11/4 Road Trip! Down Through Izu Peninsula to Toi



 11/4 Weather:

Today we are on a road trip from Tokyo to the Izu Peninsula down to Toi where we are staying tonight. Ellen is driving (thank you Ellen - our interpreter, tour guide and hostess with the mostest)


About 75% of Japan is mountainous and we got into them today after driving through harvested rice paddy’s and fields of tea.





It was really hazy, mostly because they were burning rice fields in the area. 




Lovely little beach community…..




Our room in Toi on the Izu Peninsula.  This is before the futons went down. We got the penthouse suite at this Onsen (hot spring hotel) overlooking the bay. Arrived at dark so more pictures tomorrow. 


We had our own tub on the deck with covered slippers.  Remember, have to take off your shoes and wear slippers in Japan. 




Futons…..

Where we had a very nice dinner in Toi. It is an Italian restaurant. 

Gardens on the way in……


Eight course meal….

1st course: Bonito. Bonito is a fish, served on a baguette with tomato tartar and some fresh herbs on top. 


2nd course: Sardine. Cooked inside some yummy crunchy pasta with Mimolette cheese on top

3rd course: Daruma Squid. So tender!  Cooked perfectly. 


4th course:  Whitefish. These teeny tiny little whitefish that are quite delicious in garlic pasta.



Served with this yummy bread ball with fennel. 



5th course:  Mushroom. Very thinly sliced (perhaps using a mandoline?) mushroom risotto. The texture of the mushroom was such a treat and they tasted so fresh. 


6th course:  Peanut. I must say I was quite intrigued (snd excited) when I saw this on the menu. So, why not make an incredibly rich cream sauce made with finely ground peanut shell with boiled peanuts on top of buffalo mozzarella?  Seriously?!  It did not disappoint. 

7th course:  Amagi Berkshire Pork. Of course I space on taking a picture of the main course. 🤦🏻‍♂️. Oh well, it was super delish with a choice of sea salt, sweet miso sauce, wasabi or these roasted (almost smoked) peppercorns from Indonesia for your dipping pleasure.  Peppercorns were my preferred method of delivery…..such a nice spicy smoky addition to the pork. 

Some restaurant shots…..







 8th course: Blackfigs.  I can’t remember the type of cookie…..
 
Served with this cream and blackfig dessert….
 

A few drinks at dinner?…..


Back to our room…..

Nightime pics…..








Bedtime……futon so comfy!








 

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