Tag Archives: World Cuisines

Bento, 美食, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/29): Karaage and Burdock Bento!

July 4, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

This is another leftovers bento of the Missus!
At least it is so with the karaage which she “adapted” (according to her own words) from the leftovers of a big batch she had made the night before!

For once the rice came under the form and shape of three musubi/triangular (they can also be round!) balls of steamed rice!

She made two kinds of them, one containing sweet umeboshi/pickled Japanese plum pickled again in honey and wrapped in egoma/large shiso/perilla variety leaves. These are softer in taste and have more flavor than the usual shiso.
The other variety of musubi was rice mixed with nori/dry seaweed and hijiki/sweet seaweed furikake and partly wrapped in dry seaweed.
Both varieties of musubi were sprinkled with golden and black sesame seeds for more crunch.
Pickled cucumber and ginger roots in one corner and pickled carrot and wasabi stem in the other corner completed the main box.

This is the so-called leftovers box!

The Missus first stir-fried large chunks of burdock root and then dropped the leftover karaage in the pan at the last moment adding Thai sweet and hot sauce and black sesame seeds.
Once ready she let them cool down together before placing inside the side box.

The other third of the box contained fried goya and red pimento salad with an onsen-style boiled egg and Ameera Rubbins Pearl Tomatoes for dessert!

Great balance, beautiful and delicious!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

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

Bento, 美食, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/28): Scotch Quail Eggs Bento!

July 3, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Normal eggs would be a bit too big for Scotch Eggs in a bento, so the Missus used quail eggs which are available anytime of the year here!
They are certainly daintier and more attractive!

While the rice was steaming she wrapped ready-boiled quail eggs in pork and beef minced meat seasoned with a little salt and pepper and made more cosnsistent with some breadcrumbs. She then fried the Scotch eggs slowly in olive oil and finished them in a teriyaki sauce of her own before letting them cool down.
Once the rice was properly steamed she just filled a box with it and topped it with plenty of freshly chopped parsley.

For better design she placed two Scotch Eggs cut in halves beside a whole one to also show the teriyaki sauce coating and completed the lot with Kyoto-style red cucumber pickles.

The side dish was conceived to complement the main box both in design and colors and a good supply of vitamins and fibers:
Salad consisting of lettuce, boiled carrot and broccoli, plum tomatoes, avocado, walnut, thin burdock root and pickled mini melons.
And for dessert, American cherries!

Once again plentiful, colorful and succulent!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Doi Brewery-Ryou Ryou Junmai Ginjyou

July 3, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Doi Brewery in Kakegawa City is an ancient establishment that has been forcefully promoting Shizuoka sake for many years.
Their brewmasters have been coming from Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture for a long time and have helped the brewery earn a deserved name far outside the borders of our Prefecture!

Ryou Ryou/涼々 in Japanese means “refreshing”, and this limited brand is made available at the beginning of summer for this very reason!

Doi Brewery-Ryou Ryou Junmai Ginjyou

Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2012

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Banana, dark chocolate, vanilla.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Very fruity backed strong junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Vanilla, melon, macadamia nuts, faint almonds.
Disappears fairly quickly warming up back of the palate.
Take a big turn to dryness with food with more almonds and Macadamia nuts.
Marries well with any food.

Overall: A very pleasant and elegant sake conceived for food in spite of its elevated status.
Drinks so easily. Tends to disappear quickly from the bottle!
Perfect sake for the summer as it can enjoyed slightly chilled, especially with food!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Bento, 美食, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, 弁当

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/27): Canned Mussles Bento!

June 27, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Any time we travel to France or New Caledonia, our two main foreign destinations on long holidays, we acquire as much canned food as possible as it is invariably cheap and so easy to accommodate back home in Japan!

The Missus has a special fondness for Spanish recipe escabeche-style mussles. It is difficult to find the small variety in Japan and she buys them always with a thought for “mazegohan/mixed rice”!

The rice box is no great difficulty and the idea can be expanded at will:
After steaming the rice she adds the whole contents of the can/tin, oil included, and mixes the lot while the rice is hot.
She adds the finishing touch with finely chopped thin leeks for more color and vitamins!

A closer look will prove it is very appetizing indeed!

But eating all these vegetables in Japan back from some heavy food in France is certainly a blessing!

Salad consisting of red, violet and yellow potatoes from the Missus family’s garden, black olive, corn and ice plant on a bed of lettuce and cherries for dessert. Plenty of colors there!

Two more salads to help me recover from the beautiful terrines and pies back in France:
-Chicken breast fillets (leftovers), tomatoes, sesame seeds and cucumber.
-Lightly stir-fried pimentoes of three different colors.

I could have called this bento, “The Link Between France and Japan Bento”! LOL

In any case very colorful, tasty and satisfying!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Crustaceans, 由比, 美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚海の幸, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Sakura ebi, Sakura shrimp, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Yui, Yui Harbor

Sakura Ebi/Cherry Shrimps Catching in Yui. Still Hard Work!

June 26, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Large painting of a sakura shrimp at the Yui Harbor Fisheries Association Building in Yui, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City

Yui fishermen will tell you that life has become a lot easier with the advent of technology including motorised boats, radar, radio, machine-cotrolled nets and syphons, but they agree it is still a toil to go out every evening during the two seasons in Spring and Autumn.
Now, how hard was it not so long ago?

pulling the nets by hand!

Now, if you stroll along the street running along the shore of Yui, you will discover some vending machines adorned with copies of all paintings on the life of Yui Cherry Shrimps Fishermen which will give you a good idea of the hard toil local fishermen had to go through!

Pulling up the nets full of sakura shrimp.
It has always been a team work!

Pulling the boats to shore by hand!

Unloading the baskets full of Cherry shrimps.
The fishermen used to spend half of the night separating the shrimps from small fish.
Only ten years they started syphoning up the shrimps directly from the nets inti the the boxes.
A lot of damage to the quality as they dropped baskets inside the nets and shoveled their contents into boxes.
Now the job is far more efficiently done with very little damage.

Every morning after the cheery shrimps had been sorted out the fishermen had to auction their catch.
Now it is all taken care of by the Association and fishermen can hit the sack after midnight!

in the old days, fishermen gathered around food and drink before sleeping in daytime!
Now, they can sleep between midnight and noon!

Now the habor is completely walled in and the ships do not have to pulled upshore everyday except during the off seasons when they are being scrapped and repaired.

And now the Association is taking care of allotting the departure times and destinations everyday!

If you happen to be in Yui make a point to visit the new Yui Harbor fisheries Association Building where you will discover some interesting photographs!

It is located the new part of the harbor!

People there are shy but I’m sure you will find an old hand willing to relate old times!
All these pictures were taken back in 1963!

Pulling the boats upshore!

Unloading the Cherry shrimps!

Boats coming back to harbor!

Unloading the catch!

Blood, sweat and tears!

Traditional Fisherman’s gear!
Now they wear what they want under waterproof overalls and boots!

The beavhes have now been replaced with a safe harbor!

But for all the great improvements my old samurai friend will be the first to tell you this is still bleedin’ hard work!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, French Restaurant, Fujieda City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

French Gastronomy with a Japanese Twist: Foie Gras Matured with Mirin White Lees, Chouchou Farm Kankankan Musume Corn Vychissoise at Pissenlit!

June 20, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

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.

When it comes to French gastronomy in Japan, great chefs in this country have a welcome tendency to experience with local products and ingredients to create entirely new delicacies that would have gastronomes running back home, in France!

To cut a long story short, on Saturday last week I had to visit Chef Touru Arima/有馬亨さん to bring him a couple of souvenirs from my recent trip to France and I just could not escape the temptation to have lunch there in spite of my tired stomach!
For once I skipped the wine and ordered a home-made ginger ale concocted with local ginger!

Actually the very reason for opting to saddle myself with another great meal was the unusual offering on the carte blackboard menu:
杉井酒造さんのみりん粕に着けたフォアグラ！
Sugii Shyuzou san no Mirin ni tsuketa Fowagura
Foie Gras matured with Mirin (sweet sake) white lees (“mout” in French) brewed by Sugii Brewery (In Fujieda City)!
I was simply doomed!

While Tooru was preparing the composite salad (I certainly needed a lot of greens to counterbalance the foie gras!) I was offered a slice of one of his succulent cake sale/salted pound cake created with local organic vegetables!

I did order a “simple salad” and this is what I ended up with!

Seared bonito, home-smoked salmon, inca mezame potatoes and all kinds of local organic vegetables!

It also included tasty scrumptious mushroom and home-made sausage fillings!

Most organic vegetables came from Shizen no Chikara farm in Shizuoka City!

The important detail: the bed of soft couscous!

The star of the day!

The beautiful pain de foie gras with Hungarian foir gras matured in the white lees of mirin brewed by Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City and seasoned with coarse pepper!

The soft pancake made with inca mezame potatoes!

Fig jam and a true beauty of a vychissoise concocted with kankan musume corn grown in Iwata City by Chouchou Farm!
I had a hard time savoring the whole at a slow pace, I can assure you!

For once I just had to skip dessert!

To be continued… (expect more regular visits!)

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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

“Shizuoka Rice Comes of Age”-On Shizuoka Sake by Marcus Grandon

June 17, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

All pictures and Article by Marcus Grandon.

Shizuoka sake has always had a a special place in the hearts of sake fans both foreign and domestic. Every year, a group of Shizuoka producers hosts a dinner party to showcase their latest offerings. This year is no exception, and marked the 20th consecutive year for the gala event, which for the first time was held in the Aoi-tower in downtown Shizuoka City.

Oumuuraya Brewery sake!

The party, attended by over 500 guests, contained a choice selection from a virtual who’s who of sake makers: Hatsukame, Shidaizumi, Isojiman, Kikuyoi (Aoshima Brewery), and Oumuraya (Wakatake) Breweries.

Oumuraya Brewery

While each and every sip from the various makers pretty much melted into the palate like liquid gold one after another after another, a very big piece of news emerged from the event this year. Shizuoka sake is known as the Champagne of Sakes for good reason. One of the key ingredients in making sake is water, and water in Shizuoka Prefecture is among the purest in the entire country. However, usually the rice used in the brewing process for Shizuoka sake comes from a different prefecture.
The Oumuraya sake company wanted to use local rice to create a 100% local product, and in recent years began experimenting with using local rice in their sake. Conventional wisdom says that it takes ten years for sake makers to produce high quality sake with a new rice. Wouldn’t you know that this year is the tenth year for Oumuraya to be making such sake? And guess what? It’s the bomb! I was able to taste the sake in this bottle, and it was a smooth as any sake I’ve ever had!

Ten years is the charm! People flocked around that bottle like white on rice (Sorry, but I just had to). The sad thing is that I missed the really good stuff:

Oumuraya Brewery sake!

By the time I got here, this bottle was all gone. Not to worry though, it can be had at local department stores for ¥10.500 per big bottle. Not cheap for sake, but certainly worth the price for a 100% local product.
My suggestion? Get it while you can!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 農業, France, French Cuisine, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan

French Gastronomy: Cooking with Bros in Chalon Sur Saone, Bourgogne, Part 1

June 16, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

Bro’s Carbonara Tagliatelle!

During my (very short) holiday back home in Chalon Sur Saone, Bourgogne, neither the Missus or I had to worry about cooking!
We enjoyed our meals either at hotels, restaurants or in one of my two brothers’ homes!
My first brother is actually a professional chef whereas my second brother is a chef as a hobby (he goes as far as attending cooking school in spite of his vast experience!).

On the last day of our stay he cooked a “simple dinner” for the four of us, while we were enjoying (a) drink(s).
It was a pretty typical affair with many culinary influences.

Bro had an excellent idea for appetizers/tidbits to go with aperitifs and drinks while waiting for dinner to start.
Small round tomatoes first dipped in caramel sauce (just sugar, water and lemon brought to a boil and to a thin brown color before switching off the fire) and then coated with golden sesame seeds!
Interestingly enough they don’t seem to have black roasted sesame seeds in France…

The French, especially in Burgundy and Bresse, cannot spend a day without eating a big lettuce and vegetable salad every day!

So Bro served us an appetizer consisting of fresh local lettuce seasoned with his own dressing (had no time to check the recipe) and a “small” (we were taking the plane the following morning!) portion of his pork and pistacchio terrine out of a dish holding at leat 2 kg of it!

Bro loves his pasta and the Missus who is a pastaholic was certainly happy to learn that he makes all his own pasta!

He certainly has all the gear needed!
The pasta is first kneaded and left in the refrigerator for at least 3~4 hours before being prepared!

He used the kitchen table on which we ate later as a work table (after cleaning it, wiping it and sprinkled it with flour!)!

The streched pasta ready to be cut into smaller pieces and then passed through the machine to make tagliatelle!

Work made so easy!

The fresh tagliatelle ready to be boiled! Only 4 minutes!

The Tagliatelle Carbonara!
The sauce had been made the night before as it is easy to preserve and saved a lot of time!
Sorry, no recipe made available!

For dessert a fine apple tart made with thin pastry sheets, fresh apples and a minimum of sugar and spices!

To be continued…

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Bourgogne, Burgundy, Chalon Sur Saone, 美食, 観光, France, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Photography, Tourism

Tourism Off the Beaten Tracks in France: Chalon Sur Saone (June 2012) Part 1

June 15, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ancient houses, bars and cafes around Saint Vincent Square in front of Saint Vicent Cathedral.

In spite of being the second town in Bourgogne/Burgundy, France, Chalon sur Saone does not receive the acclaim it deserves. It is by far the oldest city of importance in Bourgogne as its river harbor and markets date back centuries before the Rommans invaded Gaul.
Did you know that it is also the birthplace of photography where Nicephore Niepce invented the first camera and took the first picture ever?
It is also the best protected gastronomic treasure of France. Just visit the Rue de Strasbourg with its 30+ restaurants in the Saint Laurent island surrounded by the Saone River and taste the great wines of the Cote Chalonnaise!
It being a very compact city it is so easy to discover at a leisurely pace.
Here are some photos taken during my trip back home (this is my hometown!)!

The gothic Saint Vincent Cathedral.

There are many ways and routes to visit the city.
But I always start with the old town located very near the Saone River and just wander round and round often retracing my steps back as many more opportunities for photography offer themselves!

Some of the well-preserved facades are over 600 hundred years old!

You will discover the latest fashions inside cute boutiques under the same facades!

No need to go and spend millions in Paris!
There you will find and buy what French ladies (and gentlemen!) really wear and at more attractive prices!
Chalon sur Saone and its suburbs house more than 100,000 souls and some major industries such as Areva and so on, meaning it is a major stop along the paris-Lyon-Marseille route where many businessmen form all over the world have to meet!

A old Burgundian roof out of nowhere…

A back street in the early afternoon…

Another back street…

A “trompe l’oeil” facade…

The oldest standing fully preserved building in town, a tower dating back to the early Middle Ages (over 1.000 years old)…

Oe can explore the back streets reserved for pedestrians for hidden shops and boutiques…

One can easily get a sore neck with all the photography subjects…

So many angles to shoot from…

Searching for gargoyles…

Such facades in “colombage” are all registered cultural assets and impossible to reproduce…

Come and sit at one of the cafe terraces around the Saint Vincent Square on a bright day…

People have been living there for the last 6 centuries…

There is still a Roman wall over 2,000 years old standing!

There are Irish Pubs for the thirsty!

if you want a quickand delicious fix you must try this baker!

Did you know that frog legs is a gastronomic specialty of the region?
But that’s for the next report!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, Dessert, Desserts, 豆腐, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tofu, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine, Vegetarian terrine

Vegan Japanese Dessert: Tofu Wagashi with Kinako!

June 14, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

For the pleasure of vegans and vegetarians alkie tofu can be prepared into delicious, healthy and simple desserts!
Here is a suggestion making use of soybeans in two forms: tofu and kinako (grilled soy bean powder)!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 standard pack
-Kinako (Grilled soy bean powder): plenty
-Salt and sugar: as appropriate

For the syrup:
-Granulated sugar: 100g
-Water: 100 cc/ml/1/2 cup

RECIPE:

-Cut tofu into small one bite cubes. Drain water from tofu. take excess water with kitchen paper.
In a saucepna pour water and sugar and sugar. Heat until the mixture has reached a syrup texture. Do not make caramel! Switch fire and let cool. Chill the syrup for a while inside refrigerarator.

-In a large enough vessel drop the tofu in carefully. Pour the syrup over the tofu. Chill inside refrigerator for 1 hour.

-Take tofu out of the refrigerator. Add salt, sugar and kinako. Mix in carefully with a spatula to cover the whole tofu with kinako.

-Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with plenty more kinako!

-Serve with a small wooden spoon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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美食, 野菜, 豆腐, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine

Vegan Japanese Gastronomy: Sweet and Sour Fried Tofu and Mushrooms

June 13, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

For the pleasure of vegetarians and vegans tofu can be prepared as a hot and very satisfying dish all year round!
A typical example is Agedashidofu/揚げだし豆腐, tofu first deep-fried and then served in dashi.
As for the dashi use seaweed/konbu dashi!

INGREDIENTS: For 3 people

-Tofu: 2 standard blocks
-Cornstarch: as appropriate
-Shimeji mushrooms: 1 standard pack
-Enoki mushrooms: 1 standard pack
-Nameko: 1 bunch

Note: you can adapt with any ind of mushrooms.

-Seaweed/Konbu dashi: 600 cc/ml/3 cups
-Salt: a little
-Soy sauce: 3 tabelspoons
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon
-Grated ginger: 1 tablespoon
-Yuzu koshio: a little
-Cornstach dissolved in water: as appropriate
-Grated daikon: as appropriate
-Chopped leeks: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Wrap tofu in kitchen paper and leave it for an hour for excess water to be absorbed (about an hour).
-Place tofu on a dry wooden cutting board. Place a plate and weight on top and enough water will come out. Dry in kitchen paper.

-In a large pan pour the dashi, salt, soy sauce, mirin, sake, ginger, and yuzu kshio.
Bring to light boil.
Drop the mushrooms in.

-When the mushrooms are cooked to satisfaction pour the cornsatrch dissolved in water. Stir until you have obtained a smooth texture. Keep hot.

-Cut the tofu in adequate large bit sized cubes (you could have done it beforehand and take out excess water)>
Roll them in cornstarch. Shake away excess cornstarch powder.

-Fry tofu cubes in shallow oil until they have attained a very light bron color.
Take ou and pace in a dish.
Pour the sweet and sour mushrooms all over.
Decorate/season with grated daikon and chopped leeks.
Serve immediately!

You may also place the lot over freshly steamed rice!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 観光, 魚, 農業, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Japanese Iazakaya: Late Spring Quick Visit at Waga (2012) in Shizuoka City!

June 12, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

One of the superlative sake served at Waga: Junmai by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

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!

As I said before it is not easy to socialize equally with all the good restaurants and izakayas in Shizuoka and arrangements have to be done sometimes! LOL
Anyway, to cut another long story short I managed to persuade the Missus again to pay a belated visit to Waga, one of our favorite izakayas in Shizuoka City!

Superb salmon sashimi from Norway!

Waga is another of those great places, totally unpretentious, where you are efficiently served with a constant genuine smile, without a fuss and with plenty of interesting explanations!

Another view of our salmon sashimi!

But when it comes to fish and sashimi in particular, Waga is well above the izakaya average, so have a good look at the menu or ask about the day’s offering to the staff who will only be glad to oblige!

A great marriage of the land and sea: Amadai/Seabream sahimi Salad!

Next you have to order their celebrated daikon katsu. Not so much a revoplutionary concept but I haven’t found a place which served a better version!
Not many are prepared every day so come early or reserve the dish over the phone!

And do not forget to check the day’s specialties!
If you do not read Japanese, the staff who are mostly Shizuoka Prefectural University students should manage to explain in English!

A great izakaya offering: Yasai no Tappuri Katayaki Soba!
Crispy soba/ramen served in soup with pork and plenty of vegetables!
Hot and yummy!

A tasty and satisfying dish for all seasons!

And don’t miss their desserts: mango Creme Brulee!
I know a lot of establishments who would be surprised at the quality of such a dessert in an izakaya!

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)

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美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Italian Cuisine, Italian Restaurants, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shirogisu, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism

Italian Gastronomy: “Quick Dinner” at Soloio in Shizuoka City (Late Spring 2012)

June 11, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Another superlative risotto!
Check below!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Equipment & Facilities: Great overall cleanliness and superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Fresh local ingredients whenever possible. Both traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Good wine list at moderate prices. Open late!

There are days and nights when Solio Restaurant is so practical as it opens as early as 16:00 and as late as 24:00!
But it is could also be said it is a venture fraught with dangers, what with the constant temptation to drink and dine late! LOL

Solio always has an array of appetizers/antipasti ready to be chosen from, a boon for hungry and busy people!
We had this little delicious asparagus and shrimps salad!
It was with the beer we had first after a long day of shopping!

Apart of the regular printed menu and specialties of the day written on the overhead blackboard make sure to have a look at the small seasonal menu included on a loose sheet inside the menu!
There are discoveries to be made as the above white shrimps from Toyama Prefecture served deep-fried!
Another beauty for the beer!
Alright let’s discover what we had with the wine!

Roma-Style rice croquettes!
You had better keep those away from kids! They are just too dainty and scrumptious! LOL

Home-made sausage!
We should have kept some beer for that!
A rare time when I called a sausage “elegant”!

We had to have one of the two risottos of the day (I wished we had both!)!
Spring cabbage (very tender and sweet) and cockles risotto cooked in the cockles soup/juices!

It was a fight as whether to have pasta or dessert!
This fight resolved it was a second struggle as to which pasta we would order!

Nagano Prefecture wild boar stew with rosemary parpadelle!
Do I need to comment any further?

To be continued…

SOLOIO
420-0858 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 9-7, Kita, 1
Tel./fax: 054-260-4637
Business hours: 16:00~24:00
Closed on Monday
Credit cards OK
Private parties welcome!
Smoking allowed BUT Non-smoking until 20:00 everyday!

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美食, 葡萄, 観光, 農業, Food, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Grapes, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Shizuoka Fruits to Look Forward to This Summer-2: Pione Budou-Pione Grapes

June 10, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

PIONE1

There are a lot of fruit which either originated or grew to be characteristic of Japan.
I’m trying to introduce them to help my vegan and vegetarian (I’m not) friends in particular as fruit can be adapted into so many ways!

1) Nashi/Asian Pear
2) Jirou Kaki/Jirou Persimmon

Grapes are relatively new to Japan, but its people have compensated this with an eye to create new strains with great success. Actually grapes were first cultivated in Shizuoka Prefecture in Meiji Era!

PIONE3
Pione Grapes are grown in aerial style.

Pione Grapes are a typical example.
They are a cross between Kyoho Grapes and Cannon Hole Muscat.
Kyoho grapes (巨峰葡萄) are hemselves a Concord-like cross (Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca) between Campbell and Centennial grape varieties.

Kyoho grapes were first produced in 1942 in Shizuoka Prefecture, but were not so named until 1946.

PIONE-MUSCAT
Pione Grapes compared to Muscat Grapes

Pione Grapes (ピオネ葡萄) were also first produced in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1957 by a farmer called Hideo Ikawa.
Pione is an Italian name.

PIONE2
Pione grape

Pione grapes are usually seedless, juicy and very sweet making them very versatile for all kinds of desserts:

PIONE-MOCHI

A typical Japnese dessert:
Pione Grape inside mochi!

PIONE-TART
Pione Tart!
Irresistible, isn’t it?

But Pione Grapes, especially their flesh in “Concasse” style can be used in salads:

PIONE-ORGANIC-MIZUNASU

A dream salad for vegans!
Pione Grapes flesh on organic “Mizu nasu”/Mizu egg plant sashimi.
This particular kind of (Japanese) egg plant is eaten raw.
A little pepper and voila!

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美食, Dessert, Desserts, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Persimmon, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 柿

Shizuoka Fruits to Look Forward to This Summer-1: Jirou Kaki-Jirou Persimmon-Squat Persimmon

June 9, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

JIRO-KAKI1

Jirou kaki or Jirou Persimmons/Squat Persimmons are not to be confused with “normal persimmons”, or heart-shaped Hachiya which is the most common variety of astringent persimmon. Astringent persimmons contain very high levels of soluble tannins and are unpalatable if eaten before softening.

JIRO-KAKI-FALSE

Hachiya Persimmons

The astringency of tannins is removed through ripening by exposure to light over several days, wrapping the fruit in paper for heating it, and/or artificially with chemicals such as alcohol and carbon dioxide which change tannin into the insoluble form. This bletting process is sometimes jumpstarted by exposing the fruit to cold or frost which hastens cellular wall breakdown. These astringent persimmons can also be prepared for commercial purposes by drying.

JIRO-KAKI-TREE

The non-astringent persimmon, or Jirou kaki, is squat like a tomato and is most commonly sold as Fuyu. Non-astringent persimmons are not actually free of tannins as the term suggests, but rather are far less astringent before ripening, and lose more of their tannic quality sooner. Non-astringent persimmons may be consumed when still very firm to very very soft.

JIRO-KAKI-DRIED

Dried Jirou Persimmon

Actually, Jirou Kaki/Jirou Persimmons are the pride of our Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, as they were first grown in 1844 by a farmer called Jiroushi Matsumoto in Mori-Cho, Western Shizuoka Prefecture!
Their trees were finally successfully raised in 1869.

JIRO-KAKI-JAM

Jirou Persimmon Jam

The persimmons were finally given their name, Jirou Kaki, by the Emperor of Japan upon his meeting with Fujitarou Suzuki (the grower of that time) in Mori-Cho where a Shinto Temple is still dedicated to the Emperor of Japan.

JIRO-KAKI-CAKES

In Shizuoka Prefecture, Jirou Persimmon are found under many guises such as cakes (above)

JIRO-KAKI-WINE

Jirou Persimmon wine!

JIRO-KAKI-VINEGAR

Jirou Persimmon vinegar, a rarity created by Bembei Kawamura, the Father of Shizuoka Sake!
It can drunk as a health drink mixed with with good wateror used as a finish on many dishes!

JIRO-KAKI-DRYING

Although I personally like them fresh either as dessert or in salads with vegetables, my favourite is dried persimmons, a big business in Shizuoka Prefecture!

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