Well, here it is! The last bowl of Ramen on the Komachi
Magazine Ramen Rally Challenge was eaten at a nice shop called 祥気
(Shouki). Tucked in among some big-box stores in a busy shopping area, Shouki
was intimate and inviting. After being seated at the counter, I ordered my last
bowl of Ramen (for this adventure, anyways). The 中華そば
(Chuka-soba), or Chinese style Ramen, was the bowl that was recommended in the
magazine.
Light in color, the chicken based broth was clean and
flavorful. After a day of eating Ramen it was a nice to finish up with a less
heavy dish. The noodles were yellow and thin, adhering to the traditional
Chinese style. The toppings were few but balanced. Two slices of chashu-pork
lay under a small pile of grated scallion, and a few strips of steamed greens
were placed alongside. The unique touch was the detail done to the menma bamboo
shoots. Instead of the usual blocky, chopped pieces, Shouki offered their menma
in long strips that looked as though someone had curled them like Christmas
ribbon. They rimmed the edge of the bowl, the twisty design bringing a little
something extra to the visual display.
When every drop of the tasty soup was gone, it was time for
the last stamp in the book. It was very exciting to approach the counter and
show that my challenge was complete. The cashier was not as enthused as I was;
he merely said ‘Oh, wow, you’re done’ and handed it back to me. Not that I expected
a party or anything, but a little more enthusiasm would have been nice.
Either way, it is over. After trying so many different types
of Ramen, each with their own unique recipes and flourishes, it has only left
me wanting to try more! As well, it has reinstated my desire to someday own my
own Ramen shop and serve the world my own special dish that has been slaved
over and perfected. Time to keep practicing!
Thank you to everyone who was at all interested in my
reviews. It has been fun writing about the differences that were experienced
from each bowl that was tasted. I do not plan for this to be the end of my
Ramen blog, just the end of this particular chapter. Hopefully you have all
learned something about this simple yet deeply complex dish, and will keep
returning to read about any interesting shops or Ramen-related experiences that
happen in the future.
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| 祥気 (Shouki) |
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| 中華そば (Chuka-soba) |
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| Closer shot. Such nice detail. |
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| A final shot of the stamp sheet! Sorry, I hadn't had a chance to write in the rest of the names. |
