A food addict and connoisseur of tasteful films reviews Food in Film, starring...
… Ramen
In The Ramen Girl (2008), Abby (Brittany Murphy), an American in Tokyo, seeks training from a ramen master, Maezumi (Toshiyuki Nishida). She learns technique, but her broth isn't right. Maezumi can't understand why Abby's broth always fails, so he takes her to his mother. Abby prepares ramen and serves it to her. The mother recognizes the problem...
MAEZUMI'S MOTHER
You cook with your head. Understand?
Your head...is full of noise.
You must learn...to cook from the
quieter place deep inside of you.
ABBY
But how?
MAEZUMI'S MOTHER
Each bowl of ramen that you prepare...
is a gift to your customer. The food that
you serve your customer becomes a part
of them. It contains your spirit.
That’s why your ramen must be an expression
of pure love. A gift...from your heart.
Her counsel haunts me. I cook with a head full of noise and it shows in my preparation and presentation. I hurry through the cooking process, and don't take time to make meals look attractive. I just plop it on a plate and serve it up, "Here's your grub."
What does that say about my heart? What does that say about me?
Don't get me wrong, I can prepare tasty meals and I've even won prizes at cook-offs, but think what I could do if I cooked with my heart!
What does that say about my heart? What does that say about me?
Don't get me wrong, I can prepare tasty meals and I've even won prizes at cook-offs, but think what I could do if I cooked with my heart!
The Ramen Girl - Trailer
Do you cook with your head, or a quiet and loving heart?
Do you cook with your head, or a quiet and loving heart?
I cook because I have to. I suppose I put my heart into it for fancy occasions when I have company, but most of the time, it's a rote process. Find me here LINK
ReplyDeleteI put more effort into attractive presentation when we have company, but I rarely invite people for dinner since it usually causes me stress.
DeleteI'm endlessly fascinated with the lore around food perparation--what's the magic beyond just good technique? Hearing this interpretation, I get why my meals are adequate but not inspired--my heart's not in it. Definitely not. Thankfully, my husband is an amazing cook and loves it. That love definitely comes through.
ReplyDeletehttp://laurelgarver.blogspot.com
I wonder if that's why a certain meal can taste wonderful at times, and "meh" at other times... depending on if my heart's in it at the time of preparation.
DeleteGreat theme and post, I have a current fascination with Japanese food after visiting last year.
ReplyDeleteMy specialty to cook is lasagna, but I need to have the time and right mindset when I do it, otherwise I can taste it right away, or something goes wrong before it even goes on the table. Of course my mum always says it is the best (but that's what mums are for!) but I can tell if my heart was in it or not.
Josefine from
Getting to the end
Did you have Japanese ramen when you visited there? My son-in-law went to Japan a couple years ago and said the ramen was superb. (Sadly, I've only had the cheap stuff... the dried noodle and flavor packet from the grocery store.)
DeleteI know I cooked with my head yesterday. I rushed through dinner because I was more tired than usual. But sometimes I do cook with my heart. I take my time, and I'm not rushed to chase after another errand. It varies...
ReplyDeleteI lose track of time and then scramble to throw a meal together. I'm trying to be "mindful" and give attention to the preparation, and during those times, I feel more pleasure in the process.
DeleteWhen I worked as a chef I cooked to make money! Now I cook with passion!
ReplyDeleteAnother day in Amble Bay!
I bet your meals are amazing. What foods do you like to cook?
DeleteHi Trudy - this is a great series ... I cooked to get it done, but I loved food so was interested ... now I enjoy - I've probably never cooked completely with passion - I'd like to!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeletehttp://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/s-for-sheep.html
Me too... I cook to get it done, but I am striving to cook with my heart!
DeleteThank you for your comments!
Very interesting post and I have no idea how to answer. I have some foods that are very time consuming and I guess if I didn't have passion I would not even attempt them.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like it would take passion to prepare foods which require a lot of time. My recipe app is filled with the quick and easy.
Delete