Ramen
The cravings for Asian food are increasing and getting stronger.
Faced with the prospect of Day 3 of eating Poached Chicken with Rice Pilaf & Cream Sauce, I felt sick. I didn't want to waste what I took home from Practical 3, but all the cream and butter was just too much.
Then I realized with a jolt today that I have not had authentic Asian food in over two weeks. To narrow it down even further, 2 weeks without noodles in soup. No Vietnamese pho, no won ton mein, no udon or soba, no Japanese ramen from a ramen house.
You can take the girl out of the Bay Area, but you can't take her love for noodles.
I've gotten a few leads on some potential pho places, but other than that, the Asian food selection here is sorely lacking or the displays just look unappetizing. I'd heard rumors of Chinatown in the 13eme, and class that ended at 10 this morning gave me the opportunity to go.
Success! A bustling Chinatown where I could actually hear Cantonese around me, see roast ducks hanging in the window, even Chinese bakeries & dim sum! While I'm sure the quality is nowhere near what I've been spoiled with in the Bay Area, at least there was something.
I went into one of the 3 large Asian supermarkets I came across after getting off the Metro at Place D'Ivry. The smells, the sounds, the crowds- all so familiar. Seeing bags and bags of Asian greens, the meat counter, and yes, tofu!
It was hard to decide what to buy- I had to consider the facts that I would carry everything I bought 3 Metro lines home, that I still cook and bring home French food three times a week, and well, I'm on an extremely tight student budget. I also couldn't buy that much fresh food because I'm not sure when I will have time to eat it.
So the final purchases were:
Friends at home will be shocked that I bought this. I haven't eaten it in years, but I remember that as a child, my mother would allow me to eat one package a week. I reserved this treat for Saturday mornings, when I would make a package of Demae Ramen, sometimes throw in a poached egg, then plop in front of the TV to eat and watch cartoons. I was forced off this routine when my parents outlawed packaged ramen from the house, and I ultimately realized how unhealthy it was.
So why did I buy it? I guess it reminded me of home, of family, of my Asian roots. It's also cheap and can be stored indefinitely. When I made a bowl today, I threw out the cloudy and oily water after cooking the noodles. I then started with fresh water for the soup base, a small attempt to remove some of the unhealthiness.
Does adding yau choy and a hard-boiled egg kick it back toward the healthy side of the scale? I don't know, you'll have to decide for yourself. But no matter, I still savored every bite with the same comfort I felt as the pajama-wearing kid who watched Saturday morning cartoons.
And I still have 29 packages left.
Bon appétit!
Faced with the prospect of Day 3 of eating Poached Chicken with Rice Pilaf & Cream Sauce, I felt sick. I didn't want to waste what I took home from Practical 3, but all the cream and butter was just too much.
Then I realized with a jolt today that I have not had authentic Asian food in over two weeks. To narrow it down even further, 2 weeks without noodles in soup. No Vietnamese pho, no won ton mein, no udon or soba, no Japanese ramen from a ramen house.
You can take the girl out of the Bay Area, but you can't take her love for noodles.
I've gotten a few leads on some potential pho places, but other than that, the Asian food selection here is sorely lacking or the displays just look unappetizing. I'd heard rumors of Chinatown in the 13eme, and class that ended at 10 this morning gave me the opportunity to go.
Success! A bustling Chinatown where I could actually hear Cantonese around me, see roast ducks hanging in the window, even Chinese bakeries & dim sum! While I'm sure the quality is nowhere near what I've been spoiled with in the Bay Area, at least there was something.
I went into one of the 3 large Asian supermarkets I came across after getting off the Metro at Place D'Ivry. The smells, the sounds, the crowds- all so familiar. Seeing bags and bags of Asian greens, the meat counter, and yes, tofu!
It was hard to decide what to buy- I had to consider the facts that I would carry everything I bought 3 Metro lines home, that I still cook and bring home French food three times a week, and well, I'm on an extremely tight student budget. I also couldn't buy that much fresh food because I'm not sure when I will have time to eat it.
So the final purchases were:
- Chopsticks- a friend had reminded to pack wooden chopsticks, and I had plain forgotten
- Long grain rice- just a given. I miss my rice cooker! But at least I can also make jook
- Soy sauce- another given
- Oyster sauce- perfect for vegetables or quick sauces
- Chinese sausage (lap cheung)- I love the fact that they keep forever. Ultimate comfort food is steamed rice and lap cheung
- Yau choy (I could eat a whole plate by myself when going out for dim sum)
- Asian Ramen
Friends at home will be shocked that I bought this. I haven't eaten it in years, but I remember that as a child, my mother would allow me to eat one package a week. I reserved this treat for Saturday mornings, when I would make a package of Demae Ramen, sometimes throw in a poached egg, then plop in front of the TV to eat and watch cartoons. I was forced off this routine when my parents outlawed packaged ramen from the house, and I ultimately realized how unhealthy it was.
So why did I buy it? I guess it reminded me of home, of family, of my Asian roots. It's also cheap and can be stored indefinitely. When I made a bowl today, I threw out the cloudy and oily water after cooking the noodles. I then started with fresh water for the soup base, a small attempt to remove some of the unhealthiness.
Does adding yau choy and a hard-boiled egg kick it back toward the healthy side of the scale? I don't know, you'll have to decide for yourself. But no matter, I still savored every bite with the same comfort I felt as the pajama-wearing kid who watched Saturday morning cartoons.
And I still have 29 packages left.
Bon appétit!
Given that I miss the ramen at Santa in San Mateo when I've been in the East Bay too long, I can sympathize with missing it from across the Atlantic even more.
I have this recommendation copied into a sticky note -- I can't remember where I found it, but maybe it will help:
"I had some of the best ramen I've ever eaten in Paris. Seriously. The place is located on 37 rue Sainte Anne, and it's called Sapporo. Great for people watching, and seriously great ramen."
Hopefully the mystery ramen advisor is right. Enjoy...and thanks for the yummy blog.
Posted by: Marc Hedlund | December 02, 2005 at 08:48 AM
Marc: Thanks for the tip, I live right near Rue Saint Anne and eat there often. I will probably eat my way down the noodle bars and do a report. Thanks for the tip, Sapporo will be next on my list!
Posted by: Chez Christine | December 03, 2005 at 05:33 AM