Now I am seriously convinced that life is unfair.
Just look at the eating patterns of these four friends.
1. JEREMY – The heaviest (sorry, Jerms!)
Profile: Male, 5’8”, 2xx lbs.
Activities: Playing badminton, 2-3 times a week
Ukokkei Shoyu Chashu
Jeremy orders this ramen in soy sauce-based soup with pork slices, healthy bamboo shoots and a sprinkling of green onions. The broth is light and clear, tastes very clean with just a teeny weeny bit of oil. Light and healthy.
2. JIN – The 2nd heaviest (oh earth, please swallow me now)
Profile: Female, 5’4”, 153 lbs.
Activities: Running on the treadmill, 30 minutes, every single day
I order this ramen in miso-based soup with pork slices, bean sprouts and generous sprinkling of chopped green onions. This tastes nothing like conventional miso. Now don’t get me wrong, the soup is rich and flavorful and amazing, and tastes like it’s really been simmered for days. It’s just a bit too oily for me.
But first, let us talk about the Ukokkei noodles. They should be al dente, but tonight they’re soggy. I prefer more bite to my ramen, like the Italian al dente or the Taiwanese “Q” or the “pour boiling water into the instant noodle cup and wait 3 minutes” effect.
3. CHIP – The 2nd lightest (For the record, I am lighter, he’s just taller!)
Profile: Male, 5’10”, 160 lbs.
Activities: Going to the office, traveling, watching Modern Family, etc. etc.
4. MICHELLE – The lightest of all
Profile: Female, 5’2”, 105 lbs.
Activities: Shopping, playing with the kids, going to the salon for mani-pedi, etc. etc.
Now take my oily Miso Chashu and add 3 levels of spiciness into it (with chili oil, no less), then top with a huge lump of green onion ribbons. This bowl of ramen is super robust, super tasty, and super oily, with the spiciness bringing the flavors to all new heights. If you think my Miso Chashu is oily, think again. This is the oiliest of them all, but it is also the most delicious of them all. Next time I shall order this.
See? It’s no fair.
With our arteries already lined with a thick film of oil, we go to Tian Di for drinks to abuse the bodies more.
Okay, fine. I lied.
Michelle is a hardcore runner who trains religiously, and participates in all of Manila’s running events. This woman even travels across the globe to join other countries’ runs. And Chip, Michelle’s husband, well, aside from his regular badminton games, Chip runs, too... After his wife! Hehehe :)
Okay, fine. I lied again.
Aside from his Shoyu Chashu and my Miso Chashu, Jeremy and I share an order of gyoza and fried chicken, which are both just okay.
Yaki Gyoza – too oily and too many burnt pieces stuck on the dumplings’ butts
Chicken Karaage – blah
As for me running on the treadmill 30 minutes every single day…
Pure BS.
Ukokkei Ramen Ron: Unit 1-2, Upper G/F, Tesoro Building, 822 A. Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), Makati City, Philippines. Tel: +632-856-4588
