Pardon me – this post is a tad overdue.

Each fall, my friend Michelle and I take a day to go out and appreciate nature. To these ends, we like the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Central Park, or like this year, Prospect Park (Brooklyn). It’s a huge, gorgeous place, with lots of trees, a water reserve, and people walking their dogs.

Me actin’ a fool in the foliage

After the park, we headed to the city for dinner at Ippudo – a Japanese restaurant chain that’s famous for their ramen. Thankfully, we were seated at the counter across from the open kitchen. The whole time we were there, Michelle and I watched how the cooks meticulously worked on the food, with our mouths agape. Their precision was truly incredible.

We split shrimp buns as an appetizer, which were amazing. The jumbo shrimp were cooked to perfection and coated in a sweet-and-sour, spicy sauce.

The ramen was indeed awesome. The noodles were silky and chewy, and the broth was perfect.

Between the food, the friendly atmosphere and the swift service, this was one of the best food experiences I’ve had in a while. Dearest Momofuku, you have competition after all.

Courtesy of Appetude