Saturday, 05 July 2008

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  IPPUDO NY
  If "You soup is only as good as your stock!"
  then IPPUDO has the Tonkotsu Soup recipe to thank because without it, it's _____ (fill in the blank)
  

  
  I noticed this restaurant when it was still in its early stages of construction but by its completion, the restaurant had already slipped out of my mind. I was reminded of this restaurant thanks to a friend, Jeff. He exerted alot of effort (a long email) to persuade us to join him for lunch at Ippudo on a Saturday, however I had plans and BF had a meeting, yes on a freaking Saturday! I was curious as to whether the restaurant could live up to its hype, so on a quiet Tuesday, we walked from Union Square to Cooper Union. After a loud formal greeting, much like what happens at Megu, we were promptly seated, no wait, yeah! and I immediately fell in love with the strange seats (Left), the decorations at our commune table (middle) and the individual booths (right) not to mention the bamboo tree-lookalike that loomed behind us and over our heads.   
   
  
  
  Our waitress was very good at answering our questions, five minutes after sitting down we were ready to order.We gave up the classic to go for the modern version... Instead of Shiromaru NY (Original Recipe Tonkotsu Soup with stewed pork, cabbage and scallion) BF ordered the Akamaru Modern with an extra egg.
  
  Akamaru Modern (Original Recipe enhanced with Ippudo's Special Secret Sauce)
  
  
  and I the Karaka-men, which is like the Modern except with spicy meat sauce. I loved my version better because it was more flavorful. I asked for it to be "mild" but their degree of mild is "spicy" compared to other restaurants. The broth is so yummy, creamy and fragrant! I could sip the soup alone! The noodles weren't that outstanding, I compared it to the wonton noodles in chinatown except the noodles had a smoother texture, better for slurping.
  
  Karaka-men (Original Recipe Tonkotsu Soup with spicy meat sauce, pork and scallion
  
  
  
  
  
  A Menu Tidbit ...
  Kae-dama: For an extra $2 you can get an extra serving of noodles.
  Other extras include $2 for an egg, not worth it in my opinion ( I can get you 3 for a buck! ); park cha-su for $3 and other condiments that were also $3. I would just stick with what they gave you.
  
  BF asked for the bill shortly after and I was extremely upset. What guy doesn't let his sweets-loving girlfriend order dessert. Provided that I sometimes forgo dessert because I'm so stuffed and that I did have a Final tomorrow, he could have still asked again. (He actually did ask in the beginning and I said I wanted dessert.)
  I ordered Brown-sugar plum wine... I forgot the actual name of it but it's just plum wine that is a tad sweeter with ice in it. oh let's not forget the frozen raspberry and mint leaf. Very refreshing but not a good dessert to tie us over.
  
  
  
  VERDICT - Excellent Broth, I'll go back just for the broth... maybe. But I wasn't quite impressed or blown away.
  
  BF says - "I still like Soba-ya better!)
  
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  DESSERT TRUCK
  
  If you were reading, you would know that we weren't quite satisfied with dessert at Ippudo, so when BF found the DESSERT TRUCK outside of Cooper Union, he excitedly ordered a Vanilla Creme Brulee (made with real Madagascar Vanilla Beans is written on the menu)
  
  
  Just look for yourself...
  
  
  For $5, this dessert is wel worth it! It is very yummy. He had an obscene amount of fun cracking the fresh layer of burnt sugar....
  
  
  OMG it's so good, he exclaimed. He only gave me 2 bites (well I was really full so whatever, you're forgiven honey!)
   

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