SHIZUOKA SUSHI & SASHIMI: The other Jewels of Japan

Sushi Restaurant: New Concept at Sushi Ko-Miue in Shizuoka City!

April 22, 2013

Service: Very kind and easy-going[
Facilities: Impeachable cleanliness. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Unusual and happy combination of Sushi and French gastronomies. Shizuoka sake and even shochu!
Entirely non-smoking (extremely rare for a sushi restaurant!)!

Only a few weeks ago Chef Yukitoshi Oda/小田幸寿さん, formerly of Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant opened this new sushi restaurant in an entirely new concept for Shizuoka: A traditional sushi restaurant combined with a French restaurant!
The establishment is divided into two distinct adjoining parts: a 8-seat sushi bar-counter where customers who are interested in sushi should sit and a room with holes built in the floor to sit easily under low tables where one should sit if he/she wishes to enjoy a combination of both cuisines or only French gastronomy. The kitchens, althoug tiny, are clearly separated and they don’t interfere with each other.
The food, naturally is top-class with a strong accent on local fish and vegetables in particular and of superb freshness. As for drinks, sake, beer, wine and even local shochu are available!

And the icing on the cake, it is totally non-smoking!

To cut a long story short let me show you what we had for dinner the other day, a combination set of both cuisines!

The o-tooshi/snack coming with the first drink: naga-imo/long taro root and hotaru ika/tiny フィレｆｌｙｓくいｄ。

Basashi/馬刺し/horsemeat sashimi coming into two varieties: lean and fat!

The fatty variety.
Served with olive oil and grated garlic!

Sashimi plate: kinmedai/Splendid Alfonsino, hotaruika/firefly squid and madai/true seabream!

Minami magurao/South Pacific tuna, tachiuo/Scabbard fish, sayori/Japanese halfbeak, sakura ebi/cherry shrimp and hotate/scallops!

Nanban-style deep-fried chicken!

Japan and France meeting: maguro oshiri/tuna tail with cabbage, tomatoes and renkon/lotus roots!

the tuna is also minami maguro and sauteed.

Shizuoka City is famous for its succulent lotus roots!

The sushi plate!

Kuruma ebi/large prawn and minami maguro.

Minami maguro and uni/sea urchin! The latter, a creamy beauty!

Hime soba/buckwheat sprouts!

Buri/Japanese Amberjack!

The desserts are also a fusion concept: banana omelette/pancke and vanilla ice cream!

Dekopon oranges with their jelly and sorbet!

You can bet this is only the first (actually second, but it is a secret!) visit!

Sushi o Miue/寿し幸実宇栄
420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, kooya Machi, 13-6
Tel.: 054-221-3888
Opening hours: 17:30~indeterminate
Closed day not yet decided
Credit cards OK
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, 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

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags: レシピ, 美食, 静岡, Food, French Restaurant, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, sushi restaurant, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese gastronomy, Sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Sushi | Leave a Comment »

Sushi Restaurant: Dinner at Sushi Ko (Spring 2013) in Shizuoka City!

March 21, 2013

Sushi “Charlotte Cake”!

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん at work!

The beauty of true great sushi is that it follows the seasons and the sea catches.
It is not that evident in the large metropolises where sushi is more or less “disguised”, but here in Shizuoka with a constant and abundant supply to complement seafood coming from other shores we are never short of new discoveries and truly extravagant sushi gastronomy and this at comparatively reasonable prices!

To cut a long story short let me have the pleasure to show you what Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん served us during a “short visit” the other day!

Sazae/Turbo Shell salad as a snack with the first drink!

Anago yaki/grilled conger eel served basted with its tare/sauce!

Of course served with plenty of freshly grated wasabi from Utogi, Shizuoka City!

hamaguri yaki/Grilled clams!

As it is! So fresh and delicious!

Shirako yaki/Grilled cod sperm sacs!

With a texture similar to foie gras!

Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん’s specialty: Sushi Charlotte Cake as as an imitation of a French Charlotte Cake!

The little details that show the great attention!

The cake itself conceived with salmon and tuna strips!

Extravagant ikura/salmon roe topping!

Exploring the insides of the “cake” with avocado, cucumber and so forth!

Hotate/Scallops nigiri sushi!

One of my favorites: Tachiuo/Scabbard fish sushi nigiri lightly seared, topped with momijioroshi/daikon with chili pepper and seasoned with ponzu!

A favorite everywhere in Japan: Negitoro Maki/Roll containing grated tuna and chopped scallions!

For a closer look!

Now, what’s inside this small pot?

As a hot “salted” dessert: Chyawanmushi/Japanese-style steamed salted pudding!

To be continued…. You bet!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

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, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags: レシピ, Chirashi Zushi, 美食, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Red King Crab, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese gastronomy, Sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Sushi | Leave a Comment »

Christmas Sushi: Red King Crab/Tabaragani/タラバガニ Chirashi Zushi!

December 24, 2012

Red King Crab is one of the most expensive crabs in the world and you won’t see it often served in a home whatever the owner’s status!

But the Missus received today as an End of The Year present from someone she helped out of a big bother!
The package for this single crab was enormous and it is a bit difficult to realize how big it is on the above photograph!
It came already as it is done most of the time for better conservation and also because people usually do not have a big enough pan to boil it.
The Missus, being her usual crass checked the price: 150 Euros/almost 200 US $!

It took her a good hour to take all the meat out of this male (the best!) Red King Crab and had enough to fill a medium size tupperware box. a good kg of superlative crab meat!

She had enough and a lot to spare (for lunch or as an extravagant appetizer for our wine and sake!) to prepare an enormous “Christmas Chirashi zushi/チラシ寿司” for a four-people dinner!

The Missus prepared sushi rice and mixed it with thin slices of a small rice vinegar pickled cucumber, golden sesame seeds, small pieces of cheese and small cubes of avocado.
She the topped the lot with loads of red king crab, avocado cubes, and salmon roe/ikura/幾ら!

The salmon roe added another extravagant touch!

And fresh kaiware daikon/カイワレ大根/daikon sprouts for perfect balance in presentation, taste and nutrients!

When healthy food becomes extravagant!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags: Sushi, Shizuoka, Japan, Gastronomy, Gourmet, 静岡, 美食, レシピ, Food, Japanese Cuisine, Red King Crab, Japanese Gastronomy, World Cuisines, Tourism, Shizuoka City, Chirashi Zushi, Gastronomes
Posted in Sushi, Sashimi, Japan, Japanese gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Gastronomy | 2 Comments »

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: The Other Tidbits!

December 11, 2012

Following the two previous blogs on Sushi Gunkan Feast and Sushi Charlotte here are the other tidbits we enjoyed thanks to Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん!

Beautiful kawahagi/カワハギ/Thread-sail filefish or Leater Jacket alive in the tank!
For next time, though!

An extravagant plate you will find only in Shizuoka (I mean the combination of the two!): Sayori/細魚/Japanese Halbeak and sakuraebi/桜海老/Cherry Shrimps!

The sayori! In full season, now! tender and sweet and so beautiful!

How about that for design!

I asked for the fish bones and head to be deep-fried!
Not usually done, but the Chef is a friend!
Crispy and yummy!

The cherry shrimps served with freshly grated ginger!
Note that in the gunkan they had been “straightened”. here they are in their natural appearance!

Hirame/平目/Sole-Flounder sushi nigiri seasoned with a little salt and yuzu. No need for soy sauce!

Grilled/seared oysters!

Cute cucumber!

New menu on that day: 3 fish “zuke” set!
Each fish was marinated in soy sauce and sake!
From left to right: Katsuo/鰹/bonito, Shake/鮭/Sea salmon and maguro/鮪/Tuna!

Sushi for Christmas/
Ikura/イクラ/Salmon’s roe gunkan sushi nigiri with mini Syake/鮭/Salmon rolls!

To be continued….

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags: レシピ, 美食, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Sashimi, Sushi | 2 Comments »

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Sushi Charlotte!

December 10, 2012

As promised in the report on the gunkan feast here is another example of Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん’s ingenuity which demonstrates why he received an award as best sushi designs from his peers this year!

Actually I had asked him to come up with a new version of his acclaimed sushi Millefeuille and instead created a Charlotte-like sushi cake!

The whole was conceived inside a metal ccircle by lining the inside first with raw salmon and tuna and then filled progressively with sushi rice and other ingredients!
The tail is grilled salmon skin! A crunchy and tasty tidbit of its own!

Once filled Chef Birukawa partly closed the top by fording the fish inside before topping it with other ingredients!

The topping consisted of ikura/salmon roe, thinly sliced cucumber and grilled salmon skin!

It was such a sinful pleasure to open it and find out what was hidden inside!

Perfect balance in taste with avocado and cucumber pieces inside and so healthy!
A cake for the health conscious gastronomes!

“Tidbits” coming soon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Gunkan Feast!

December 7, 2012

Last night we visited our favorite sushi restaurant in Shizuoka City, Sushi Ko, and have once again challenged Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん into something different!
We just asked off the cuff to produce five dufferent “gunkan/軍艦/”Mothership” sushi nigiri but we attached no conditions to ingredients!
Now, what did he offer us?

Can you guess?

Once againn, can you guess?

Alright, here are the answers! LOL

Mekabu Seaweeed/和布蕪, Uzura Tamgo/Quail Egg/鶉卵 and Katsuobushi/Dried Bonito shavings/鰹節!

Male Cod Sperm Sacs/Shirako/白子!

Flesh Grated off the Inside of the Skin of a tuna and Chopped Scallions/Negi Toro/葱トロ！

Sea Urchin/Uni/海栗!

Now, you can have this fresh only in Shizuoka Prefecture: Cherry Shrimps/Sakura Ebi/桜海老! Served with grated fresh ginger!

Another Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City coming very soon!

To be continued…

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Sushi Gastronomy: My Best 10 sushi (and extras!) in Shizuoka in 2012!

November 6, 2012

“Birthday Cake” Millefeuille Sushi!

Shizuoka Prefecture is blessed with the Suruga Bay and the Izu Peninsula making it the richest (at least as far as varieties are concerned, and this by far!) Prefecture in Japan when it comes to marine products and consequently seafood and seafood gastronomy!
You just need to find one good sushi restaurant here and there will be no need to go the vaunted establishments in Tokyo where practically nothing is fresh and where all is expensive!
I regularly eat sushi in restaurants and at home (home-made!), and I have one favorite establishment called Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City where you can only be overwhelmed by the variety, quality and reasonable prices. All pictures represented in this article but one were taken there!

Just follow me, if you please!

Kawahagi/カワハギ/Threadfile Fish~Leather Jacket nigiri!

This nigiri was small because most of the kawahagi had been served as sashimi, but Chef Mirugawa kept enough to fashion a few of these cute nigiri with chopped scallions under the “neta”/fish slice topped with a piece of liver of the same fish seasoned with a little momiji oroshi/grated daikon with chili pepper powder!

Menegi/芽葱/Leek sprout nigiri!

Katsuobushi was inserted between the “shari”/rice ball and the leek sprouts. The whole was secured with a narrow band of nori/dry seaweed and topped with some umeboshi/salty pickled Japanese plum paste!

Tachiuo Aburi/太刀魚炙り/Seared scabbard fish nigiri!The scabbard fish was first seared on the skin side and then placed atop the shari and decorated with some momiji oroshi. It was finally seasoned with ponzu (no soy sauce there)!

Kinmedai Aburi/金目鯛炙り/Seared splendid alfonsino (variety of seabream) nigiri!
The kinmedai was first seared on the skin side and carefully placed in the shape of a crescent atop the rice ball!

Zuke nigiri!
“Zuke” stands for the word “marinated”.
The fish is lean red tuna or “akami” marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sake and other “secret” ingredients according to each chef.
A must at any worthy sushi restaurant!

Shirasu/シラス/Sardine whiting gunkan!

You will find this sushi made with fresh shirasu only in Shizuoka Prefecture, that is unless you are ready to empty your purse in Tokyo!
It is cheap here as it is a local specialty. The fish is usually served in “gunkan/mothership” fashion topped with grated ginger and finely chopped scallion!
Another must if you visit our Prefecture!
Note the minuscule nigiri!

Ankimo/アンキモ/Frogfish~monkfish liver gunkan!

Ankimo is also called “Japanese foie gras” as it is made with the liver of ankou/鮟鱇/Frogfish or monkfish which had been steamed in sake and wrapped and kept inside the refrigerator long enough so as to form a kind of sausage before being sliced.
It is usually served as gunkan or nigiri or as an appetizer topped with finally chopped scallion and momiji oroshi and seasoned with ponzu!

Nijimasu/虹鱒/Rainbow trout “Bogata” sushi!

This rainbow trout sushi was served to me at Myouken Sushi Restaurant in Gotemba City.
The rainbow trout was bred in Fujinomiya City.
“Bogata/棒形” stands for “Baton Shape”.
This form of sushi originated from Western Japan. The whole marinated and seared fish is pressed together with the rice as a variety of “oshizushi/pressed sushi”!
A meal in itself!

Roses Millefeuille!

Chef Mirukawa at Sushi Ko is a great chef who was awarded the Title of “Top Sushi Design Chef in Japan” this very year!
His specialty is Millefeuille (you know, the French cake meaning “A Thousand Leaves”!).
This particular one is made with a layer of sushi rice, a layer of avocado, a layer of akami/lean tuna, a layer of sliced cucumber, another layer of sushi rice, katsuo bushi/dry bonito shavings, shiso/perilla leaves and three “Roses” made with raw tuna, salmon and hirame/平目/Flounder!

“Wafuu/和風/Japanese-style Millefeuille!

This “Japanese-style” Millefeuille consisted of a layer of sushi rice, a layer of Kazunoko/数の子/Herring roe, a layer of sliced cucumber, a layer of Kanpachi/環八/Purplish amberjack, Greater yellowtail, katuobushi and finely chopped scallion!
It was served with mayonnaise, soy sauce and ikura/salmon roe!

“Birthday Cake” Millefeuille!

Chef Mirukawa composed this piece of art after my neighbors saw the “Roses Millefeuille”. As one of them was acually celebrating her birthday on that very day, the Chef came with this incredible idea! Six different sushi in one!
A layer of sushi rice, a layer of avocado, a layer of akami tuna, a layer of sliced cucumber and a layer of sushi rice.
The whole was topped with miniature akami rolls, akami nigiri, raw salmon nigiri, Sakura ebi/桜海老/Cherry Shrimps (found fresh only in Shizuoka Prefecture!) and Flying fish roe and cucumber gunkan!
The ultimate Sushi Birthday cake!

“Futo Maki/大と巻き/Giant Roll!

Another piece of art by Chef Mirukawa!
Incredible patience was certainly needed there!
It includes sushi rice, Spicy scallop salad, lettuce, salmon, akami tuna, kampachi, cucumber, prawn, flying fish roe, kanpyou/寛平/gourd shavings, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet and nori/dry seaweed, the whole seasoned with mayonnaise!

“Itaria Maki”/Italian roll!

To represent the Italian flag Chef Mirukawa included green shiso leaves, white ika/烏賊/squid and red mentaiko/明太子/pickled cod roe!

Can’t wait for for 2013!

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:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags: レシピ, 美食, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Sashimi, Sushi | 2 Comments »

Sushi Restaurant: Local Fish at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

October 22, 2012

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake

Shizuoka City is located right in the middle of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka prefecture, a bay known in Japan for producing the largest number of seafood varieties in the whole country!
If you happen to come to Shizuoka City, don’t hesitate and visit Sushi Ko in Aoba Koen/Aoba Park Street in Aoi ku, Shizuoka City!
There you will be hard-tried to sample all that is on the menu! And this at reasonables prices clearly shown for all to see!

Now what did we have during our last visit the other day?

Negi toro/葱トロ appetizer coming with the first drink!

Very fat katsuo/鰹/bonito sashimi!

Traditionally served with grated ginger, chopped thin leeks and sliced red onion. You may also order grated or sliced garlic!

Now what is the chef trying to catch alive inside the tank?

We had ordered some fresh Shima Aji/縞鯵/Striped Horse Mackerel!

Beautiful Shima Aji/縞鯵/Striped Horse Mackerel sashimi plate!

The grilled tail from the same fish with grated daikon and lemon!

Kaki Aburi/牡蠣炙り/Seared oysters!

Beautifully sliced cucumber!

Tachiuo Aburi/太刀魚炙り/Seared scabbard fish nigiri with momijiorosi/紅葉下ろし/grated daikon mith chili pepper and ponzu!

Piri kara Hotate Maki/ピリ辛帆立巻/spicy scallops Roll!

Piri Pon Kara Maguro/ピりポン辛鮪/Deep-fried tuna cubes served with momiji oroshi and ponzu!

Magurozuke/鮪漬け/Marinated tuna nigiri. A must!

Another chef caught a live lobster for our neighbors!

The perfect vegan sushi: Menegi/芽葱/Scallion Sprouts Nigiri!

Itaria Maki/イタリア巻/Italian Roll for the Missus: leeks, squid and spicy pickled cod roe!

And Ankimo Gunkan/あんきも軍艦/Frogfish Liver Paste Gunkan for me!
Note that the frogfish/monkfish liver was first steamed in sake!

To be continued…… You bet!

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:

Tags: 美食, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Sushi, Tourism, World Cuisines, 寿司
Posted in Sashimi, Sushi | 1 Comment »

Sushi Restaurant: Myouken in Gotemba City!

June 1, 2012

Service: Very friendly and attentive
Facilities & Equipment: Great general cleanliness. Superb washroom.
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Oshizushi, local sake, traditional Japanese gastronomy.

The other day when I went to interview a local soy sauce maker in Gotemba City (article coming soon) I found myself with plenty of time at noon and decided to explore the vicinity of the Gotemba JR Station!

A few minutes walk away from the station I found this sign announcing Myouken/妙見, a local sushi restaurant…

Gotemba City at the foot of Mount Fuji is quite far from the sea, but you never know, so let’s have better look…

Founded in 1935! Now, that sounds as a venerable establishement but it had obviously been recently redecorated…

I had noticed one very important detail which encouraged me to enter the restaurant… but let’s take a picture first!

Remarkable decoration of the “lobby” created with real local rice stalks!

Now, these are delicious-looking take-aways!
Remember that Gotemba City is famous for its outlets with a lot of visitors from Tokyo!

Modern seating at the wide counter!

Beautiful Japanese tatami mat room!
Actually, there are more private rooms, some of which can be made non-smoking!

The lobby decoration has the added advantage to offer some privacy even at the central table I had chosen!

The all-important detail which encouraged me to discover the restaurant: Myoken has its own sake brewed by Takashima Brewery in Numazu City!

Now, apart of the delicious sake, what did I have for my first visit?
An enormous Hamaguri/蛤/Clam soup!

I opted for the sushi lunch set and one more local specialty!

The local specialty, a must: Fujinomiya no Benimasu Bougata Oshi Sushi/富士宮市産の紅鱒棒形押し寿司!
Rainbow Trout from Fujinomiya City served as pressed sushi, whole!
The founder of Myouken had come all the way from Nara City in 1935, a city famous for its pressed sushi!

For a better look!
I ate the lot, head included (I was complimented for that last detail!)!

The sushi lunch set!

From left to right: Chutoro Maguro/Tuna Chutoro, Tennen Hirame/Wild Sole-Flounder, Maguro Akami/Tuna lean Part and Aji/Horse Mackerel!

From left to right: Uni Gunkan/Sea Urchin as gunkan/mothership sushi, Ikura Gunkan/Salmon’s Roe Gunkan, Akagai Nigiri/Blood Clam Nigiri and Ebi Nigiri/Slightly seared Prawn Nigiri!

And for dessert: Local Japanese-style Yuzu/Lime Jelly!

Simple but perfect dessert!

As I have to visit Gotemba City regularly, expect another visit!

MYOUKEN
412-0043 Gotemba City, Shinbashi, 1983 (2 minutes walk from Gotemba Station Mount Fuji facing exit)
Tel. & fax: 0550-82-0142
Opening hours: 09:00~14:00, 15:30~20:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Credit Cards OK
Car park available

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:

Tags: レシピ, 静岡, Gastronomy, Gotemba City, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Sushi, Sushi Restaurants, World Cuisines
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Sushi: Wagyu Chirahizushi by the Dragon (the real one!)

May 7, 2012

The other day when the Missus/Dragon cooked her karaage chicken for the family who had come r place she also prepared chirashizushi/decoration susi as well!
The little difference was that when she had asked me to buy some ood beef for another dish found out I had bought some extravagant wagyu beef!

As the Japanese, especially the Dragon’s family, cannot conceive a meal without rice she decided to make a special sushi with wagyu.
She prepared the usual sushi rice (I did have to help with stirring/cutting the rice once steamed and addd with rice vinegar!). Her proportions arefor 2 large tablespoons and a little more of rice vinegar for 1 go/Japanese rice cup.

While the rice was steaming she cut the wagyu beef into small thin strips and fried them in soy sauce, sake and mirin. Once cooked she let it cool completely.
She prepared some sweet egg soboro/fine Japanese scrambled eggs.
Once the rice was ready she added the wagyu beef, finely chopped konbu seaweed, egg soboro and finely sliced cucumber and mixed the lot inside the large wooden sushi vessel.

She topped the whole with plenty of fresh daikon sprouts for decoration and balance.
The sushi vessel was placed in the middle of the table and people served themselves directly for it!

A good idea for a party?
A good accompaniment for a BBQ?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Tags: レシピ, Chirashi Zushi, 美食, 静岡, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka City, Sushi, Wagyu, World Cuisines
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/16): Vegetarian Te-mari Sushi. Bento!

April 4, 2012

Te-Mari Zushi/手丸り寿司 means hand-made sushi balls in a spherical shape originally designed for geishas to eat easily. Mine are a bit bigger than the ones found in Kyoto. After all I’m of the male gender!

The Missus made three types, all with local vegetables and rice:
From left to right: Home-pickled (amazu sweet vinegar) myoga on sushi rice seasoned with black sesame seeds, boiled stick broccoli on sushi rice seasoned with hijki sweet seaweed, minced pickled red cucumber and black sesame seeds and lotus root home-pickled in umeboshi amazu over plain sushi rice.

The side box contains at least three desserts:
Left to right: on top sweet Japanese-style candied green peas above home-made kumquat compote, boiled broccoli and mini tomatoes in the middle and tamagoyaki containing cheese and parsley!

Once a again a very colorful and really yummy bento!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Tags: Bento, Cooking, 簡単なレシピ, 静岡, Food, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Home, Japan, Japanese, Lunch Box, Rice, Shizuoka, Simple Recipes, sweet chili sauce, thai sweet chili sauce, World Cuisines, 弁当
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Sushi: Shizuoka Chirashi Zushi at Ekimae Matsuno Sushi Restaurant!

March 29, 2012

Shizuoka Chirashi Zuzhi!

Service: Very friendly, attentive and informative
Facilities: Overall clean if a bit old-fashioned
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Mainly local fish and seafood. Local sake. Always ready to improvise!

Chirashi Zushi/散らし寿司 means “Decoration Sushi” in Japanese.
It can be considered as one of the oldest ways to make sushi in Japan!
The great advantage is the total freedom of design and inspiration!

Last Monday after having tasted many sake at the Shizuoka Sake: 2012 Shizuoka Prefecture New Sake Tasting Annual Meet, I and my good friend Marcus Grandon decided we had to eat something to help digest all that sake before we resumed work!
I had been wanting to eat Ekimae Matsunosushi Restaurant’s Shizuoka Chirashizushi lunch for a long time and this was the right occasion!

It is a full lunch indeed with small cockles miso soup.

Also featured are ginger and daikon pickles and a small dessert under the form of home-made kumquat compote!

The Shizuoka Shirashi zushi plate!
Let’s have a closer look and see what we can recognize!

Tuna, tamagoyaki/Jpaanese omelette, Soboro/sweet crumbled omelet, dried sakura ebi/Cherry shrimps, nori/dried seweed.

Tuna, shirasu/boiled sardine whiting, tamagoyaki/omelet/ anago/conger eel, shimesaba/pickled mackerel, dried sakura ebi.

Tuna, freshly grated wasabi, shirasu, tamagoyaki, anago, shimesaba, soboro and nori!

And it is a different offering every day!

To be followed…

EKIMAE MATSUNO SUSHI/駅前松乃寿
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Koya Machi, 3-3 (Just in front of Shizuoka JR Railway Station
Tel.: 054-252-0123
Business hours: 11:00~21:00
Closed on Wednesdays and 3rd Tuesday
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Tags: Asian, Chirashi Sushi, 簡単なレシピ, 静岡, Food, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, Sushi Restaurants, World Cuisines, 寿司, 散らしずし
Posted in Sashimi, Sushi | Leave a Comment »

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/14): Irish Salmon & Shizuoka Dekopon Sushi Bento!

March 28, 2012

Using orange with the rice of sushi?
Yes, it is definitely a good idea when you consider it balances the saltiness of the fish so well!

It also makes for beautiful colors!
The Missus having prepared the sushi rice as usual mixed it with chopped parsley and shredded dekopon orange from Mr. Onuma’s Farm!

She then made a well in the middle to provide for a bed of lettuce on which she rested a couple of roses made up with smoked salmon just brought to us by an Irish friend decorated with pink pepper seeeds and lemon.

As for the salad (no need for dessert with all the orange!) box, plenty of boiled of Brussels sprouts, boiled shrimps and cherry tomatoes with a little mayonnaise, and plenty of boiled black beans (for dessert?)

Very colorful and so tasty!

Japanese Gastronomy: Sushi & Sashimi – Eat Local!

March 18, 2012

009

Saurel pike/Aji from Suruga Bay, Shizuoka Prefecture

Very few people will disagree with the notion that Japan is the ideal place to discover and savour sushi and sashimi in the whole world. Nevertheless, there are a few rules of the thumb to respect, even in this gastronomic paradise.
The overriding rule is that you should try and eat only local fish or seafood.
Tsukiji might be considered a sushi paradise by Tokyoites (it has or will be moved to another location), but the cheap prices enjoyed by tourists cannot conceal the reality: the fish and seafood are “imported” from all over Japan and beyond!
More than often, Edomae (Tokyo) sushi is nothing but a clever way to “dress up” ingredients to lure officionados (and customers) into believing they are eating top quality sushi (with the consequent prices).
Now, if you have the chance and time to explore Japan beyond Tokyo, you will discover an unfathomable treasure trove of gastronomic pleasure and knowledge!
After all, this country is a vast archipelago stretched across greatly different seas and climates, making for a diversity difficult to equal.
So, even if you cannot possibly explore all the shores of this nation, make a point to learn about the food available wherever you choose to stay.
The same goes for residents, not only for their own sake, but for that of their visitors and friends!

018

Sushi set with fish all caught in Suruga Bay, Shizuoka Prefecture

You also ought to do some homework. Sushi chefs worthy of their salt will be only too happy to answer questions to genuinely interested customers and come up with revelations of their own.
As an example to illustrate the need for some basic knowledge, in Hokkaido “oyakodon” (“parent and child”) is not cooked chicken and omelette on a bowl of rice, but raw salmon and its roe spread on top the same bowl of rice!
Likewise, the same fish will more than often be sold under a myriad of names.
Many morsels will not be found anywhere else suc as “sakura ebi/cherry shrimps” and fresh”shirasu/sardine whiting” in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Sashimi in most cases has to be perfectly fresh as typified by “kubiore saba” in Yakushima Island where fishermen break the neck (“kubiore”) of mackerels (“saba”) to preserve their quality upon catching. The same fish will be served within a few hours, or less, on the local tables.
On the other hand, tuna sashimi is best consumed first thawed and then ripened for a few days in a refrigerator.
In Hokkaido, large shrimps, especially “botan ebi” will be served only raw, whereas “kuruma ebi” will be first boiled in other regions.

If you ask for “tataki”, make sure it means the whole fish, especially “aji/mackerel pike” that will be served finely cut as tartare atop the dressed fish. And if the fish is really fresh such small and medium fish will have their bones and heads served deep-fried for a beautiful crispy snack!

002

Flying Fish/Tobiuo sashimi from Yakushima Island

On the other hand, sushi follows different rules.
Fish and seafood placed on “donburi” (bowl) are usually of the freshly brought variety but fish served as nigiri is prepared in a different way.
The greatest sushi (and this cannot be done in Tsukiji!) are made with fish which has been gutted and cleaned live within seconds, then dressed into strips/fillets left to mature in a refrigerator on clean cloth/kitchen paper. This can be done only with fish caught locally!
The same obviously goes with shellfish and other marine ceatures: One cannot sample better “uni/sea urchin” away from Hokkaido or sakura ebi from Shizuoka.

Vegan and vegetarians, upon finding a restaurant willing to satisfy their priorities should also ask for food grown locally, a search easier than one might think at first as there are many non-meat eaters in this mainly Buddhist country.
The same vegetables will make for the perfect combination when associated with local fish!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Tags: Asian, 簡単なレシピ, 静岡, Fish, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, World Cuisines
Posted in Sashimi, Sushi | Leave a Comment »

Sushi: Kawahagi-Filefish Sashimi & Sushi at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

March 5, 2012

Service: Very friendly and always accommodating
Facilities: Great overall cleanliness. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Great use of local seafood. Will try hard to accommodate any requests!

Kawahagi, or Filefish or Leather jacket in the Land of Oz, must be one of the most underrated fish in the World!
Some people go as far as to say that penny for penny it is worth more than overpriced globefish/fugu!

As we sat at Sushi Ko, our favorite Sushi Restaurant in Shizuoka City we noticed “Kawahagi Tsukuri”/カワハギ造り/Filefish sashimi Plate written on the small board featuring the “specials” of the day!

The live filefish taken out of the tank by the chef!
The fish had been caught off Sagara in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Sushi Ko has a great list of local sake, but I had to order one from Masu Ichi Brewery in Shizuoka City as this might well be the last bottle as the brewery closed down following the untimely death of its owner/master brewer. An incredible loss for the Shizuoka Sake World!

Tuna Tartare as the snack for the first drink!

The filefish sashimi plate!

You roll the fine slices of filefish around some thin leeks before dipping it in its sauce!

The dip sauce!
It was made with the fresh raw liver of the filefish finely chopped and mixed with ponzu!
A true delicacy!

The chef had kept apart a little sashimi and liver for two more morsels!

A nigiri with chopped thin leeks under the fish topped with its liver!

A gunkan/”mother ship” with the sashimi topped with its liver and chopped thin leeks!

And the deep-fried jowls of the fish you eat with your fingers (that you lick later!) to cap it all!
Have I convinced you to look for that fish next time you see it on a market?

“Pon kara maguro”/deep-fried tuna cubes with grated daikon seasoned with chili pepper!

Of course the filefish was only the beginning of our dinner.
So for the record here we go including the above picture!

Maguro Zuke/Marinated lean part of tuna!

Hotate/Scallops!

Amaebi/Sweet shrimps!
(sorry for the fuzzy pic, as my mind was getting a bit fuzzy with all the sake!)

Geso karaage/Deep-fried squid tentacles!

The same, to eat with your fingers!

Ankimo/Frogfish liver or “Japanese foie gras”!

Anago to kyuri maki/Broiled Conger eel and cucumber roll!

Ika shiso to mentaiko maki/Squid, perilla leaf and cod roe pickled in chili pepper roll!

Shirako yaki/Baked cod sperm sacs!

Rainbow California Roll!

Containing: avocado, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet, salmon, salmon roe, prawn, cucumber and akami/lean tuna! Seven of them of course!

Kanpyou maki, the roll for the vegetarians and vegans!
Kanpyou is made with the shavings of a gourd, first dried and then marinated in sweet sauce!

Asari miso shiru/Miso soup with cockles!

To be continued…

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

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Tags: Asian, 簡単なレシピ, 静岡, 角煮, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gstronomy, sashimi, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Sushi, Sushi Restaurants, World Cuisines, 寿司
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

SHIZUOKA SUSHI & SASHIMI: The other Jewels of Japan

Sushi Restaurant: New Concept at Sushi Ko-Miue in Shizuoka City!

Sushi Restaurant: Dinner at Sushi Ko (Spring 2013) in Shizuoka City!

Christmas Sushi: Red King Crab/Tabaragani/タラバガニ Chirashi Zushi!

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: The Other Tidbits!

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Sushi Charlotte!

Sushi Design by Chef Kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City: Gunkan Feast!

Sushi Gastronomy: My Best 10 sushi (and extras!) in Shizuoka in 2012!

Sushi Restaurant: Local Fish at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

Sushi Restaurant: Myouken in Gotemba City!

Sushi: Wagyu Chirahizushi by the Dragon (the real one!)

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/16): Vegetarian Te-mari Sushi. Bento!

Sushi: Shizuoka Chirashi Zushi at Ekimae Matsuno Sushi Restaurant!

Today’s Bento/Lunch Box (12/14): Irish Salmon & Shizuoka Dekopon Sushi Bento!

Japanese Gastronomy: Sushi & Sashimi – Eat Local!

Sushi: Kawahagi-Filefish Sashimi & Sushi at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

Click below: SAKE ROAD!

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