Haters Gonna Hate

Anyone who knew me senior year in high school knew that I didn’t really care where I went to college, as long as they gave me enough money to go there. With the possibility of financial aid, scholarships, loans, and Navy ROTC in hand, I applied to schools all over the nation…with one exception. California.

I didn’t even look at colleges in California. At all. Because everyone from Hawaii goes to college in California. I was not everyone. I didn’t want to go to school in another state with a bunch of people from my own state. Kind of goes against every reason why you’re supposed to go to college, right? Get away from the parents, become independent, make new friends, yaddi yaddi yah. That probably wasn’t going to happen at a school with other island folk. Us islanders can be quite clique-y. I decided to hate California.

Well, Sophia ended up at Stanford. Probably about half of my graduating class ended up somewhere in California. I flew out a couple of times to spend holidays or vacations somewhere with friends or to visit family. The first time I visited San Francisco, it was too city for me. The first time I stepped foot on campus in Palo Alto, it was too fake-palm-tree-lined-roads for me. The first time I went to some Hawaii Club function, I was ashamed by the exclusivity it radiated. I hated being in California. Too many Hawaiians.

Well, just goes to show you how close-mindedness nips you right back in the butt. Here I am, ironically, hitting the two month mark in California, kind of living and trying to work. Am I happy here? Well, I’m not unhappy here. I think that’s a start. So many of you want me to want to be here. So I’m trying, I really am. I’ve found people I like working and being with, and I’d go so far as to say they feel the same way about me. I’m giving it a few months to see if this all works out: San Francisco, the ramen business, making new friends, if I can afford to be here, and/or finding a place to live. If this is where I decide to live.

But that’s why I’m giving it a try first. That’s why I’m doing this year the way I’ve been doing it, to be open to the possibility of opportunities that might be waiting for me to show up and take it. I’m not afraid to take that opportunity and let it go if it ends up not working out. At least I tried. I don’t want to regret not having tried. And that’s why I’m still here right now.

I think the question most frequently asked of me right now is “Ramen?” Many of you question the ramen choice. Is this really what I want to be doing the rest of my life? And to that, silly people, comes the typical Buddhist answer – that nothing is forever. The only permanence is impermanence. I believe in that. I’m here because he trusts me enough to create my own side projects and post things on the menu and listens to what I have to say and the things I suggest. We know different things, but cook in almost similar ways. We spark ideas off each other. I’m honest and critical, and when he doesn’t agree, he’s honest right back. We don't really ever argue exactly, but often tend to discuss at length in fairly loud voices. Whereas I’m willing to zing out mildly unfocused, trying out anything semi-plausible (while retaining my characteristic resourcefulness, of course), he knows what he likes and wants and is able to mold an idea into something direct and tangible. I feel both equal and respected. We work well together. That, and you also know I have a smart mouth. I’d never be able to accept and stay stagnant.

Besides, I just want to make good tasting food. I don’t need to be the fanciest chef on the block. I just want you to come with friends, have a good time, and really enjoy what you just ate. I feel that right now, in this place, I might be doing just that. This past Tuesday, I personally fed both Daniel Patterson and René Redzepi at the Ferry Building Farmers’ Market. Plated their bowls, poured their soup, and walked it out to them. Made a little chit chat. From our outdoor ramen tent. Our little outdoor stand. We’re not even a real brick and mortar restaurant yet. But two of the world’s leading chefs stopped by our tent to eat our food in a city where they could eat anything anywhere. And they wanted our ramen. If that’s not doing something right, I don’t know what is.

So yes, I know. It’s just ramen. But if Chef and his buddies want to eat ramen, then that’s what I’m making for them. Food that people just want to eat.