September Dinner Menu – Onsen Tamago

温泉卵　$5.20

Sous Videがあると完璧な温泉卵が作れます。68度で30分。黄身がかたまり、白身がとろり。もちろん使用するのはQLD内陸のDarling Downsより直送される有機飼育の放し飼いの幸せな鶏のストレスフリーな卵。Taro’s特製のさっぱり醤油出汁とマイクロハーブで。

Sous Vide Egg with Micro Herbs $5.20

68 deg Onsen Tamago.  When you cook eggs at an even 68degrees for a long time, the yolk sets but the whites are still runny.  (Direct oppsosit of our usual soft boiled egg.  Where the technique is applying high heat from the external perimeter to cook the whites and not let the heat penetrate the yolk at the centre.)  The egg is of course our usual organic and stress free happy free roaming chooks from Country Range Farming in the Darling Downs.  The dashi is our special non MSG broth, and micro herbs direct from our veggie patch!

 

Tonkotsu Soup Update 豚骨スープ改良続報

I recently brought it back to a less emulsified style. You will notice less white color. A layer of small oil dots and darker beige soup.

Less creaminess and more straight on pork flavors. I am now over the full on creamy phase and prefer the gelatinous and porky soup.

Along with this, salt content was reduced because the emulsification used to mask the saltiness as well and there is no need now.

I had one negative feed back from a customer that she preferred the full cream version but overall, many good feedback. I think it tastes very close to original soup but stronger collagen feel and fresh pork flavors.

Only noticeable big difference is that due to the emulsification bond on the soup being low, the oil completely becomes clear and the soup turns very dark once you stop eating. As always, I prefer not to add chemicals ie soy lecithin or xanthan gum etc to cope but rely on my trusty old stick blender to provide the small level of emulsification I feel is right so please do me a favor and enjoy it quickly.

現在はご覧の通り、真っ白ではなく乳化をだいぶ抑えた従来の48時間煮込みのTaro’sのスープに近い形で落ち着いています。圧力鍋で濃度は従来の20%増しですし、コラーゲンの感じ、豚の風味が、最近Night Noodle Markets前後の時期に採用していた乳化多めのスープよりこっちの方がダイレクトに伝わり気に入っています。乳化を抑えるとタレの塩度が立つため、タレの量も減らしています。スープの乳化具合をちょうどいい具合にキープするための乳化剤（レシチン、キサンサンガムなど）を投入する方法もあるようですが、そこは絶対に当店のポリシーでありえないので直前にスティックブレンダ―で弱めに乳化をかけて食べごろで提供しています。食べ追わったころには乳化が解けて脂の層と黒っぽいスープの層になってしまいます。ぜひそうなる前にお召し上がりください。味のFeedbackもしありましたらよろしくお願いします。

 

Upgrade to Tonkotsu Soup / 豚骨スープの改良について

Upgrade to Tonkotsu Soup

Tonkotsu, Red Tonkotsu and Fire Tonkotsu Ramen
$1.00 discount until upgrade is complete.

We have started to utilize pressure cooking of our soup and are currently tweaking the recipe and methods. The benefits of pressure cooking are 1) able to get a denser more freshly gelatinous soup, 2) fuel efficient = ecofriendly, 3) supply quantity increases. As of today, the resulting soup tastes beautiful using the same ingredients as before but the taste does not maintain until the end of the day. When the soup is fresh (this is best at 11:30 beginning of lunch shift) the soup is gelatinous, rich and tastes wonderful. However during the course of the day, it gradually loses emulsification and becomes light. This is what we are trying to improve. In the meantime, we will continue to serve Tonkotsu ramen but just as a token of our appreciation for your understanding, we will discount $1.00. Thank you for your cooperation. We certainly welcome any feedback and will reflect in our upgrading process.

Taro

豚骨スープの改良について

改良期間中、豚骨ラーメン、赤豚骨ラーメン、
鬼赤豚骨ラーメン$1.00引き

当店ではスープの製法に圧力鍋を取り入れはじめ、レシピを確定させるまで微妙な試行錯誤を繰り返しております。圧力鍋のメリットは①、よりゼラチン質がフレッシュな濃いスープがとれる、②、エコ、③、可能提供量が増える、などです。5月27日時点での課題として、基本的な具材は今までと変わりませんが、スープの仕上がりは満足いくものの、味の持続性が安定しておりません。出来上がりすぐの状態（ランチ営業開始直後がベスト）は以前よりもはるかにゼラチン感豊かな味わいで濃度もしっかり出ている状態で味わえますが営業中に保温を続けていると濃度は変わらないものの今までのスープと違い、乳化がとけはじめ、さらっとしすぎてしまいます。これを解決しようとしている所です。引き続き商品として豚骨ラーメンを提供していきますが、安定した味になるまでもうしばらくご理解ください。その間、ほんの気持ちですが豚骨ラーメンを1ドル値引きして提供致します。ぜひスタッフにご感想をフィードバックください。ご意見参考にさせていただき今後のスープ作りに反映していきます。

店主

Scenario – Degustation Dinner Dec 8th 2012

This is completely untimely being 11months away but forgot to post…

Before the film crew came out for my second degustation dinner, for my first degustation dinner, I had drafted a scenario of what I wanted to explain with each drink and dish. Considering the flow of the evening and mindful of food getting cold etc., I wasn’t able to explain fully all the information behind the dishes, drinks and food pairing, so where else to talk about it to my heart’s content other than this blog!

August Special Kyoto Kitashirakawa Style Ramen / 京都北白川系ラーメン

別名天一系。京都の超人気店をインスピレーションに作って見ました。あくまでインスパイア系です。ブログのabout meに書きましたが自分に大きな衝撃を与えてくれたラーメンです。オープン3年半、満を時してメニューに登場させます。8月限定ですのでぜひご賞味ください！
Ever heard of Tenkaippin? This one is inspired by this shop. As I wrote in my about me section, this ramen was an eye opener for me at 16 years of age. Since then, I have come this far. But after 21 years I go back to my roots by putting this one on the menu. Limited during August only!

Uni Ramen

Not there yet. Too predictable.

Severe weather shop closed

Today 27th and 28th public holiday.

Blinds fell down, things knocked over, a bit of a disaster way to start the day. Now shop’s closed, staffs gone home, the rain is still going side ways but in the kitchen, i am at peace. with only the sound of the high power burner boiling my Tonkotsu soup, I am taste testing new feb menu “iekei” ramen and tweaking a few details. I love these moments!

Taste testing tonkotsu

A customer had pointed out last night that noodles are harder. Taste tested just now. Yum!

We are doing everything the same but yes i think noodles are slightly firmer perhaps due to low humidity or flour getting better, anyway for the better so will serve them as is but if you like softer then pls specify soft upon ordering. Thanks! Taro

Wine Matching

At the table, a master wine maker, a wine philosopher, gourmet IT executive and a Ramen chef. Had a stimulating time discussing wine, food, and appreciation for all passionate expert crafts.

Inkwell viognier savanin. I was fortunate to have winemaker Adrian Kenny talk to me first hand about the soil characteristic of McLarenvale and how to keep the vines just hydrated to create a more aromatic savanin and to match it with oily rich viognier which does so well in the warm climate of the area. A two layer taste wine that coats your mouth with the viognier in the beginning and then the lean crisp aromatic grape seed like acidic second taste which I think is the savagnin. Cuts through the oily tonkotsu nicely.

Salo Chardonnay Yarra valley. A med lean Chardonnay. Matches tonkotsu, enhances the fruitiness of the wine rather than drinking on its own.

Jose the rose. Syrah, Pinot noir. A nice dry rose, having a bit more floralness and slight tannin. Would probably match a more delicate food such as the shoyu in relativity to tonkotsu.

Circe Pinot noir 2011 morning ton peninsula. I embarrassingly asked Jeremy is this a cheap wine? I felt it was awkward and sour. It was in fact a $60 bottle and the tannins and fruitfulness was expressing itself too much. It would change into an elegant wine in 5 years.

I also got Jeremy’s comments that a traditional full on oaky Chardonnay (my favorite) would be a very good match with tonkotsu.

Fascinating time talking with people in complete different fields but surprised to find the passion and values we have are the same. Here we had 4 professionals zealous and proud at each of our crafts and professions and happy to be able to contribute that passion to society.

坦々麺 Tan Tan Men

Tan Tan Men (Available in 3 levels of spiciness, mild, fire or high heat)

Tan Tan Men is a type of noodle originated in Sechuan China. My version is much milder incorporating, Golden Triple Soup, BSP mince, organic sesame paste, some secret spices including some chilli and star anise to add complexity. It is matched with springy thin curly noodles. Topped with sprouts, shallots, crushed peanuts, salt loin charsiu, egg, shredded chilli. Limited to 10 serves a day.

$15.90

坦々麺 （辛さを三段階からお選びください ノーマル、辛口、激辛 ）

7月限定で担々麺が登場。鶏、魚介、野菜出汁のゴールデントリプルスープにBangalow Sweetporkの挽き肉とオーガニック白ごまペーストのコクをプラス、程よい辛味の中に八角などのスパイスがほのかに香る本格派。細縮れ麺が良く絡みます。トッピングは塩チャーシュー、半熟卵、もやし、ネギ、糸きり唐辛子、クラッシュピーナッツです。1日限定10食。