FOOD Peak Ramen
There is something ethereal about ramen. Although Japanese food - or washoku - is steeped in tradition and often traces a deep lineage, ramen is a relatively young addition to the country’s culinary landscape. It also reflects a history of gastronomic appropriation and adaptation rather than denoting purist practices.
Typically, ramen is a fast and humble source for a nourishing pick-me-up. Its roots lie in working-class tastes and are intertwined with a history of immigration to Japan. Its precursor, a comparatively bland noodle soup once known as Shina soba, arrived with Chinese settlers, and in its modern evolution it has transformed into a multi-dimensional dish rich with (fish-meal cake), boiled spinach and nori (seaweed).
