Ajisen Ramen and Szechuan Gourmet –two new finds

With inexpensive bus fares to New York City I find myself going more and more. March had me in New York City twice, once for the launch of Chef Grant Achatz’s book Life, On the Line and the other for Nathan Myhrvold’s cookbook tome, Modernist Cuisine. Of course for me it is always about food, isn’t that all there is in this world? Well for me it is.

Ajisen Ramen

The little snack I packed for the bus ride just doesn’t cut it. No matter what time of day I arrive I am always hungry. The Mega Bus from Baltimore to New York leaves you off at 7th Avenue and 28th Street. I always walk east on 28th to pick up the N or R subway. West 28th Street is a plethora of wholesale flower shops…not much else-devoid of restaurants BUT low and behold, a ramen noodle place had recently opened. It was pouring rain, a great excuse to pop in and get a bowl of hot ramen soup



Szechuan Gourmet

Dinner was Asian as well, Szechuan Gourmet in mid-town where I met a friend. It was still pouring rain so the restaurant wasn’t crowded as normal – there is usually a wait. My friend was drying out when I arrived and already ordered Spicy Sesame Noodles-they were spicy and they were good. This is not a American influenced Szechuan restaurant, know that with one chili pepper next to a menu item you can expect it to be hot…we didn’t go beyond two chili peppers. How hot is it? Frank Bruni’s review was titled, “Going for the Burn”.


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