is still very much under study and is bound to vastly expand. I will only feature the dishes that I and a friend of mine tasted, as well as those that my other friend Marcus took during two quick meals.
A bigger one is coming next week, so stay tuned.

My Pictures:

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Marcus’ pics:

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Tetsuya SUGIMOTO
420-0038 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Umeya, 2-13, 1F
Tel./Fax: 054-251-3051
open for lunch and dinner
Closed on Wednesdays

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

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Uncategorized

Italian Restaurant: Contorno

August 25, 2009 dragonlife Leave a comment

CONTORNO-3

Service: excellent and very friendly
Facilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overall
Prices: very reasonable, good value.
Strong points: Very fresh local ingredients extensively used.

Contorno is the new Italian restaurant in fashion in Shizuoka. It was open in Spring this year by a former chef working for Hana Hana, another remarkable French/Italian restaurant in Shizuoka City.
The proximity of Contorno to the seashore and harbour of Mochimune means access to gereat and fresh seafood.
It makes an extensive usage of local vegetables, fish and meat whenever possible, and that only is a good enough reason to visit it!
Moreover it is open on Sundays and has its own car park.
Anyway the other day, a very hot Sunday, I decided to make a trial visit.

CONTORNO-1

It certainly looked charming from the outside.
The welcome is warm if a bit shy.
As it was lunch, there was a choice of set menus and side dishes.

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The Itlian smoked ham and other tidbits served as an appetizer with the first drink were surprisingly of very high quality!

CONTORNO-3

My other half had this superlative cold pasta seafood salad while I was having roast guinea fowl (sorry, lost the pic!). Now all ingredients are of perfect freshness. As for the taste, the dishes were remarkable for their simplicity and great balance in perfect accordance with the season!

CONTORNO-4

Italian restaurants, however good, are not always renown for their desserts. It was certainly a pleasnat surprise to discover Contorno’s creations:
Above, the Catalan Creme Brulee might not be Italian, but I know a lot of people would not complain and visit the restaurant for that single dessert!

CONTORNO-5

Now, the Sicilian Dry fruit and nuts Sicilian ice cream was very Italian, and I can tell I was happy leaving my half eating (most of) the creme brulee!

Conclusion?
I must the lace for dinner! Full stop!

CONTORNO
421-0122 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Mochimune, 5-1-10, Sunrise Mochimune (5 minutes walk from Mochimune Station)
Tel.: 054-2565877
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00~21:30
Closed on Wednesdays

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

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