Ramen Heads is a movie that a lot of people that enjoy this type of dish should watch. In the US a lot of people are still under the illusion that Ramen is simply the packaged noodles that come with a small seasoning packet and are an inexpensive meal that can be purchased for less than a dollar a packet. Commercially-speaking this is true, but real Ramen is the province of the chefs that have taken the time and created their own unique dishes and broths from which inspiration has been born for this enticing dish. Visiting a restaurant where Ramen is taken as more than just a quick meal is something entirely different and in some ways life-changing.
The documentary follows chef Osama Tomita and several others as they divulge just how they come up with their different ramen recipes and how the meal is more of an art form than just something for consumption alone. You might get a very different opinion of ramen after you watch this film and perhaps think of trying the recipes you see rather than just covering the noodles in water and then seasoning them to taste. The meals shown in the documentary are the type that you should expect when going to a ramen house since the chefs that specialize in such meals don’t take them lightly and are bound to have their own style and recipes that they dish out to their customers in an attempt to become known and possibly renowned in the world of ramen.
In America it’s simply too easy to dismiss something that is seen as pre-packaged and sold in bulk as something that’s not meant to be a culinary delight. But ramen is more than just noodles and seasoning. Tomita shows in the documentary that his own sauces will simmer for hours if not days to get the proper consistency and flavor. Plus, if he’s not there to dish them up and make sure that they’re of the right quality, then the restaurant doesn’t open. That’s how serious of a meal this is to some people and that’s the level of craftsmanship that’s put into it. It might be hard to understand how noodles and broth could be so important but if you want an idea watching the movie would perhaps grant that kind of insight. It’s like anything else, doing something you love will often inspire you to do it right and do it in a way that’s all yours.
College students all across the nation and possibly throughout the world know what it means to eat on the cheap and ramen noodles are typically about as cheap as it gets. But if a person was to think about adding a few minor ingredients to their ramen they would come to understand just how versatile and adaptable this dish is. Ramen isn’t bound just by noodles and broth. It’s taste can be heightened and enlivened by a wide variety of things. Watch the movie and you’ll get a better understanding of how your ramen doesn’t have to be ‘just a meal’.
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