Tag Archives: Shizuoka City

笑い, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Humor, Fruit, Halloween, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Melon, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Halloween Melon at Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka City!

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Shizuoka Prefecture is famous all over Japan for its melons of the highest quality (and price!) in this country!
Just I was shopping this evening I noticed this cute display in the fruit section!

I had a good look, but d\frankly speaking I would be hard put to put a name of the variety.
It was not really ripe either, otherwise that kind of melon would have melted inside!

The melon is genuine but the skin color is probably artificially induced (not exposed to the sun or whatever) and obviously grown only fora decorative purpose.
But it still is worth its entertainment value!

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

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Food & Drinks Bloggers in Japan (amended, October 2012)

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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

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,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

レシピ, 美食, 酒, 野菜, 観光, 魚海の幸, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Izakaya, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Iazakaya: Another Quick Visit at Waga (Fall 2012) in Shizuoka City!

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What are these?
See below!

Service: Very friendly and easy-going! Slow food!
Facilities: Very clean overall. Large and clean washroom.
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great list of sake and shochu. Typical izakaya gastronomy with a personal touch!

When you don’t have much time, back at night from a long trip and still too hungry to go straight away back home where you don’t want spend time cooking and what else, there is only one solution: stop by in an izakaya as there are plenty still open very late.
Now, if you happen to know one better than average near your place, there is no hesitation!
So once again we visited Waga in Shizuoka City!

Now, what can you expect, even in such a hurry?

A great range of sake at the very least! They also have wine, shochu, beeer, etc.

Talk of a cute sake label!

Late at night food ought to be light:
pickled myoga ginger salad!

Maguro tataki/Seared tuna!

For a closer look of a Waga’s specialty!

Daikon Katsu, another Waga’s specialty!

Pickled shiro uri/white gourd salad!

Pickled cucumber salad with fresh spicy miso paste!

Deep-fried yama imo/Japanese yam as it is!
So light and crunchy!

Beautiful madai/True seabream sashimi!

Katsuo/Bonito sashimi salad!

Assortment of pickled fish and squid!

Baked stuffed eggplant!

Another Waga’s specialty: Tori Nankotu Karaage/Deep-fried soft chicken cartilages!
A must-try!

A great comfort dish before going back home:
“Yasai ga Tappuri Kata Yaki Soba/Hard-fried soba in soup with plenty of vegetables”!

Come winter and the cold weather, I will want that again!

To be continued…

WAGA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Takajyo, 2-1-20, Kuroyanagi Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-271-7121
Business hours: 17:30~23:30, 17:30~26:00 (on Fridays, Saturdays and National Holidays)
Closed on Mondays
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,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

レシピ, Chicken, 美食, Dessert, Desserts, 野菜, 茶, 蕎麦, 虹鱒, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 鱒, 農業, Fish, Food, Food Health, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Ice Cream, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Mishima City, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

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

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

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

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

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

The restaurant was offered some magnificent bouquets for the occasion!

Chef Toru Arima/有馬亨さん at work!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The poached egg!

The wasabi leaves!

Fresh buckwheat seeds!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Earl Grey Tea jelly before the next dish!

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

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

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

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

Creme Chantilly and custard sauce!

Peach Sorbet with its fresh organic mint!

And coffee served as it should be with its mignardises!

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

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Crafts, 観光, Hobbies, Japan, Japanese Culture, Miniatures, Model Miniatures, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Shizuoka Hobby Square: Miniature Models Heaven!

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Model plane by Hasegawa Co!

Did you know that Shizuoka City is the leading manufacturer of “plan models”, Model Miniatures”, sclaed own figures and hobby figures in Japan, and as a city in the world?
It is a mind-boggling experience for the fans to visit this city and its companies but you can start right south of Shizuoka JR Station to prepare yourself for a great adventure!

The SHIZUOKA HOBBY SQUARE is a city-sponsored Museum of the hobby industry in Shizuoka City.
It is located in the same building housing the Century Hotel just across the street on the left of Shizuoka JR Station South exit. Just go through the “South Spot” entry and go to the 3rd floor!

Shizuoka City has a long history of civilian engineering and manufacture.
The first-ever civilian Japanese plane took off there in 1923 by Jirou Aoshima/青島次郎!

Invaluable relics for the maiden flight plane!

The Museum is comparatively small but packed to the brim with top-quality samples!
They also include a shop, a workshop where you can try your hand for free and an event room (for a fee).
The entrance is free, so even if you are only mildly interested visit the place on a rainy day!
You will still learn a lot from history to science fiction!

They even have a full-size authentic vintage Harley-Davidson!

Note that that I have hyperlinked to the different companies’ homepages. Even if you don’t read japanese, the pictures will be enough to captivate you all night long!

Star Trek spaceship model by HASEGAWA HOBBY KITS!

The Hasegawa hobby Kits display window!

TAMIYA is the oldest of them all and are famous in Eurpoe and anywhere else for their car models!

But they also an incredible collection of war history models be it Navy, Air Force or Army!

EBBRO MINIATURE MODELS specializes in car and bike models of all kinds!

And in jumbo-sized models!

If you like ships and castles in particular, you must have a good looks at the models of WOODY JOE!

!

For a closer look!

A rare scene of Japanese artillery in Edo Era!

They have also started WWII ships and planes!

AOSHIMA Co is remarkable for its varied sope!

They are famous for detailed science models representing not only the outside but also the inside view of animals, humans, machines and vehicles!

BANDAI Co is a newcomer to Shizuoka City. Their offices are in Nagoya City but the whole factory has been moved to Shizuoka City a few years ago thus earning Shizuoka City the title of World miniature models capital!

These Japanese comics characters are known all over the World!

And they boast an incredible range!

This Museum is certainly not for kids but for adults who need all their money to indulge in their hobbies!

SHIZUOKA HOBBY SQUARE
422-8067 Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Minami Machi, 18-1, South Spot 3F
Tel.: 054-289-3033
Opening hours: 11:00~18:00, 10:00~18:00 (Saturdays & Sundays & National Holidays)
Closed on Mondays
Entrance free except for special events (Separate room)
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,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

Crafts, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Crafts, Tourism

Japanese Crafts and Traditional Works in Shizuoka City!

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SURUGA HAND DYEING/駿河和染

“The traditional skills of hand dyeing have been passed down through generations of craftsmen in Shizuoka. The sharp, single contrast of indigo and white results in strength of design and austere beauty, a beauty that can be seen today in the many products in which traditional dyeing methods are used”

I’ve known for quite some time that Shizuoka City is a major center for traditional crafts and works in Japan, but I have always been curious how many of such crafts are represented in our city.
Shizuoka City has been officially recognized as a center of traditional crafts, works and even hobbies as far back as 1804 when it was still called 1804 a legacy left by the famous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu when he retired in our city beginning of the 17th Century and brought all kinds craftsmen along!

her is the full compilation including the one above.
If you want more information on individual craftsmen and associations (there 28 of them alone!) don’t hesitate to ask me!

SURUGA LACQUERWARE/駿河漆器

“When Sengen Shrine was built in Kanei Era, about 350 years ago, the best lacquer craftsmen were gathered in Shizuoka from all over Japan. After the construction of the shine was completed, these craftsmen stayed and formed the nucleus of Shizuoka’s lacquerware industry.”

SURUGA SASHIMONO/駿河指物

“Sashimono incorporates traditional cabinet-making techniques to manufacture a wide variety of woodcraft products. The woodworking techniques developed by Shizuoka cabinetmakers over the years have given root to the present-day woodworking industry in Shizuoka, and have made Shizuoka a leading area for cabinet and furniture making in Japan.”

HINA DOLLS/駿河雛具・雛人形

“Shizuoka is the top producing area of Hina Dolls in Japan. This is a traditional household item from ancient times, but the designs have been changed to satisfy present-day consumer tastes. many new items have been added that are thought to bring luck and health to one’s beloved children”.

SURUGA BAMBOO LATTICE WARE/駿河竹千節細工

“Bamboo work is another special product of Shizuoka. Bamboo craft has been an important part of Japanese housewares since the old days, but quality and design have been raised to the level of artwork while still maintaining qualities for practical use. Shizuoka bamboo products were designated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) as a Traditional Craft product in 1976.”

CLOGS/駿河塗下駄・張下駄

“The industry is an offshoot of the lacquerware industry. During the Meiji Era, the techniques and know-how of the lacquerware industry were applied to the manufacturing of traditional wooden clogs and made it the highest quality product in the country.”

SURUGA MAKIE (GOLD LACQUER)/駿河蒔絵

“Suruga Makie got its start in Shizuoka in 1828 when the lacquer artist Senzo Nakagawa, then living in Sumpu (the old name of Shizuoka) introduced and taught makie techniques.”

WOODEN FURNITUE/木製家具

“The furniture of Shizuoka, both Japanese and Western styles, are famous throughout Japan. The products are practical as well as specialized in order to meet the demands of the diversified lifestyles of consumers.”

HOME FURNISHINGS/建具

“The paper and lattice sliding doors and partitions that give the Japanese rooms their characteristic breezy and open peaceful feeling are still made by artisans who make use of traditional carpentry techniques that date back to the building of Shizuoka’s Sengen shrine.”

SANDALS & SHOES/サンダル・シューズ

“The Vinyl Sandal industry is rather a newcomer having started after the war, but with its streamlined production facilities, never-ending technical innovations and eagerness to improve design and quality have brought it to the top level in the country.”

Courtesy of the Shizuoka Hobby Square (Shizuoka City).

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

Culture, Japanese Culture, Noh, Noh Theatre, Roger Voltz, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Noh Masks Exhibition by Roger Voltz at Chubu Denryoku Gallery in Shizuoka City!

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Roger Voltz, a French national, who has resided no less than 39 years in Shizuoka City has been establishing his name for quite some time in the Shizuoka and Japan Art World after 20 years of creating Noh masks according to Japanese tradition only in painstaking labor once back home from work mainly as a University lecturer.

He has been holding exhibitions, both individuals and in collaboration, for some time and has become a regular attraction in the local art world.
His latest exhibition started yesterday and will last until the 16th at the gallery inside the Chubu Denryoku Company in Shizuoka City

When asked what drove him to spend so much time and will in his art his answer came quickly enough:
“I would like to leave a legacy for the younger generation to continue.”
That is what art should all be about, shouldn’t it?

Roger being interviewed by the Shizuoka Shinbun Daily newspaper (700,000 copies1). The article actually appeared this morning!

Apart of becoming proficient in martial arts he has been carving Noh masks for the last 20 years.
Noh Theater is one of the oldest forms of theater in Japan (originating out of combination of Chinese performing arts, known as sarugaku, and traditional Japanese dance called dengaku、during the Muromachi Era, 13th~16th Century) and has attained great fame in World Performing Arts for its intricate dances, music and acting.
The actors are exclusively male and usually only the main one wears a mask(s) on stage.
There are five Noh Theater “Schools” all possessing their own original masks.
But the same masks have to be duplicated according to rules and traditions as obviously these original masks are really worn, invaluable relics they are!
So far Roger has carved and exhibited 20 masks under the guidance of his Master, Kishinosuke Atsumi.
This time he exhibits a carefully chosen selection of 9 masks.

Here my 3 favorite. Come and visit the exhibition to enjoy the whole collection at your pace and leisure!


——————

——————

Carving the masks in wood is a long and intricate process taking 8~10 months in Roger’s cas as he can create them only during his spare time.
Each mask weighs 130g~150g for female characters and 150~180 g for male counterparts.
Each mask is carved out of a block of either hinoki/檜/Japanese cypress or kusunoki/楠/camphor tree, both valuable wood in this country.
Ask Roger who is usually on hand between 3:00 and 4:30 to explain them all!
He is certainly a wealth of knowledge to meet!

If you want to contact Roger directly for more information, write to him at rvoltz@mta.biglobe.ne.jp!

Last year’s article THERE!

Exhibition site
Chubu Denryoku Company, Yume Kkyu Gallery
Shizuoka City, Suruga Ku, Magarigane, 6-3-38
Tel..: 0129-985-210
Car park available
Exhibition Schedule: October 3~16th, 09:00~16:30
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo

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Sanwa Brewery in Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, is a bit of a maverick as it is the only one not to use the Shizuoka Yeast as a matter of policy!
I love their retro Garyubai label!

This is the season for all the breweries to bottle “Hiyaoroshi/pateurized only once” nectars!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 3
Acidity: 1.4
Bottled in August 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Discreet, sweetish, fruity. Vanilla
Body: Fluid
Taste: Soft attack backed by junmai petillant warming up back of the palate.
Fruity and a little sirupy. Complex: pears, coffee beans, cherries. Reminiscent of “cherry bonbon”!
Lingers for a while before taking an exit on a drier and fruity note with nuts, almonds and dark chocolate.
Very pleasant and easy to drink.
Takes a drier path with food with more nuts and dark chocolate.
Marries well with food, although it tends to take a back seat with spicy foods.

Overall: An elegant sake off the beaten Shizuoka tracks.
Very pleasant on its own.
Constantly calling for the next glass/cup.
Marries well with food although gets a bit overwhelmed by spicy or heavy food.
A sake to be enjoyed for its sake!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inside the kitchen!

Taking a sneak peek at the Japanese char!

A magician’s lair!

Taking shape!

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

Almost ready!

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

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

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

Japanese char brandade seared under a salamander by Chef Onoda!

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

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

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

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

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

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Oomuraya Brewery-Wakatake-Oni Otome Sachi-Tokubetsu Junmai

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Oumuraya Brewery in Shimada City has been long famed for its “Oni Goroshi/Kill the Goblin” sake brand.
This year they felt that Oni/Goblins should not be confined to males only!
So they came with cute “Oni-Otome/Lady Goblin” series obviously to kill the sake lovers!
This the third one actually, brown color after the previous pink and blue labels. A fourth white label will appear next winter!

Incidentally “Sachi” means “Dry” in this case!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: 1
Acidity: 1.3
Amino acids: 1.2
Bottled in September 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Very faint golden hue
Aroma: Discreet, fleeting. Pineapple, oranges
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed up with alcohol and junmai petillant
Lingers for a while getting even drier with pleasant alcohol warming up the back of the palate.
Complex and fruity.
Almonds, dark chocolate, macadamia nuts followed by drier almonds and faint coffee beans.
For all its sweetish start as indicated + 1 level, the transition to dryness is very accentuated and lasting.
Changes little with food. except with a little rise in sweetness with more coffee beans appearing.
Drinks easily with any food.
Tends to become more complex just after food with new facets.

Overall: A great sake to enjoy with any food, especially izakaya gastronomy.
Changes little with food.
Very pleasurable on its own.
Another sake fit for any food or party.
And that label is so cute!
Kill me with love and sake!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Tenko-Choo Karakuchi Natsu Ki Gentei Genshu + 21

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Suruga Brewery in Shizuoka City like some other breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture tends to come up with limited brews with very long names!
Tenko is the name of Suruga Brewery’s main brand.
“Choo Karakuchi” means it is a very dry sake.
“Natsu Ki Gentei” stands for “limited Summer Brew”.

Now “Genshu” means a sake to which no pure water was not blended.
Since it is also a junmai, no pure rice alcohol was added either.
“+21” stands for the dryness level.
Extremely dry, indeed!

Rice: Biyama Nishiki
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: Association No 901
Alcohol: 19~20 degrees
Dryness: + 21
Acidity: 2.7
Bottled in June 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: very light golden hue
Body: fluid, sirupy
Aroma: Strong and complex. Alcohol. Dry. Fruity: banana
Taste: Strong attack backed up by puissant junmai petillant, very dry at first, then smooth and sirupy in spite of its dryness.
Complex. Banana, almonds, macadamia nuts.
Lingers for a short while with a lot of junmai petillant with almonds lurking on the palate.
Changes very little with food.

Overall: A very dry sake, indeed, although not as aggressive as expected thanks to its complexity.
Marries perfectly with any food, even sushi!
Another sake I would take to nay house party or BBQ!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

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

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

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Seared Foie Gras in black truffles sauce on Porcini risotto!

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

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

Such a simple and welcoming facade and entrance!

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

The kitchen and his magician!

A small private corner near the kitchen!

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

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

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

Enormous scallops cooked to perfection!

Plenty of local vegetables for beautiful balance and colorful design!

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

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

The lightly baked risotto! All Italy for you!

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

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

Simple but perfect accompaniment: Southern French Ratatouille!

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

Peach compote and home-made raspberry ice-cream!

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

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

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

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

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

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

Great new board introducing the team!

Lunch menus according to your budget!

I always eat at the counter for a good reason!

But tables and chairs are more comfortable!

All these vegetables are organically grown in Shizuoka!

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

Naturally all bread is home-baked!

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

Corzetti pasta in creamy daikon leaves and bacon sauce!

For a closer view!

The corzetti pasta stamp!

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

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

So yummy and well-balanced!

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

Time for dessert!

Can you guess?

Watermelon granite atop vanilla custard ice-cream!

Soft almond tart!

And for once, I had tea!

To be continued (count on that!)….

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Shizuoka, Tourism

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 47: Ethnic for the Fall and Early Winter!

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Bright colored patterns are coming back with a vengeance to Shizuoka City!
Especially patterns inspired by ethnic (other Asian countries) design.
They are very popular with not so young ladies and can be worn at any time of the day or night, and even at parties!

I don’t know why, but these patterns and colors remind me of photographs of tribeswomen in Northern Thailand!

As for these they remind me of Southern Pacific islands!

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

観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese fashion, Shizuoka, Tourism

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 46: Snow White?

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Mo, although the skin of this young lady was incredibly white, she wasn’t an albino (very rare in Japan!)!
Her hair was not bleached but dyed as it had a nice lustre to it!

She was also incredibly fit, and I had a hard time following her from the other side of the street discreetly until I could take a pic of her even from the back!
Were I younger she might have been my type! LOL

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