Ramen Zundo Ya: The Best Ramen Ever

Posted on October 7, 2014 by heavenliner

One great test to determine if a restaurant and its dishes are truly superb is through the guests’ impression on his or her return visit. It is very common for a restaurant to receive raving reviews on the first engagement. But almost often, guest becomes disillusioned on their return because they realize that their ordered food – which they totally enjoyed during their pilot visit – was nothing but a fluke or a strike of luck. In Tagalog, tsamba!

But with my recent visit and return to Ramen Zundouya located at Shisaibashi in Osaka, I can definitely say that this joint serves the best ramen in the universe.

ramen zundouya shinsaibashi branch

During my first visit (click: HERE to read my previous post), me and my family were easily led inside and was given a table with such a breeze. However, on our return, we already have to queue among the long line of patrons waiting for their turn to be assigned with a table. We were actually listed 13^th among those who enlisted to dine that afternoon.

quiet japanese folks waiting their turn. no pinoy on queue yet, pinoys has yet to discover this savory treasure

While waiting and drooling on line, my personal claim that this indeed is the best ramen house was actually an understatement. To prove a point, I in fact noticed one big poster on the wall announcing that they have mushroomed around Japan. To further prove my point, Ramen Zundouya’s flavor will soon invade America. It is because a Ramen Zundouya shop is due to open a branch along 10^th Street in New York next year!

soon to open in new york! (i will definitely try it when i get there)

To check the consistency of this restaurant, I again ordered for the same dish I had during my first visit, the Zenbu-nose Ramen. When the bowl was served in front of me, I was absolutely surprised because the presentation and the arrangements of all ingredients placed in the massive porcelain was still impeccably beautiful.

And when I had my first sip of the broth/soup, nothing actually changed! Nothing changed because the world seemed to stop for a moment for me to savor the paradise-like flavor of Zenbu-nose Ramen. This matchless concoction was without a doubt an invigorating assault in all of the senses!

zenbu-nose ramen
(my tastebuds had a blast!)

Walang kaduda-duda, ang tindi ng sarap!

Kick Cancer’s Ass

Posted on October 1, 2014 by heavenliner

Cancer (not the horoscope but the ailment) in which ever form, type, category or origin it is has gained the reputation of being a deadly and dreaded disease. It has claimed a considerable percentage of the human population. This disease is so deadly, it does not only attack the physical being, it also plagues the human emotion as well as drain a family’s bank account. Cancer nowadays is so prevalent everybody seem to know someone who had or have it.

Because of this, people in groups – may it be a foundation, an organization or a company – has come up with noble and novel ideas on how to help those affected. Case in point are the two ongoing projects situated at two ends of the planet. Their strategies may vary but their aim is the same. To kick cancer’s ass.

One is located in Manila, particularly the LJC Restaurants’ ‘Good to Dine’ promo. It is a strategy that lets you donate to the needy yet at the same time let you enjoy a penchant palatal experience. It is because for every ordered special dish included in the campaign, the patron gets to donate ten (10) pesos of his payment to the Philippine General Hospital’s Cancer Institute.

The campaign will run until the end of the year (2014) and the accumulated fund will be used to finance treatments of cancer patients. So when you plan to dine in a restaurant, might as well settle for these restaurants and order for these items…

order na!
(photo grabbed from ljc restaurants webpage)

The other is located in New York. That is Hoda Kotb’s (host of The Today Show) direct-to-the-point fundraising and donation campaign. Usually quirky Hoda and her group tickle viewers’ sentiments and emotion by letting them watch and listen to a beautiful mashed up songs of two of pop superstars Sara Bareilles’ ‘Brave‘ and Cindy Lauper’s ‘True Colors‘.

Indeed, the song and the music video touches the heart. It will make you realize that you haven’t seen what a true character of ‘brave’ is until you’ve seen kids kick cancer’s ass.

All proceeds of Hoda’s campaign will go to grants for pediatric cancer research via the American Cancer Society. Click HERE if you wish to donate.

Kip dis gowing… Doneyt doneyt ang peg!

Goto on Father’s Day

Posted on June 15, 2014 by heavenliner

yum yum!

Some would sneak out of the bedroom to have a bar of chocolate or a decent pint of ice cream. Others would have a bag of cookies or even prepare themselves a hearty sandwich. These are some of the common food chows people eat if they would have a midnight snack.

I never have cravings for a midnight snack, and if I would have one, I would go for a super bowl of “goto”. I don’t know the English word for goto. But it’s a hot rice porridge with meat innards (usually ox tripe and intestines) topped with chopped leeks, toasted garlic and a squeeze of the ever versatile calamansi fruit.

Psychology reveals that patterns for adult food choices is based on childhood influences, socio-economic life course and obviously the physiological state of hunger. I believe on all these three factors. But my choosing goto as a midnight snack is based on the first. My childhood influence. This is basically because of my father.

a true dad knows how to and not ashamed to do the laundry… happy father’s day tatay!

During my days living in Pasay, my father religiously fetched Nengkoy from work when she would render overtime reaching until the wee hours of night. Before my parents would head home, they would drop by a goto store to purchase this superb rice soup.

And when they would arrive home, both would wake up all of us (their children, including the maid) so as to enjoy the tasty goto. Heavy-eyed, lethargic and drowsy, I would slurp a mouthful which would definitely wake me up. This has become a very long habit of my family in Pasay until my father has gone sick and Nengkoy retired from work.

Now that I am an adult, has lived independently from my family and my father has gone to heaven, today’s Father’s Day I guess would be so nice to have a midnight snack. Definitely, that would be some big bowl of hot delicious goto.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone…

Ano nga ba inglish sa gowtu?

The Sophisticated Saltiness of Alaminos Longganisa

Posted on June 1, 2014 by heavenliner

one heavenly piece of alaminos longganisa

After an awesome adventure at the Hundred Islands, I and my friends stayed overnight in one of the forgettable hotels in Alaminos. But the breakfast they served was definitely something to remember and rave about. It was the un-popular yet very tasty Alaminos Longganisa. I am writing about Alaminos Longganisa because this is the culinary highlight of my Hundred Islands adventure.

Vigan, Lucban, Cebuano or the Kapampangan longganisa versions may be the more popular varieties of “longganisa” (native sausage) for they may easily be found in the supermarkets. And Alaminos longganisa may probably be the least adored longganisa variety in the Philippines because a lot of Filipinos doesn’t even know that an Alaminos version exists!

But the Alaminos Longganisa is definitely the most admired type in my mother’s household. That is why before I and my friends drove back to Manila, we stopped by the public market to purchase kilos of this delectable banger variety.

golden links for sale at the public market in alaminos

Unlike the Cebuano and Kapampangan type which are rather sweet in taste, Alaminos longganisa is similar to the Vigan and Lucban variety which is garlicky in the palate. But what stands out for the Alaminos variety is the discriminatingly unique and refined saltiness. Maybe this is because it has less of the curing salt (the menacing salitre) and got more of the natural sea salt which is abundantly available in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

I am highlighting the unique sophisticated saltiness of this sausage as its finest ingredient because Nengkoy believes that the best tasting coarse salt is made and can only be found in Alaminos, Pangasinan. Nengkoy so fancy the taste of Alaminos sea salt, she would even request that her pasalubong (home coming present) simply be kilos of this salt if a friend or a relative happen to be coming from Alaminos. Yeah, I know that’s how weird my mom is! Asin ang gusto.

Anyway, going back to the Alaminos Longganisa. Aside from its superb taste, a distinct look about the Alaminos Longganisa is the color. It’s yellow! This is because it has atsuete (annatto) as part of its ingredient. That is why unlike the salitre-filled usually red-colored native sausages, Alaminos Longganisa when cooked turns out to be golden brown in appearance.

Also, a unique form of this sausage is the usage of short and thin palm leaves’ midrib sticks to separate each sausage link from one another. To keep the meat bursting out of its sausage casing, these wood sticks are actually fried along with the meat and is served still on the plate sticking out from the ends of the sausage!

So if you happen to have been served a golden brown sausage with small sticks on it, it is most probably the glorious Alaminos longganisa! Of course, like any other Filipino longganisa, Alaminos longganisa is best devoured with loads of steamed kanin (rice).

Naimas…

Osaka Food Porn & My First Sazae Experience

Posted on May 11, 2014 by heavenliner

Call if favoritism, but I would like to believe that Osaka Prefecture is the culinary capital of Japan. This is the main reason why I gained so much weight! When in comes to food, Osaka has yet to fail me.

With my limited exposure to the dashing and colorful culinary world of Japan, I have been so fascinated by the colors and taste of lovely Osaka.

To prove my point, here are some awesome photos of food taken right at the streets of Osaka. The mere stunning looks of these digestibles already produces mild sense of euphoria.

hotdogs!!!

To add up to such already fascinating feast for the visual sense, I went further by becoming more adventurous. This is because I tried for the very first time a Japanese delicacy called Sazae or the Turbo Shell. At first, I was just fascinated on how plenty it was being sold on the side streets, until I set aside the wussy in me and urge my niece Erika to try it for ourselves.

step aside escargot… sazae is here…

Sazae is a big sea snail (as big as that of Dyesabel’s “kabibe”) cooked by directly grilling the shell with its meat inside. A little amount of liquid is poured inside the shell that is why it boils the meat while being grilled. Sazae is totally different from the usual French escargot, the latter are land snails while the former are deep sea snails.

otosan plating our order

sazae… a palatal encounter!

my first sazae…

When I picked the meat out from the shell, I must admit that it was pretty gross looking. Upon seeing it, I thought of eating and swallowing it quick the Fear Factor way, but I gave Sazae a chance since I planned to blog about it. I chewed on it and try to savor the palatal treat.

My first Sazae experience was not something like reaching the pinnacle of pleasure. It is because its taste was something to be used to. It is of the salty-bitter kind. It would be more of an acquired taste that would eventually grow in you. I guess it would be best if guzzled and washed down with a sparkling wine or an ice cold beer!

Ang kabibe kaya ni Dyesebel kapag ginataan, masarap?

Ippudo Ramen: A Very Good Second Best

Posted on April 22, 2014 by heavenliner

a caption at ippudo’s glass wall

Though heat is intensely shimmering in Metro Manila, hot ramen eateries and restaurants at the moment are experiencing some renaissance in this mega city. Like Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter spread in the past, ramen dishes today are a craze in this part of the world.

Since I am spending a fab holiday in Osaka, I will definitely not miss the enormous chance to eat ramen in this metropolis (at least twice). That is why, I coerced my family to eat again in a ramen house. This time we searched for the ramen joint that is pretty popular in Manila. It’s the Hakata Ippudo Ramen restaurant located just a few meters away from the Swissotel in Namba, Osaka.

I proved the popularity of this restaurant in the Philippines because when we reached the ramen house, there were considerable number of Filipino tourists queuing waiting for their turn to be seated. It was further amplified when it was our chance to enter the establishment. I noticed that about 80% of their guests were Filipinos.

the queue outside where pinoy tourists converge

as presented in their english menu…

Like what I did in Zondouya Ramen restaurant a couple of days ago (read my post about Zondouya HERE), I settled for the most expensive and biggest photo dish on the menu. Surprisingly, my order called Akamaru Special is pretty similar to Zembo-no, the ramen I enormously enjoyed in Zondouya.

My ordered Akamaru Special ramen also contains sheets of nori, soft-as-butter pork, freshly cut negi, a soft boiled egg, caramelized onions and garlic, plus a generous amount of “straight” noodles. (in Zondouya, I went for the “curly” variety.)

my enjoyable akamaru!

The speed and quality of service rendered by the staff in Ippudo is as fast and as charming as that of Zondouya. However, when my Akamaru Special was placed in front of me, the first thing I noticed was the presentation. I straightforwardly uttered, “In terms of presentation, one point for Zondouya!”

I could no longer resist my comparing when I started stirring and mixing the ingredients in my bowl. Before I uttered another word, I internalize and justified that comparison is one of the fundamental processes of the human mind. And we define things in terms of their similarities and differences.

akamaru to the left, zenbo-no to the right. now you choose…

I then uttered in a pretty loud voice, “In terms of thickness and full-bodied-ness, another point for Zondouya!” My nieces and nephews indisputably agreed with me. My niece Erika seated beside me expressed that Zondouya’s Zembo-no looks richer while Ippudo’s Akamaru was runnier in terms of thickness.

Now the taste. Tactlessly speaking, I articulated saying, “In terms of taste, another point for Zondouya!” Some Pinoy guests at the waiting area and nearby tables were starting to look at me, as if wondering what ramen was I comparing Ippudo’s version with. Nevertheless, I voiced out that Ippudo’s slices of pork were smoother and actually melts in the mouth. I uttered, “one point for Ippudo for the softness of the pork, nonetheless!” The Pinoy guests looked down onto their bowls and resumed their munching.

But the softness of the pork could not counterweight the enormous savory taste of Zondouya’s broth. Like a lot of ramen experts, I have always believed that the success of a ramen dish all depends on the palatability of the broth. A lot of ramen connoisseurs would even do massive research and experimentations just to achieve the perfect broth. For me personally, Zondouya’s broth formula is truly magical. Ipuddo’s version nonetheless is very good.

To simply conclude my comparison between Ipuddo and Zondouya, I personally requested to meet the chef in the latter while for the former we stepped out of the establishment happy and thought to myself, I should celebrate differences. That not all things are equal, some things needs to be less pretty so as to further appreciate others beauty.

Masarap din inperness…

A Savory Ramen Experience at Ramen Zundo Ya

Posted on April 19, 2014 by heavenliner

Flavors were exploding in my mouth and my taste buds were giving a standing ovation shouting, “Bravo!”

These are the general feelings when I had the first bite and first sip of the ramen I tasted at Ramen Zundouya Restaurant located in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. Since I can’t read kanji, I selected the dish with the biggest photo. Since it was the biggest picture in the menu as well as the most expensive one, I supposed that Zenbo-no Ramen is this restaurant’s specialty.

the actual dish looks better than the one on the menu

True enough, my selection was impeccably right. The Zenbo-no ramen came with freshly cut negi, some absolutely melt-in-your-mouth pork slices, slips of nori, a full soft boiled egg and a good sized serving of “curly” noodles. Generous amount of garlic cloves are provided on the table which can be freshly crushed using a unique garlic press. But what is so heavenly about this dish is the magic broth that the restaurant uses. The rich savory broth flavor simply bursts in your mouth!

The feelings induced by this perfect ramen were excellently joyful and heavenly. For a moment, I forgot my name and thought that I was having an elated out of body experience. Zembo-no Ramen in so rich and explosively delicious my taste buds thanked me!

super yummy!!!

distinctive interior design

i love those “troso” as dining seats

waiting area outside of the restaurant was me and nengkoy's venue for our blog header's photo

waiting area outside is the venue of this blog’s header photo

Ramen Zundouya’s website indicates that their first aim is to “captivate the customer with each ramen dish”. This aim absolutely hit me. Never in my restaurant-dining experience was I so impressed with the dish that I personally asked to meet the restaurant’s chef. I was so captivated that I asked for his name and even topped it by asking for a photo with him. I could not resist to thank him for such an awesome masterpiece.

with chef endou

This unmatched ramen experience was simply outstanding!

Mapapa-jusko ka sa sarap!

Coca in Osaka

Posted on April 18, 2014 by heavenliner

my bottle

A lot of friends and colleagues who has been to Japan agrees that the taste of Coca-Cola seem different as compared to other parts of the world. And I do agree with this observation. For me regular Coke or Cola in this part of the planet seem lighter to the taste and smoother to the gullet. It is not disturbingly sweet and not unnerving to the tongue. I can actually drink a regular coke in this part of the world without the need for ice.

What is even more fun drinking Coke in Japan, particularly in Osaka is that you can actually have your bottle personalized. Located at Grand Pronto Mall, Osaka’s new mega-shopping town complex is a Coca-Cola store where you can have your name stamped on the bottle label for free.

While my bottle was being stamped, I was imagining on top of a hill and wanted to sing the popular Coca-Cola jingle… I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (a Perfect Harmony).

guess what this store is selling…

osaka lady stamping my bottle

my sister’s nickname is so exotic

so “shota” is a popular nickname in osaka…

My body had changed, my sensibilities changed, though to this day, I still drink Coke. Admit it or not, but there are lots of chows, cuisines or simple sustenance best consumed with a bottle of Coca-Cola. I guess, no one is too old to drink this precarious drink.

Its da ril ting… Inom na!

Luscious Main Course at Georgetown Cupcake

Posted on March 23, 2014 by heavenliner

inside georgetown cupcake, los angeles

Quite a bunch of people know that oftentimes dessert is actually my main course. I don’t always have desserts but when I know that it is to be served and available, it becomes the primary course, the gastronomic apex and the highlight of my meal.

When me and my friends where visiting places of interest along Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, we decided to delay our lunch and instead entered the fancy store of the famous Georgetown Cupcake.

Georgetown Cupcake being founded by the best-selling authors of Cupcake Diaries and having been featured in a lot of American TV shows, it would be stupid of me if I start complaining on why we are having enchanting sweets instead of a hearty lunch.

“main course” on display…

six cup-sized heaven

denton could no longer wait for me to finish my photo-taking

The four of us shared a half dozen of cupcakes of various flavours. I glugged it down with a tall-sized Illy brewed coffee. The two most bewitching flavours were the chocolate salted caramel and lava fudge. The moist yet fluffy texture and perfect harmony of flavours were so enchanting it feels like being in a great opera. I can simply describe it as one great decadent self-indulging climax.

Kasing sarap ko yan!

Abandoning My Propriety at Boiling Crab

Posted on March 16, 2014 by heavenliner

boiling crab at koreatown, los angeles

Every time I am out of the Philippines, I always make it a point to be a good representation of my country. I’m behaved and I always bring with me tons of manners. I follow the rules, I smile a lot, I am a little friendlier and I am more cultured than the usual. Dining etiquette and favourable table manners are always taken into great consideration.

But I totally transgressed from all of these when I and my travel buddies Karen, Joesel & Denton dined at Boiling Crab located at Koreatown along Wilshire Boulevard in L.A., USA. I guess having to wait for available seats for close to two hours would make any sane, well-educated and refined person reasonably unsophisticated when it comes to table manners.

True enough, when the waitress tied a disposable bib around my neck, I knew that we are on for some messy type of meal. No plates were served but instead wax paper that covers the whole table was placed in front of us. And when the food was served contained in transparent plastic bags, I was ready to embrace the mess, abandon my propriety and satisfy my glutinous depravity.

the whirlwind of digging, squeezing, cracking and twisting is about to begin…

ready for some messy yet heavenly type of meal…

Realizing that I can abandon the basic dining manners for that moment, I simply ditched the plastic spoon and fork that was handed to me and instead dug on the food with my bare hands. The plastic bags placed on our table contained the most sumptuous and legendary buttered shrimps cooked in chopped garlic that I have tasted in a long while. The zingy spicy sauce was the best when it is poured over a hot mountain of rice and juicy buttered corn on cob.

re-living the fantastic experience

our glorious mess

I don’t know if it is just the Filipino in me, but I guess food becomes more splendid, yummy and delectable when eaten using the bare hands. But then again, the food served in Boiling Crab seem so enchanting we actually returned and queued again for more than two hours after a couple of nights to re-live the same joyous scrumptious experience we had the first time. The second time we dined definitely did not disappoint us.

Sarap…

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Category Archives: food