Osaka is known as a city of delicious food and after today we know why! This morning, we set off after a delicious breakfast to The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum. On our way, we met up with a filmmaker friend of Shinji’s named Kaori who came with us to the museum. The museum is dedicated to instant and Cup Noodles as well as Momofuku Ando. The reason Ando is famous is because he is the creator of instant noodles and the Founder of Cup Noodles. He was born in Taiwan in 1910 and after his parents died, he started a textiles company but moved to Japan after WWII. He created the first instant noodles in 1958 and in 1971 he made Cup Noodles. You can read more about his very interesting story here . The museum was cool, with a timeline of instant noodles and videos of how the noodles are made but the part that really stood out for us was the area where you get to make your own Cup Noodles!!! You could customize the outside with sharpies and also choose what kind of broth you want and what ingredients you want inside. We are saving ours until we get back to L.A, but it will be hard to wait even that long.
After, we went to a conveyor belt sushi for a delicious, light lunch. Later, we got some green tea ice cream, went to a book store, and browsed the food floor at a very fancy department store in Osaka station before saying goodbye to Kaori and going back to the apartment (stopping for some piping hot Takoyaki–octopus fritters!–an the way).
Shinji’s wife, Kazuna, and her mom made us an AMAZING traditional Japanese/Korean dinner, which (even though there was no ramen) was the best meal we have had in Japan! While Kazuna and her mom were cooking, Paolo and Kazuna’s dad were talking and drinking beer. Later, Kazuna and Shinji presented me with my very own pair of beautiful customized chopsticks. The perfect end to a perfect day of food!
That home meal looks amazing!! In fact, every single bit of food, or pretty things that are unidentifiable food – and the beer… all look amazing!!!