yummy for my tummy

Hey guys. How're things in life? This post is just a little snippet of one of the highlights of my pretty mundane life these days. School has started of course, so naturally I get a lot more tired...and wistful about the incredibly fun times I had during the holidays... At the moment I'm almost nearing the end of a posting and there's a test next week but really, I'm in such a state of semi-fatigue that I don't quite feel capable of achieving anything at the moment. And it just so happens to be Friday night. :) So I'm giving myself a break.

Last week, my mum and I went out for dinner at the new Ramen place at Iluma! A group of 6 famous Ramen restaurants from Japan have been invited to set up their own temporary restaurant at the eatery level of a shopping center and it's part of a competition - ULTIMATE RAMEN CHAMPION 2011. At the end of the year, the restaurant with the highest number of votes (via handphone texts/email votes/sales takings...the works) will be crowned the WINNER and will set up a permanent restaurant here. (In my opinion, it's a REALLY smart way of attracting more crowds to the shopping mall that is otherwise rather lacking in consumer traffic.)

So it's set up Marche style, as you pay using a card and each individual restaurant has their own sort of stall and seats around it...

Left: QOO Apple Juice! :D It's been AGES since I had a sip of this! I remember when it first came out into the market; I must've been like 10?? I just remember my friends and me really liking this drink. They've got it in other flavors too like Green Apple...Grape... MMM.

Right: The side order of bean sprouts and chives. This was a MISTAKE. I thought it would be a simply topping of bean sprouts on top of the ramen but NO. This HAD to come DRENCHED IN THE HOTTEST CHILLI SAUCE EVER. :((( I ended up having to soak it continuously in the ramen broth in order to wash off some of the chilli. What a nightmare.

Just so you know, Ramen is one of my favorite dishes. :D EVER. I love Japanese food and Ramen usually never fails to make me extremely contented. This one was from Iroha. Chewy noodles and delicious broth. I would definitely recommend it over the dipping-style ramen I tried from the other restaurant, Testu. That one just didn't have the right kind of kick that a normal bowl of steaming hot ramen offers.

Yeah, I really couldn't resist the Asian pose. Hey, it's Ramen for crying out loud! :)

THICK SLICES OF CHAR SIEW PORK. YUMYUM.

There was a little Wish Tree (methinks) at the entrance and I happened to see this one. Go figure?

P.S. So being the huge ramen fans we are, my mum and I are determined to try out all 6 of the restaurants and come to our own conclusion as to which one deserves the title of champion. :) Can't wait to go back and try more! 4 more to go.