Many Westerners equate ramen noodles with the cheap dried stuff that poor students and young adults eat, but Criterion Collection is trying to change that. They put together this wonderful documentary to promote the 4K restoration of “ramen Western” Tampopo, one of the greatest food films ever made.
Criterion spoke with several chefs who dedicated big parts of their careers to perfecting ramen after seeing Tampopo, which is a funny and sensual and sweet film that incorporates martial arts and Western themes into the story of a young woman trying to transform a sad little ramen shop into a place she can create her culinary art.
Check Your Premises 
Yep … when I read someone talking about going to a restaurant (and I’m sure you did in SF) and eating Ramen, that’s what I think of – “You can go to the store and get 10 of those for a dollar!” lol. But, yes, I know there’s more to it than that … I’ve just never been to a decent place to get it.
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It’s really an eye-opening experience, going to a GOOD ramen joint. Comparing the good stuff to Top Ramen is like comparing a $30/lb. fine French Camembert to Cheese Whiz out of an aerosol can.
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Shows what you know … Cheeze Whiz comes in a jar, lol.
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Not the GOOD kind! 🙂 http://www.shopfoodex.com/cheez-whiz-sharp-cheddar-cheese-snack-aerosol-p-55746.html
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I know, I know … it comes in both. I think the “spray cheese” I buy once in a while is a different brand. White can, can’t remember the name. Kraft maybe? But when I think of Cheeze Whiz, I think of the goopy stuff in the red-labeled jar. My wife buys that to make mac/cheese for church dinners.
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The advantage of that stuff is you can microwave it.
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I’m not entirely clear from this video where the hipster with the porn stache is making his American ramen. Chez Panisse? Somewhere else? Chez Panisse was in the vid, but I don’t think they do ramen like this (not that I would know). So, who is this guy and where do I get his food?
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Dunno. It’s really just a big teaser vid for the Tanpopo reboot.
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On your first visit up, I took you to a ramen place called Tanpopo. It didn’t go over well (you had just landed a few hours before). I don’t remember if, on your next trip, I took you to Yamadaya Ramen, which by then was my new favorite. If I haven’t, then your next trip up we should go there. Alternately, we can try Mensho Tokyo, https://goo.gl/QO6sWc
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Right, I wasn’t feeling totally well, both evenings after I’d landed. And yes, we went to Yamadaya last time, and brought back all of those little tubs of chili paste. I’ve still got just a wee bit left!
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