National Post (National Edition)
ON THE ROAD ONCE AGAIN
Michelin Guide goes back to its roots in recognizing used car dealership’s ramen
It’s kismet. The Michelin Guide, started more than a century ago by a French tire company, has returned to its vehicular roots in recognizing a used car dealership in Japan for its exceptionally tasty noodles.
At Hot Air in Tottori Prefecture, proprietor Katsumi Yoshida specializes in Suzuki models and additive-free ramen. His hard work in the kitchen has earned the shop a mention as a Bib Gourmand restaurant in Michelin’s latest edition on the top eateries in Kyoto, Osaka and Tottori, the Asahi Shimbun reports.
Bib Gourmand status indicates “quality food at a maximum of 5,000 JPY” (about $58): a bowl of shio (salt) or shoyu (soy sauce) ramen at Hot Air costs 800 JPY including tax (roughly $9). “Now the name will also remind customers of hot steam from ramen,” Yoshida reportedly said.
Yoshida established Hot Air in 2002 and started serving ramen roughly a decade later in an effort to provide “quality food” to children. He built a kitchen at the dealership and converted a meeting room into a small dining area with counter seating and tables.
According to Spoon & Tomago, Yoshida “approached ramen with the precision of an engineer,” altering the temperature by single degrees or adjusting ingredient weights by as little as 0.1 gram to achieve the perfect balance.
Given that the link between second-hand cars and noodles is tenuous at best, Yoshida’s ramen offering wasn’t an overnight success. Initially, according to Asahi Shimbun, Hot Air experienced a complete lack of interest from customers. “He has groundless confidence that ‘all things must go well,’ and I had no choice but to go along with him,” Yoshida’s wife and Hot Air comanager Kaori said.
Word-of-mouth eventually led a Michelin official to the outré eatery, and the second-hand car shop sits among eight other area ramen restaurants in the new guide. Now, Yoshida has a new goal: continuing to work on his extraordinary ramen so that one day, Hot Air will be awarded a Michelin star.