Ivan Orkin of the hit NETFLIX series Chef's Table, shares his life lessons in this inspiring talk about "Life, Love and Ramen".

Ivan Orkin's journey began with a dishwashing job at a sushi bar when he was 15. He discovered a culture and cuisine that would shape the rest of his life. Upon graduation from high school, Ivan decided to major in Japanese language and literature at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After graduating, Ivan immediately moved to Japan to teach English and quickly cemented his love of everything Japanese.

He returned to the US in 1990 and enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America, beginning his culinary training.

Upon graduation from the CIA, and after stints at Mesa Grill, Lutece and Restaurant Associates, Ivan returned to Tokyo to live in the country that he fell in love with. He had not yet given thought to combining his love for cooking and Japan, but that was soon to change.

Ivan was anxious to start a foodrelated business in Japan but was unsure of which direction to take. He thought about opening a cooking school, a sandwich shop, even a pizzeria. It was his wife’s suggestion that he open a ramen shop.

This move seemed destined for failure in a country where ramen enjoys a cultlike status. Incredibly, Ivan not only succeeded, but his shop became one of the top ramen shops in Tokyo, an unheard of accomplishment for a foreigner. In 2010 a second shop, Ivan Ramen Plus, was opened. In 2012, Ivan returned to NY with the hopes of opening a business back home, while continuing to operate his two shops in Tokyo. In the meantime his cookbook Ivan Ramen was published.

His first venture in the US, Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop, opened at the Gotham West Market in New York City in November of 2013 to huge crowds and critical acclaim.

Soon after, his US flagship shop, Ivan Ramen, opened on New York’s Lower East Side.

Both restaurants continue to enjoy critical acclaim and have been mentioned in countless magazines, websites, blogs and television programs. Ivan is widely recognized as the American authority on ramen and all things Japanese. His effortless crossover from American to Japanese cultures has given him a distinct advantage. He speaks fluent Japanese and has a deep understanding of the culture which allows him to present a product that appeals to both Japanese and American audiences.

In February of 2017 Ivan was featured in the hit NETFLIX series Chef's Table, instantly vaulting him into the company of some of the world’s great chefs and restauranteurs. This honor has driven even more fans of ramen into Ivan's restaurants where he continues to serve them his uniquely “Ivan” cuisine.

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This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx