Kujiraken - Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5559927128534150588.post-85751694814003878712008-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:002008-05-18T11:12:03.687-07:00Kujiraken - Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzirlGgxiI/AAAAAAAABkE/vCSZ2CzPqGY/s1600-h/KujiraKen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 114px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzirlGgxiI/AAAAAAAABkE/vCSZ2CzPqGY/s200/KujiraKen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200780908027758114" border="0" /></a>5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Costa Mesa <a href="http://www.mitsuwa.com/event/eevent.php?e=32" target="_blank">Mitsuwa Marketplace</a> 665 Paularino Ave Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 557-6699 So I decided to ditch work (the perks of being self-employed) and head out to Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa for opening day of the Umaimono Gourmet Fair. I arrived sharply at 11:30 and circled the parking lot for the next 20 minutes like a killer くじら (whale). I finally managed to squeeze into the smallest spot in compact row (you know...the row behind <a href="http://orangecounty.citysearch.com/profile/581617/" target="_blank">Ango Tei</a>) and as luck would have it, I noticed another car's paint scratched across my bumper when I got back (it was actually my bro's car that I ended up selling later this afternoon so no worries). Anyway, I can't imagine what the parking will be like this weekend so you should probably go early or meet up with friend's at a different location and go in one car. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjkVGgxjI/AAAAAAAABkM/xDuehQD5BQ8/s1600-h/DSC02279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjkVGgxjI/AAAAAAAABkM/xDuehQD5BQ8/s320/DSC02279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200781882985334322" border="0" /></a> Kujiraken is from Kanagawa and "the sophisticated yet pronounced flavor of their soup is somehow nostalgic." I love Kanagawa. It's about an hour and a half south of Tokyo and I only know this because I have some good friend's that live there. Some of my best memories from Japan come straight outta Kanagawa and surprisingly enough, none of them involve ramen. But let's see if Kujiraken can still invoke some of that nostalgia that makes us scream なつかしい～～！ <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCz3lVGgxmI/AAAAAAAABkk/neseedl1FNY/s1600-h/DSC02280.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCz3lVGgxmI/AAAAAAAABkk/neseedl1FNY/s320/DSC02280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200803890397759074" border="0" /></a> Shinasoba Ramen: Okay, so it's not as good as <a href="http://www.goramen.com/2008/01/tokyo-ramen-trip-2008-day-5-part-2.html" target="_blank">Shinasobaya</a>, but it still felt refreshing to taste this Shinasoba from Kanagawa. Somewhat oily and extremely hot, this assari ramen, although delicious, was very difficult to describe. I'm not sure if I really liked it, but I know I didn't hate it. The noodles were slightly overcooked, but that could have been due to the time it took for me to get my camera working (I'll let it slide). The toppings (a roast beef like chashu, menma, negi, naruto, and nori) were delightfully different. Overall, I think it could have used more flavor. I may have to go back and try it again this weekend. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjklGgxkI/AAAAAAAABkU/kqI2uA1kaGQ/s1600-h/DSC02284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjklGgxkI/AAAAAAAABkU/kqI2uA1kaGQ/s320/DSC02284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200781887280301634" border="0" /></a> The thin noodles could have been firmer, but like I said above it was probably my own fault. I must go back again this weekend. Plus, that beef tongue looked really good. I'll have to try it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjk1GgxlI/AAAAAAAABkc/UH4Pa76gvj4/s1600-h/DSC02285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SCzjk1GgxlI/AAAAAAAABkc/UH4Pa76gvj4/s320/DSC02285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200781891575268946" border="0" /></a> It looked like the takoyaki from Takoya Kukuru was the most popular item from the fair. That line was at least 25 people long. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SC0BH1GgxnI/AAAAAAAABks/qxhzja7QjUE/s1600-h/DSC02288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_8EL--QqwIqk/SC0BH1GgxnI/AAAAAAAABks/qxhzja7QjUE/s320/DSC02288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200814378707895922" border="0" /></a> For more info on the rest of the Costa Mesa vendors you can read a detailed review of fellow blogger ExileKiss <a href="http://exilekiss.blogspot.com/2008/05/taste-of-japan-in-so-cal-2008-mitsuwa.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Keizohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16021292533329876539noreply@blogger.com