When I first started this site back in 1996, I didn’t even know that ramen shops existed. Now they are in every major city in the US. The town I live in only has about 120,000 people and has no ramen shop. Have you guys ever been to one?
Ramen Blogs
Day 307:
Forgive me for clogging your rss feed, but there was no way I could do this day justice with only 5 pictures. In all, I took over 250 pictures and it was hard enough narrowing it down to just this many. So without further ado, let's go find this ramen buddha!
At 6am, the suns rays shined through the glass much as it would have 100 years ago and awoke my ramen spirit with a mission. There was only one way to seek out the ramen buddha. I must first identify and slurp the 3 bowls to ramen liberation. Some may say it's the key to finding your inner ramenhism.
So after a quick morning meditation session, while enjoying the view of Mt. Daimonji, I was ready.
"Follow the man in the Bassanova shirt and he will lead the way," I was told.
Shinnyo-do, located just down the hill and south from where I was staying atop Mt. Yoshida, is in fact a favorite of the ramen buddha. Unfortunately, this was not his season.
The 30 meters tall pagoda is an impressive structure and an awesome sight to see in person. I've been told that the best time to visit Shinnyo-do is in the Fall when the late Autumn leaves litter the landscape and convert the already beautiful scene into a tranquil paradise.
A little further south is Kurodani, a temple representing the Jodo sect. The imposing ceremonial gate at its entrance is massive. Legend says that the ramen buddha helped rebuild this temple in 1942 after it was destroyed by fire in 1934.
Anyway, I'm getting hungry. I think it's time we pass through the Heian Jingu Torii en route to our first bowl.
Takakura Nijo (麺や 高倉二条) is the second highest ranked ramen shop in Kyoto, according to Ramendb. With nothing artificial about their ingredients and a noodle that is made with whole wheat, this ramen shop breaks out from the traditional 'Kyoto-style' and gracefully produces an elegant new-style that has become popular amongst the locals.
One thing is for sure, it's a beautifully crafted bowl.
Even their tsukemen is naturally photogenic.
The soup is a fishy tonkotsu blend that has an unexplained sour tinge. It's quite refreshing and I can understand why it is so highly ranked. The whole wheat noodles are similar in texture to soba, but I was surprised to see that it had more chew than I expected. Soba lovers may find this ramen addicting.
The chashu is a one-of-a-kind, remarkably moist, oven-roasted masterpiece. Its ambitious flavor rejuvenates the taste buds as it melts above your tongue. Overall, this ramen is a new style surviving in a city rich in its traditions--a new style that is key for understanding the important message of ramenhism.
After the first bowl, we did a quick ride-by on the outer edge of Nijo-jo, one of the most famous castles in Japan. The ramen buddha may have been in there, but I wasn't willing to pay the entrance fee to see him. I wanted to escape the heat.
This green tea slushie from Ippodo (一保堂茶舗), a three-century-old tea company, was just what we all needed.
The Takase River is a canal that used to play a major role in transporting materials into Central Kyoto, but now it just runs parallel to Kyoto's famous drinking district.
The most popular ramen shop along this river is arguably Miyoshi (博多長浜らーめん みよし), which is actually the same shop that started it all for my boy Nate. I didn't have time to enjoy a bowl (nor was I drunk enough), but I'm glad I got to see where Nate's ramen virginity was taken. haha.
The man in the Bassanova shirt said "this way!" so I followed him through the Gion district. It was too early for the geiko and maiko to be out, so we zoomed quickly through without a sign of the ramen buddha.
We also zipped passed the popular Yasaka Shrine. I remember my mom taking me here as a kid. I didn't see the ramen buddha then, so he must not be in there now. Time to go check out a Sanmon so I can free myself of the three passions.
The main gate to Nanzen-ji is fascinating. It symbolizes an entrance to the three roads to Buddhist liberation. For 500 yen you can also climb up to the second floor to see various paintings and images of Buddha.
Within the confines of Nanzen-ji stands a red-brick aqueduct called Sosui that still supplies water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto City. Etched into the ground stones surrounding Sosui are the five elements that seem to go relatively unnoticed by most visitors.
Saisho-in, a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji, is home to an artist-priest and carver of Noh masks. The mask with the horns is that of the jealous woman. If you are familiar with Japanese weddings, the bride sometimes wears what is called a tsunokakushi, which is used to hide the horns of jealousy.
On the outskirts of the temple is a Yudofu Restaurant that has been in business for over 300 years. It's a favorite of Michael and Lani's and a must visit if you're in Kyoto. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit it into my ramen budget. Next time!
One of the best things about having a local guide is that they take you to all the cool spots where tourists don't normally go.
Where dragonfly's aren't disturbed by your presence.
And where philosopher's walk as a form of daily meditation.
Deep within the mountain villa of Shishigatani, lies history that has yet to be uncovered.
Could this be where the members of the Shishigatani Incident conspired against Kiyomori? Or is this the house of the ramen buddha?
One thing is for sure, we need more ramen! So after a quick ride through the ramen-rich neighborhood of Ichijoji, we set our sights on the #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto.
Shikura (紫蔵) is located near Kyoto University and when I first saw a picture of one of their bowls, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Could it really be that the #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto serves a style made popular in Yokohama?
Unbelievable. The #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto serves a bowl of Iekei ramen. Albeit it's an Iekei ramen with a Kyoto twist, but it's still Iekei. I was so in shock I wasn't sure what to think.
I needed to consult the magic spinach ball.
By 'Kyoto twist' I mean Iekei with a hint of chicken. They actually don't do a bad job and I can see why Kyoto-ites have fallen in love with this foreign style. It just goes to show you how versatile ramen really is. There are no limits and there are no boundaries. Anything is possible as long as you can dream it.
After spending an entire day in search of the ramen buddha, I was still out of luck. I needed to have one more bowl to reach ramen liberation and a midnight ramen run was the answer. Unfortunately, the place I wanted to go to had run out of soup. #$%@!
No worries. Across the street was Ramen Akatsuki (ラーメン あかつき), which serves a more traditional bowl of Kyoto-style ramen.
It's a light tonkotsu-torigara blend, a perfect midnight snack.
No glitz, no glamour, just a simple bowl to enjoy at the end of a long day.
It's definitely liberating. This day has certainly changed my outlook on life and ramenhism. And as I slurped the last noodle and drank the last drop of my bowl....
The ramen buddha appeared...
*Please note: The ramen buddha is fiction and just a figment of my imagination. And yes, I do eat too much ramen.
Forgive me for clogging your rss feed, but there was no way I could do this day justice with only 5 pictures. In all, I took over 250 pictures and it was hard enough narrowing it down to just this many. So without further ado, let's go find this ramen buddha!
At 6am, the suns rays shined through the glass much as it would have 100 years ago and awoke my ramen spirit with a mission. There was only one way to seek out the ramen buddha. I must first identify and slurp the 3 bowls to ramen liberation. Some may say it's the key to finding your inner ramenhism.
So after a quick morning meditation session, while enjoying the view of Mt. Daimonji, I was ready.
"Follow the man in the Bassanova shirt and he will lead the way," I was told.
Shinnyo-do, located just down the hill and south from where I was staying atop Mt. Yoshida, is in fact a favorite of the ramen buddha. Unfortunately, this was not his season.
The 30 meters tall pagoda is an impressive structure and an awesome sight to see in person. I've been told that the best time to visit Shinnyo-do is in the Fall when the late Autumn leaves litter the landscape and convert the already beautiful scene into a tranquil paradise.
A little further south is Kurodani, a temple representing the Jodo sect. The imposing ceremonial gate at its entrance is massive. Legend says that the ramen buddha helped rebuild this temple in 1942 after it was destroyed by fire in 1934.
Anyway, I'm getting hungry. I think it's time we pass through the Heian Jingu Torii en route to our first bowl.
Takakura Nijo (麺や 高倉二条) is the second highest ranked ramen shop in Kyoto, according to Ramendb. With nothing artificial about their ingredients and a noodle that is made with whole wheat, this ramen shop breaks out from the traditional 'Kyoto-style' and gracefully produces an elegant new-style that has become popular amongst the locals.
One thing is for sure, it's a beautifully crafted bowl.
Even their tsukemen is naturally photogenic.
The soup is a fishy tonkotsu blend that has an unexplained sour tinge. It's quite refreshing and I can understand why it is so highly ranked. The whole wheat noodles are similar in texture to soba, but I was surprised to see that it had more chew than I expected. Soba lovers may find this ramen addicting.
The chashu is a one-of-a-kind, remarkably moist, oven-roasted masterpiece. Its ambitious flavor rejuvenates the taste buds as it melts above your tongue. Overall, this ramen is a new style surviving in a city rich in its traditions--a new style that is key for understanding the important message of ramenhism.
After the first bowl, we did a quick ride-by on the outer edge of Nijo-jo, one of the most famous castles in Japan. The ramen buddha may have been in there, but I wasn't willing to pay the entrance fee to see him. I wanted to escape the heat.
This green tea slushie from Ippodo (一保堂茶舗), a three-century-old tea company, was just what we all needed.
The Takase River is a canal that used to play a major role in transporting materials into Central Kyoto, but now it just runs parallel to Kyoto's famous drinking district.
The most popular ramen shop along this river is arguably Miyoshi (博多長浜らーめん みよし), which is actually the same shop that started it all for my boy Nate. I didn't have time to enjoy a bowl (nor was I drunk enough), but I'm glad I got to see where Nate's ramen virginity was taken. haha.
The man in the Bassanova shirt said "this way!" so I followed him through the Gion district. It was too early for the geiko and maiko to be out, so we zoomed quickly through without a sign of the ramen buddha.
We also zipped passed the popular Yasaka Shrine. I remember my mom taking me here as a kid. I didn't see the ramen buddha then, so he must not be in there now. Time to go check out a Sanmon so I can free myself of the three passions.
The main gate to Nanzen-ji is fascinating. It symbolizes an entrance to the three roads to Buddhist liberation. For 500 yen you can also climb up to the second floor to see various paintings and images of Buddha.
Within the confines of Nanzen-ji stands a red-brick aqueduct called Sosui that still supplies water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto City. Etched into the ground stones surrounding Sosui are the five elements that seem to go relatively unnoticed by most visitors.
Saisho-in, a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji, is home to an artist-priest and carver of Noh masks. The mask with the horns is that of the jealous woman. If you are familiar with Japanese weddings, the bride sometimes wears what is called a tsunokakushi, which is used to hide the horns of jealousy.
On the outskirts of the temple is a Yudofu Restaurant that has been in business for over 300 years. It's a favorite of Michael and Lani's and a must visit if you're in Kyoto. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit it into my ramen budget. Next time!
One of the best things about having a local guide is that they take you to all the cool spots where tourists don't normally go.
Where dragonfly's aren't disturbed by your presence.
And where philosopher's walk as a form of daily meditation.
Deep within the mountain villa of Shishigatani, lies history that has yet to be uncovered.
Could this be where the members of the Shishigatani Incident conspired against Kiyomori? Or is this the house of the ramen buddha?
One thing is for sure, we need more ramen! So after a quick ride through the ramen-rich neighborhood of Ichijoji, we set our sights on the #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto.
Shikura (紫蔵) is located near Kyoto University and when I first saw a picture of one of their bowls, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Could it really be that the #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto serves a style made popular in Yokohama?
Unbelievable. The #1 ranked ramen shop in Kyoto serves a bowl of Iekei ramen. Albeit it's an Iekei ramen with a Kyoto twist, but it's still Iekei. I was so in shock I wasn't sure what to think.
I needed to consult the magic spinach ball.
By 'Kyoto twist' I mean Iekei with a hint of chicken. They actually don't do a bad job and I can see why Kyoto-ites have fallen in love with this foreign style. It just goes to show you how versatile ramen really is. There are no limits and there are no boundaries. Anything is possible as long as you can dream it.
After spending an entire day in search of the ramen buddha, I was still out of luck. I needed to have one more bowl to reach ramen liberation and a midnight ramen run was the answer. Unfortunately, the place I wanted to go to had run out of soup. #$%@!
No worries. Across the street was Ramen Akatsuki (ラーメン あかつき), which serves a more traditional bowl of Kyoto-style ramen.
It's a light tonkotsu-torigara blend, a perfect midnight snack.
No glitz, no glamour, just a simple bowl to enjoy at the end of a long day.
It's definitely liberating. This day has certainly changed my outlook on life and ramenhism. And as I slurped the last noodle and drank the last drop of my bowl....
The ramen buddha appeared...
*Please note: The ramen buddha is fiction and just a figment of my imagination. And yes, I do eat too much ramen.
Day 306:
When I first met Michael McAteer, he had invited me to come stay at his house in Kyoto so we could hash out some ideas while exploring all the best ramen shops that Kyoto had to offer. And since the stars have aligned to give me three consecutive days off of work, I accepted his invitation this weekend. But how should I get there? Sure, I could take the Shinkansen and empty out my wallet, but since Michael was already in Tokyo and had bought something called the 'Seishun Juhachi Kippu', this would enable us to get to Kyoto for one-fifth of the price. The only draw back is, it would take about 5 times longer to get there. No worries, this would give us time to talk.
Joining Michael and I on this trip would be his lovely girlfriend Lani, who is also an amazing potter. Alright guys, lets go!
Two hours in after our third or so train transfer, we were still somewhat fresh-faced.
Soon we were transferring again, but this time we were sticking with the ladies from the blue hat society(?).
After 6 hours of playing train othello, we finally got enough of a break between transfers to grab something to eat. I forget exactly which station this was (Toyohashi maybe?) but there was a ramen shop and I was starving.
The old ladies were hard at work pumping out bowl after bowl. You gotta admire that.
It's too bad this bowl tasted like crap. But I guess you can't expect much from ramen at a train station in the middle of Japan.
Alright, time to get on the next train. "Yo Michael! You okay?"
About nine hours in, we were finally getting on our last train. Final stretch!
We made it!! That was fun, but you know what we gotta do now right?
Tenka Ippin (天下一品 総本店)!! With hundreds of shops throughout Japan and even one in Hawaii, Tenka Ippin is a ramen franchise unlike any other. But this location is where it all started and arguably still the best among the rest. Apparently, this original location is the only one that makes its soup in the shop. The others get theirs shipped to them from the factory.
The owner is a huge Becky (ベッキー) fan as you can see from all the posters of her everywhere. And just to give you an idea of this shops popularity, even after midnight the place is packed.
Lani took this great shot.
Okay this is how you should order it. Whichever ramen you decide to get, say you want it 'kotteri.' If they ask you if you want garlic, say 'yes!' Then they'll ask you what type of noodles you want. Go with 'regular.' I added an egg to mine.
This thick, almost gelatinous soup made with chicken bones and 'other' ingredients is a must try if you're in Kyoto. Go there sober or go there drunk. Just go there!
Half-way through the bowl it says, "We'll be waiting for you again tomorrow." Hahaha. おおきに！
The owner, Kimura-san, began his ramen cart with just 37,000 yen in his pocket. And now his pocket must be fat! He's a ramen g if you ask me.
Alright time to get some rest, but first I gotta tell you about Michael's home. It sits atop a hill made famous by the Fujiwara clan and was built over a hundred years ago. It's as traditional a home as a Japanese home can get. Complete with the daikoku-bashira and all. Man, this is gonna be a great next couple of days.
Thank you Michael and Lani for your hospitality!
When I first met Michael McAteer, he had invited me to come stay at his house in Kyoto so we could hash out some ideas while exploring all the best ramen shops that Kyoto had to offer. And since the stars have aligned to give me three consecutive days off of work, I accepted his invitation this weekend. But how should I get there? Sure, I could take the Shinkansen and empty out my wallet, but since Michael was already in Tokyo and had bought something called the 'Seishun Juhachi Kippu', this would enable us to get to Kyoto for one-fifth of the price. The only draw back is, it would take about 5 times longer to get there. No worries, this would give us time to talk.
Joining Michael and I on this trip would be his lovely girlfriend Lani, who is also an amazing potter. Alright guys, lets go!
Two hours in after our third or so train transfer, we were still somewhat fresh-faced.
Soon we were transferring again, but this time we were sticking with the ladies from the blue hat society(?).
After 6 hours of playing train othello, we finally got enough of a break between transfers to grab something to eat. I forget exactly which station this was (Toyohashi maybe?) but there was a ramen shop and I was starving.
The old ladies were hard at work pumping out bowl after bowl. You gotta admire that.
It's too bad this bowl tasted like crap. But I guess you can't expect much from ramen at a train station in the middle of Japan.
Alright, time to get on the next train. "Yo Michael! You okay?"
About nine hours in, we were finally getting on our last train. Final stretch!
We made it!! That was fun, but you know what we gotta do now right?
Tenka Ippin (天下一品 総本店)!! With hundreds of shops throughout Japan and even one in Hawaii, Tenka Ippin is a ramen franchise unlike any other. But this location is where it all started and arguably still the best among the rest. Apparently, this original location is the only one that makes its soup in the shop. The others get theirs shipped to them from the factory.
The owner is a huge Becky (ベッキー) fan as you can see from all the posters of her everywhere. And just to give you an idea of this shops popularity, even after midnight the place is packed.
Lani took this great shot.
Okay this is how you should order it. Whichever ramen you decide to get, say you want it 'kotteri.' If they ask you if you want garlic, say 'yes!' Then they'll ask you what type of noodles you want. Go with 'regular.' I added an egg to mine.
This thick, almost gelatinous soup made with chicken bones and 'other' ingredients is a must try if you're in Kyoto. Go there sober or go there drunk. Just go there!
Half-way through the bowl it says, "We'll be waiting for you again tomorrow." Hahaha. おおきに！
The owner, Kimura-san, began his ramen cart with just 37,000 yen in his pocket. And now his pocket must be fat! He's a ramen g if you ask me.
Alright time to get some rest, but first I gotta tell you about Michael's home. It sits atop a hill made famous by the Fujiwara clan and was built over a hundred years ago. It's as traditional a home as a Japanese home can get. Complete with the daikoku-bashira and all. Man, this is gonna be a great next couple of days.
Thank you Michael and Lani for your hospitality!
Read more: 8 trains, 9.5 hours, 1 great adventure...hello Kyoto!
Day 305:
I've had this nagging cough for the past few days so I went to see the doc about it. I thought he was gonna tell me to stop eating ramen again, but I guess he knew better. He just said it was a cough associated with the common cold. So after getting a few meds, I headed straight to Ryo Tan Tei to take care of my recent hiyashi chuuka craving.
It's not your typical hiyashi chuuka but I'll take it. After all, it's the only hiyashi chuuka I've had all summer.
Back at work, Shuga's friend brought us a gift from his recent trip to Niigata--miso ramen from Touyoko. Sweet!
Time to check it out!
Wow, this miso ramen has some POW! The thick soup is a tad too salty but its aroma is empowering.
The noodles are pretty slick too.
Anyway, I needed to get better before my Kyoto trip so I made me some wadashi-chazuke. Not surprisingly, this was awesome. Feeling sick? Come in and I'll make you some!
Alright, time to pack up for Kyoto. If anyone has any ramen recs down there, please let me know! *cough, cough*
I've had this nagging cough for the past few days so I went to see the doc about it. I thought he was gonna tell me to stop eating ramen again, but I guess he knew better. He just said it was a cough associated with the common cold. So after getting a few meds, I headed straight to Ryo Tan Tei to take care of my recent hiyashi chuuka craving.
It's not your typical hiyashi chuuka but I'll take it. After all, it's the only hiyashi chuuka I've had all summer.
Back at work, Shuga's friend brought us a gift from his recent trip to Niigata--miso ramen from Touyoko. Sweet!
Time to check it out!
Wow, this miso ramen has some POW! The thick soup is a tad too salty but its aroma is empowering.
The noodles are pretty slick too.
Anyway, I needed to get better before my Kyoto trip so I made me some wadashi-chazuke. Not surprisingly, this was awesome. Feeling sick? Come in and I'll make you some!
Alright, time to pack up for Kyoto. If anyone has any ramen recs down there, please let me know! *cough, cough*
Day 304:
I've mentioned before that every Thursday Hototogisu becomes Ura Hototogisu (一汁三煮干 裏不如帰) and only serves a special niboshi ramen made with a blend of sardines and pork bones. Well I finally got my chance to try it and...
Hototogisu is f***ing legit! This niboshi ramen is unbelievably good. It's a different flavor from their normally clam-based soup, but I think this is way better. I'm surprised they only serve it just one day a week.
The noodles weren't that spectacular, but being from Mikawaya they still had a good bite. The soup though is key. It was outstanding the whole way through. I recommend you give it a try.
Today was our green curry paste prep day and I was craving a kebab before we opened. As soon as I mentioned it to the others, Shuga and Boom were soon craving one too. So I hopped on my bike and rode to nearby Higashi-Matsubara to go pick a few up. Craving satisfied.
The best part of the night was when moca decided to make a surprise visit with her friend from Hong Kong. Believe it or not, this was moca's first visit to Bassanova and after hyping up the green curry ramen to her for months now, I was a bit nervous. Luckily, she liked it, or so she says. Haha. Thanks moca! You made my day!
Good luck climbing Mt. Fuji!
I've mentioned before that every Thursday Hototogisu becomes Ura Hototogisu (一汁三煮干 裏不如帰) and only serves a special niboshi ramen made with a blend of sardines and pork bones. Well I finally got my chance to try it and...
Hototogisu is f***ing legit! This niboshi ramen is unbelievably good. It's a different flavor from their normally clam-based soup, but I think this is way better. I'm surprised they only serve it just one day a week.
The noodles weren't that spectacular, but being from Mikawaya they still had a good bite. The soup though is key. It was outstanding the whole way through. I recommend you give it a try.
Today was our green curry paste prep day and I was craving a kebab before we opened. As soon as I mentioned it to the others, Shuga and Boom were soon craving one too. So I hopped on my bike and rode to nearby Higashi-Matsubara to go pick a few up. Craving satisfied.
The best part of the night was when moca decided to make a surprise visit with her friend from Hong Kong. Believe it or not, this was moca's first visit to Bassanova and after hyping up the green curry ramen to her for months now, I was a bit nervous. Luckily, she liked it, or so she says. Haha. Thanks moca! You made my day!
Good luck climbing Mt. Fuji!
Day 302:
Okay, I think I need to take it a little slow today. Needless to say, last night was again one of those nights. I needed a cure. The Chinese restaurant down the street always seems to do the trick. This time I ordered the Canton Ramen. Thank you.
Being in the lazy mood that I was, I forced myself to get into work a little early. And since I was early, I decided to make my own shoyu-dare from scratch. It was okay. Paired with the tonkotsu soup, it kinda reminded me of Wakayama-style. Hmm...I could be on to something.
Shuga then proceeded to make his signature chinjaorosu. This seriously needs to be put on the menu. It contains our menma and our chashu so it's unlike any other chinjaorosu you've probably had.
Let's get big boss on the phone...
Okay, I think I need to take it a little slow today. Needless to say, last night was again one of those nights. I needed a cure. The Chinese restaurant down the street always seems to do the trick. This time I ordered the Canton Ramen. Thank you.
Being in the lazy mood that I was, I forced myself to get into work a little early. And since I was early, I decided to make my own shoyu-dare from scratch. It was okay. Paired with the tonkotsu soup, it kinda reminded me of Wakayama-style. Hmm...I could be on to something.
Shuga then proceeded to make his signature chinjaorosu. This seriously needs to be put on the menu. It contains our menma and our chashu so it's unlike any other chinjaorosu you've probably had.
Let's get big boss on the phone...
Day 301:
At 11am my doorbell rang and woke me up from a deep sleep. I thought I was dreaming, but when I opened the door it was the mailman with a package of...homemade cookies!! Hellll yeah! After joking around with Allison from Sushiday on twitter, saying that I wanted to try her homemade cookies and that she should send me some, she actually did! Allison you rock!! This is gonna be a great day.
Soon after ingesting half the cookies for breakfast, I headed out to Komagome to try Nishio (西尾中華そば), a shop that Brian raves about and one that's been on my list for quite some time.
At first glance, it's simple. The way a 'chuuka soba' should be. But that ordinary first sip gains momentum into an extraordinary last sip. The way every 'great chuuka soba' is. It began a little too sweet, but soon blossomed into a full flavored bowl.
The maize flour-laced noodles were great, but I would have loved something a little thicker with this soup. Anyway, if Nishio is alright with B, then Nishio is alright with me.
The buta-don is great too.
And this is how the rest of my day off went. As I left my apt, I was sent off by my favorite neighborhood cat (still haven't decided on a name).
A quick stop to play with my nieces and their new dog, then I was off to have dinner...
...with her. It's been over two months since I've had a normal night alone with her and it felt good to catch up over some tasty food at a Showa-themed izakaya.
Cheese-wrapped bacon is always a must-order.
No, she is not my girlfriend, but I will still only refer to her as 'her.' It's a long story. Anyway, I tried to take her picture and this was the best I could do.
After dinner it was off to this quirky bar that only deserved our company for one drink. In other words, it sucked.
But right around the corner there was an awesome darts bar where we ended up staying until 3am. I thought I was pretty good.
But she kicked my ass.
The shop manager then provided us with some free passion...fruit, that is.
Now that's some nice form...
After dropping her off, it was time for a Shuga-Boom reunion.
Alright, I'm tired. I'm going home. お疲れ！
At 11am my doorbell rang and woke me up from a deep sleep. I thought I was dreaming, but when I opened the door it was the mailman with a package of...homemade cookies!! Hellll yeah! After joking around with Allison from Sushiday on twitter, saying that I wanted to try her homemade cookies and that she should send me some, she actually did! Allison you rock!! This is gonna be a great day.
Soon after ingesting half the cookies for breakfast, I headed out to Komagome to try Nishio (西尾中華そば), a shop that Brian raves about and one that's been on my list for quite some time.
At first glance, it's simple. The way a 'chuuka soba' should be. But that ordinary first sip gains momentum into an extraordinary last sip. The way every 'great chuuka soba' is. It began a little too sweet, but soon blossomed into a full flavored bowl.
The maize flour-laced noodles were great, but I would have loved something a little thicker with this soup. Anyway, if Nishio is alright with B, then Nishio is alright with me.
The buta-don is great too.
And this is how the rest of my day off went. As I left my apt, I was sent off by my favorite neighborhood cat (still haven't decided on a name).
A quick stop to play with my nieces and their new dog, then I was off to have dinner...
...with her. It's been over two months since I've had a normal night alone with her and it felt good to catch up over some tasty food at a Showa-themed izakaya.
Cheese-wrapped bacon is always a must-order.
No, she is not my girlfriend, but I will still only refer to her as 'her.' It's a long story. Anyway, I tried to take her picture and this was the best I could do.
After dinner it was off to this quirky bar that only deserved our company for one drink. In other words, it sucked.
But right around the corner there was an awesome darts bar where we ended up staying until 3am. I thought I was pretty good.
But she kicked my ass.
The shop manager then provided us with some free passion...fruit, that is.
Now that's some nice form...
After dropping her off, it was time for a Shuga-Boom reunion.
Alright, I'm tired. I'm going home. お疲れ！
Day 303:
Equals new money. Yes, payday is finally here. Time to go get a haircut! True, I could probably shave my head on my own, but it's always more fun hanging out at the local barber shop.
The Bush was calling. I was actually in the mood for some Hiyashi Chuuka, but they were all out for the day so I decided to go with the Moyashi Soba. I'll stick to the regular ramen next time.
The half-size gyoza is a great filler.
Today marks Boom's 5th full day and I must say he is catching on quick. All the better since Komuro-san is anxiously awaiting her last day. Btw, Bassanova turns 8 this month. Expect some sort of celebration in a couple weeks. I'll also be heading to Kyoto for a few days this weekend to work on a secret project. Haha...jk. I'm just going to do what I always do, hang out and eat ramen.
I'm not sure how to say this, but some unforeseen circumstances may be arising on the horizon. It's unsure how much longer I can continue this selfish dream of mine...
Equals new money. Yes, payday is finally here. Time to go get a haircut! True, I could probably shave my head on my own, but it's always more fun hanging out at the local barber shop.
The Bush was calling. I was actually in the mood for some Hiyashi Chuuka, but they were all out for the day so I decided to go with the Moyashi Soba. I'll stick to the regular ramen next time.
The half-size gyoza is a great filler.
Today marks Boom's 5th full day and I must say he is catching on quick. All the better since Komuro-san is anxiously awaiting her last day. Btw, Bassanova turns 8 this month. Expect some sort of celebration in a couple weeks. I'll also be heading to Kyoto for a few days this weekend to work on a secret project. Haha...jk. I'm just going to do what I always do, hang out and eat ramen.
I'm not sure how to say this, but some unforeseen circumstances may be arising on the horizon. It's unsure how much longer I can continue this selfish dream of mine...
Day 300:
As I planned to lead 300 ramen-hungry soldiers through the battle fields of over a million or so ramen shops in Japan, I looked behind me and there was no one there. They all succumbed to the beat of a drum. Oh well, I still got you guys right?
I was stuck riding around Sasazuka at probably one of the worst times of the day. The time where all the good ramen shops close between lunch and dinner (nakajime). And as much as I didn't want to go to Nagahama-ya (博多ラーメン 長浜や), I ended up desperately entering for a slurp.
What surprised me most as I sat down was the all Chinese staff. Not that I really cared about it (I mean I'm an American working in a Tokyo ramen shop), but it just felt...different.
I ordered the Tokusei Tsukemen and after one slurp I wanted to retreat.
Disappointment was an understatement because I didn't really have any expectations in the first place.
The egg wasn't even hanjuku! So to prevent further damage to my already overworked fingers, I will stop from describing this tsukemen any further.
Time for a cleanse! Ahhh..now that's more like it.
Brian was in the house tonight and quickly became friends with these hardcore Hanshin Tigers fans just by saying, "I hate the Giants!"
Go Swallows!
As I planned to lead 300 ramen-hungry soldiers through the battle fields of over a million or so ramen shops in Japan, I looked behind me and there was no one there. They all succumbed to the beat of a drum. Oh well, I still got you guys right?
I was stuck riding around Sasazuka at probably one of the worst times of the day. The time where all the good ramen shops close between lunch and dinner (nakajime). And as much as I didn't want to go to Nagahama-ya (博多ラーメン 長浜や), I ended up desperately entering for a slurp.
What surprised me most as I sat down was the all Chinese staff. Not that I really cared about it (I mean I'm an American working in a Tokyo ramen shop), but it just felt...different.
I ordered the Tokusei Tsukemen and after one slurp I wanted to retreat.
Disappointment was an understatement because I didn't really have any expectations in the first place.
The egg wasn't even hanjuku! So to prevent further damage to my already overworked fingers, I will stop from describing this tsukemen any further.
Time for a cleanse! Ahhh..now that's more like it.
Brian was in the house tonight and quickly became friends with these hardcore Hanshin Tigers fans just by saying, "I hate the Giants!"
Go Swallows!
In case you have forgotten, the local student paper in my town has posted a recipe for cooking ramen. It has 3 ingredients, one of which is water, the other two come in the ramen packet.
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