Ivan Ramen: Love, Obsession and Recipes by Ivan Orkin

Ivan Orkin is a Jewish guy from Long Island, New York, who was brave enough to open up a ramen shop in Tokyo as a gaijin (foreigner). He successfully opened another ramen shop, Ivan Ramen Plus, in Tokyo, and now New Yorkers can enjoy his ramen at Gotham West Market in Hell's Kitchen, New York. His new Lower East Side location will also be opening soon.

Ivan brings with him an interesting approach to Japan's national soul food, not only because he is a Jewish American, but also because he has a solid culinary background; graduating from The Culinary Institute of America, and working for establishments such as Mesa Grill, Lutece and Restaurant Associates. The layers of flavors and umami as well as method of cooking each component, are reflective of his culinary skills.

This book is a combination of his life story, and recipes for his famed shio (salt) ramen (as well as ideas for how to use the leftovers for all the different components including the dashi, chicken fat, pork fat and chashu (roasted pork).

As one of the very rare cookbooks on ramen in English, you will learn that ramen is not just soup and noodles, but the perfect balance of stock, tare, fat, garnishes and well made and cooked noodles.