In 2007 Ivan Orkin a middle-aged Jewish guy from Long Island did something crazy In the food-zealous insular megalopolis of Tokyo Ivan opened a ramen shop He was a gaijin (foreigner) trying to make his name in a place that is fiercely opinionated about ramen At first customers came because they were curious but word spread quickly about Ivan's handmade noodles clean & complex broth & thoughtfully prepared toppings Soon enough Ivan became a celebrity
- a fixture of Japanese TV programmes & the face of his own best-selling brand of instant ramen Ivan opened a second location in Tokyo & has returned to New York City to open two US branches Ivan Ramen is essentially two books in one a memoir & a cookbook In these pages Ivan tells the story of his ascent from wayward youth to a star of the Tokyo restaurant scene He also shares more than forty recipes including the complete detailed recipe for his signature Shio Ramen; creative ways to use extra ramen components; & some of his most popular ramen variations Written with equal parts candour humour gratitude & irreverence Ivan Ramen is the only English-language book that offers a look inside the cultish world of ramen making in Japan It will inspire you to forge your own path give you insight into Japanese culture & leave you with a deep appreciation for what goes into a seemingly simple bowl of noodles