Shrimp, tomato, and cheeeeese...

Day 658:

After another workout, I needed to replenish my body with lost nutrients and Taketora (らーめん たけ虎) in Hatagaya was nearby.

I ordered the Zenbunose (everything on it) Ramen. Now that's how to replenish a body.

It's a pretty simple shoyu ramen with just a lot going on. About ten slices of chashu, half an egg, and even a chicken leg. And all for less than 800yen! As Hiroshi would say, "Hatagaya is best!!"

I initially planned on staying home tonight, but after browsing the new tsukemen mag and coming across this Shrimp-based Tomato Tsukemen with Mozzarella cheese, my plans changed.

I've been to Gonokamiseisakujo before and I liked it so I was looking forward to giving this tsukemen a try.

Here we go...

The noodles were sexy as ever and topped with a dollop of pesto sauce. I was instructed to dip the bread into the soup too for best effect.

So it's basically Gonokami's shrimp-based tsukemen with a roasted tomato...

...and some mozzarella cheese. There are some added herbs and spices to make it taste more Italian, but it's signature shrimp flavor holds it all together.

Not bad at all.

I was in the mood for Italian...

Technoramen...

Day 577:

I've always had love for technology. And if it weren't for all the surrounding factors that destroyed my love of programming, I may not be where I am today. But I have to read ALL the signs carefully. I have come too far to let anyone destroy this dream. In fact, it cannot be destroyed. For I am the one who controls my own destiny.

With that said, I was in the mood to just sleep all day on my day off, but the president of a game company invited me to go eat ramen with him for lunch in Kanda and I was not going to pass it up. Have I ever told you about my gaming background? Anyway, he recommended Isono (らーめん 神田 磯野), where the soup is made primarily with duck.

The owner is a disciple of Sano-san and the shinasoba roots are immediately noticed.

I got the Isono Ramen with everything on it. It's definitely a clean soup with no aftertaste and the shrimp wontons are crazy fresh. The two types of chashu (shoulder and belly) are also magnificent.

Now if only we could technologize this ramen...

The surrounding area is filled with famous soba shops that are hundreds of years old. I may have been to this one a decade ago. Right bro?

Anyway, it's time for bowl number two! After parting ways with the president, I was off to meet Hiroshi in Shinjuku at Gonokamiseisakujo (つけ麺 五ノ神製作所) to try their ebi (shrimp) tsukemen.

A friend of a friend created the noodle recipe here, but he wasn't working today. And I'm not sure if the dude staring at us was mad that we were taking pictures or if he just wanted to be posing for them.

With the shop smelling like roasted shrimp, it was time to get my slurp on.

Now these are some good looking noodles.

For an extra 50 yen, the cheese toast is highly recommended. Dip that tish!

The shrimp is not overpowering like some of those other shops (*cough..eisuke) and even with its thickness I was able to enjoy it to the end.

Technoramen is amazing...