...Doesn't it?
Every site and every book I read about raamen spells it with one A. Why? Because people spell it that way? Then, why do I spell it with two? To be different? To be contrary? To bne out of step with the rest of society? Yes. However, in my defense I must insist that, in Japanese, raamen is written ラーメン. Now, what does that long hyphen mean? To me it means stretch it out, say it long, say it proud. So, raaaaaaamen. To me 'ramen' is too short, too insincere, too Westernized thinking. Raaaaaaaamen. Sounds great. Maybe a few too many 'a's, so, raamen. "Ramen" would be written in Japanese as ラメン. (Without the hyphen.)
Trendy
There were/are two raamen shops near where I live. One was very trendy with jazzy music, lots of wood, plants, sharp-dressing waiters and waitresses, unique and stylish bowls and chopsticks. Plenty of parking. Went out of business in a year.
The other one, of course, was a pit: dirty, small, cramped, the owner/cook was brusque (not rude, just not kind). Been in business for decades. The cook probably bought his house, sent his kids through college and vacations in Spain for a month every year.
Maybe the trendy one ran by a different business plan: a certain percentage of return on investment had to be met and it wasn't. The stinky-poo shop probably works on the 'I made money' school of business.
In any case, check out Mr. Trendy Organic Raamen Man in another city. Especially read the last paragraph about what a traditional raamen shop is. I liked the "dingy joints, their counters crowded with chopsticks..." They left out the cockroaches. Out of the article, not the raamen. Raamen shops, the greasy chopsticks of Japan.
The other one, of course, was a pit: dirty, small, cramped, the owner/cook was brusque (not rude, just not kind). Been in business for decades. The cook probably bought his house, sent his kids through college and vacations in Spain for a month every year.
Maybe the trendy one ran by a different business plan: a certain percentage of return on investment had to be met and it wasn't. The stinky-poo shop probably works on the 'I made money' school of business.
In any case, check out Mr. Trendy Organic Raamen Man in another city. Especially read the last paragraph about what a traditional raamen shop is. I liked the "dingy joints, their counters crowded with chopsticks..." They left out the cockroaches. Out of the article, not the raamen. Raamen shops, the greasy chopsticks of Japan.
Nutrition
By the way, one thing raamen isn't is low in sodium. Check this out for the nutritional love raamen slurps your way. If you go to Nissin's website and slide on over to the FAQ, you might notice most of the questions have to do with the health or non-health aspects of their Top Ramen and Cup Noodles. Hmmm. Nutrition and Raamen. Sounds like a good research project for some underpaid, over-stressed PhD candidate.
More when the hunger strikes.
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