Book Review - Ramen for All Ramen For All by Hugh Amano & Sarah Becan

 

Title	Ramen for Everyone
Author	Hugh Amano, Sarah Becan
Genre	Cookbook
Specialties	Japanese cuisine, Ramen
Number of recipes	approx. 50
Pages	183
Quality	high-quality materials
Special features	Very beautiful illustrations; clear recipes mixed with ramen history
Price	€24.00

 

First Impressions

The first impression of the book is definitely high quality. The hardcover shows a beautifully illustrated bowl of ramen, and the color scheme of the cover and spine is very tasteful. The roughly 800-gram book feels great in your hands, not least because of its lightly textured surface and handy size (a little smaller than A4). On first inspection, this cookbook makes a very good impression.

 

A Closer Look 

If you take a closer look at the book, the art style immediately catches your eye. The content is presented in an original comic style, which creatively illustrates both the recipes and the story of ramen. The language is easy to understand, so even beginners in Japanese cooking should have no trouble following the recipes. Each chapter addresses an important aspect you might encounter when making ramen, such as which equipment is useful, the many different toppings, and how to make your own noodles. Also interesting are the anecdotes about how to properly eat ramen, the origins of the dish, and the blueprint for your own creations. Not just beginners, but also experienced cooks will find plenty here.

Readability

The book is clearly structured and starts with the history of ramen, an introduction on how to best eat ramen, a list of ingredients and kitchen equipment, and a variety of ramen combinations. You'll also find a blueprint for your own creations. After that, the chapters are divided into the different components used in ramen. There are detailed recipes and background information on broths and seasoning pastes, noodles, meats, toppings, and condiments, as well as various kinds of ramen and other noodle dishes like Soba and Tsukemen. The writing is engaging and full of information. The recipes are easy to follow, precise, and concise. The lovely illustrations add to this, making the book sometimes feel like a comic and instantly putting you in the mood to start cooking.

The Recipes

The book features about 50 recipes across different categories. For example, there are over 10 broth recipes, including the Tonkotsu broth. There’s a recipe for homemade noodles and more than 10 for toppings and add-ins, as well as about 15 recipes for different types of ramen. So it doesn’t matter if you want to cook a traditional Miso Ramen or something more creative like Curry Ramen—you’ll definitely find the right recipe here.

 

 

Recipe Categories

• Broths and seasoning pastes (basic broth, tare, ramen broth)
• Noodles
• Meat
• Add-ins, toppings, and seasoning oils
• Variations and creations

 

Critique

The first thing that stands out about this book is, of course, the detailed comic-style illustrations. We feel this gives the book a certain something and really complements the recipes and stories. However, this style might not appeal to everyone—but like with food, it’s a matter of taste. Unfortunately, some steps are simplified for the sake of brevity, as the author himself says. For advanced cooks or those who want to replicate ramen as authentically as possible, this can be a drawback. Still, we think the author team has produced a thoroughly successful cookbook! There’s a wealth of information, providing not only recipes but also general cooking tips, suggestions for combinations, cultural insights, and lists of useful equipment. Beginners in particular will get their money’s worth here. The recipes are easy to understand, and even novices can make absolutely delicious ramen thanks to the clear instructions. A nice extra are the opinions and anecdotes from other chefs, such as Ivan Orkin, who runs a ramen restaurant in New York.

Our Conclusion

Not only does the book look impressive, its content convinced us as well. Whether you’re a beginner in Japanese cuisine, a ramen fan, or an advanced cook looking for more background knowledge: you’ll find something here. The roughly 50 recipes give great insight and, thanks to the many tips, countless combinations are possible. There’s no limit to your creativity! We also think the price of €24 is absolutely justified, as you get a lot of information and a really high-quality book for your money. We absolutely recommend buying it. The book can be found on Amazon, among other sources.