いらっしゃいませ!

Welcome to my ramen dream... Currently being interpreted in Ramen Burger Land... Looking for a good slurp? Email me ! - Keizo

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Bassaween 2010...

Day 362:

Happy Halloween! Ahh...the perfect season for pumpkin ramen?? Just kidding. That's a miso ramen that just looks like pumpkin. Anyway, you better get prepared to be spooked! Cuz Bassanova has been overtaken by a special all girl staff!!


Welcome! (Do you get it?)


Normal people don't celebrate Halloween in Japan, but this is not your normal ramen shop and these girls are definitely not normal either. haha.


Cinnamon Shuga and Kei-chan were pretty cute...


But Boombilocks quickly stole the show.


Just look at the graceful way she eats. Now that's a real woman.


Woah! Now THAT'S a real woman! Did I not warn you?


Mari Mokkori Macduckston made an appearance and his mokkori could not be resisted.


And Kei-chan's twin sister momi-chan came in to hang out with Boombilocks. They are bff's.


Bassanova is the best ramen shop in the world!!! Period!! No other shop loves what we do and cares about what we do while having fun doing it.


Don't you agree?

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Knock knock...

Day 361:

Who's there? With an unexpected knock on my door waking me up from a deep sleep, I was about to go kick some salesman's a**. But wait, it's the mailman...with a package? Yes! Peanut butter m&m's and cinnamon toast crunch!!! Pepper, you rock!!


The typhoon was in full force. So with a useless umbrella in hand, I headed back to Menya Tenhou to try their Niboshi Ramen.


Not bad. I actually like it better than their regular tonkotsu.


The manager recognized me again and this time he hooked me up with some free dessert! Sweet!


It was a good day. The rain even stopped by the time we got off work.


Know any good knock-knock jokes?

Friday, October 29, 2010

To the brim...

Day 360:

Today was officially the last day of Ichiryu. It will soon become a yakiniku shop, I think. Their boss stopped by to give us a bunch of goodies, including this rotisserie chicken. I always had a bad impression of him, but over the past couple of months he really proved to be a pretty stand up guy. I'm pretty sure we'll keep in touch.


Anyway, I shredded the rotisserie chicken and topped it along with some roasted potatoes onto the green curry. Can you say &*#^@ %$? Wow, that was incredible!


I really liked this shot so I decided to take a picture of it. Now imagine carrying this extremely hot pot of soup filled to the brim.


Recently we've been getting a lot of requests for a garlic version of our Tondaku Wadashi Soba so I experimented with one. Honestly, I liked it better than the Tondaku Garlic Soba that's already on the menu. I think an addition needs to be made. But I need a second opinion. Please come in and try!


Alright I'm full. Now let's go prepare for this typhoon that's coming...

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Winding up...

Day 359:

The rain was back and although I just wanted to stay home, I needed to do some research. So back to Momo No Ki (小麦と肉 桃の木) I went...


The all girl staff was waiting. And with Halloween around the corner, Bassanova might be invaded with an all girl staff as well. Hehe.


This is by far one of my favorite tsukemen joints. And believe it or not, it's not just because of the all girl staff.


Today I ordered the kotteri-shoyu tsukemen. Bomb!


The shio tsukemen is slightly better imo, but you can't go wrong with either.


The pigtail rice dish is amazing too. Tender, moist, and melty.


momi stopped by basa to say hi and give us the lowdown on our tv debut. Soon, she said, soon.


Then we went to go hang out at her friends cafe/bar Kurukuru (くるくる), which happens to be the same owners with Tege-Tege next door to Bassanova. Small world!


Time to unwind...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

A faux party...

Day 358:

With the change of seasons once again upon us, the cool, crisp winter air has made way for change in this never ending circle of life. A party may be in the works, but there's not much of anything to celebrate.


Yet...


Cupcake is curious...not to mention cute.


And my youngest niece is in full celebration mode.


But by month's end, my bro's family will be moving further away...


Perhaps this rotisserie chicken (a rarity in Japan) will help me cope.


Or perhaps not. So who wants to party with me?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Sweet kakuni boots...

Day 357:

I woke up today in need of some boots. Ha..just kidding. (I'm not sure where that thought came from.) Anyway, I needed to stop by the home store to buy some things for Bassanova and within that store is the not-so-special ramen shop that has great kakuni.


Like I said, the kakuni is great! But everything else tastes like boots...


Dinner time...


I had some cool visitors today. Not only did big boss stop by to say hello, but Calvin and Jordan brought in some more of their UC friends, Conner and Richard. Big Country Conner ended up eating 600 grams of noodles with his green curry. Impressive! Later in the night, Mizutani-san came in with her brother to try Bassanova. I love it when people follow through on their promises!


The ride home was sooo cold that I needed something to warm me up fast. Seriously, it felt like it was gonna snow.


"I never knew there was chicken in this soup!" I used to love that commercial.


Now where did I put those boots?

Monday, October 25, 2010

Reckless stamina...

Day 357:

I finally had a day off to just relax. I tried going to the gym, but they were closed. So naturally I went to go eat ramen instead. Gamushara (我武者羅) in Hatagaya caught my eye while I was doing research this morning so I decided to check it out.


Gamushara actually shares this space with two other ramen shops (Yahiko and Dokkan) operating at different hours, presumably owned by the same people.


What caught my eye about Gamushara was the dark shoyu coloring.


I mean, doesn't it look beautiful?


It's strong saltiness is smoothed out by the ginger and spinach. The thinly sliced chashu was tender and moist and if I ever go back I'll probably order the chashu men. The noodles made the bowl proud.


I'm confused. Did I just eat Gamushara or Dokkan? Haha. Either they don't expect you to see the bottom of the bowl or they used the wrong one.


Then as I was getting ready to catch up on posts, I got a call from Boom saying that my friends had come into basa. After learning that it was my good friend Shin from LA and his girl Kurumi, I rushed over in a flash. Shin is also living his dream, in Utsunomiya. 頑張れ!


On my way home I set out to find the new Nanstuttei in Shimokitazawa but somehow got confused on its location and ended up at Chabuton (とんこつらぁ麺 CHABUTON).


You've been to Chabuya in LA right? Same owner, different flavor.


Yes, the Japan version tastes so much better.


As I was riding my bike back along the same street I used to get here, I found the new Stamina Tanmen Nantsutteii. I don't know how I missed it. Anyway, I stood in front for about 30 seconds contemplating whether I should go in or not. My stomach was saying no, but my reckless ramen mind was in full control.


So there you have it. Two bowls in 20 minutes. Just another day in the life...


Not bad, but I prefer Nantsuttei's original. Speaking of which, Nantsuttei will also be featured in Mitsuwa's Umaimono Gourmet Fair this weekend and next weekend at both the Torrance and New Jersey stores, respectively.


Dang I'm so full...