Tag Archives: vegetables

Alain Passard’s Visit in Shizuoka!

October 26, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

Shizuoka Prefecture is at long last receiving the attention it deserves!
From Monday October 25th through Friday October 29th, Alain Passard will hold no less than 4 dinner shows and one demonstration for professionals in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu and Itoh Cities!

At the official Press Conference inside the Shizuoka Prefecture Hall.

Alain Passard is an establishment in France where he has been awarded the three Michelin Stars for the last 14 years for his Restaurant, Arpège, in Paris.
A few years ago, conscious of environment and health in general, he took a big risk and won the challenge of offering high class gastronomy mainly based on vegetables and fruits.
He has already introduced French gastronomy in Japan on many occasions, but this was the first time he concentrated his visit on Shizuoka Prefecture only!

Suzuki Gakuin, the scene of Alain Passard’s demonstration.

Why did such a celebrated chef choose our Prefecture?
A very simple reason: the quality and variety of Shizuoka Prefecture’s vegetables and fruit had finally reached his ears, and as a true professional chef and a lover of good food he could ignore our region any longer, the more for it that it reminds him of his native Bretagne, another region world-famous for its superlative vegetables and extraordinary seafood.

During the Press Conference, Mr. Passard was the image of a true ambassador with a passion and a warmth that quickly won everybody’s heart. A model of civility without ostentation, he explained his reasons for coming at last to Shizuoka and discover its long hidden treasures.
He personally invited me for a private lunch with his staff and Government officials where he showed an intense interest for all I had the time to tell about my adopted home.

Shizuoka ingredients line-up!

At 14:00 we found ourselves in Suzuki Gakuin Cooking School for a demonstration reserved for paying professionals only.
Although the place was crowded to the very limits, many guests had to wait until the other event, the dinner at Nakajimaya Hotel, to have a chance to witness Mr. Passard’s art.

More than 80 professionals were attending!

Among them, some very famous local chefs from all over the Prefecture!

Participants, however far from the stage, could follow the demonstration from overhead mirrors,

and two live TV screens!

Apart of an official interpreter, Alain Passard had his own two aides on hand, Isabelle Schipp from Alsace and Julien Lebon from Paris, two extremely capable lieutenants than no true chef can do without!

Alain Passard’s was not only a demonstration of his skills and inventiveness, but of the whole concept of preparing food.
First, he insisted on the importance of shopping for ingredients when he chose from the array of vegetables displayed in front of him.

Second, having chosen the ingredients of his fancy, came the moment of intense reflection on what he would create with them. As he so justly explained, a true chef has always his moments of uncertainty he has to overcome before immersing himself in his art.

And then the show finally started in earnest!
A long video might have done a better job but at least let me show you the results I had such a great pleasure to witness!

Except for the butter, milk and salt, all ingredients were from Shizuoka!
We were offered three recipes, all created on the moment!

1) Shizuoka Onions (Fondue) and Mandarines (Confit) with Wasabi and Fresh Peanuts, as appetizers.

For a closer view!

2) Shizuoka Small Turnips and Cherry Tomatoes with Shiitake Mushrooms and Ciboulette Leeks, as a main dish.

3) Shizuoka Melon (Carpaccio) and fresh Ginger with Shishito Peppers and Roquette (Luccola) for dessert!

Did I mention this was a vegetarian delight?
If you have more precise questions about the whole (cooking) process, I’ll be glad to oblige!

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Japanese Gastronomic BBQ in Mariko

September 30, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Suruga Beef!

BBQ’s are probably the most common way of enjoying great company with great food and great drinks in the whole world even if you are a teetoller or vegan!

And Japan is no exception!
Now, BBQ’s in Shizuoka can turn into extravagant affairs if they organised by local chefs, sake brewmasters and farmers using only local ingredients!

To make a long story shorter, we found about 30 of us last Sunday noon in Mariko, a site famed as one of the stages along the old Tokaido Road used by travellers in the Edo Era.
Being organized by Japanese, it was all very precise and delightful.
For 60 US $ (including drinks) per adult a BBQ site (20 US $ included in the total fee) was rented just beside Sanko/山幸 restaurant up in the nearby mountain.

Sanko Restaurant entrance. Very Japanese!

Beautiful flower arrangement/Ikebana/活花 at the entrance!

Side entrance to the inner garden and facilities (important with all those drinks!)

The event had been organised under the auspices of Nagashima Sake Store in Shizuoka and its owner, Takahiro Nagashima/長島隆博 (far right).

All the sake had been brewed by Brewmaster Takashima San/高島さん of Takashima Brewery in Numazu City. Incidentally that gentleman ,even with a glass in hand, would not be easily overwhelmed as he holds a 5th dan (Black Belt) in judo!

All the sake served was clearly advertized!

The Japanese, even during a BBQ, once they are seated, move only to get their food or drinks (unless a willing lady or subaltern is on hand!), but being an uncouth foreigner, I kept moving around! LOL

Kenya Yoshimura/吉村健哉, owner/chef at Uzu Restaurant, Shizuoka City, needed a baseball horn to make himself heard when announcing the festivities!

Now for the vegetarians and vegans: all these vegetables had been prepared beforehand by Kenya Yoshimura with organic vegetables coming from Matsuki Biofarm in Shibakawa Cho at the foot of Mount Fuji!

Other carefully chosen vegetables had been provided by Takeo Shimura/志村剛生, chef/owner of Narusei Tempura Restaurant in Shizuoka City!

Now for the beef!
All Suruga Beef/駿河牛, carefully chosen and provided by Shigeharu Sano/佐野茂治, chef/owner at Kamoshibito Restaurant in Shizuoka City.
This particular beef, as good as Kobe beef, comes from from animals exclusively bred in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Da the Men! Shigeharu Sano and Kenya Yoshimura!

Shigeharu Sano at work!

Don’t you want to board the next bullet train to Shizuoka City!

Or the next plane? LOL

This being Japan, all is cut beforehand for you!

Now, whatever the occasion, the Japanese will go not without their soup!
This very soup was extravagant as prepared (with other things, pork liver in particular!) by Yuusuke Toozaki/登崎雄介, chef/owner at Hana Oto Restaurant in Shizuoka City.
It was made with miso, vegetables and mangenton/万言豚 pork, exclusively raised in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Now, this gentleman, Toshiaki Horie/堀江利彰 came all the way from the Amagi Mountains/天城山 in Izu Peninsula/伊豆半島 to bring Shamo Chicken/軍鶏 he bred himself until 4-month old with the best feed and environment available in his farm.
Enormous chicken! Look at that neck!

Not only he brought them, but went through the cutting demonstration no less than 3 times!

Although revellers kept at the safe distance lots of questions were asked and most amiably answered!

That knife was flying, I can tell you!

Et voila! All cut and ready. All in less than 3 minutes!

Oh, I forgot to tell you:
All the meat, beef, pork, chicken and some vegetables were exclusively grilled over charcoal!

Now, are you convinced than a mere BBQ can be called gastronomic?

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Tomato & Eggplants Stew

August 4, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Aubergines or eggplants/eggplants and tomatoes are the vegetables of the summer!
They come in cheap, are aplenty and very healthy.
The French have “invented” ratatouille to accomodate them together.
This recipe is a cross between the French and Italian concept.
Vegans should forget the bacon and adopt this simple recipe!

Tomato & Eggplants Stew!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Eggplants: 4
-Tomatoes: 2
-Bacon: 60g
-Garlic: 1 clove
-Parsley/finely chopped: 1 tablespoon
-Flour: as appropriate
-Olive oil (EV): as appropriate
-Salt & pepper
-Frying oil

RECIPE:

-Peel the eggplants partly along their length in 4~5 spots for design. Cut lengthwise in 4 and cut across to obtain 2 cm thick pieces.

-Cut the tomatoes in 2 cm side cubes.

-Cut bacon in 8 mm wide strips/pieces.

-Cut the garlic clove in two halves and take out core (indegistble!). Cruch the garlic.

-Coat the cut eggplants with flour. Shake off excess flour before deep-frying them at high temperature (170~180 degrees Celsius). Once fried, lay on kitchen paper to take off excess oil, then transfer into bowl. Sprinkle them with a little salt.

-Pour some olive oil in a frypan. Heat it and fry bacon in it. When the bacon becomes crispy, add the tomato cubes and garlic. Fry until most water/liquid is gone. Season with salt and pepper.

-Throw in the eggplants and check taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. Add chopped parsley and a little more olive oil before serving.

Very easy and adaptable, isn’t it?

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Japanese Cuisine: Sesame Crackers/Goma Senbei

August 3, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

Senbei means rice crackers in Japanese. But they don’t have to be made solely with rice.
How about sesame seeds?
They are not difficult to make and here is another recipe for BG who requested them!

Sesame Crackers/Goma Senbei!

INGREDIENTS: For one “sheet”

Egg: 1
-Sugar: 60 g
-Miso: 1 teaspoon
-Flour: 20 g
-Sesame seeds: 80 g
-Ginger juice: a few drops

RECIPE:

-Drop whole egg and sugar in a bowl.
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

-Beat until sugar and sugar are well incorporated. Add miso and ginger juice. Mix thoroughly, but take care not have any bubbles in mixture.

-Sieve flour over mixture and add sesame seeds. Mix well. It seems like a lot of sesame seeds, but don’t worry!

-Humidify your hands. Line the oven plate with kitchen paper. Spread cracker mixture thin so as to cover the whole plate.

-Bake at 180 degrees celsius for 8 minutes.
Might take longer depending on the thickness.

-Once the colour has attained a nice rich brown. Take sheet out.
Cut with a sharp knife into equal pieces.

-They should to a crispy state once they have cooled down.
If they don’t feel crispy enough, bake the cut pieces again at 150 degrees Celsius for a few minutes.

-Serve or keep tighly sealed inside a dry box!

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Shizuoka Agricultural Products: The Nemotos’ Garden

August 2, 2010 dragonlife Leave a comment

Royichi/良一 and Sumiko/スミ子 Nemoto/根本

It was another one of those blistering days this year’s summer seems intent on inflicting on all of us, citizens or farmers alike.
I already had lost a sizeable amount of liquid when I reached Miwa Agriroad, my regular Wednesday starting point for investigating the local farmers and their products.

Yuyama/湯山 was still a long way away, but my good friend Natsuko Koyanagi/小柳奈津子 and I only had to wait a little while before her husband obligingly delivered his car to us. For all of the locally made chilled lemon and honey drink I had guzzled down, I was really thankful to make the second part of my trip in an air-conditioned car than on my dear bicycle!

The Nemotos are the second generation of that particular farming family.
Their main crops are rice and tea, but that still leaves them with enough time to look after a vast “garden” for extra cash.
Natsuko had called Sumiko Nemoto beforehand , and the dear lady was waiting for us!

Taking pictures and talking to the farmers were a pretty straightforward affair as everything was set as straight as you could hope for. The weather having been dry for a good couple of weeks, no need for boots either. While I was taking the pictures of the egg-plants/aubergines/nasu/茄子 above, the ladies were chatting away, but were always ready to answer questions. They wouldn’t let that city man repeat the same mistakes! LOL

The leeks/negi/葱 did look thirsty!

The hedge of cucumbers/kyuri/胡瓜 had been cleverly placed so as to block a good part of a single side of the garden from the sun and the elements.

These are okra/オクラ, and I’ve learned to appreciate them of late. The Missus chooses them as big as possible before lightly steaming them and then marinate them in the fridge. Make for great appetizers in summer! Have you ever seen their flowers? Beautiful!

Taro/Sato Imo/里芋. The Nemotos actually grow two varieties. I couldn’t see the tubers, but the stems were of two definitely different colours.

While the ladies were busy chattering and I taking pictures, Mr. Nemoto stolidly kept watering the garden. And it certainly needed plenty! He was using a motor pump for it as water is abundant underground.

Aster/アスター

It is not all vegetables in the Nemoto’s garden. Actually many farmers in this vicinity grow flowers, and I can tell you these disappear quickly form the market every morning.
The Nemotos have a special love for Asters, and I agree that they make beautiful flowers!
They also grow Chrysnathemums and daliahs!

Mr. Nemoto kept slowly walking back his hose in hand all the time…

Here’s the grand old chap at last!
I wonder if I might dress like them in summer.
We citizens seem badly protected, whereas Sumiko San in particular seemed to wear half a dozen layers without a sweat!

Bitter melons/Goya/ゴーヤー are not grown in the “warmer” areas of Japan anymore. They are very common in Shizuoka Prefecture where all vegetables and fruit seem to grow. They even grow bananas in nearby Shimizu!

Tomatillo, a Japanese variety.
Except for some specialized farms, these are used more for decoration than food. Very popular with flower arrangement/ikebana/活花 artists!

These are Devil’s Tongue Tubers/Konnyaku/コニャク. The Japanese love these “tubers” to make a kind of jelly. Very popular with vegetarians and people on a diet!

Talking to the farmers has definitely become a pleasure. There are always little stories to listen to and so much to learn!
And like many farmers all over the world, they are generous and proud of their work.
I shouldn’t tell you maybe, but I always end up with a batch of vegetables!
“Did you bring your ecobag?”, Natsuko asked me again with a laugh.
I wouldn’t have forgotten it, although this sounds like using these nice people.
To cut a story short, I ended up with enormous egg plants, small and juicy goya, okra straight as arrows, but then I had to stop them!

Nemotos’ Garden
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Yuyama, 1898
Tel.: 054-2941325

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Japanese Cuisine: Surimi Rice Crackers/Surimi Senbei

August 1, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

Senbei means rice crackers in Japanese.
They have been made in this country since immemorial times.
One can still eat them freshly grilled (in front of you) at specialised stores.
They are not difficult to make and here is a recipe for BG who requested them!

Surimi Rice Crackers/Kani Senbei!

INGREDIENTS:

-Rice powder: 60 g
-Surimi: 6 (or the equivalent in kamaboko)
-Salad oil: 2 tablespoons
-Milk: 2 tablespoons
-Aoi Kaiso/Dry seaweed: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Cut the surimi in half and shred it finely.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

-In a bowl mix the rice powder, oil and milk thoroughly. Add the shredded surimi and dry seaweed. Mix well.

-Wrap the mixture into cellophane paper.
Spread into a square 3 mm thick.
Unwrap and lay onto cooking paper.

-Cut into rectangles of your preferred size.
Put them together with the cooking paper inside the oven.

-Cook for 18~20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.

-Let cool down on a grid.

-Serve!

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Shizuoka Agriculture Portal: Agrigraph

July 27, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

AgriGraph Japan is an enterprise commissioned by Shizuoka Prefecture.
It is a project aiming at making the agriculture (and also tourism, esppecially green tourism) in Shizuoka Prefecture known to the whole world in real time through IT-related tools.

Shizuoka Prefecture is a region blessed with nature thanks to its famous mountains such as Mount Fuji and the Southern Alps to the north, its rich sea to the south, and also with a great economy due to its privileged location along the east-west axis from Tokyo to Nagoya and Osaka.

Therefore, no less than five reporters will scour the whole Prefecture every day in an endeavor to help everyone discover the agriculture and rural villages of this rich “Fuji no Kuni Shizuoka/Shizuoka, the Land of Mount Fuji” through live blogs posted through iPhone in Japanese and immediately delivered in English, Chinese, Korean, French and Portuguese by qualified native staff translators to convey the true meaning and nuances of the reports. No automatic translation whatsoever!

If you wish to promote your own agriculture and farm(s) and create a new relation with other producers abroad, do please join us through our interactive blogs as guest participants. All blogs about agriculture from any country are most welcome!

Check the following links:

AGRIGRAPH (Entry Homepage with acces to all articles and languages)

AGRIGRAPH ENGLISH BLOG

AGRIGRAPGH FRENCH BLOG (FRANÇAIS)

AGRIGRAPH PORTUGUESE BLOG (PORTUGUÊS)

AGRIGRAPH KOREAN (관하여)

AGRIGRAPH CHINESE (中文)

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Egg Farm in Shizuoka City: Bi-Ou-Ran (Part 1)

July 23, 2010 dragonlife 12 Comments

Eggs do come in many shapes, don’t they?

The Japanese have always eaten of lot of eggs. Not so long ago, in the Edo period,they were even considered as a rare delicacy.
Since then, with the abundance of high quality eggs the Japanese have turned this supposedly simple farm product into many world-known delicacies: tamagoyaki, dateyaki, oyakodon, onsen tamago and so on.
On the other hand the same Japanese have increasingly become more exigent and precise about their eggs, requesting for better shape, color and quality.

Bi-Ou-Ran sign

For a long time I have been intrigued by the above sign I regularly passed along during my bicycle trips to Miwa along the Abe River in Shizuoka City.
After some belated enquiries, I found out that the eggs produced by Bi-Ou-Ran/美黄卵/Beautiful Yellow Eggs Farm are not only top-class in this country, but that they have also been awarded a brand name/controlled appellation by the Japanese Government!

An investigation was long due!
After lunch yesterday I took the bicycle and first rode to their small shop (a lot of their eggs are directly distributed all over the country from their farm) up in Miwa (a good 30 minutes ride from my work place).
A small shop it is, but interestingly enough you can buy eggs there through a vending machine almost all day long (that is until everything has disappeared in spite of being re-filled regularly).

A look at the praise received in many neswpapers and TV interviews.

Beautiful eggs inside the vending machine!
Sakura Mixed batch: 300 yen for 12
Sakura Small: 300 yen for 12
Sakura Large: 300 yen for 11
Red Treasure Medium: 300 yen for 11
Red Treasure Large: 300 yen for 10

Onsen tamago: Eggs slowly cooked into running yolk soft-boiled eggs. A delicacy!

Eggs waiting to go!

Home-made chiffon cakes on sale!

Very eclectic: they also sell fresh products from neighbors’ gardens!

From the left bank of Abe River in Ashikubo District.

People/employees at the shop were very kind. They put me through to the farm where Mr. Shimizu and employees are raising their chicken.
Interviewing on that very day was not possible. Wrong time! They were busy at something I couldn’t catch on the phone.
Nevertheless, Mr. Shimizu, who didn’t seem to understand much of what I was trying to tell me agreed on an interview at the farm tomorrow, Staurday, at 13:30!

Their farm is still a 10 more minutes ride up river.
Knowing myself and having some time on hand, I decided to find the farm as directions were a bit scant.
Even knowing the address is not much help in the country where almost nothing is indicated.
At least the Ashikubo River was easy to find.
That did not prevent me from venturing onto the wrong bank of the river!

But riding a bicycle has an enormous advantage: it does not matter how many times you get lost, you will eventually find your way around, whereas by car would tax any driver heavily!
As I said I took the wrong (larger) road.
So I turned back and enetered th very narrow road along the left bank of Ashikubo River.
I can’t miss it on Saturday thanks to the little red Shinto Gate (Torii) at its entrance!

Neither wide nor long, the Ashikubo River is renown for for its great water coming down the nearby mountain slpes all year round. The Abe River might get completely dry, but not this little river.
Even now, many local Sake Breweries come here to collect water in large tanks!
No wonder that the farm has chosen this location. A constant supply of water ought to be vital!

Still a long way to ride. Two cars would be in real difficulty if they happened to meet halfway.

I finally reached my destination, although I didn’t know for sure at first!
No sign at the entrance, and no clue of how such a farm should look like from the outside.
But the fact I was born in farmland did help me as I noticed some silos obviously used to store feed.
But I couldn’t see any bird in spite of the imposing size of the farming complex.
Bear in imd I was in the middle of nature without a homestead within sight (that is on the left bank).

The heat was a scorching 35 degrees by then and I wondered how chicken scould be kept inside. But,… I also noticed large ventilators here and there. I couldn’t be wrong (if I were I was in for a long frustrating search!)!

Since the appointment was not not for that particular day and knowing people working there were very busy, I rode a few seconds on until I found a side entrance,… and heard the unmistakable sound of chicken amid the roaring of the giant ventilators!

I certainly felt relieved knowing it would be a faster ride thanks to my little investigation next Saturday!
An employee did notice me and came to me without being asked to check if I was looking for something or somebody. I explained (after a polite greetings and taking off my shades) that I would come on Saturday and was just checking my way.
-“I see! See you, then!”

Bi-Ou-Ran
Shimizu Chicken Farm
421-2112, Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Endo Shinden, 41-3
Tel.: 054-296-0064

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Learning Agricultural Skills at an Early Age at Shizuoka City Ryunan Primary School

July 21, 2010 dragonlife 16 Comments

From time to time I go coaching the game of cricket in some local primary schools in Shizuoka City.
It is a good break from everything and keeps my feet on the ground.
Ryunan Primary School is fairly big by Japanese standards, but it is just located between the city itself and the nearby mountains/country. The kids are definitely city kids, but with a country nuance.

Many primary schools, contrary to establishments in the large metropolises, in Shizuoka have a “garden” where pupils learn the basic skills of growing vegetables and flowers, be they boys or girls.

The kids will be waiting impatiently for the winter when they can eat these “satsuma imo/sweet potatoes”, especially grilled!

Shizuoka is celebrated for it tomatoes and it shows!
All the pots bear a name plate of each individual pupil.

Red shiso: makes for some great juice in summer!

Cucumbers still at the flower stage.

Flowers, flowers,… All varieties of “Asagao/Japanese Morning Glory”!

For a closer look!

Soory, I forgot to check the name!
Does anyone know?

Now, what are these/ Look at the next pic!

Edamame! (green soy beans!)

Okra!
I actually taught the kids how to “twist and pinch them out”!

Now, what kind of kid can grow such a strangely shaped cucumber?

Now, I’m afraid this cucumber was abandoned by its owner!

Green peppers!
Well, one way to have kids eat vegetables is having them grow heir own food!

Look at my okra! Look at my okra!

And look at my tomatoes!

Look at mine, too! look at mine, too!
Alright, alright! Stand together and show them to me together!
Sweet kids….

Took a last picture before taking my leave:
Beautiful flowers! What might be their name?
Can you read the name of the school on the pot?
The “Running Mount Fuji” is the mascot of Shizuoka Prefecture!

I might do well to check on the next primary school tomorrow!

NOTE: I didn’t take pics of children as the Japanese law does not allow to show kids’ faces (especially inside a school) without a previous written agreement from their parents.

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Shizuoka Agricultural Products: The Mochizukis’ Garden in Yuyama

July 14, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

Yuyama district lies along the western bank of the Abe River in Shizuoka City.
There is barely enough land to cultivate under the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains, but it means plenty of good water all day long whatever the weather.

All this water still needs to be funneled into the right patterns between the many plots, regularly maintained and re-inforced with stone and concrete, otherwise the water will turn into a plague in rainy weather carrying off everything on its way to the Abe River.

Once again my good friend Mrs. Natsuko Koyanagi was on hand to help me talk with shy farmers. Whereas an unknown foreign would have some difficulty engaging in a conversation on his own with locals, a local celebrity makes things a lot easier!

Looking forward to the next cucumber crop!

Mr. Toshihiro Mochizuki and his wife, Akiko, are the 4th generation looking after this garden spreading over 200 tsubo (multiply by 2.3 to convert into square metres!).

Red shiso! Love their juices!

Unfortunately, it could be the end of that particular line because their children are not tempted to follow their vocation in spite of their parents’ enthusiasm.

Now, what might be these?

Myoga ginger! No way I could have guessed they were hidden under all these leaves!

It is a pity that these farmers (many in the region are in the same predicament) cannot convince (they even discourage their siblings in many cases) their children to take on farming and agriculture.
The local government have finally understood the situation and are taking measures to attract young people back to farming.

Green asparaguses, but not edible any more!

The Mochizukis were formerly growing rice and green tea only. Now they grow more than 20 varieties of vegetables (10% are ending on their own table) atop of rice. They stopped growing green tea which is strenuous business on slopes that are almost vertical.

Now, what can be this vegetable/tuber? I forgot to ask, silly me! Anyone knows?

Like many farmers, they buy their fertilizers from the local Farmers Association Cooperative and sell most of their produce at the Miwa Agriroad (JA) Market nearby (Abeguchi) that I have already mentioned.

Corn! Love these!

I personally enjoy talking and learning from these people of the land. You never know. What would happen if we suddenly all had to grow our food?

I forgot to ask about these, too! Please help me!LOL

Have you ever heard of Ry Cooder’s Taxes On The Farmer Feeds Us All?
….The farmer is the man who feeds us all…
A case in point!

Mochizukis’ Garden & Farm
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Yuyama, 826
Te.: 054-294-0416
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Shizuoka Agricultural Products: Mrs. Jitsuko Ishihara’s Zucchini!

July 7, 2010 dragonlife 8 Comments

In Japan, like in any country worth its salt and name, you always need a little help from your friends. And when that applies to agriculture and farmers, it is simply vital!

Luckily enough, I’m blessed with this tireless lady friend, namely Mrs. Natsuko Koyanagi, the recognized leader of all those farmer housewives selling their produce at Agriroad in Shizuoka City!
When you realize that the community accounts for more than a hundred members, interviewing simply becomes a pleasure!

Last year she introduced me to this sweet ladyfarmer, Mrs. Jitsuko Ishihara who has a special fondness for zucchini, especially of the colourful round kind!
Sorry for the small pic, but it was taken last year, as the lady was busy up in the mountain harvesting tea with her husband tis morning!

But in the Shizuoka (and elsewhere in Japan) countryside you don’t need a key to open a fence. Natsuko gave her a call to inform her that that strange foreigner (-“You know, the Frenchman who loved your zucchini last year?”) wanted to have another look at those beautiful vegetables. -“Is it ok for us to visit your field/garden?”
-“No problem, you know the place! Thanks for taking hime around!”
Simple as that!

Since I have started writing these local agriculture articles for the prefectural government I intend to conduct a full interview of Mrs. Ishihara very soon!
Natsuko, having given me a ride to Yuyama, along the Abe River (a good 5 minutes ride. For once, I was happy to leave my bicycle!) we were soon trampling Mrs. Ishihara’s domain and taking pics.

Not a really easy task as you have to delve deep under those large leaves with insects buzzing in your eyes (we are in the middle of the reason!)
There was no way I could leave the place without a hoard of those little treasures…

-“Natsuko, could you please ask Mr. Ishihara if I can have some of these?”
Natsuko was soon talking over her mobile phone (at least one reason to welcome IT in farms, thus cutting distances to zero!”)
-“She says she’ll be glad to let you pick one of your choice back home!” (Sweet lady!)
-“No, I mean to buy 3 or 4 of them! Ask her if I may, and how much she wants for them!”
-“……………

-“She says you can take 3 or 4 of them at 100 yen a piece (just over 1 US$)!”
-“But that’s ridiculously cheap (they would fetch 4 times as much in a supermarket) for a zucchini I need two hands to wrap them completely, and moreover fresh and of such a quality!”

Well, I did go away with my 4 beauties for a grand total of 400 yen! I tried to explain they would be served tonight at a friend’s izakaya who would be ready to the real price, but to no avail!

I will make sure my friends at Yasaitei in Shizuoka City know where these zucchini come from and answer their guests’ queries!
Do visit this great place, an institution here in Shizuoka Prefecture!
They will prepare and serve these zucchini according to your preferences, probably as tempura, steamed or fried with superb olive oil!

Can you see them?

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 + 20 at tables
Set Courses: 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 yen
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Almost “Tricolor” Fried Potatoes

July 5, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

The Japanese are starting to take a real interest in many varieties of potatoes as opposed to sweet potatoes.
The Missus having received a batch of them from her family’s garden, I prepared a quick appetizer last night.
I had 3 differentcolors available: red, yellow and black, that is as far their outside colors were concerned!

Once boiled, they turned to slghtly differentcolors: dark blue, light yellow and pink!
Almost tricolor (I’m in for another of BG’s comments!)!

As a general rule, I boil the potatoes before deep-frying them.
Actually, I don’t deep-fry them but use only a little olive oil. Far healthier!
As for vegans and vegetarians, just frying and seasoning them is enough, but for the sake of taste I first fry chopped bacon (with no oil). Once it has reached a crispy state, I put it a aside. I use the same fry pan without wiping it at all. I pour about 2 tablespoons of olive oil (EV) for the 3 medium potatoes I had.
The potatoes wer cut into large dices with their skin.
I fried them until they had completely absorbed the oil and became brownish. I then throw in a finely chopped clove of garlic, the bacon ,black pepper and some nutmeg.

Once the garlic has started browning I pour the lot into a serving dish.
(Sorry for the last 2 pics! The Missus took them!)

Before serving them I sprinkle them with a good amount of freshly grated parmegiano. This way, I don’t need to add any salt!

Great with dark beer!

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Shizuoka Agricultural Products: Shizuoka Miwa Agriroad (revisited)

July 1, 2010 dragonlife 6 Comments

As I’m starting writing articles on farming for the local government who have recently decided to promote farming on a grand scale, I thought it was about time to have a deeper look at Agriroad, one of the many local markets run by local farmers associations, notably farmers’ wives.

It is not big by any standards, but the local know you will find products of great quality and freshness as they start queuing up well before 9:30 a.m. when the market opens!

It is not all about food! And I can assure all those beautiful flowers, cut moments before, disappear very quickly!

First things first. I know that I will have a few minutes to spare before all the best morsels vanish from view!
Basket in hand I hunt along the venerable ladies and gentlemen sent by their families to grab food for their home pots! I can talk to peple and take photographs later!
Those round yellow zucchini were soon hidden at the bottom of my basket.

All vegetables bear the name of their grower and the sale date limit and (ridiculously) cheap prices! Most are organic, too!

Benihoppe/red cheeks strawberries, a strain first grown in Shizuoka in 2002!

Italians are welcome with all these sweet tomatoes!

My good friend, Mres. Natsuko Koyanagi, preparing Yomogu Kintsuba cakes, a vegan treat!

My students took care of these later!

Traditional Japanese sugar cakes (vegan!) prepared by some of the 100+ members!

Great jams made with local fruit and no additives or preservatives!

Japanese home-made cheese cakes!

No need to cook at home. Take these yummy tempura back home! All labelled with the name of their creator and all ingredients used!

More food for vegans!

Would you believe that these tradtional Japanese desserts qualify as vegan!

These are the vegetables I bought for an izakaya owner friend of mine:
3 yellow round zucchini, 1 bunch of fresh young carrots, 2 bunches of Hatsuka Daikon (“Twenty Days Daikon), 1 bunch of gobo/burdock root, all organic.

How much?
4 US $!

Shizuoka Miwa Agriroad (JA)
〒421-2114 Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Abeguchishinden, 537-1.
Tel.: 054-296-7878.
Fax: 054-296-7878
Business hours: 09:30~15:30 (from 08:30 on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays)

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Vegan French Steamed Organic Salad at Pissenlit

June 23, 2010 dragonlife 6 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.
entirely non-smoking!

Great food is great food!
Be you vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, one can only appreciate and being thankful for savouring vegetables not only of the best quality, but local and organically grown to boot!
I will never tire of saying to everyone how lucky we are here in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, a region renown nationally and increasingly internationally for its exceptional gastronomy!

Bazooka Gourmet is probably going to have another (shooting) field day when he learns that I have just been approached by the local government to help promote the local agriculture through blogging!
What can I say? It’s simply a pleasure!

To cut an increasingly long story short, I visited Pissenlit for lunch, and when I saw “Mishima Hirokawa San Yasai no Etuvee”/Steamed vegetables grown by Mr. (Hideyaki) Hirokawa in Mishima City, I knew that no-one could unhook me from my (delicious) doom!

To tell the truth I have nurtured a special relation with chef Tooru Arima (and many others), and he is only too happy to oblige with my sometimes very selfish requests!

He gracefully allowed me to take pics of his treasures! The pic above are greens grown by Mr. Hirokawa!

And these the other organic vegetables grown by the same farmer!

Alright, let me give you at least the names of the vegetables I enjoyed so much:
in above picture you can see:
Front row: Carrot/Ninjin/人参, Red Round Daikon/Beni Maru Daikon/紅丸大根
Second row: Violet Round Daikon/Murasaki Maru Daikon/紫丸大根, Snow Beauty Daikon/Yuki Bijin Daikon/雪美人大根, Day Field Leaf Turnip/Hinona No Kabu/日野菜の蕪, Cauliflower/こりフラワー, and Ayame Turnip/Ayame Kabu/あやめ蕪.

Front row: Violet Round Daikon/Murasaki Maru Daikon/紫丸大根, Stick Junior Broccoli/シティックジューニアブロッコリー, Snow Beauty Daikon/Yuki Bijin Daikon/雪美人大根, Red Round Daikon/Beni Maru Daikon/紅丸大根,
Carrot/Ninjin/人参
Second row: Akakura Daikon/赤くら大根, Day Field Leaf Turnip/Hinona No Kabu/日野菜の蕪, Red Long Water Daikon/Aka Naga Mizu Daikon/赤長水大根, Cauliflower/こりフラワー, and Ayame Turnip/Ayame Kabu/あやめ蕪.
Third row: Small Turnip/Ko Kabu/子株 on top of White Cucumber/Shiro Kyuuri/白胡瓜.

Front row: Ayame Turnip/Ayame Kabu/あやめ蕪, Cauliflower/こりフラワー, Aka Naga Mizu Daikon/赤長水大根, and Small Turnip/Ko Kabu/子株 on top of White Cucumber/Shiro Kyuuri/白胡瓜.
Second row: Carrot/Ninjin/人参, Red Round Daikon/Beni Maru Daikon/紅丸大根, Snow Beauty Daikon/Yuki Bijin Daikon/雪美人大根, Day Field Leaf Turnip/Hinona No Kabu/日野菜の蕪, and Akakura Daikon/赤くら大根.
Third row: Stick Junior Broccoli/シティックジューニアブロッコリー and Akakura Daikon/赤くら大根.

Front row: Small Turnip/Ko Kabu/子株 on top of White Cucumber/Shiro Kyuusri/白胡瓜, Day Field Leaf Turnip/Hinona No Kabu/日野菜の蕪, Violet Round Daikon/Murasaki Maru Daikon/紫丸大根.
Second row: Red Log Water Daikon/Aka Naga mizu Daikon/赤長水大根, Cauliflower/こりフラワー, Snow Beauty daikon/Yuki Bijin Daikon/雪美人大根, and Stick Junior Broccoli/シティックジューニアブロッコリー.
Third row: Ayame Turnip/Ayame Kabu/あやめ蕪, Red Round Daikon/Beni maru Daikon/紅丸大根 and Carrot/Ninjin/人参!

The vegetables were steamed/cooked to perfection providing a satisfying bite with the right combination of tenderness and crunchiness.
The dressing was also vegan, shallots, garlic, olive oil, Guerande salt and vegetables “juices”, providing for an elegant and precise seasoning!

If you have the occasion to visit Mishima City this is the address of our great farmer!

Mr. Hideyaki Hirokawa, Mishima City, Kawaharagaya Yamada, 765
Tel.: 055-973-2702

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

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Vegetables Facts & Tips 20: Japanese Mustard Spinach/Komatsuna

April 1, 2010 dragonlife 1 Comment

This the 20th installment of a very long (yet incomplete) series of postings to share information on vegetables, especially the ones available in Japan as many expats (and Japanese) and friends abroad need more of such data for their daily requirements.
Please refer to VEGETABLES FACTS & TIPS for other vegetables!

Incidentally、 nothing, pictures included, is copyrighted in my food blogs, so please feel free to use anything!

Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis or var. komatsuna, コマツナ（小松菜、冬菜、鶯菜) is a type of leaf vegetable. It is a variant of the same species as the common turnip. It is grown in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. It is also known as Japanese Mustard Spinach and is usually stir-fried, pickled, boiled and added to soups or used fresh in salads. It is an excellent source of calcium. It is also used for fodder in some Asian countries. The leaves of komatsuna may be eaten at any stage of their growth. In a mature plant they are dark green with slender light green stalks, around 30 cm long and 18 cm wide. It is most often grown in the spring and autumn, as it cannot endure extreme heat or cold for more than a short time.

That for the Wikipedia information.

FACTS:

-Komatsuna is a very interesting vegetable as it contains a lot of calcium to be added to Potassium and Natrium.
-It is also rich in Vitamin A Beta carotenes, K, B2, C and vegetal fibers.
-Season: December to February and longer in colder countries.
-Originally it was grown in Eastern Japan in Edo Times, but is now available in Osaka and other cities.
-Combined with fish it is particularly beneficient to human bones.

TIPS:

-Can be eaten raw or cooked, sligtly bpoied and stir-fried.

-To preserve more easily, boil them lightly before storing in the fridge.
Ought to be wrapped in newspaper and stored inside the fridge if raw. Can be stored that way for p to 3 days.

-To preserve it beautiful green colour, boil it lightly and trnsfer it immediately into iced water. As it will change colour in contact with oil, add dressing at the very last second.

COOKING SUGGESTIONS:

With pasta!

Komatsuna Bread for vegetarians!

For vegetable and fruit juice!

Komatsuna Kimchi!

VARIETY:

Chijimi Komatsu

A smaller and “frizzled” variety, sweeter than the usual komatsuna.
Can be eaten the same way. Great slightly boiled with ground sesame seeds and dressing.

HEALTH FACTS:

-Combined with dried sardine whiting, or with sakura ebi/Cherry blossom shrimps, or with scallops, or with konbu/seaweed, helps preserve human bones, and activate rejuvenation.

-Combined with tomatoes, or with wakame seaweed, or with carrots, or with green chili peppers, povides for extra stamina, and helps prevent cancer.

-Combined with rice vinegar, or with orange, or with lemon, or with strawberries, helps prevent stress, and sore back/articulations, and helps swift recovery.

-Combined with konnyaku/devil’s tongue tuber, or with mushrooms, or with celery, or with bamboo shoots, helps combat obesity and prevent high blood pressure. Helps lower down blood cholesterol.