https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pY6IvkQm2Q

I love Chef's Table on Netflix, and this chef from season 1 shows how you can play with the traditional rules that govern Italian cuisine and dining. I highly recommend this episode to anyone that has netflix access!

It seems like Ramen, which was once characterized as a cheap and quick source of food for the college student, has now become a gourmet phenomenon. As a ramen lover myself, I keep reading about amazing new restaurants that are popping up which specialize in gourmet ramen. This article I came across suggests that Ramen was born out of Japanese cuisine, and is the equivalent of Japanese soul food. I wonder if anyone has any better knowledge about this food?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/japan/articles/Rachel-Khoo-on-the-rise-of-ramen-and-why-you-must-slurp/

As I read chapter 3 of "Sociology on the Menu" and the "Long-life Noodles" by Terry Durack, I was reminded of the Blue Zones of the world. Blue Zones (which include Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica) represent 5 unique regions in the world where people both live the longest and have the highest life expectancy. This phenomenon has naturally sparked interest in the diets of these people who are living remarkably long lives. The links I've copied below offer both insight into the diets of these people, as well as the ways in which they acquire their food (gardening, rearing of livestock, etc...). The diets of the people in the Blue Zones go beyond what they consume, but instead reflect the unique ways in which they acquire and prepare the food that is available to them in their respective regions; Their diets are a holistic reflection of their daily lives.


http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/11/398325030/eating-to-break-100-longevity-diet-tips-from-the-blue-zones

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150412-longevity-health-blue-zones-obesity-diet-ngbooktalk/

Thanks Chaesun! I thought one of the more thought provoking aspects of the people in the blue zones is that they don't necessarily exercise in the traditional sense. But instead the natural body movements required for gardening seem to have a therapeutic effect on their overall health