So, I’m pretty sure the other night I had my first proper bowl of ramen. I mean, besides the 20 cent Maruchan packets we all ate in college, right? This was a big bowl of spicy broth, with tender noodles, tons of roasted garlic, sprouts, bamboo shoots, tender pork cheek, piles of scallions, topped off with a delicious soft-boiled egg. Now I’m kind of sad for all the meals I’ve had that weren’t this bowl of ramen.
Okay, maybe I’m prone to hyperbole. But seriously, this was absolutely delicious. Perfect for a chilly rainy evening, like a big warm garlicky hug in a bowl. I got this at Wasabi on Milwaukee. We kind of wrote this place off at first – we went there when they first opened, and their menu was kind of small. But now the menu’s packed with tons of different types of noodle bowls and yakitori, as well as a crazy amount of sushi. とても おいしい です！
Oh man, you guys; there are only TWO DAYS left on the Kickstarter! Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who’s contributed, you guys are the best. I’m working diligently on cover design and page layouts, and I’ve just finished putting the finishing touches on writing the epilogue. I am SO EXCITED for this book.
It was the movie Tampopo that made me realize I was missing out entirely on something good by eating instant ramen. The first excellent bowl of noodles I had was in Vancouver, in a little hole-in-the-wall shop by Stanley Park, and I haven’t had a bowl quite that good since.
I will have to go to Wasabi.
@ Tony: I had Wasabi’s tonkotsu ramen last night, and it was good – but not nearly as awesome as the spicy garlic one. I’ve been reading about ramen in Chicago, and it sounds like Takashi is the general favorite, I’ll have to try that one out. :D
Try the food stall at Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights or Urban Belly, awesome ramen! I am going to check out this Wasabi though, sounds right in my wheel house!
@hungryjorge: I’ve only been to Mitsuwa once! I don’t have a car, so it’s really hard to get out there. I am right by Urban Belly though! I usually get their shrimp udon noodles, but I’ve heard great things about their ramen – it’s about time I tried it!
Somehow I just knew you’d adore ramen once you’ve gotten a proper bowl!
OMG!!! lol! I just loved what you said to you Raamen soup!
gah with the… homemade… pork brothhhh augh i miss that place! After we went there, Nelly came home with a pig foot to try to make that broth. A PIG FOOT.
I really really love that every one of your i’s is dotted with a heart.
When you come back to Minneapolis, you need to go to Tanpopo and Kinsen. They are sooo good, and Kinsen does a pork belly bowl.:)
I love that you use Japanese sometimes. It makes my two years of taking it worth something.
And fresh, real ramen…..it’s just amazing.