What do you get when you put the creative minds of Ramen Ron’s esteemed chef Tamura Hiroyuki and Mōdan’s much-admired Jorge Mendez together? No need to imagine because the answer is here: a one-of-a-kind Tsukemen set available on a limited basis (only 20 sets will be prepared in a day) at Ramen Ron for an entire month beginning August 18.
The central attraction of this collab is a Tori Gyokai Tsukemen, and served as a side dish is a Karai Karaage Bun with Tsukemono.
The first is a hearty bowl of thick noodles, topped with a sweet-ish, succulent chashu pork, crunchy menma bamboo shoots, a ramen egg, and nori. This comes with a rustic, smaller bowl that contains a rich, flavorful dipping broth of pork, ‘silky fowl’, and bonito with a single steamed gyoza. Gather some noodles with your chopsticks and dip them on the hot broth, stirring lightly to make sure all the grains of flavor coat your noodles, before bringing this deliciousness to your mouth. The broth gives the dish a deep and complex flavor, and the bonito flakes add a touch of umami.
If you think your broth could use a little heating up, ask your server for a ‘yaki-ishi’. Carefully add the hot stone to your soup, and enjoy your hot and revived Tsukemen.
And then when your broth is almost gone, you may even ask for extra Ukokkei Broth.
The Karai Karaage BunMeanwhile, the Karai Karaage Bun with Tsukemono is a crispy and savory chicken sandwich stuffed with spicy fried chicken and Japanese pickles. The pickles add a refreshing texture to the dish, while the karaage chicken is juicy, crunchy and flavorful, marinated as it was in a blend of spices and then fried until golden brown. The tsukemono, also known as Japanese Pickles, is a mixture of cucumber, daikon radish, and onions, and is meant to cut through the rich flavors of the whole set.
This limited collab shows Ramen Ron—which aims to celebrate ramen with authenticity and reverence for tradition—stepping out of its comfort zone, and it started with inviting Jorge Mendez, known for his take on Progressive Japanese cuisine, to work with Chef Tamura Hiroyuki. “I have known Jorge Mendez for a long time. In many ways, I consider him family,” says Amado Forés, owner of Ramen Ron. ”We are so proud that not only has he made his restaurant, Mōdan, one of the best in Manila, but also Jorge is finally being acknowledged as one of the best chefs in the Philippines that we always knew he was.”
“I think Chef Jorge is friendly, knowledgeable, and studious—a great person,” shares Chef Tamura. “This was the first time I made tsukemen, collaborating with another chef. It felt fresh and fun working with him.”
The Ramen Ron x Mōdan Tsukemen Set is priced at PhP 850. This limited-time offering will be on the menu at Ramen Ron up to September 18, 2023. For reservations, call Ramen Ron Rockwell Center at 63.917.628.7245