The final collabo...

Day 202:

I woke up with a mad hangover craving for mabo ramen. I mean it was mad! But my favorite place for it was closed and I ended up eating this crappy bowl instead. Bleh.

Meanwhile, the collabo-ramen guys, Brian and Daniel, were getting ready to do their final collabo at Bassanova. Well let's just say final-for-now. Daniel is off to continue his education back in the states (good luck dude!), but I'm sure he'll be back to visit often. Anyway, thanks for doing the final-for-now video at Bassanova! I can't wait to see the final cut!!

Btw, this was by far the best day of work so far...

The boss is back...

Day 201:

After another record-breaking Saturday at Bassanova, we were on the verge of running out of our fried negi topping. And since Sunday is not a delivery day for our yaoya (greengrocer), I went to go pick up the vegetables myself. But on the way, I stopped at Chukasoba Banya in Shimo-Takaido for some rich shoyu ramen.

Banya's shoyu ramen is gritty and grossly good. That's as best as I can describe it.

You will probably hate it or love it. No in between.

Later this evening, big boss came in from Fukuoka and told us to close shop so we can all go drinking. No arguments here. So please accept my apology if you came to Bassanova after 11pm. We were quenching our thirsts in Shimo.

Like every good boss, he ended the night/morning by buying us all a bowl of ramen at Kashira.

From what I can remember, it was the perfect bowl at the perfect time.

But obviously I couldn't remember much. :)

Mo money...

Day 200:

On my 200th day in Japan, I decided to go back to Menya Enji for their potage tsukemen.

It's one of my favorite bowls of tsukemen and it never seems to disappoint.

The slow roasted pork is so tender. mmm...

Then I finally got around to making a video for my second 90 days here in Tokyo. Sorry it took so long. Enjoy!

That was how I chill...

Sleep well...

Day 199:

Eifukucho Taishoken is great! It may take a few bowls and several scorched taste buds to really appreciate it's greatness, but there's definitely something soothing about this gigantic bowl as it enters the blood stream.

Some may complain about the noodles being too soft, but after the 5th bowl or so you'll begin to understand how this ramen can put a soul to sleep.

Sort of how our Tom Yum Soba put this drunk guy to sleep for nearly 2 hours while several noisy customers slurped around him. I normally wouldn't take a strangers picture without asking, but this guy was an ass. So take note, if you come in drunk acting like an ass and then fall asleep in our shop, you're picture will be taken. haha.

After trying several times, we were finally able to wake him up without incident. Ahh..the life of a late night ramen shop. I should probably start writing about ALL the drama I see. Like the one night a girl fell asleep at the counter and when she finally awoke as we were closing she turned to me and asked if she could go home now. By all means, I replied.

Oops...I didn't mean to order that.

Day 198:

Whenever I enter a ramen shop with a ticket machine, I often have the bad habit of not fully reading the button I'm about to push. Kobe Ramen near Meidaemae is the perfect example. I just wanted to get a quick bowl before work and being that I've been to the no-longer-in-business Honancho branch in years passed., I just hit the cheapest lunch set button. Not only did the set come with ramen and gyoza, but it also came with a beer. Oops. I don't ever drink before work, but I wasn't about to waste a perfectly good beverage. I guess one beer before work wouldn't hurt. haha.

The ramen here is decent, but nothing spectacular. It almost tastes like a chanpon with it's thicker noodles.

Ahh...but you know what? It went perfectly with my beer.

On my way home from work (yes I now get home after the sun comes up), the kid in me had to snap this pic while waiting for the light to turn green.

goodnight!