The Ramen Poster JUMBO

After designing for the first ramen poster, I was exposed to types of ramen that I finally got to try for the first time such as Tori-Paitan (ramen with a rich chicken broth that was made similar to Tonkotsu style) and Ramen Burger. (Grilled ramen buns sandwiching roast pork, scallions, and other ramen toppings) Other than local Japanese ramen, I also want to introduce ramen recipes that have misleading name such as Yakisoba and Aburasoba, both having "soba in their names." Like most people, I thought they are probably soba noodles. (buckwheat) The fun fact is that they are not made with soba noodles; instead, wheat noodle or ramen noodles are typically used for those recipes.

As these discoveries pile up within the year, I decided to design a second ramen poster. It will have 42 ramen recipes (my old one has 25) that will help you in your ramen journey in trying out different kinds of ramen!

I will be launching my Kickstarter for The Ramen Poster JUMBO very soon! Hope you guys will like it! :)

Soy Milk Ramen & Spicy Ramen at Shiba Ramen, Public Market Emeryville, Northern California USA

Soy Milk Ramen, menma, bean sprout, egg, squash $9.5

Spicy Ramen, menma, bok choy, egg, spicy stir fried pork, bean sprout $11

Soy milk ramen feels very light, almost feels like there's no taste. But when I think back, what does it taste like when drinking soy milk? It feels light but almost no taste too. I guess it fits with what soy milk supposed to be without too much artificial flavor.

Spicy Ramen tastes a lot more flavorful right after I had the soy milk ramen. The ground meat is tasty and the broth is not spicy at all. If I can eat this, I am sure all other non-spicy eater can enjoy this "spicy" ramen too.

Clear Ramen & Miso Ramen at Shiba Ramen (Soft Opening), Public Market Emeryville, Northern California USA

Shiba Ramen with Clear Broth, menma, egg, chashu $9

Shiba Ramen with Miso Broth, corn, ground pork, egg, menma, bean sprout $10

Tonight is a soft-opening for Shiba Ramen! Here's all the ramen on their menu: Clear or Miso. Clear is actually very flavorful. The only down-side is that the bowl of ramen is overall warm, not hot. It will be GREAT if they can make a delicious hot bowl of ramen for this type of cold weather! 

Miso ramen is heavier than I thought, but is it still good. (especially for people who love heavier broth type) Along with menma (bamboo shoots) corn, and bean sprouts, the miso ramen is well balanced countering the heavy miso broth. 

WOWBOX (by MogMog) NOVEMBER 2015 REVIEW

WOWBOX (by MogMog) NOVEMBER 2015, "Original Fun & Tasty" Box, LARGE

WOWBOX is a Japanese snack subscription service by mogmog, a company based in Japan. The snacks were selected and directly shipped from Japan. The great thing is shipping is already included in the subscription fee. That is pretty awesome! 

Japanese-inspired dishes at Alinea, Chicago Illinois USA

Campfire course

Alinea is one of the 12 restaurants in the United States that earned a 3-Michelin star rating. Their most memorable dishes are "the helium balloon" and "the hand-drawn dessert on the table". 

Edible Helium green apple candy balloon

Similar to many other Michelin-starred restaurants, there is only drinks and pairing menu. The initial dinner is around $210-$295 per person. (not including pairings) There is a total of 25 courses, but I will emphasize mainly on the Japanese-inspired dishes. 

SNAKKU BOX OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

October Snakku Box - Hokkaido themed snacks

What a traditional and cute packaging for snack bento!

Snakku is a Japanese snack subscription service founded by Shigeki-san, who was born in Tokyo and values authentic Japanese snacks made by actual snack makers in Japan. When I first received my Snakku box, it leaves a deep impression from the way Snakku packages their snack box with a "furoshiki", a piece of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth for bento (picnic box), gifts, grocery goods, etc.  

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win SNAKKU November Japanese Snack Bento! [Ended on 11/2/2015]

SNAKKU October Snack Bento Box

Giveaway: Enter to win the newest November bento box! 
Entry begins on Oct 26 and ends on Nov 2, 2015 11:59AM PDT.

Mensho Tokyo is opening their first American restaurant on December 1st in San Francisco, USA

Mensho Ramen has always been listed as one of the best ramen spots in Japan. Even ramen superstar Ivan Orkin went back for a round 2 of their delicious lamb tonkotsu tsukemen.

Ramen chef, Tomoharu Shono, was planning to open his first American outpost restaurant in San Francisco during Spring 2015 called "Mensho Tokyo"; however schedule has been delayed throughout the year. 

http://mensho.tokyo/

Japanese Teishoku Pop-up Dinner at 2293 Mission St., San Francisco USA

Tonkatsu (Fried Pork Cutlet) with egg and sauce: with rice, miso soup, pickled cucumber, and cold mix-veggies over tofu (Tamago was supposed to be in that empty bowl...) $18

What do traditional Japanese meal tasted like? I am glad I was introduced to a Japanese Teishoku Pop-up Dinner in San Francisco tonight. Teishoku means "meal set" and typically includes items like rice, miso soup, a main dish, side dish and pickled vegetables. It's simple dishes, but was prepared with great care. Let me tell you how the dinner went!

JAPAN CRATE PREMIUM OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

JAPAN CRATE PREMIUM OCTOBER 2015

This is the first time I've ever received a Japanese snack subscription box. It feels like Christmas already just to receive a box full of goodies! Japan Crate includes all kinds of snacks: savory ones like chips, sweet ones like candies and DIY snacks, sour gummy candies, crispy corn snacks, etc! For Premium box, they even include a Japanese drink. 

Bireley's Orange Drink - a discontinued drink from 1920 California and
is still available in Japan made by Asahi drink manufacture

Meiji - Poifull - Assorted Soda Jelly Beans

My favorite snack is a jelly bean by Meiji. I used to have it a lot when I was young in Hong Kong, where Japanese snacks are widely available. After moving to the America, this is one of the few times that I get to try this candy for a long time. The texture of this candy is hardened only for the outer layer. Once you eat it, the outer layer will soften and blend with the rest of the candy. It is sweet, but not overly sweetened like many American candies. (American food doesn't go easy on sugar!)

SKOSHBOX OCTOBER 2015 REVIEW

SKOSHBOX - The Original Skoshbox

SKOSHBOX - Dekabox

Skoshbox is a Japanese snack subscription service that delivers a monthly box of Japanese candies and snacks from their selection of assorted snacks that will definitely surprise you each month. 

Monterey Bay squid and pork fried rice at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Monterey Bay squid and pork fried rice with wild nettles, cilantro, basil, cherry tomatoes, and Siew’s spicy shrimp-chili paste $15.5

Once a while, my friends will order Ramen Shop's fried rice as a small appetizer. It is a little bit spicy from their house-made shrimp-chili paste. 

Taiyaki at May's Coffee Shop, San Francisco USA

Taiyaki $2

This snack shop is located inside Japan Center. It has a large Taiyaki drawing at the front of shop. There are two flavors: chocolate or red bean. Also, I recommend coming at the morning so you can get fresher Taiyaki. From what the set-up tells me, it seems like they make a bunch in the morning and leave it at the front.

Red Miso Mochi Ice Cream at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Red Miso Mochi Ice Cream $5

Happy Birthday to me! I tried my first RED MISO flavored mochi ice cream at Ramen Shop! First of all, it is house-made, I wish I can find any flavor of mochi ice cream at any convience store. ^ v ^

The ice cream is very flavorful, but the taste of red miso is subtle, almost taste like a ripe plum.

The Snack Poster, launching a new Japanese snack inspired graphic design project on Kickstarter

Today, I finally launched my new graphic design project on Kickstarter called The Snack Poster! The design is simply inspired by the first bite of a Sakura Mochi from Tamon Tea. 

Sakura Mochi

This project currently needs funds to start its first printing production. Please visit Kickstarter for more information.

Dorayaki, Kusa-mochi, and Gen-mai-cha at Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco USA

Dorayaki 銅鑼焼き (Japanese Pancake with Red Bean Paste Filling) $3.25

Kusa-mochi 草餅 $4.95

It is the oldest public Japanese tea garden in the United States. If you are into Japanese tea garden as well as tea house, this is a very beautiful and relaxed place to visit. The garden features classic Japanese tea garden as well as architecture such as an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden. In March and April, beautiful cherry blossom trees bloom throughout the garden.

Tamago, Sashimi, and maki-sushi at Tani's Kitchen, Daly City USA

Hamachi $3.25 & Tamago Nigiri $2.5

Assorted Sashimi: hamachi, tuna, salmon, octopus $8.95

Negihama $3.25, Spicy Tuna $3.25, & Salmon & Avocado $3.25

Hearing from a friend, Tani's Kitchen is famous for their tamago. Although they use a very common way of making tamago-yaki, the piece is quite tasty and well-balanced: nor too sweet or salty. It is also still very spongy with moisture. (they use 2 layers of cloth and bamboo rolling mat to keep tamago from drying out) Since the sushi shop is fairly small, the wait for this place is inevitably long: around 20-35 minutes.

Umami Burger at Umami, San Francisco USA

Umami Burger: parmesan frico, shiitake mushroom, roasted tomato, caramelized onions, Umami house ketchup

Tonight, I tried the umami burger with medium rare steak. It is quite tasty with the Umami house ketchup, which is rather savory than sour. Overall the burger blends very well with all the veggies, especially the roasetd tomatoes.

Seafood Udon and Nigiri at Kamado Sushi, Berkeley USA

Seafood Udon: clam, mussel, scallop, fish, shrimp

Hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon), hon maguro (tuna)

Kamado Sushi is a causal Japanese restaurant located at Northern Berkeley area. I came here towards the end of lunch time, and there was no waiting line. I ordered a seafood udon as well as 5 sets of nigiri: Hamachi (yellowtail), sake (salmon), hon maguro (tuna), hotate (Hokkaido scallop), and tamago. (egg cake)

Hokkaido Scallop Nigiri and Salmon Rice Bowl at Kiku Sushi, Berkeley USA

Nigiri Sushi  握り寿司

Kiku Sushi is a local friendly, neighborhood type of Japanese sushi restaurant. It has a 4 star on Yelp, and I decided to give it a try today. For the salmon rice bowl, the salmon slices are creamy and fresh, but it tastes like it wasn't cured/marinated. (I tried buying a non-cured salmon fillet and it tastes just like that.) Ikura (salmon roe) is flavorful as it was soaked with soy sauce for a short period of time right before serving. Tamago-yaki has an old-egg kind of smell and taste.

*** Seafood Dishes at Saison, San Francisco USA

Sea Urchin over liquid toast

It was a great night at the three-Michelin-starred Saison, enjoying the 18-course meal with many well-known foodies from all over the world. This is my second time at Saison and their amazing dishes still surprised me with wonders. Above are only a few courses that introduce similar Japanese-related dishes.

Tonkotsu Black Garlic Oil Ramen at Kaze, Berkeley USA

Kaze Black Garlic Oil Ramen
Pork Chashu, egg, black mushroom, bean sprout, scallions, dried seaweed

Kaze is a ramen restaurant located on Shattuck, Berkeley. I ordered their special "Kaze Black Garlic Oil Ramen." Broth base is a Tonkotsu creamy broth, ramen noodles are instant noodle. Chashu is good in texture but lacking flavor.

Chicken Teriyaki Bento & Gyūdon at Tamon Tea, Berkeley USA

Chicken Teriyaki Bento (鶏照り焼き弁当): Teriyaki Chicken, Japanese-style Spaghetti, marinated tomatoes and veggies, rice $6-7

Tamon Tea's bento box is differently daily. It is usually out of stock if you visit after lunch time as well. Their marinated eggplants and tomatoes are surprisingly very good despite the ordinary appearance. For the Gyūdon, the thin beef slices are a little bit dry, but the flavor is excellent. It serves with lots of rice and 7-spice chili pepper and black sesame.

Visiting Chef Mochizuki at Tamon Tea, Berkeley USA

Chef Mochizuki and me

GOOD NEWS! Chef was able to order Yokan (Sweet bean jelly) from one of the most famous traditional 400 year-old Yokan maker/shops in Kyoto Japan. (Toraya?) The sweets will arrive in 2 weeks. (1 week making and 1 week shipping) Let's plan to make a trip back very soon!

Today I actually told the chef of Tamon Tea, Mochizuki-san about how great his food is and how his snacks inspired me in designing for my upcoming poster project. He was surprised and excited about what I told him and thank me for coming to the shop all these times.

Meyer Lemon Ramen & Hokkaido Spicy Butter Corn Miso Ramen at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Meyer Lemon (Front) $16.5 and Hokkaido Spicy Butter Corn Miso (Back) $17.5

Meyer Lemon Ramen is a yuzu-inspired recipe for Northern Californians. Just by the name of the ramen, you already know the broth will be acidic rather than salty. The ramen has salt-cured egg and plenty of vegetables: maitake and king oyster mushrooms, tomato confit, broccolini, eggplants, and mizuna. (water greens)

Salmon and Hamachi Bento at Kirala 2, Berkeley USA

Hamachi (Yellow Tail) Bento: Grilled Hamachi, Tamago, veggies cooked with dashi broth, rice $10

Salmon Bento: Grilled Salmon, Tamago, veggies cooked with dashi broth, rice $10

Kirala 2 is located inside "Epicurious Garden." It can be easily found on the right-hand side once you enter the building. Although it is a small space for Kirala, there are constantly at least 3-4 sushi chefs who's making sushi all the time. I once met a Japanese girl while waiting in line and she said their bento is very close to the ones in Toyko, which is where she was from. Their bento box usually includes protein (either grilled fish, chicken, or deep-fried tonkotsu) and large variety of Japanese veggies cooked with fish stock.

Hokkaido Squash Blossom Butter Corn Miso Ramen & Porcini Shoyu Ramen at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Hokkaido Squash Blossom Butter Corn Miso Ramen $17.5

Porcini (an Italian mushroom) Shoyu Ramen $17.5

I feel extremely happy with the Hokkaido Squash Blossom Butter Corn Miso Ramen. The creamy broth really fits well with the soft squash in general. Along with butter, corn, and miso, the ramen includes ground pork belly, shoyu-marinated egg, padron pepper, broccoli, and shungiku green.

At the same time, Porcini shoyu ramen is another new ramen invention that my friend (who usually prefers lighter-tasting food) really loves. As the name suggests, this ramen recipe uses Porcini, an Italian mushroom that is very meaty and rich. The shoyu broth is not too salty and its flavor is very satisfying with good quality Japanese soy sauce. The bowl of ramen also has pork chashu slices, shoyu-marinated eff, spring garlic, scallions, bok choy, and mizuna.

Shio Tori Paitan Ramen at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Shio Tori Paitan Ramen $17.5

On Sunday, one of Ramen Shop's owners, Ray, told me about their Paitan ramen that will be on their menu today. That is why I planned to come visit again at 5pm sharp to try it out right when the restaurant opens. The ramen today is called Shio Tori Paitan Ramen. It is very creamy and rich yet moderately salty. The creamy texture is very overwhelming to me. Luckily, there're porcini mushroom and lots of veggies. It is a very satisfying meal with egg and chashu!

Shoyu Ramen at Santouka, San Jose USA

Shoyu Ramen with marinated eggs and ikura don in the back $11.94

Shoyu ramen tastes very similar to the miso, shio, or spicy I had before. (Check out this post about miso ramen) The broth is great, but the noodle can't be compared with Ramen Shop's freshly homemade ramen. I actually enjoy the mini ikura rice more now!  

RECIPE: Homemade Udon Noodle from Scratch

Do you crave for noodle all the time like me? If you pre-made your udon noodles, you can enjoy a fresh bowl of hot udon all the time! Most importantly, the only ingredients you really need is flour, salt, and water for noodle. Also, if you are very picky about your noodle's thickness and texture, you can customize it all you want. ** You will need a pasta maker for this!!

Fried Chicken Oyako-Don at Aburaya, Oakland USA

Fried Chicken Oyako Don $9

I am very exciting about this place, but I guess I was expecting too much. I ordered my chicken rice bowl with garlic sauce and egg. The saucy fried chicken tastes alright but I wish the egg will be more fluffy to counter the heavy fried chicken. I can barely finish my bowl, I guess I better get back to my noodle diet.

Kogashi Shellfish Miso Ramen at Ramen Shop, Oakland USA

Kogashi Shellfish Miso Ramen $17.5

This is very good! The seafood broth combine with miso is absolutely perfect for my taste! Shellfish, crab, shrimp, fish, and many other seafood dishes are always my favorite! Now, seafood plus ramen is like a living dream to me!

Bento, Taiyaki, Takoyaki, Onigiri Rice Ball, and Mitarashi Mochi at Tamon Tea, Berkeley USA

Bento Box $6-7
Upper Left:
cherry blossom denbu (Ground Seasoned Codfish)
chopped egg
marinated ground beef
all those ingredients above over rice

Upper Right:
cucumber and picked daikon (Japanese radish)broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot
Bottom Right:
eggplant with miso sauce (super yummy!)
tomatoes
spaghetti

Mitarashi Dango, Rice cake with sweet sauce $1.95

I really like this little hidden gem in Berkeley. It gives me all the tasty Japanese snacks I want. I came to this place pretty often, and tried out many of their snacks. (Check out my previous post to see what other snacks I've tried.)