Monday, August 30, 2010

ローメン (Romen Style in Nagano)

ローメン???

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I stumbled on this new restaurant in Nagano city a few month ago when I was up visiting a friend. We were refused at the door, and since then my friend was turned away another 2 times. This place is popular! It's a place that serves nothing but Shinshu sake and food (信州 is the old name for the area around Nagano, 200km North of Tokyo). I had to come back.

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Little did I know that this would become another ramen adventure. Or should I say romen.

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Romen was created in 1955, in a countryside town. It's made with mutton, and more like a soupy yakisoba than a ramen. My friend begged me to to get it. Why?

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It's pretty stinky. Definitely not something I would eat often. But it goes great with sake.

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Copious amounts of Japanese liquor can lead to ordering some other local delicacies.

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The left is grasshopper. The middle bee larvae. The right some sort of river bug. New ramen topping?

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Local honey poured on local ice cream.

This place was amazing. There was plenty of normal type food too. Lots of river fish and mountain vegetables. And sake.

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Lucky people of Nagano, you are lucky!

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You should go to this event. Ramen Fantasia is in the Tokyu building, on the top floor. About a dozen experimental collaborations are being created.

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I can't make it, but a collaboration between Junk Garage and Mr. Bond of Hearts! Is that a whole clove of roasted garlic? Someone go and let me know!

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