RAMEN ALLA VODKA
[VOL. 01]
i’m jeremy fall, chef, restaurateur, and founder of drugstore.
this is SUPERMARKET. a weekly newsletter about food, culture, and the strange magic that happens when you stop pretending cooking has to look a certain way. sometimes that means turning pantry staples into something unexpected, other times it’s about proving you don’t need a chef’s kitchen to eat like one.
a big part of that is the microwave. people love to dismiss it, but chefs use microwaves too. it’s not a shortcut, it’s a tool. one that makes a lot of things possible without the stress of stovetops or the myth that “real cooking” requires hours of labor. SUPERMARKET is about stripping away that pressure and showing how creativity actually happens: with what you have where you are.
so every week, you’ll get one recipe that’s always doable in the microwave, paired with a little cultural commentary and a playlist to cook (or reheat) to. it’s not about hacks, it’s about taste, identity, and the humor in taking supermarket products seriously.
we’re kicking things off with ramen alla vodka. not the italian-american version with rigatoni and tomato cream, but an asian-forward remix: miso, gochujang, sesame, soy, and yes, vodka. because if this newsletter is about anything, it’s about proving a microwave bowl of noodles can feel both familiar and entirely new.
RAMEN ALLA VODKA
asian flavors meet italian-american energy, straight out of the microwave
this isn’t the vodka sauce you know. instead of tomato and cream, the base is miso, gochujang, soy, and sesame oil. flavors that feel more like a night market than little italy.
vodka cuts through the richness and keeps the sauce bright, while organic ramen brings the chew.
it’s ramen alla vodka that’s fully microwave, and fully SUPERMARKET.
INGREDIENTS
1 pack organic instant ramen (ditch the seasoning packet)
2 tsp white miso paste
1 tbsp gochujang
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vodka
2 tbsp cream or coconut milk
1 tsp sesame oil
toasted sesame seeds
optional: chopped scallions or cilantro for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
COOK.
place ramen in a microwave-safe bowl with enough water to cover. microwave 3–4 minutes until just tender. drain well.WHISK.
in a separate microwave-safe bowl, mix miso, gochujang, soy sauce, vodka, cream (or coconut milk), and sesame oil until smooth.HEAT.
microwave sauce for 2 minutes, stir, then another 1 minute until thickened and glossy.TOSS.
add the cooked noodles into the sauce bowl and coat fully. microwave another 30 seconds so the flavors fuse.FINISH.
top with toasted sesame seeds and scallions. serve hot, eat immediately.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
ramen alla vodka lives on the backbone of miso.
marukome’s organic white miso hits that sweet spot: clean, balanced, and just funky enough to make the sauce addictive.
this is miso you can stir into soup, whisk into dressing, or, in this case, fold into a vodka-spiked ramen sauce that makes the microwave feel like a test kitchen.
ZERO GRAVITY SMOOTHIE
if you’re new here, drugstore is my restaurant.
it’s an all-day kitchen built on the idea that food doesn’t need to be complicated to be memorable. smoothies, burritos, noodles, plates, salads, coffee. everything chef-made from scratch, with clean ingredients doing the heavy lifting.
we’re already open in the hamptons this summer, and in the coming weeks we’re opening in dumbo, brooklyn, with los angeles to follow in the fall.
one of the first things you’ll find on the menu: the zero gravity smoothie. a gut-friendly blend of ceremonial grade matcha, cherries, banana, medjool date, maca, ashwagandha, activated charcoal, spirulina, and more. it balances mood, nourishes your skin and supports natural detoxification.
drugstore is about food that’s simple, bold, and all-day. the zero gravity smoothie is that ethos in a cup.
tell your friends about it and find it at drugstore.
PAIR IT WITH:
whenever you’re cooking or need a soundtrack, you can listen to the DINNER PARTY playlist on Spotify.
this week’s flavor match is “Crying Shame” by The Teskey Brothers - smoky, soulful, and full-bodied, just like ramen alla vodka in a microwave bowl.
this one’s all about the sauce.
want it creamier? up the coconut milk.
want it spicier? double the gochujang or hit it with chili crisp.
don’t do vodka? swap in rice vinegar.
if you’ve got sesame seeds, scallions, or even some leftover herbs, toss them in.
see you next week.
JEREMY
lastly, your thoughts are always greatly appreciated and make this newsletter better each week. if you've got a minute, i'd love to hear from you in the poll below.
