A roasted tomato...

Five years ago, I began my career as a ramen groupie who decided to learn from a ramen junkie. Looking back and reading that post, I went to eat at Ramen Nakamura in Eifuku and wrote "supposedly it was run by the brother of Taishoken Eifukucho." Apparently that was completely false. Whoever told me that was mistaking Nakamura with Kusamura down the street aka The Bush. But ironically, a couple years later the owner of Nakamura walked into Kusamura as I was sitting at the counter and I overheard the master telling him that he has no relation to the guy at ET.

(November 4, 2009)

Even from that first full day five years ago I fell in love with the streets of Tokyo.

(November 4, 2009)

Yes, in case you forgot I started this dream of mine working for Ivan Orkin of Ivan Ramen. Famous for his roasted tomatoes and unique take on Japanese ramen. Five years later, Ivan is one of the biggest players in popularizing ramen in America.

(November 4, 2009)

Fast forward to today, I was inspired to make a roasted tomato ramen burger.

(November 4, 2014)

In honor of Ivan, I think I have to call this one the Ivan Ramen Burger, right?