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food

Art of Eating Ramen: Properly

January 16, 2015January 16, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

No, you are not offending anyone or being improper. It’s OK, you have a permission.

BIG slurp! There you go.

It’s winter and cold outside, and it’s perfect timing to tackle a bowl of ramen. Properly. Eating a bowl of ramen is art, y’all. If you are like me (rebellious), this is a perfect food because you get to do something your mother taught you NOT to do. You get to make some noise while eating.

First, you need to know exactly what you want to have. Shoyu (soy sauce), Miso, Shio (salt), Tonkotsu (thick pork broth). Then thick or thin noodle? Heavy stock or lighter stock? Extra pork meat, bean sprouts, corn or bamboo shoots? Know exactly what you want, otherwise wait staff won’t wait forever for you to decide. I actually recommend to practice on what to order outside of the shop for a couple of times.

Then, you go in. Usually ramen shop is relatively small. Most of ramen shops I like in Japan only have counter seats so pick your seat and sit down, quickly. Ramen guy behind the counter or wait staffs are not really talkative since the shop is running 186 miles per an hour. This is why it would be helpful if you know what you want. Anyway, you tell them what you want to eat. Omit “how are you” and “I heard your ramen is delicious!” because they know they make awesome ramen and they cannot waste time being social. Ramen is serious business, everyone.

I also recommend to go to ramen shop alone or with someone whom you don’t need to worry about carrying on a conversation with because ramen must be eaten at the moment it’s served. You need to eat your bowl quickly. If you are from South, you may have a hard time but this is not proper time to eat it daintily. Why? The longer noodles sit, they start to suck up the soup into the noodles because the noodles are made of flour. They are like a sponge and they get all mushy (yikes). Not only that the ramen does not taste as it should after noodles suck up all the soup, also that might upset ramen shop owner. You don’t want that at all. That said, I would not recommend you to go to the ramen shop on your first date. If she or he is delighted to go to your favorite ramen noodle place with minimal conversation, congratulations, you just found your soul mate.

So now, how do you eat it fast with correct manner? Big slurp with noise! Making some noise is a huge part of eating ramen bowl artistically and properly because it has a cooling effect. Who knew, right? We Japanese do. Our slurping training starts in the mother’s womb.

Oh, don’t forget…Hashi (chopsticks) in one hand and renge (ceramic spoon) in the other hand and embrace them both. That will help you immensely to taste a perfect marriage of noodle and carefully and deliciously prepared soup. If you want to look like you are a pro, pick up your bowl and take last drops soup from the bowl at the end. Ramen shop guy would be impressed, I promise.

Think of it as riding a bicycle for the first time, practice, practice and practice.

OK, ready? Slurp! Make some noise. Proudly.

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books

William Saroyan and Macaroon: and Chihuahua

January 15, 2015January 15, 2015by have you eaten?6 Comments

“Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.”

Today is one of those days and I needed that. My head is not clear as it feels like I am underwater, not seeing or hearing anything. My body feels heavy and all I want to do is to go back to my warm, comfortable bed with my overweight 9-lb. chihuahua. It is January in Seattle (=gloomy) so maybe I am affected by weather. Who knows.

It sounds like this quote is written by someone who studies Buddhism but this is actually a quote by William Saroyan. I read “Papa You are Crazy” when I was in junior high and since then I always loved his stories. I found this wonderfully honest quote in my journal earlier today. This is exactly what I want to feel. With that, I am going to get some macaroon (for some reason I am craving for it) after work for dinner, hop on my bed and snuggle with my chihuahua. I will read William Saroyan, might as well.

I am sure I feel I am alive after macaroon, dog and Saroyan tonight. After that, I will really try to sleep when I sleep.

food

One Japanese word to remember: Oishii!

January 14, 2015by have you eaten?3 Comments

Asian mothers…they are so mother. They are always worrying about your well-being, especially if you are well fed. I grew up in that kind of household in Japan. What still echoes in my ear is these words, “have you eaten?” My mom’s signature line.

Now I do that even though I am not a mother. I am constantly asking like “are you hungry?” or “do you want to eat more?” Last night, I made seared ahi (nice reddish pink in the middle…perfect) and arugula, cilantro and kale salad with ponzu sauce. That fills my tummy and soul. Pure deliciousness.

If you travel to Japan and happen to meet my mother, she probably would ask you “have you eaten?” and if you haven’t, she would cook for you. Her dishes are all tasty, I guarantee you.

So, here is one word you need to memorize just in case you meet her there. “Oishii!!” = Pure Deliciousness.

books

Tokyo Bandwagon: this book saved my life

January 13, 2015January 13, 2015by have you eaten?7 Comments

That was only one book I was able to read and comprehend. It was the only book that woke up my brain and all my senses. I was able to cry and I felt the pain for the first time since he passed.

There are 2 things I can’t live without, good food and good books. Sometime in 2007, I was struggling hard. I could not eat and could not read. I tried and tried to open many books and read but my brain was not processing any letters, words, and sentences. But finally I found one that I could read and feel and it is called “Tokyo Bandwagon” written by Yukiya Shoji, Japanese author. I still haven’t figured out why this book was the only one I could read but it really does not matter. The important thing is that this book made me realize that I was alive. I just heard news about the brand new book (8th book of ongoing series) will be published this coming April and my heart jumped for joy. Only 3 more months to go.

I am forever thankful. This book saved my life.

Uncategorized

Library was my safe haven: Infinite Jest

January 12, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

“That sometimes human beings have to just sit in one place and, like, hurt. That you will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do. That there is such a thing as raw, unalloyed, agendaless kindness. That it is possible to fall asleep during an anxiety attack. That concentrating on anything is very hard work.”
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

From age 7 to 17, School and home were not safe place to be. Library was my only safe haven and place to, like, hurt. This quote from Infinite Jest is totally needed for my soul today. Digging deep.

food

My kind of meditation: Nurturing my root

January 11, 2015January 11, 2015by have you eaten?1 Comment

Food takes time to prepare in general. Any kind of food really but I have to say Japanese food is one of those foods that takes lots of time to prep. If you want something quick and easy, you might want to be reconsider about becoming a Japanese cook. However, Japanese food is the one if you enjoy process, experience and of course, eating Japanese food.

I heard that most people are born with 4 taste palettes, sweetness, saltiness, bitterness and sourness. Asian people are usually born with one more, umami. What is umami anyway?

“Umami is an appetitive taste and is described as a savory or meaty taste. It can be tasted in cheese and soy sauce, and while also found in many other fermented and aged foods, this taste is also present in tomatoes, grains, and beans. A loanword from Japanese meaning “good flavor” or “good taste”,^[46] umami (旨味^?) is considered fundamental to many Eastern cuisines and was first described in 1908, although it was only recently recognized in the West as a basic taste. Some umami taste buds respond specifically to glutamate in the same way that “sweet” ones respond to sugar. Glutamate binds to a variant of G protein coupled glutamate receptors. (source-Wikipedia)”

This is “sumashi-jiru” (clear soup). Today, I made this soup with snow peas, lotus roots and scallops. This looks quite simple but this requires time, dedication, and love. This soup is packed with umami. I did not have to add gobs of condiments, I only added tiny bit of salt and just a splash of shoyu (soy sauce). It took about 90 minutes total to prepare this soup.

First, you simmer 3′ x 3′ kelp piece for 1 hour, then add handful shaved dried bonito (you can buy shaved bonito flakes at grocery stores, but I shave them myself) and bring to boil, leave it about 1 minute. Then you filter the stock to make it super clear, golden color tasty dashi. Then you put separately prepared snow peas and lotus root in to a bowl and pour this deliciousness over them. THIS soup is my main course for lunch today. Shaving bonito takes time, cooking dashi takes time but these “times” are my weekend rituals. Makes me feel proud and I am thankful that my mom taught me Japanese traditional way of cooking.

I look forward to every weekend because of this. This is my way of meditating through preparing meals, appreciating meals and being gracious for my Japanese roots. Sunday is always a great day.

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food

Flan and Simple Minds: perfect rainy day in Seattle

January 10, 2015January 10, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

I remember the smell of burnt sugar spreading throughout the whole house. For some reason, that always happened on rainy days in Tokyo. My mom made this simple, classic and non-flashy kind of flan when I was a little kid. It was not always consistent. Sometimes it was dense and sometimes it was kind of runny. It was not perfect, that is why I adore her flan even today.

It is raining in Seattle today (or 182 days of the year) and it is Saturday. Pandora is playing Simple Minds and rain keeps falling down, down and down so it is perfect day for making some imperfect flans.

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coffee

1970 Hacienda Alsacia : First Crop

January 9, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Floral, fruit, chocolate, sweet & sugary, nut, grain, roast, spice, savory, herb, earthy, vegetal.

What do you think I am talking about? These words are commonly used to describe flavor of coffee. You can dig deeper if you want to. For instance, let’s talk about coffee tastes like “chocolaty.” Chocolaty could be categorized “cacao nibs,” “dark,” “bakers chocolate,” “bittersweet,” “cocoa powder,” milk chocolate” and so on. To be a coffee nerd, it is so fun to try to get those flavors by sipping a cup of well made coffee.

So now, this coffee. This whole bean coffee is from Costa Rica and is grown by farmers in Costa Rica on the first coffee farm Starbucks has ever owned, Hacienda Alsacia. As a photo of this coffee bag indicates, this is the first crop and they were only distributed to Starbucks employees this year because they did not produce enough beans to introduce to global market.

I am lucky enough to get to taste this delicious coffee. I will try to describe Hacienda Alsacia as a certified coffee master (completely subjective however)

Balanced and medium soft body coffee with subtle notes of clementine. Juicy, smooth, vibrant and clean and it taste a slight cocoa. This would accompany well with citrus fruits such as clementine or orange, semi-sweet or dark chocolate and roasted walnuts.

Scratch that. It does not matter, just enjoy (perhaps next year’s crop).

coffee

Hey, you are late for 1 on 1 meeting with your boss: Anniversary

January 8, 2015January 8, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

I thought I disliked surprises. I found out today however that I enjoy them.

Do you love coffee? I sure do. I love everything about coffee, smell, shape, different flavor and taste depending on regions, history, romance of preparing coffee…list goes on. I work for this coffee company and every day and every hour, someone is leading a coffee tasting. Meetings-coffee tasting, birthdays-coffee tasting, welcoming new employees-coffee tasting, we have new crop-of course, coffee tasting, someone leaving the company-coffee tasting, someone getting married-coffee tasting. Anyway, you get a point.

My boss sent me an email yesterday with this message, “Hi, can we please meet at 11 am on Thursday. I’d like to talk a couple of things.” She and I are tight. She knows she can talk to me any time and on anything. This message sounded a little strange to me because we do have regular 1 on 1 meeting every Monday. I started to get nervous and I thought that she was going to leave the company (no!) or I was going to get let go (NO!!).

So today is Thursday. I was having the meeting at 10:30 am with different team member and it was supposed to last only 30 min but the meeting went longer. I sent a text message to my boss letting her know that I was running a little late. She replied to me “you need to come see me now.” Oh crap, I thought “this must be serious” She will let me go.

I ran back to her office and she was waiting for me outside the door. Oh great. We are going to go to HR now to complete the exiting process. She took me to this area where people can hang out, drink coffee, eat lunch, whatever that may be. What I heard was, “SURPRISE!” “CONGRATS!” Oh yeah, Today is my 1st year anniversary at work.

They prepared a big French press pot of Ethiopia coffee, dark chocolate to accompany with,a a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a thoughtfully written card by my boss.

I will never forget the taste of coffee I had on the day of my 1st year anniversary at work and the day I found out I didn’t get let go.

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jazz

Sweet sound of clarinet: Artie Shaw

January 7, 2015January 7, 2015by have you eaten?Leave a Comment

Artie Shaw…I wish I had been born in 30’s.

When was the last time you felt that you could not even register what’s happening to you?

I must have been 12 or so when I learned about the difference between woodwind instruments and brass instruments in music class. I remembered the difference as knowledge then just to pass the test. In my late teen, this sound hit me like a ton of bricks. In the middle of this vinyl shop in Shinjuku, Tokyo, my body froze and I could not move. It was sweet, warm and lovely sound of clarinet. I remembered about the music class all of a sudden. Clarinet is woodwind instrument and this is why the song sounded so tender to my ears. My heart started pounds fast and my throat tightened up. I was trying very hard not to burst into tears. It was just like love at first sight. After the song ended, I run to the store sales person and asked who it was. He told me it was Artie Shaw. I grabbed a couple of his record and went home. I listened, listened, listened, listened, listened and listened to his record. And listened. As soon as I dropped a phonograph needle on his record, his music would transport me to a jazz club in Chicago or New York (depending on songs). I would be wearing this Gatsby-esque dress, small hat, and smoking a very skinny cigarette. I thought I could hear people chattering, foot taping on the wood floor, cocktail glasses clinking. I wanted to be inside of his records. And I still do.

I started to listen to other clarinetists (what a great word. clarinetist) and enjoyed them all, however to me, no one could replace Artie Shaw (what a wonderful name…Artie Shaw). Tender, beautiful, humorous, quiet, playful, classy, sexy, introverted and romantic sound of clarinet.

Side note. He must have had a great ear because he hired Billie Holiday (my hero) to sing with his band. The world’s tightest pair in the music history. Thanks to my music teacher to make me realize this not-so-flashy woodwind instrument could turn my world upside down.