Hey 👋 I’m Phil.

I’ll tell you a bit about me and then what this newsletter/blog is about.

Sounds good?

A little about me:

Originally from New York, I've recently relocated to the Connecticut area but still make regular trips to NY. By trade, I'm an anime and gaming nerd, but I also have a keen interest in business and the startup scene.

After college, I worked at a leading Business Brokerage Firm where I developed a passion for business. For four years, I led the listing management side of the business and served as the executive assistant to the CEO (a sort of mini-MBA experience). It was during this time that I became fascinated by the startup scene, leading me to explore opportunities in companies like PandaDoc and Airtable. Currently, I work at one of the largest video game companies globally, Epic Games.

I absolutely love my role at Epic, which primarily revolves around Partner Management, assisting studios in getting their games onto the Epic Game Store.

But why Ramen?

You might be wondering.

During my tenure at the Business Brokerage Firm, I had the chance to take a break and travel to Japan to immerse myself in the culture. I've always been deeply passionate about anime, having grown up watching classics like Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, and Naruto, and keeping up with the latest trends (👋 Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling and Kaiju No. 8). Anime continues to be a significant influence in my life.

While I’ve of course have had "ramen" in America, it was during my time in Japan that I encountered authentic ramen... and it completely blew my mind 🤯. I fell for the genuine ramen experience—the flavors, the broth, the meticulously chosen ingredients in every bowl. Fortunately, where I was staying, there was a quaint ramen-ya right next door, allowing me to indulge in countless bowls. I became quite the ramen aficionado (or at least, I like to think so).

However, I've always been curious about the intricacies of owning a ramen shop and the business aspect. I wanted to understand how these ramen masters honed their craft, what sparked their interest in ramen, how they established their shops, and the challenges they overcame to realize their dreams. These are the questions I aim to explore and share the answers with everyone through this newsletter!

Stay tuned for the first serving of noodle wisdom 🍜 .