Sumire Miso Ramen: Hokkaido Fair 2008

The Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance was hosting the Hokkaido Fair 2008. I called a fellow food and beer enthusiast and we were off. Fellow blogger Exile Kiss already blogged about the event and I couldn't wait to have a taste myself, specially that Miso Butter Corn Ramen from the Sumire Ramen-ya.


When we got there, a sign was posted saying that the Miso Butter Corn Ramen was sold out. Already!? Just the second day? After I got over my disappointment, we ordered some Miso Ramen.


The soup was really literally hot. Really deceiving because it doesn't steam-up like what real hot soups do. A closer look at the soup, there's a definitely thicker than usual film of fat on the surface, hence, preventing some steaming action. As a result, plus a little over-eagerness on my part, I burned the tip of my tongue! I had to let the soup cool down a bit. There's a love hate relationship between me and fats. I love it ,but it hates me.

The soup base is very rich, very fatty and delicious. The bits of Chasu pork cut into tiny cubes was really good, better than any I have tasted. The ramen noodles was thicker and very fresh. There were some bits of ground pork as well in the soup which I haven't seen used in ramens. I finished the whole bowl to the last drop, a very good sign. Now, where do I sign the petition to bring Sumire here permanently?


We also had some Mint Julep Soda we got at the supermarket to drink. My friend chose this. I think it was a good call, nice cool refreshing minty drink after that hot heavy and fatty ramen.


We then moved to the stalls selling all sorts of goodies. There was a whole line of deep fried stuffed pastry and croquettes. Hey, you can't go wrong with anything deep fried.


We got a variety of Maruhiro Ota Croquettes: Spicy Cod Roe Croquette, Scallop Croquette, and Crab Croquette. The casing of mashed potatoes and breadcrumbs was crunchy outside and moist inside. They used a whole scallop, very nice, and I think King Crabs for the crab croquette because of the noticeably stringier texture of the King Crab meat. I could eat a few more of those Scallop Croquettes. We then headed to Naja's Place in Redondo Beach after for some beer.


Hokkaido Fair 2008
Mitsuwa Market
21515 Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-0335

LA Greek Fest 2008

I went to the LA Greek Fest, at the Saint Sophia Cathedral in the Byzantine Latino quarter in Los Angeles, for lunch. It was a very festive atmosphere lots of Greek food, wine, music and dancing.


What caught my attention was a line of 10! vertical gyro grills. It's a gotta have one moment.


The gyro with the Tsatsiki sauce was delicous.


I had a Greek beer called Hillas a pilsiner type of beer. This was the highlight of the whole event for me. The aggressive hops seem to hit your whole palate at first gulp, very good beer, ranks up there along Checvar and Pilsner Urquell.


For dessert, there were a lot of Baklava's and Filo dough sweets, I chose to have some Greek doughnuts called Loukomathes almost like beignets but very crispy on the outside, soaked in honey and drizzled with cinnamon and hazelnuts. Very good and very light.


A lot of the food items they have at the festival you can actually buy across the street at Papa Cristo's and much cheaper. I went there to get a few more of that wonderful Hillas beer.