Peter King Learns Ramen Exists, Sees Why People Love This Ramen

Peter King recently visited Denver where one of his employees lives and was invited to dinner. What happened next may have changed his life forever. Via MMQB:

"I am going to make a confession that will make me seem older than my age (60) and confirm that I am completely out of touch with the youth of America: Until last Wednesday, I had never eaten ramen. I don’t even think ramen was a thing at Ohio University in the late ’70s, when I was there, and it never made it to the King dinner table when the kids were growing up. Shake ’N Bake pork chops, and Hamburger Helper—now those made it to the King table, but ramen … never heard of it. So I was in Denver, and Robert Klemko of The MMQB lives in Denver, and he and his girlfriend, Dana, invited me to their favorite restaurant, Uncle. It’s a ramen place. I first had to explain that I didn’t know exactly what ramen was. Klemko sent me the menu and I looked it over and said, sure, I’ll go. Uncle’s is a pretty hot spot. We waited about 30 minutes for a table—actually three chairs at a long table, because every chair in the packed place gets used throughout the night. I told Klemko the spicy chicken ramen looked good … but I could do without the soft boiled egg part of it. “That’s the best part!” he said. I went egg-less. The food was really good, particularly the shrimp bun and the ramen, with its noodles and sprouts and tender mouth-burning chicken. I see why people love this ramen. I see why Uncle’s had a line out the door too."

I must admit, I had never had ramen until a few years ago either. Then I visited a ramen restaurant and it was really good. The weird part – to me – is how King had apparently never heard of ramen. And he seems so blown away by the fact that the restaurant both exists and was busy. He has such childlike wonder when it comes to food and drink. I see why people love this writer.