When I arrived at the restaurant I saw a line of people waiting outside for a seat at the small counter that seats about 12 customers. The customers ranged in age from high school students to 80 year old ladies. Just outside of the door there is a fun sign board that says “eat here” in English with an red arrow pointing into the restaurant. This is the only English sign all others are in Japanese. The menu is, acknowledging his background, bilingual, but...
Read MoreTokyo Ramen Shop Owner-Chef, Ivan: an American in the World of Japanese Ramen
Ivan Orkin, a New Yorker and graduate of CIA, once worked at the legendary Quilted Giraffe and other popular New York restaurants such as Mesa Grill. But he was never happy in those positions. Shortly after his college graduation he went to Japan and fell in love with Japanese ramen and later a Japanese woman, Mariko, now his wife., and he did something no foreigner has ever done. Soon after marring Mariko, Ivan moved to Japan and opened his own unique ramen resturant...
Read MoreOver Our Ramen and Gyoza Dinner
Over our ramen dinner I am planning that we will watch clips from the famous movie, Tampopo, released in Japan in 1985. The entire plot is based on the ramen culture of Japan. It is the story of a widow struggling to establish herself as a ramen master in her small restaurant. The film devotes itself to this distinctive Japanese food culture that is obsessed with perfectionism in every area. A whole cast of amusing characters helps her to reach ramen heaven. I look...
Read MoreA perfect bowl of ramen noodles! and gyoza, potstickers, at your home
Mark a calender to join my “Ramen and Gyoza” cooking class at International Culinary Center (www.internationalculinarycenter.com) in French Culinary Institute that will be held on October 24th (Saturday). Please check the site for further information. A perfect bowl of ramen to me means that every component in the in the soup bowl is prepared to perfection. This includes richly tasting piping hot broth, tender simmered pork belly, firm straight or curly...
Read MoreHow much vegetables in my diet?
I am not a vegetarian, but I do love vegetables and fruits. So, vegetables and fruits occupy 50% of our diet. The other 50% is consists of protein and wholesome carbohydrate. Summer is one of the best time to enjoy an extensive variety of vegetables. And, the most important tip is that you are not eating just a few kinds of vegetables in your salad. In your preparations you should employ vegetables from all categories, such as root, leaf, fruit and herbs and spices, in...
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