Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen Salad)

Another hot day cold noodle dish on rotation -and I think this is closer to the 'Cold Cut's' or mid 80's 'salad' that mum fed us for dinner on hot summer days. Salad - but make it noodles.

This is refreshing and delicious - and to me in my 20's Japan life era, a favourite. I used to teach conversational English as a side gig - to kids, teenagers, business men and university students - but my absolute favourites were the older women - and in particular - there was one gaggle of wonderful older ladies, old friends who were pretty much doing it for entertainment - a reason to meet and keep active. 

They would served me lunches if we were at one of their homes, sometimes they took me out to lunch; and we chatted over lunch. They practiced their English and tried to catch up on each others' news in English - and then organise me by trying to get me married (I was 24! They said - I was a Christmas Cake - 25 is also prime, but then 26.... and oops by 27, 28... the cake becomes less appealing... something like that! haha omg)

Anyway - this was one of the dishes I had an all of their homes in the summer - and a very fond memory. I find it hard to make it replicate exactly every time - but maybe it was because I was young, away from home and being fed by a loving hand, and listening to those ladies cluck around me. x Ha - one of them would always get the words - 'chicken' and 'kitchen' mixed up. So funny.