Sushi: Shimizu Sushi Dokoro “Umi” in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Kujira tataki/Seared whale!

Service: Attentive and smiling
Facilities & Equipment: Great cleanliness overall. Suparb washeroom shared with oh\ther sushi restaurants
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Many local fish and seafood in use. Superb product freshness. Great Sake list!
Completely non-smoking!

S Pulse Dream Plaza is famous nationally because of the Shimizu S Pulse Soccer Club but also for the “Sushi Alley” inside on the first floor!
I had a good look at the many restaurants today before choosing Umi!

Simple and great name as Umi/海 means “Sea”!

I know a lot of people who would like to steal these plastic paste models!

Excellent quality discovered from the moment you can peer into the window display!

Completely non-smoking!
Extremely appreciated in the particular case of sushi!
Actually all the restaurants in the building are non-smoking!

Great attention to small details: all sushi served on a beautiful earthenware tray!

They do offer great sets at lunch time, although you may order what you want from thetablets fung on the wall in front of you!
Now, what did I have? (Hold on your seat!)

But first of all I could not resist some local sake: Garyubai Junmai Daiginjo “Kaibin Jurinikaoru” by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Kinmedai aburi/seared Splendid Alfonsino!

Akami/lean tuna!

Toro/Tuna fat belly!

Tasty miso soup for later!

Konbu Shime saba/Seaweed marinated mackerel topped with seaweed!

Aburi toro/Seared tuna fat belly!

Tamago yaki!

Akagai/Red blood clam!

Suwagani/Snow crab!

Shiro ebi to ikura/White shrimp and salmon roe!

Uni/Sea urchin!

Anago/Conger eel!

Negi toro maki/Grated toro roll!

Then it was time for another glass of local sake: Kokkou Daiginjyo by Kokkou Brewery in Fukuroi City!

I was still hungry so I had Kujira tataki/seared whale!

Beautiful meat served with fresh vegetables and four kinds of seasoning!

And two different dressings!

See you next time I go to Shimizu!

SHIMIZU SUSHI DOKORO “UMI”
Shizuoka City, Shimizu ku, Irifune Cho, 13-15, S Pulse Dream Plaza Bldg, 1F (get off at Shimizu JR Station East Exit and board the free shuttle bus to its final destonation at S Pulse Dream Plaza)
Tel.: 054-354-3700
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00
Credita Cards OK
Completely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Shop with Intent by Debbie
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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Sushi: “Birufeuille” or Millefeuille by Chef kenta Birukawa at Sushi Ko in Shizuoka City!

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

On our way back from the Shimada Obi Festival we decided to have dinner at Sushi Ko Sushi Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City last night!
I and Dragon took the opportunity to challenge Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん into an new cretioon!

Actually Dragon made the suggestsion.
Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん is famed for his Sushi Millefeuille and Spicy Scallops Roll!
Hence he was asked to combine the two!

Can you guess what ingredients were used?
Well, the main part consisted of three layers of shari/sushi rice with one layer of raw scallops which had been seasoned with mayonnaise and spices beforehand and a layer of thinly sliced crunchy Japanese cucumber.

A view from the top may help!

Well, the top was garnished with pieces of scallops, tempura kasu/tempura batter bits for more crunch, scallions. ikura/salmon roe and akami/red lean tuna!

For a closer view!

More scallops and other tidbits to avoid any disputes between Dragon and I!

What happens when yo start demolishing the edifice!

Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん who had conceived his creation for a photograph first interrupted us to add the missing mayonnaise and other seasoning!

Even half broken it still looked a beauty!

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

Shop with Intent by Debbie
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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-6

A great set for two, but don’t fight over the single items! LOL

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

This is unfortunately the last installment, but I will come with another theme next time!
Isetan Department Store’s display is not wide-ranging as the other other but it is nonetheless worth a visit and a long look. Be aware that their offerings go fast, so come early!

At 1,500 yen (but with a 100-yen disount!) the price seems a bit high for this one, but it includes “hon maguro/blue fin tuna”, ikura and raw salmon among pricey items. Note the menegi/leek sprouts sushi nigiri!

Two very reasonable set for 580 yen (minus a 100-yen discount):
Hirame Tsukushi/Sole (halibut, grouper) sushi nigiri
An all tuna set with sushi nigiri, grated tuna/negitoro gunkan and tekka maki!

An individual sushi set for 780 yen including tuna, flying fish roe, negitoro gunkan and cuttle fish!

Two different individual all-tuna sushi sets for 580 yen! Now, this is cheap!

The day Special sushi set!
15 sushi pieces for 1,780 yen! A whole dinner!
Including pricey items such as hon-maguro, mebachi tuna and conger eel!
What would you pay for that even in a sushi restaurant?

4 inari zushi for 210 yen! The perfect accompaniment to another set of fish or fowl for example!

All kinds of sushi rolls (2 per pack cut into 4 pieces each) from 210 yen to 420 yen! An embarrassment of choices!

kaisen donburi/Fresh seafood bowl with 7 different ingredients including tuna on a bowl of sushi rice! Only 680 yen! A whole meal!

A Shizuoka specialty: Anago donburi!
Broiled conger eel and tamagoyaki atop rice!
At 580 yen, a real bargain!

Right, that is all for sushi sets, bentos and takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores!
Of course if I have the opportunity to visit other Department Stores in a different city of our Prefecture I’ll be glad to report on them!

Any suggestions for the next theme based on food you could buy at Shizuoka City Department Stores?

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-5

The little red and white tag means that the wasabi is served separately!

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the second one which is owned by the Shizutestsu Stores Chain!!

Thin rolls for all priorities, including vegetarian all 260 yen a pack!

A pack of 8 tuna nigiri sushi for 580 yen or (right) or 6 horse mackerel nigiri sushi for 398 yen. Horse mackerel is Shizuoka specialty!

A set of 10 smaller nigiri sushi for 680 yen including flying fish roe, tuna, scallops, salmon and so on!
Perfect for small appetites!

A similar set in an easy to carry bento box for 780 yen but with ikura!

Two similar sets for 780 yen including 9 nigiri sushi (with a 100 yen discount!) one with flying fish roe on cucumber, the other with negitoro/grated tuna!

A very reasonable set for 690 yen comprising 10 nigiri sushi! Note the small pack of pickled ginger!

Now this set of “Shun/旬/Seasonal seafood”, 10 of them is really good value, even in spite of the smaller toppings!

An all-salmon sushi nigiri bento for 590 yen with raw salmon, seared salon, and gunkan containing oya-ko/parent and child/ikura and small pieces of raw salmon!

For maki/rolls lovers! Extremely good value!

At 599 yen ridiculously cheap 5 gunkan sushi filled with ikura! For the Russians? LOL

The next and last stop will be at Isetan Department store!

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores-4

Do not ignore the great sashimi sets either at Cenova Department Store!

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the first one which is affiliated to the supermarket at Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store!

A classic set with no less than 11 varieties of sushi nigiri including the Shizuoka specialty, a big conger eel!
At 1,380 yen a bargain considering that ikura and sea urchin are also featured!

At 950 yen all seafood local coming from Numazu Harbor!
Talk about local freshness!

For the thin maki/rolls lovers at 260 yen a box!

599 yen, another ridiculously low price for ikura!

Two different donburi:
Tekkadon with tuna and scallops fro 525 yen
Maguro no Tsubu Don with pieces of tuna and sweet shrimps for 398 yen!

“Shun/旬/Seasonal no neta nigiri!
Seasonal fish only in sushi nigiri fwaturing sardine, tuna, pike mackerel, yellowtail, and bonito for 690 yen!

Another set at the same price but all sushi nigiri different including salmon, squid and scallops!

Almost the same for the same price but including negitoro/grated tuna and ikura!

For the lovers of Large (actually medium here) Maki/Roll for 299 yen and inari sushi (sushi rice inside deep-fried sweet tofu pouches for 200 yen!

Next I will take you to the second supermarket owned by the Shizutetsu Stores Chain inside Cenova Department Store!

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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department stores-3

Shirasu (steamed sardine whiting) donburu and Enroku (large rolls and inari sushi)

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

As promised in Part 1 I will take you next to Matsuzakaya Department Store just across Shizuoka JR Station
As the supermarket is located in the basement you can access to it directly through the underground passageway from the station!

All all tuna set! O-toro and Chu-toro nigiri and a negi-toro (grated tuna) inn gunkan style. Note that the wasabi is separately served to suit all priorities. At 800 yen a giveaway!

A more extravagant set including O-toro and Chu-toro, salmon, clams, salmon’s roe, sea urchin and white flesh fish! Only 1,285 yen!

Among others this set features chu-toro, ama ebi/sweet shrimp, ikura/salmon’s roe and broiled conger eel! 980 yen!

Kaisen Donburi, a cheaper and full meal devised as a donburi with ingredients arranged atop sushi rice including clam, octopus, boiled prawn, tuna, squid, shredded omelet, pickled mackerel and so on. At 580 yen ridiculously cheap!

A more sophisticated set of sushi nigiri featuring Chu-toro, crab, saurel, red clam, ikura and kanpachi/amberjack or yellowtail. At 680 yen for the sushi lovers!

This particular set has obviously been designed for a couple as all ingredients come in twos!
At 1480 yen it is very cheap as it includes sea urchin, ikura and tuna!

This set called “Hagoromo”, a name found on matsubara Beach which has just become a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in the company of Mount Fuji, is perfect for a full lunch or dinner as the nigiri have been devised smaller on purpose but still featuring such ingredients as tuna, conger eel, pickled mackerel, boiled shrimp, raw salmon and so on. Only 780 yen!

“Maguo Zukushi Set”/All tuna set!
As nigiri with slices of raw tuna, gunkan containing negitoro/grated tuna and tuna sushi rolls! At 780 yen you can enjoy tuna in 3 different ways!

Another budget-like sushi set featuring a great variety of ingredients including tuna, squid, seared salmon, kampyou maki rolls and so on! Only 580 yen!

All kinds of rolls for less than 300 yen a pack!

Very reasonable and yummy set of 8 (less than 700 yen) and 4 (less than 300 yen) nigiri sushi which allow you to choose a predetermined ingredient at a reasonable price to complement your meal!

Now, if you come late in the afternoon, at about 5:30 or later you might be able to profit from bargained prices but you will have to hurry as it is a real battle to get them after office hours! 680 yen, can you beat that?

11 x nigiri sushi for 880 yen!

A truly extravagant set of 12 x nigiri sushi for 1,180 yen!

next i will take you to two different places inside Cenova Department Store, about 15 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station!

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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department stores-2

Devising your own sushi meal at Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store!

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

As promised in Part 1 I will take you next to another part of Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store. It is actually the first part of the market you can enter from inside the station. It is replete with all kinds of food to take out from Chinese to oden and of course sushi!

In that particular part of the supermarket sushi are sold by Uogashi Sushi Restaurants Chain Company which hails from Numazu City in the Eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture.
One of their attractions is that offer individual sushi nigiri all individually wrapped!

There are loads to choose from and I can tell you you will have a hard time choosing form them!

They also offer very reasonable (580 yen) shirashi donburi you can take home or to the office right away!

Kohaku Donburi/Red and White Donburi!
A combination you will probably never see away from japan: steamed shirasu/sardine whitebait and grated tuna (raw)! A delicacy!
At 500 yen, a giveaway! Mind you shirasu is a Shizuoka specialty!

Tokujyo Mizore Donburi.
At only 780 yen, another giveaway including crab, sea urchin and raw tuna served as chirashi sushi!

Temaki sushi! hand-made sushi “roll” conceived in a conical form easy to handle and eat!
Prepared and sold individually!

For a closer look!
Priced between 140 and 220 yen.
Note that the nori/dry seaweed is kept dry!

Tappuri (a lot) anago (conger eel) donburi!
At 980 yen it is still a bargain considering the spiraling prices. The fact that is a Shizuoka-bred fish does help!
The broiled fish is very soft and a real delicacy!

Next I will take you to Matsuzakaya Department store just across from Shizuoka JR Station

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

Sushi: Sushi Sets, Bentos and Takeouts at Shizuoka City Department stores-1

Sushi Lunch Bentos fro sale at 500 yen at Shizuoka JR Station Parche Supermarket!

Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!

Let’s start with the big supermarket on the first (ground) floor Of Parche Department Store located above and around Shizuoka JR Station!
First go to the fish and seafood area at the very end of the supermarket near the fish stand where they conduct interesting sushi lunch set sales!
500 yen a box is cheap away from Japan!

Yamakake!
A Shizuoka specialty featuring grated yam and raw tuna atop sushi rice.

Unagi Hitsuma Bushi!
Another Shizuoka specialty featuring pieces of broiled eel and shredded omelet atop sushi rice!

Tekka Donburi!
Plain tuna slices atop sushi rice!

Hoso maki Tume Awsase!
Set of 7 different thin sushi rolls!

Ebi katsu maki!
Sliced Deep-fried prawn sushi roll!

Ni Anago!
Another Shizuoka specialty: broiled conger eel atop sushi rice balls in nigiri style!

A bit of extravagance!
Madai/True seabream nigiri
Zuwaigani/Snow crab nigiri!

A general view of the sushi takeouts you can purchse till evening!

And another one!

Next time I’ll take you to another part of Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store!

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

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

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

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

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:

-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

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

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

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

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

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

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….

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:

-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

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

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

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!

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:

-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

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

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

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…

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:

-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

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

-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