Magic India: Roots of Spice – Numazu

It is truly amazing what a friendly smile and a little bit of incense can do to alter your palette. I know that my taste buds were positively biased by the time I sat down at Magic India. No sooner had we walked into the second story Indian restaurant, in the middle of Numazu’s Nakamise, we were greeted by one of the cheery Indian cooks. The two other Indian cooks poked their heads out from the kitchen with another set of sincere smiles while the sweet perfume of Chandan incense and pungent spices from the kitchen curled their way into my nostrils. I was sold before I even sat down.

Our little group was seated by a window that afforded an excellent people watching spot of the Nakamise. The youngest of the cooks greeted us shyly in some words of English and waited patiently for our orders. I ordered the Chicken Masala with Naan bread dinner set for 980 yen (you can choose rice if you want too) and my wife ordered the smaller two curry dinner set, of mushroom and saag curry and butter chicken curry with Naan that set her back a mere 850yen.

As the rest of our group ordered it became evident that the cook’s level of Japanese was limited to restaurant lingo pleasantly interspersed with a few English words. For an expat like me with an equally limited grasp of Japanese, I felt quite at home and I wanted to make him feel as welcome serving us as he was making us feel. He was one of us.

Our meals arrived, trailing steamy vapors enriched with cinnamon and cardamom. Great wedge shaped Naan billowed over our plates as our table became obscured by food. Our conversations ceased, or were muffled, as we dove in.

I tore of a chunk of freshly baked naan and spooned curry onto it. The light, slightly chewy texture of the bread and the creamy curry made for a great combination. The curry was mild but full of flavour that was accentuated by fennel seed, its sourness subdued by the coconut milk.  The first bite of curry laden naan is the best. As you take your first chew through the bread you can feel and then taste the curry pour onto your tongue. The bread sustains the curry’s richness in your mouth longer for your pallet to interpret each nuance of spice. The tastes lingered in the mouth as kudos was dished out to our friend who suggested this eat.

Somewhere along the line one of our party suggested that the naan was so good that they had to order another. I was up for the challenge too and ordered a second naan. Although the cheese naan or the cheese and bacon option looked tempting I was thoroughly enjoy the simplicity of the original bread. This time round I asked one of the cooks if I could catch a glimpse of them baking it. They were more than happy to oblige.

Walking over to the open kitchen I noticed that the cooks were actually using a traditional Indian wood fired clay oven. No wonder the bread tasted so good.  One of the cooks was slapping away at a ball of dough until it made its traditional wedge shape before he palmed it onto the inside walls of the oven. Even before they put the lid back on the oven you could see air pockets starting to rise on the bread through the rippling heat emanating from the coals at the pit of the oven.

Was my opinion of my meal influenced and manipulated by warm smiles of the cooks, the burning incense and the clay oven? Of course it was. Though I imagine I would have had a great meal without these little sensory bonuses, I know that a meal is much more that what you consume. It is your attitude, the company, the aromas and the atmosphere that plays an equally important role in dinning. When the two come together, as they did for me at Magic India, you know you will be in for a treat.

Location: From the south exit of the Numazu Station follow the path right until you get to the entrance of the Nakamise. Head south down the Nakamise. Magic India is two blocks on your left.

Style: Indian

English menu: Some English on the menu.The rest is mostly in Katakana.

Picture menu: Yes some pictures for you to make your selection.

Gaijin Friendly: Sure is. Run and operated by real live Gaijin like you and me.

Phone: 055 962 8202

Hours: 11:00am-11pm

Cost: A dinner set will cost your between 850yen to 1000yen. Lunch comes in cheaper at between 700yen to 850yen. Most side orders start at 250yen.

Numazu Fish Markets and the opening of the Numazu Minato Shinsenkan

I have to say that I was driven by the potential of freebies. I had never been to a shopping centre opening before so what better way but to cut my teeth and start small on an opening of a little shopping complex at the Numazu Fish markets called the Numazu Minato Shinsenkan.

It was the weather that set the mood for the day; pushy gusts of cold ambushing my wife and me on our bikes as we made our way to the fish market port. The static in the air charged the mind and triggered every kid in the vicinity to foam at the mouth and send their parents to an early grave.

Our arrival at the port was greeted by a group of Lucha Libre’s, Mexican wrestlers, plugging in guitars and keyboards and setting up drums. Of course, I didn’t immediately get their connection to the opening of the shopping centre until my wife pointed out that one of the masked men was wearing a mask that could be a loose depiction of Himono, a type of dried fish. Mind you, he could have also been wearing a giant squid on his head with two holes cut into it so he could see out.

It was around ten-thirty in the morning and the centre was starting to fill. We made our way into the shopping centre. The centre extended out in a straight line for about 100 meters. On either side of the main walk way ran café’s, restaurants, grocers, fish mongers (of course) and food stores featuring Numazu’s regional specialties. I could see all this easily from the entryway because of my six foot four height and the four foot nothing swarm of hunched over grannies filling up the walkway with wisps of grey and black.

My wife charged on into the foray as I hesitated. I have experienced the sheer power of Japanese grannies in the past. Most of these interactions have been during grocery shopping. They are surprisingly nimble and their short stature puts them under my radar as they squeeze their way in front in the check out. If I do however, manage to catch them before they push in, they resort to using their sharp deadly elbows that dig holes into my ribs startling me enough for them to get in front. All the while they tactfully act like sweet little grannies in complete ignorance to the cracked ribs they have just given me. These are the modern day ninja and their name is obaasan. Fear them.

Now I stood before a plague of obaasan’s, jostling each other for potential freebies and the best deals of the day. Was I stupid enough enter this frightening mass of predators? For you, dear reader, yes. No more than a few paces into the crowd I took and elbow to the ribs as I was jostled about from stall to stall making sure that every obaasan had a shot at me, all the while my wife danced and dodged the crowd. An ice cold chill ran down my spine as realization dawned, some day my wife will be an obaasan with frightening abilities.

As my ribs numbed to the jabs, I started to appreciate what was on offer in this shopping mall. The mall was a display of all the delicacies and local produce of Numazu. Each stall specialized in something. One store I was propelled towards sold a selection of dried seafood goods all packaged and ready to be sent on their way as gifts. Next to each type of packaging was little sample taster jars. I tried a number of dried seaweed and was surprised with their delicate nuances of flavour.  In another jar was tiny little fragments of dried fish which exploded with sardine and soy flavours under each crunch.

Further around the store I was greeted by a grinning obaasan, a sales woman this time, with an open jar shoved under my nose. It seems to be an universal phenomenon I have noticed during my travels. If you are in a foreign country and the locals can see you are a tourist, then expect their most foul tasting delicacy to be thrust into your face as a challenge. There is no way for you to really win in this predicament. The local has all the cards. If you decline the offering, then you have insulted their culture and they have won. If you taste the offering and spit it out, vomit or even show a hint of displeasure then you have insulted their culture, but at least you tried. The last option is the best for your ego but this time your stomach looses. This is what I have chosen to employ in these situations. It is simple; take the ‘food’ offering eat it while showing absolute delight and then help yourself to more. You have just earned cultural brownie points (of which you may need to eat said brownie as soon as you are out of site to take away the horrid taste) and possibly a new friend.

So without looking at the contents, and putting on a big smile, I took the food from the jar and chomped away, and away…and away, at the very crunchy, dried baby crabs covered in sesame seeds and tasting exactly the same way that aquarium fish food smelt when scattered over vomit. It took everything I had to reach in the jar for another, but I did, and that wiped the grin of the obaasan’s face. It seemed like she told the rest of her kind because I noticed far less jabs in the ribs for the remainder of my time in the shopping centre.

Traveling up the main aisle I came across a stall that specialized in wasabi, the sinus blasting florescent green mustard most commonly found as an accompaniment to sushi or sashimi. The Izu Peninsula is famous for growing top quality wasabi．This little shop was displaying more that its common paste form you see chugging on you local sushi train. Wasabi rice and prawn crackers were a spicy treat. Though, my favorite wasabi product was the oil. The oil was light on the palate and ended refreshingly well, in a similar way that a good quality extra virgin olive oil leaves your mouth clean and ready for more tastes.

Yet further along the shopping centre there was an interesting fish monger with squirming octopus, crab and crayfish. Each fish eye was brilliantly clear with freshness. Even the giant tuna head sitting on totem display for customers to appreciate looked a little curious as to where the remainder of its body went.

On the port facing side of the market ran half a dozen restaurants, taking advantage of the view of the port with its dramatic View-O tsunami gate in the distance.. A seafood broth was the purvey of one restaurant, while another offered sashimi. One café that caught my eye had cozy little spaces for couples to look out over port or even sit outside on a calmer day (it looks like my old gripe about the lack of balcony dining is going by the wayside). The restaurant’s accessibility to such fresh produce will tempt me back there for a tasting very soon

Finally to top off my tour of the Numazu Minato Shinsenkan, I was greeted by cheeky little characters wearing masks with the funniest expressions I have ever seen. Exaggerated smirks and grins beamed from their masks. Accompanying pelvic trusts and playful trickery heightened their display. Were these the dirty old men sent to frighten the obaasan’s out of the centre before they tore it apart? I never quite figured out the story behind the masked frivolity. But I certainly enjoyed it.

All in all, the opening at the Numazu Minato Shinsenkan was a great way to waste a couple of hours until lunch. While the shopping centre is unashamedly focused on the Japanese tourist market, it was really a great way to see what seasonal food offerings there are in the Numazu local area. Not to mention, the really great dining on the boardwalk running along the centre.

The Numazu Kaijinsai and Numazu Port Festival is going to be a big event for the Numazu Port area and is happening on the 23 May 2009. So take a trip down to explore, get festive, get cultured and wear your stretchy pants, the food is great. 

For more information check out the Numazu City Hall, April Newsletter, here.

Getting there: From the south side of the station continue to head south directly down the maim road for about a kilometer or so.  Check out the here for more details.

A spot of Calm – Numazu

Nobody knows what’s going on. One minute I’m riding and the next I’m being picked up. Timings from two different sources are conflicting. And I’m hungry. But somehow everything always works out perfectly. There is a lot to be said of the ways seemingly chaotic fractals form complex well maintained structures. Perhaps our little groups organizational skills have adapted in the same fashion. In any result, the stresses of the preparation were immediately soothed by Calm (pats himself on the back for excellent corny segue).

Situated about 15 minutes drive south east from the heart of Numazu city, Calm proved to be a side of Numazu’s dining experience I hadn’t seen before. Calm rests right by the waters of Enoura Bay, a child of the greater Suruga Bay. While Calm’s frontage features little more than a car park and a modest sign, the interior of the restaurant and the open air seating by the rocky shore depicted a sleek combination of Japanese and Mediterranean seaside style.

My friends and I move around the back to the out door dining area to enjoy the fresh sea air and, it seems, to allow the ladies of our little group a good view of the diving class next door as their healthy members peeled their wet suits on and off.

Tearing my gaze away from the postcard bay, I perused the menu. Although in Japanese, the majority of the Menu was is Katakana and Hiragana making it easy enough to read and the little extra help from my Japanese friend who introduced us to this place, took the dreariness out of the translating.

The wine menu featured a reasonable array of whites and reds with a standard of beers and spirits. The food menu began with a range of Italian style starters followed by a choice of cream, tomato or cream tomato pastas with various choices of meats. Next were the mouth watering gratin’s and finally the curries with rice. While the menu didn’t feature anything that seemed cutting edge, it seemed the smell coming from the kitchen and our neighboring diners plates were a testament of simple food done well. Something I later found to be true in the taste.

Drifting off into conversation with my friends and gazing at the sea I was surprised to find the hull of a pearly white ocean liner approaching me from the hands of a struggling waiter. The ships hull was filled with steaming rice and chocolate brown curry. If this was an indication of what was to come, I was in for a very filling treat.

Although I didn’t get to have a taste of the curry, even after claiming it was my job as an amateur food and leisure blogger, the groans of delight coming from the two who ordered it were enough to give it a thumbs up. My wife would not get away so easily. Quickly calling “halvesies” I dug into my plate of baby clams in tomato and cream sauce with spaghetti.

One of the problems I have found in my own cooking is getting just the right amount of flavor from the sauce without hiding the taste of the meat. This is particularly important with most seafood. In the case of my meal this was done perfectly. Though, I would have like the sauce to be a little thicker.

After finishing my half of the clam pasta, I waited impatiently for my wife’s creamy salmon pasta with parmesan. It is no wonder I was getting some reluctant glances from my wife as she was handing this one over. The salmons flaky rich saltiness melted into the delicate cream sauce with each bite. The added texture of the pasta and richness of the parmesan was the final cap to an excellent dish. When I think of Calm, the memories of the taste of this meal are the first thing that comes to mind. Simple, delicious pasta, done well.

The combination of the beautiful bay, tasty meals and wonderful company made the day well worth the disorganization.

Location: Follow the south eastern coastal road towards Heda. Its about a 15 minute drive from Numazu Station and 25 minutes easy riding. Check out the map for further details.

Style: Pasta, Gratin and Curry in big portion by the bay. Perfect for a weekend lunch.

English menu: No, but if most of it is in Katakana and some Hiragana.

Picture menu: No sorry.

Gaijin Friendly: Sure is.

Phone:055 933 4481

Hours: Weekdays; 11:30 am-3:00pm and 5:30pm – 10:00pm. Weekends 11:30am-4:00pm and 5:00pm-10:00pm

Cost: From about 800yen to 1000yen for mains.

Niie Restaurant – Numazu

I’m on a mission. I’m in search of a place that I can just wander in, find a cozy corner with a deep couch and loose myself in a book while sipping on my favourite beverage.

Really, it does seem like an ideal concept but how hard is it to find a cafe, bar or restaurant like that these days. Particularly in a country that offers shoe box accommodation so small that it almost squeezes you back out into the world in order to relax and socialize.

However, apart from the comfort gleaned from Japan’s Internet ‘hostels’, finding a decent comfy spot to have a cuppa, glass of wine or beer are nigh on impossible.

Sheltering in a nuclear bunker before saying this; Starbucks does have the right idea. Soft earthy colours, deep couches and no pressure for you get back on the consumer conveyor belt.

It was these thoughts that I was hurled under the pressure of the confines of my apartment out into the street to search for such a wondrous place.

I have had my eye on a new place on the Numazu south side for a while. Its strange shuttered frontage and non nondescript entrance had me reluctant to potentially jiggle at a door that may or may not be open. But this was the time to bite the bullet and see if Niie was in fact open for business.

Thankfully it was. The white mat interior was subdued by the warm yellow lighting and contrasted well with the black tableware. As you enter Niie you are greeted with a bar and a full range of assortment that would have tempted me had I not been in the mood for just a simple sit down, coffee and a read.

I ventured past the bar (and tried not to look into the kitchen) and up a stair level to a cozy dinning area with, yep you guessed it, couches. Eureka! I do love dumb luck sometimes.

I snuggled into a two seater under a stairwell and ordered a coffee. My host presented me with a glass of water and offered me the lunch menu. Unfortunately this time I had to decline a meal. Though, after smelling and glimpsing what other customers were getting I was cursing myself for eating earlier.

My coffee came out brusquely and in a clear coffee cup. This sparked some recognition from a previous trip to Gotemba Premium Outlet. the cutlery was Bodum. Stylish.

After taking a few picture of Niie it was time to really give it a road test. I got out my book and settled in for a comfy read.

Niie is certainly a stylish retro bar-restaruant with its acid jazz flowing out of speakers and funky decor. While the floor plan is a little odd, not taking full advantage of the windowed frontage, it certainly does create a relaxing mood for a good read.

Niie is well worth another visit.

Location: South side of Numazu station near go straight south about 100 meters from the western underpass. For more details check out the map here;

Style: Jazzy retro style bar and restaurant.

Contact: 055-951-0330, email; info@niie.jp, website; www.niie.jp

Maruka and the search for Lamb – Numazu

“Lamb arimasuka?”

The woman behind the counter tilts her head to the side and continues to look at me, lost.

Hmm, how about this; “Lambu arimasuka?” I ask again. I am met with a tilt of the head in the other direction. I mentally kick myself for not bringing my English-Japanese dictionary but plough on into another variant of saying lamb.

After the third tilt of the head I am starting to wonder if I repeatedly say lamb really fast then perhaps the counter woman’s head might just pop off like a cork out of a wine bottle. Struggling to control my amusement over this mental reenactment, I change tactic to inquiring about the availability of mutton.

Success. There is mutton. My wife pipes up with an inquiring “Baby mutton?” This is met by yet another tilt of the head. The poor woman behind the counter is going to need a neck brace by the time we have finished with her.

Fortunately I came up with one better than my wife (a very rare occurrence). “kodomo mutton?” I inquire.

“Oh lamb,” the counter woman responds glaring at me as if she was thinking, ‘why didn’t you say so in the first place’? My wife retreats to stifle a laugh as I stoically chew on my cheeks and swallow my own guffaw.

We have lamb!

Australians and New Zealanders especially love their lamb. We grew up with eating it. It is very much apart of our culture and we start acting funny funnier when we are without it.

After recently returning from a little over a month relaxing in Thailand, my wife and I met up with a Japanese friend of ours who we proceed bore about our trip in exchange for providing her with some quality souvenirs from our vacation. Finally our conversation led to our obsessive roast lamb dining habits while staying in the resort town of Pattaya.

Our friend stirred and quickly added, as we paused from our relentless story telling, “You can get lamb in Numazu”.

We were at a loss for words. I managed to mumble to her a startled, “You can get lamb in Numazu? Where?” Excitement was starting to flood over me. I now realize why torturers are so violent. Its the pure excitement of getting the information out immediately. I know that I felt like leaping across the table onto our poor friend and shake her down until she spilled the beans on the location, of the sacred lamb.

Perhaps seeing the wild desperation in our eyes she quickly told us that it could be found on the north side of the Numazu station following the road north towards eSPOT. A place called Maruka.

We knew Maruka well. Maruka has regularly supplied us with such a diverse range of meats from, beef and pork to chicken and duck with sweet meats in between. They offer a variety of cuts and there is even a section for you to have your meat cut to order. The best part in the price. These guys are very competitive in their prices and the quality is generally quite high. Another bonus of Maruka is that they also offer a large assortment of fresh fruit, vegetable and fish; also very cheap.

Now to our embarrassment there was lamb and mutton at Maruka all along.

I ordered about 600grams of boneless loin strips, at 100yen per 100grams, that our friendly, head tilting, woman behind the counter cut to order and an assortment of prepacked chops and spare riblets. Again Maruka surprised us with their variety and quality food.

It’s Lamb for dinner tonight and a little slice of home.

P.S. Just so you don’t suffer the same predicament that we faced, here is the Japanese word for lamb; ramuniku. Failing that, this is the word for still living lambs; kohitsuji. Best of luck. Scott.

Directions: On the north side of Numazu Station head north towards eSPOT. It will be on your right hand side.

Style: Butchers specializing in foreign style cuts of Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mutton, Chicken, Duck, Fish and Sweet Meats. They also provide a good selection of groceries. All prices are very competitive and the quality generally quite good.

Itchibaten – Numazu Fishmarket

Note: Itchibaten has since closed its restaurant doors.

I have been neglecting the wonderful local produce synonymous with Numazu and in particular its popular fish market area. While this time I did not indulge in Numazu’s calling card, Himono (nope not a fish dressed in silk), I was hungry for sashimi. Not inclined to getting up in the dark of the morning to indulge in the fresh catch being unloaded from the boats onto the open air market shed, I settled for the comforts of a restaurant that overlooked the fish market floor. Perhaps in this way an early rising alter ego could be sated with visual props and a sound imagination.

This time I was off to the Itchibaten. The Itcibaten is a restaurant that had caught my attention in the past, but I never really got around to visiting. From the outside it is easy to see why it would catch my attention. With is pastel blue wall and cheerful seafood art, it would look at home in Shibuya (perhaps with something mechanized like a giant crab, a fishmonger chopping a fish, a trawler taking in a net. Alas the joys of gaudy animatronics could go on and on.). However, in Numazu this place stood out like…well…me in Numazu. This looked like a fun place.

As I entered I was ushered to a table and give some large picture menus. The menu offered a range of sashimi, sushi, soups and other seafood dishes starting from about 1300yen and finishing at around 3000yen. Taking note of what the other patrons had ordered I chose a midrange sushi set and settled back and enjoyed my surroundings.

Although I think I would much rather have liked to have dined upstairs where there were better views of the fish market port and the enormous croquet hoop, View-O, their downstairs dinning area displayed the chef’s at their work and the clean light wood decor offered a hint to the freshness of the meal to come.

The sushi set and accompanying soup that arrived at my table was decked out on a a large wooden board with large pieces of sushi splayed across it. There was no pretense of delicate mouth sized portions arranged in dizzying designs. This was plain, simple fair and ideal for the feel of the restaurant. You could almost imagine standing next to a fish monger as he carves the morning take and offers you a slice of fresh mouthwatering fish.

The fresh flavors of the set were fantastic. From the bottom left; The sweet egg sushi was a solid palate cleanser between fish , the juicy bursts of oily saltiness of salmon roe (ikura) were amazing, the prawn was tender, the white fish, aji was clean and un-presuming, the mackerel a rich smoky flavor, the buttery tuna was a delight, the crisscrossed calamari brilliantly white, the red salmon a treat and contrary to appearances (note the across grain cut along joining tissue) soft and free of any stringiness. Finally the the six small sushi rolls half of which stuffed with fatty minced salmon and the other cucumber, were an unnecessary filler but a treat all the same.

The only real thing of note was the bone in the pink salmon. By some, thought of as a cardinal sin for the sashimi/sushi chefs but by others, shit happens. Note: for more information on Shizuoka sushi and sashimi please visit the Shizuoka Sushi and Sashimi blog, one of the homes to the big daddy of Shizuoka Gourmet writing Robert-Gilles Martineau. Oh and RG, I am pretty sure I have all the fish right but if you could give it a once over that would be great mate.

For a warm and pretense free experience in Numazu’s seafood you can’t really go wrong with Itchibaten.

Location: In the fish market district. From Numazu Station follow the main road south about 1000m to the end and turn right. You are in the fish markets. For better details check out

Style: Seafood featuring sashimi and sushi fresh from the fish market across the road.

Picture menu: Yes for the mains but the side dishes are in Japanese.

English menu: no but you can work out most of it with the pictures.

Gaijin Friendly: Yep, but a little nervous about the potential of having to try and speak English. Poor buggers they do try.

Prices: Sushi and Sashimi sets start from around 1300yen and finish around 3000. Remember these meals have big portions.

Mizuta – Baking and Confectionary Supplies

Mizuta – Numazu South

This is one of these ’smack yourself in the head’ moments where you look everywhere for something for hours until you realize that is was right there under you nose. In fact ever apartment and house that I have lived in has taken on the attributes of a central hub where a conglomeration of quantum worm holes meet. In these places time and space do not seem to work in what we consider as normal. For example I could have swore that I had walked past the same spot in search for my keys, wallet, note book, beer or wife (no not in descending order of importance) a dozen times only to see nothing but space and then on some random occasion when I have given up any hope of finding any of the stated above, it appears. Coincidentally this is contrary to one of the earlier laws of quantum physics stating that it takes an observer for something to exist in a particular for and time (however the laws of quantum physics now resemble something closer to fight club than anything else). I digress.

Allow me to set the scene in brief. It was a few weeks before Christmas last year and I wanted to make rum balls. Yep I am a bloke in Japan that cooks, my teachers still don’t believe me. Anyway, I needed shortening and coconut flakes. My wife and I had casually searched for these items for some time with no luck. But now as Christmas was quickly coming upon us it was time to get busy and find these ingredients.

We looked everywhere in Numazu but with no luck. We were considering extending our search to Shizuoka when we had to go down to our local post office to send off a few Christmas cards. On the way, we passes a rather nondescript shop with Mizuta written in Katakana and in ‘fine print’ above, ‘Home Made and Pro Shop’ in English. ‘Hmmm, pro shop’ I thought. ‘Well it couldn’t be golf’ my sharp as a spoon analytical mind kicked over. ‘While I was still thinking about golf, my wife had delicately steered us into the shop and my thoughts immediately snapped from sports to cooking.

Mizuta had to have my desperately needed shortening and coconut flakes. To my relief it did. In fact Mizuta, in the south side of Numazu, had far more than that, it had an incredible range of baking and confectionery ingredients. We explored the excellent range of Belgium, French and German cooking chocolates; dried fruit; assorted lards; essences; colorings; flours; creams and more. As we explored deeper into Mizuta we found a good selection of baking and confectionery equipment and packaging. We knew we had hit the fabled ‘pay dirt’.

We managed to crawl out of Mizuta with only a little bit more than what we were looking for and a great desire to see if a 3500yen toaster can bake something (it can!!!).

Mizuta is a quality shop for baking and confectionery supplies. Their range is of high quality and encompasses most ingredients you will need to bake or make confectionery. If you have an oven, convection microwave or are into extreme cooking in a cheap toaster like us this is the place for you.

Cheers

Scott Garbie

Location: South side. Full map reference here

Hours: 9:00-1800

Mameya – Numazu

As I write I can still smell the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans that has permeated my hair and clothes. The smokey smell draws rich memories of short a jaunt to Mameya in south Numazu.

This little shop is essential for the coffee connoisseur, in Numazu. Over 15 varieties of green beans rest in their hessian bags just waiting to be roasted on site. The owners of Mameya have sourced top quality beans from around the world.

All coffees are written in katakana and if you can’t read katakana then you can ask the friendly staff to read them out for you and point to the map above the beans for locations.

It is a novelty to just sit in Mameya and watch you coffee beans being roasted and then tray thrown to cool and clean the beans before being dropped in a bag ready for you to take home. The great thing is that you are provided with a cup of coffee while you wait.

If you can manage to take your eyes off the roasting process and shake off the intoxicating aroma, the yellow wood barn decor and original variety of coffee knick-knacks on sale (the knick-knack’s not the bench on sale *rolls eyes*) will keep you occupied and threaten to lighten you wallet a little more.

Mameya provided an excellent opportunity for you to experience the freshest coffee while developing a closer appreciation for this fine beverage.

Cheers

Scott Garbie.

Location: Mameya is on the south side of Numazu Station. With your back to the station turn right, west, and follow the road around. Cross the road at the underpass and continue up the street about 50m. Mameya will be on your right.

English Menu: No but the staff can read out the coffee types or point to their location on the map. Don’t forget to tell them if you want a full (kanzen na yaku), medium (chukan na yaku) or light roast (karui na yaku).(please pardon my sloppyJapanese, this gets me by but if there is a better way to request this in Japanese send me a comment and I will change it with your thanks)

Contact: ph: 055-962-7500, website: http://mameya.boo.jp/

Hours: 10:30~19:00

aiai – Numazu Central

Being a foodie is great but sometimes you go through a spell when everything is starting to taste the same. For me this is a little depressing. I begin to wonder; ‘Is this it for food? Will I not be surprised again?’ Sure it is great to get a originally presented meal but sometimes, the combinations of flavor, texture, temperature and aroma all blend in to being much of the ’same old same old’.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do love re-experiencing some new flavors (aka the Chocolate cake at B-House) but I am always on the lookout for something new and heartfelt in my dining.

Just as my wife and I were sharing these thoughts our appetizers arrived and everything changed…

On a whim, we had decided to dine at aiai.

The restaurant aiai, in the heart of Numazu city is so very rare place where the chef is not afraid to experiment with new combinations of flavors and food. You can really taste the love here.

Our smoked bacon, pickled vegetable and salad proved to be a great combination of colours and flavours. In one direction the appetizer evolved from salad softness to crunchy pickled vegetables to crackly bacon. While at another direction the progressive salty flavors sort to create another degree of unity.

For our mains I chose the ‘Herb Chicken with Tomato Sauce”. This meal was a treat. The skin on the chicken was cooked crisp while the subtle herbs cause surprisingly enhanced the flavor of the chicken rather that hiding it. However my wife’s choice was the best, Sea Bass with Japanese Caramel Sauce. This was the bomb diggity. The mild creamy sauce with what tasted to be a hint of anchovey pasted was the perfect mix for this fresh tasting fish. The little surprise what the half dozen or so baby beach muscles (we call em pippies in Queensland Australia) and button mushrooms resting in the sauce. Scrumptious.

Having chosen the appetizer, main and dessert set. I was then greeted with a dessert platter of Blanc Mange, fruit, cream and two selections of cake.

Their selection of shandy mixes caught my wife’s eye and she chose a cassis and beer mix that tasted quite nice.

We certainly swallowed out words that night.

Location: aiai is directly south of Numazu Station is will be about 100meters down on the left hand side. For a map of the location click here:

Style: Fusion restaurant

English Menu: Yes they have an English Set menu but the menu does not have its full selection nor does it provide an English Wine list.

Picture Menu: No

Gaijin Friendly: Yes

Prices: For an appertiser and main set 1500yen and for an appertiser, main, dessert and coffee 2000yen

Hours: 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00

Contact: 055-962-1549

B-House Cake and Cafe

The food in Japan is amazing. Actually the food in Japan was amazing enough for me to feel the urge to start writing about it. But there are still times when you really need something that reminds you of home. In this case it’s adultery and on the odd occasion a hearty ménage à trois.

Yes yes, I know what some of you are think; Scott you haven’t looked hard enough in Numazu, mate. But I don’t like to share myself or my wife with just anyone special. I am very particular and B- House is the only place that I have found that has been able to arrange my needs; rich, brown, moist and delicious…

…chocolate mud cake. I’m getting all worked up just thinking about it.

Ladies and gentlemen, good chocolate mud cake should be a sexual experience. A peak of hedonist delights and something you should only indulge in with your most intimate partner. You should saver every mouthful, memorizing every flavor. Reveling in the way it succumbs to your mouth and unfolds under your tongue. Its cocoa aroma drawing out previous memories of such sins and allows those memories to mingle with the present enhancing every bite. Sexual.

Or you could just enjoy it for what it is, bloody good cake.

B-House is the only place I have found that does ‘real’ chocolate mud cake. This cake has a heart and a soul, unlike the dry flaky imitation chocolate mud cake that I have tried in every other cake shop, cafe and restaurant in Japan.

Numazu’s B-House Cafe’s chocolate mud cake is an ideal indulgence.

My rather sad culinary fetish aside, B-House is a quality place. The combination of the young staff and mumbling acid jazz, adds to its smooth vibe. Their large range of cakes, salads, quiche and other foods are of themselves a reason to visit. Their coffee, tea and wine are well chosen and certainly provide a solid compliment for their dishes.

If you see me languidly reclining on a chair, eyes closed and the odd muffled groan reaching your ears over the smooth beats emanating from the speakers,you know what I’m doing. Do Not Disturb.

Cheers
Scott Garbie

Location:North side of Numazu station. Heading towards Bivi there Should be a street to your left running North South. Head north up this street and it will be on your right just before Espot.

Style: Cafe

English menu: some

Picture menu: no

Gaijin Friendly: yes

Prices: cake and drink set 850yen, Lunch set 950. as of this date prices may change in the future.

Hours: 11:00 to 0:00hrs less on Monday’s

Phone: 055 921 9428