ramen fix at go-en

Today, it feels like the rainy season has begun. It's been raining on and off since last night, and the sky has no color at all. This kind of weather makes me crave ramen.

On 23 March 2013, I wanted ramen. I wanted authentic, unadulterated Japanese ramen, but I didn't want to drive all the way to Ukkokei Ramen Ron in Makati to get it. To my joyful surprise, I found an excellent ramen joint just ten minutes' drive from my parents' house. Welcome to the neighborhood, go-en The Ramen Shoppe Plus!

Although I wanted a traditional soupy ramen, when I saw the menu I couldn't resist the tsukemen. Bouncy noodles, perfectly cooked eggs, an umami-laced dipping broth, and pork with just the right balance of lean and fat. A worthy substitute for Bankara in Bangkok which was my first and best encounter with tsukemen last year.

Tsukemen. Dipped ramen. Men (not the two-legged kind) and soup separated at birth rejoined here in this tasty dish. Do the noodle dip for a tasty experience. Futomen, menma, boiled egg, fried garlic chips, sautéed naganegi, chushu and kakuni. Php420

The enthusiastic and knowledgeable server suggested the okonomiyaki as a side. This "pancake" had a lot of stuff going on, but I was impressed by the chef's restraint-- a very Japanese trait. It could very easily have gone over the top with too much mayo, too much sweet sauce, too much bonito, too much of everything, as bastardised Japanese street food tends to get outside of Japan. go-en's okonomiyaki reminded me of a Korean pajeon with its emphasis on fresh vegetables and seafood, but it was thicker, fluffier and more deliciously calorific.

Okonomiyaki. Often called a Japanese pizza or pancake. This version is Osaka style. Chopped cabbage, egg, squid, sakura ebi topped with pork, katsuboshi, aonori and our special sauce. Php350

mother's day

Youth fades, love droops,

backfire

I want to thank all the priests and bishops who put this in front of their churches. Now I know who NOT to vote for on Monday.

I always suspected that numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are self-righteous, condescending woman-haters hiding behind veneers of genteel machismo.

But numbers 3 and 6 seem to have forgotten that they are female and as female legislators, have an inherent responsibility to defend women's rights.

I guess women can be misogynists, too.

not a cockfight

Last month, someone asked who I'm voting for in the upcoming senatorial election. I rattled off a few names, most of them not very popular or familiar. She then remarked, "You're not voting for X? He's number one in the surveys right now."

Hoo boy.

Click to enlarge.

looks familiar

So the elections are coming up in less than two weeks. I'm trying not to look at the candidates' campaign paraphernalia because they're all so annoying, but it's hard. They're everywhere.

This poster really creeped me out. Is it an advertisement for stem cell surgery? Before and after pictures?