Meatless Fridays: The Mushroom Ramen by Ippudo

The coming season of Lent doesn't have to put your ramen cravings on hold. In fact, Ippudo has something for you for meatless Fridays and Lenten weekends...

...with the new Mushroom Ramen, another innovative ramen creation by Ippudo. Healthy never tasted better, and the new meatless ramen satisfies on all counts. Hungry? Read on...

Ippudo has long set the standard in authentic ramen with its signature bowls using the finest pork and fresh ingredients. But come Lent, pork takes a backseat. Ippudo seizes the opportunity to unveil its newest creation made specially for the season. The Mushroom Ramen by Ippudo is the latest innovation in a long list redefining the way we enjoy this traditional noodle dish (for more on their previous offerings, see my earlier posts, Turning Up the Heat: Ippudo's Limited Edition Spicy Black on their spicy ramen creation, A Perfect Day for Ramen: Ippudo's New Hakata-Style Nikusoba Ramen highlighting regional variations, Yokohama in the Metro: Ippudo's New Yokohama Iekei Ramen featuring another regional ramen specialty, Ready for Tsukemen? At Ippudo... on dipping noodles, New at Ippudo: Beef Ishiyaki Rice and Gyokai Tonkotsu Ramen and Ramen Innovation: Ippudo's New Clam Chowder Ramen).

But before you enjoy your bowl of Ippudo's newest creation, why not order up some tasty sides? In line with the season of Lent, pair your Mushroom Ramen with flavorful seafood side dishes like the Ebi Tempura Roll (P 299), an appetizing blend of both flavor and texture with perfectly fried tempura shrimp rolls wrapped in Japanese rice and nori drizzled with thick and sweet unagi sauce topped with spicy mayo and ebiko for that perfect finish...

...and the delicate and elegantly plated Torched Salmon Roll (P 299) with premium salmon masterfully seared and torched topped with creamy mentaiko mayo and fish roe for an indulgent richness with subtle smoky hints.

After a few more tasty bites, you're ready for the new Mushroom Ramen (P 420) by Ippudo. Ippudo's very own original thin noodles are used for the new ramen creation, draped in a fresh mushroom broth infused with miso paste and garlic oil for rich nutty and earthy notes. The bowl is then topped with braised silken Japanese tofu, ajikikurage, fresh spring onions, bean sprouts and three different kinds of fried mushrooms to complete the flavorful base. Enoki, shiitake and button mushrooms combine for a flavorful mushroom trifecta in a bowl. Going meatless doesn't mean bland or boring flavors, and the Mushroom Ramen is a perfect example. And it's quite filling too.

The distinct richness of the different kinds of mushrooms gives this ramen a tasty punch that you won't miss the pork at all. The noodles are as expected, perfectly chewy with just the right bite for that perfect bowl of ramen you can always expect at Ippudo. Meatless Fridays and Lenten weekends doesn't mean skipping your favorite bowl of ramen...

Just leave it to the ramen masters at Ippudo to create your perfect bowl of ramen, come meatless Fridays or Lenten weekends. The flavors are rich and bold, with a mushroom broth that drapes the palate with a savory richness, hard to believe there's no pork in this bowl. Come Monday after the Lenten weekend, why not go back for Ippudo's Pork Buns?

Fried Chicken Buns P 125) or Pork Buns (P 125)...

...and maybe a bowl of Ippudo's Shiromaru Special (P 490), but come meatless Friday and Lenten weekends, I wouldn't mind going for the new Mushroom Ramen. And yes, I'm even looking forward to meatless Fridays.

Ippudo is located at the 3rd Floor of Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong, or call 470-1837 for inquiries.

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