blatant self-hype vol. 2: thrills, soup spills, and bellyaches

Posted by rameniac at 12:05 AM | 03 Jan 2008

So our server went down today, apparently due to visitor overload. I'd always dreamt of that happening, and thanks to the Los Angeles Times, my dream has now become a reality! Haha... in all seriousness, when they asked to interview me last month, I didn't quite realize the scope of the article they had in mind. Big thanks to the Times, its photographers, and especially to Russ Parsons, who, in this ridiculously colossal feature in today's Food section, made me sound way more articulate and coherent than I really am. Thanks always to ビクター and now also to 方向音痴 for the technical assist and help in getting the site back up and running, the academy and the producers, and all the rameniac readers out there who made it all possible. I'll try not to disappoint, and to use my 15 minutes of fame wisely (^_^). I really do feel like a rock star! Now go buy da album, foo! Nah, just kidding. I just always wanted to say that.

* * * nano-update * * *

Apologies, looks like moving servers broke our anonymous comments feature temporarily. But it's fixed now!

* * * mini-update * * *

Seems like the LA times piece sparked a mini-ramen frenzy, as I've heard from more than a few people that several shops in West LA were running out of noodles last night, and that there was a line out the door at Asa. If anyone went out for ramen after reading the article or checking out this site, please, feel free to post in the comments or on the forum and tell us about your experience!

Honestly, i'm pretty overwhelmed by all this, and had no idea the article would inspire such ramen-love. Maybe the reaction is not all that huge, I can't quite tell. I normally get an email or two a week, mainly from very important Nigerian bankers. Anyway, thanks everyone, and have a happy noodling weekend!

ok, this has nothing to do with ramen and is blatant self-hype, but…

Posted by rameniac at 06:04 PM | 12 Dec 2007

Apologies for the lack of posts lately, but we have been ridiculously busy with the opening... of the official rameniac store! Just kidding. But we (as in me and some much savvier business partners than I) have opened Q I O, a casual couture shop - meets - gallery space in West Los Angeles, one that specializes in up-and-coming street couture (with a focus on Japanese lines), designer jeans, and countless other ways in which to help you part with your consumer dollar. Boutique/galleries seem to be all the rage these days, so if you're a spiffy fashionista with a yen for urahara-kei clothing, brands like Hysteric Glamour, Kunna and Lil Almond, or local up-and-comers like Orthodox and SGV, drop by or join us at our glam rock-themed holiday party on December 20th and help fund my next bowl of noodles!

shameless shilling and all the deets you may care to know: www.qioselect.com

the noodlewed game

Posted by rameniac at 09:11 PM | 14 Nov 2007

A hearty omedetou to Natsuki Sakai and Ai Ito, noodle-lovers who recently married at Ramen Mura in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The groom's dad is head manager at this ramen-themed amusement park, which also features a branch of Santouka, and apparently that's how they got their hookup. According to the Mainichi news: '"We want our marriage to be as long and endless as a noodle and stay as hot as the broth in which noodles are served," groom Sakai told guests at the reception.' Well that sounds about right, considering how they do it in the far north, where oil is often used to keep the soup hot and sexy (wink wink).

credit: The Mainichi Shinbun
tip: Yakkiniker

is it considered cosplay if you’re dressing up for…

Posted by rameniac at 03:09 PM | 30 Oct 2007

cupped diddle

Posted by rameniac at 12:26 PM | 02 Oct 2007

There's a lot of Japanese and ramen-related ephemera out there on the web. I am typically too lazy to post try to keep things original here most of the time, but about ten friends this morning requested that I put this on the site. Don't thank me, thank this guy...

credit: Patrick Macias