RAMEN
Gather round Manhattanites, it's time to venture out. Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater, NJ is hosting a fun summer event not to be missed (and not hard to get to) August 18th.
Celebrate Obon, a traditional Japanese summer festival similar to Thanksgiving, where families gather to give thanks and honor family traditions. Outside of Mitsuwa Marketplace (the largest Japanese supermarket in the US), over fifteen vendors will be gathered doling out classic Japanese fare. Grab spoonfuls (er, chopstickfuls) of Ramen, Yakitori skewered chicken, yakisoba pan fried noodles, grilled lobster, and many more delicacies, all for a steal at $5 and below. There will also be Japanese festival games, as well as plenty of unique items from Japan inside the supermarket.
Zutto, a place which may sound familiar to New Yorkers who have tried searching for sushi downtown, has served Japanese raw-fare for more than 30 years in Tribeca. What’s different now? Although the location and name are the same, exciting things are happening to their menu.
The new chef, Joshua Smookler, is developing a new concept which he hopes will succeed in the ever-changing restaurant industry. Still serving sushi, Smookler has also changed this establishment into a Japanese American izakaya-like pub (an izakaya is typically known as a Japanese drinking establishment that pairs food and drink together) that is quickly becoming the place to have ramen and other innovative cuisine.
You may not be exactly sure why Brittany Murphy giggled and cried uncontrollably over her bowl of noodle soup in “Ramen Girl.” You may be hungry and a bit chilly as the Fall weather hits and can't decide what to do about it. You may be saving up for a seat or two at the Yankee's next game. You may even be an unfortunate combination of all three.
Menchanko Tei is the solution. Just a quick subway trip to one of two midtown locations—one on 45th between Lex and 3rd, the other on 53rd between 5th and 6th—will solve all three dilemmas at once. These two cozy, bustling noodle houses provide diners with a variety of soul-warming, affordable soup options sumptuous enough to make anyone smile (if giggling isn't your style).
It's the middle of May and still not very Spring-like in New York City. As the rain continues to dribble down the window panes, any and all thoughts of a warm outdoor dining experience dissapear. Forget about prosecco and oysters on the terrace, what we should be eating instead is ramen, and inside please.
Ippudo NY is a trendy and gorgeous little restaurant that serves as the ultimate hideaway from the rain. The ambiance is warm and sleek, the staff is attractive and the food is AMAZING. Within bites of their perfect pork buns and Modern Ramen, your seasonal depression melts and the lousy weather is no longer a concern. Steaming broth and silky vegetables warm the heart and soul, and for meat eaters, the pork loin chasu is just another reason to smile as you slurp up chewy noodles and salty soup. Don't forget to add a perfectly seasoned soft boiled egg, it will boost the ramens deliciousness ten fold.
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