6/7/08 - Sad news today. Mom's cat died. As in most tragedies, when something like this happens we all go through the whole gamut of emotionally-charged stages - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and so on and so forth. Well, mom hasn't quite reached the stability of the acceptance stage and is currently going through the blame stage - that is, blaming herself for not taking Peko-chan to the vet earlier. But geez' already - that cat was soo super-old and the last several years were like one big bout of alternating between getting better and getting worse. A few scattered months of "all is well" would have been nice. There was absolutely nothing more she could have done. It was just Peko-chan's time, is all.
All I knew was that she definitely needed some cheering up. Prior to this, the saddest she'd ever get (not counting people passing away) was smack-dab in the middle of one of her Korean Soap's. That can get really uuu-glee, boy, but at least then she snaps out of it after shutting the tv off. A frozen melona bar does wonders, too.
You gotta give it to some of those actors and actresses, though. After she realizes that he has been cheating on her with the karaoke club secretary (why is it always the guy?), all hell breaks loose within that petite frame of hers. And here I am thinking that Asians are reserved and less prone to reveal their inner selves??? Talk about drama. Talk about raw, uncut emotion! The situation turns explosive as facial expressions contort sharper than a Jimmy Swaggart apology and her grief-stricken wails become almost as piercing as those of two stray cats duking it out in a back alley. You almost think a ceremonial penance with 37 lashings is in order. Or at least one of those gatherings you see on the Discovery Channel - You know, the kind where relatives meet to mourn a loved one? The lack of tears has to mean they don't care so everyone tries to out-cry the other until the group quickly escalates into a mob mentality of raging grief that, I'm sorry, is just plain out of hand.
All I know is, you seldom get that kind of raw emotion in an American soap. We are much too occupied with image to ever show people what we really feel. While Asian shows take the art of bawling to a whole 'nother level, American actor/actresses put forth a grimace, bite down hard, and squeeze out an "I'm ok... Go on without me..."
Of course, all of this has absolutely nothing to do with our next adventure, Sumo Ramen in Kaneohe. In our feeble attempts to cheer up mom, who loves few things better than a long, scenic drive, wifey and I brought her out to the Windward side. Some spots along the way are just sooo unbelievably gorgeous - the rugged and untamed cliffs and sand beaches of the Ka iwi coastline, the small-town feel and open views of the mighty Koolau's that you get while passing through Waimanalo, and on to the aqua-blue waters and pristine vantage points overlooking Kaneohe Bay.
Backtracking just a bit, we then settled into the Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center, right across Kam Hwy. from the Windward Mall.
One of the many Sumo Ramen shops available on the island.
When I need to grab something for a party or get-together, Sumo Ramen is one of those places that have an item I know will always be a hit. That item is the chili-garlic chicken wings. They are large, tender, and juicy, and come loaded with both chili and garlic, especially garlic. Party trays can be ordered of this and other choices on their surprisingly large menu.
Only a side order, but they also come in party-sized large platters.
That menu includes curry/rice, unagi donburi, shrimp tempura, soba, chicken katsu, zaru tofu, fried oysters, seafood spring rolls, udon, and even tako-yaki (fried balls of octopus,veggies, and dough) and soft-shelled crab! The ramen combo meals are a good way to try more dishes, coming with a bowl of ramen, four pieces of gyoza, and fried rice, the latter two of which are excellent. Though this store is named after ramen, I must say that ramen is not one of their strong points. Somehow, it falls slightly behind in relation to the bold, yet complex and intricate flavors of a good bowl of ramen. There are several condiments on the table to help spice things up, though - vinegar, shoyu, gyoza sauce, chili oil, and chili flakes.
Your ramen may need these!
Mom's choice of gyoza ramen didn't go very well with her. Somehow, the combination just didn't work. I guess when you are so used to the crispy bottoms of fried gyoza to contrast with the soft, chewy topsides, which never touch the bottom of the pan, it's kind of a dissapointment to have the whole thing turn soggy as it lays in the ramen broth. To make matters worse, the broth itself was too light, flavor-wise, and it looks like they use this same broth for the other types of ramen offered as well, the only difference being what's added on top, which could be mochiko chicken, seafood, butter corn, mabo tofu, wonton, and more. The exception is their miso ramen, a choice I favor here. The only problem is I'm not sure if they combine this particular broth with the above-mentioned items, as the picture menu doesn't mention doing so.
Gyoza ramen - I'd rather have my gyoza on the side.
Wifey's choice, char-siu ramen, was better but not by much. The char-siu pieces were wide but very thin-cut, and came with a decent flavor and level of tenderness. As in many (but not all) of the ramen shops, the pieces are refrigerated slices that are thrown in to the hot broth, which is evidenced by the still-white sections of fat that turn transluscent only after sitting for a while. And yes, it was the same broth as mom's!
Same bottom, different top!
As for myself, being the seasoned orderer that I am, I stayed away from ramen completely and ordered two side dishes, instead. Some of the side dishes here are excellent and constitute the real reason I keep coming back to Sumo Ramen. Of course, I knew I'd end up eating a third of mom's bowl and a quarter of Wifey's, too! Always gotta factor that in to the ordering strategy, I do.
As mentioned earlier, one of those orders was the chili-garlic chicken, which never fails to please, while the other was the croquettes, or korokke. The panko flakes on this fried item were larger than the smaller variety normally used here, and very much similiar to the panko used in most places in Japan these days. It was very crisp, very crunchy, and very good. The insides were made of potato, corn, and maybe some other veggies. I was expecting a little more cream, as in the cream croquettes that are so delicious at Curry House Coco Ichiban-ya, but then again, they never said it was a cream croquette!
Panko-coated fried mashed potato patties. That's a description, not a name.
Another great side dish is the gyoza. These pieces of pork, shrimp (not always), green onion, and other veggies are the classic ramen side-kick found at just about any ramen shop on the planet. I believe the owners here are Chinese, and you know how the Chinese make a mean dumpling! They are large, plump, and delicious, especially after a quick dip in the soy-based gyoza sauce pictured.
One of the many great side's that keep me coming back!
The Chinese do know dumplings, and as we all know, another thing they are well-versed in is fried rice. Sumo Ramen's version is relatively simple, with a light but great-tasting seasoning, a smattering of pork bits, peas, carrots, and green onions, and the slightly longer, slightly drier grains of rice found in Chinese restaurants. Definitely a step above the local-style fried rice you find in most plate lunch houses and one of those easy-to-eat-dishes that you can dispatch a giant plate's worth in no time.
Another great side dish.
After devouring more than half the entire table of items we ordered, I finally had a chance to take a deep breath and relax. It was lunch-time and the restaurant was surprisingly empty today, as you can tell from this shot. But fear not, it's not always like this. Almost directly after the place was bustling with people.
Right before the crowd.
I guess you can say Sumo Ramen is kind of a mixed bag for us. The ramen is not the worst I've tasted but still leaves a lot to be desired, while the side dishes are mostly all good to great. It is also reasonably priced, with most dishes, including the combo ramen/fried rice/gyoza sets all nestled between $5 and $8. Not bad at all.
Now that I've forever burned cats, Korean soaps, and a ramen joint into your collective mindsets, just remember than anything can happen here. You may be surprised at what is coming in the future at aku eats. Hope you can all stay tuned.
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