Fujinomiya 'yakisoba' noodles sold at N.Y. street fair

Fujinomiya 'yakisoba' noodles sold at N.Y. street fair

NEW YORK, United States - Yuka Ide (R), winner of the Miss Mt. Fuji pageant, speaks to promote the central Japanese city of Fujinomiya and its signature pan-fried noodles called Fujinomiya yakisoba at a street fair in New York on Aug. 21, 2011. Hidehiko Watanabe (L), head of the Fujinomiya Yakisoba society, organized the promotional event.

Japan's 'B-grade' gourmet in N.Y.

Japan's 'B-grade' gourmet in N.Y.

NEW YORK, United States - Hidehiko Watanabe (R), chairman of Mt. Fuji Yakisoba (fried noodles) Society, and Yuka Ide, winner of the 23rd Miss Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) Grand Prix, attend a press conference in New York on Aug. 18, 2011. A promotion team from the city of Fujinomiya in Shizuoka Prefecture, including Watanabe and Ide, will introduce Mt. Fuji fried noodles in a street fair in New York on Aug. 21. The noodles rose to national fame after being crowned the champion in 2006 and 2007 in the so-called B-grade cuisine competition.

Fujinomiya 'yakisoba' noodles sold at N.Y. street fair

Fujinomiya 'yakisoba' noodles sold at N.Y. street fair

NEW YORK, United States - Yuka Ide (R), winner of the Miss Mt. Fuji pageant, speaks to promote the central Japanese city of Fujinomiya and its signature pan-fried noodles called Fujinomiya yakisoba at a street fair in New York on Aug. 21, 2011. Hidehiko Watanabe (L), head of the Fujinomiya Yakisoba society, organized the promotional event. (Kyodo)

Japan's 'B-grade' gourmet in N.Y.

Japan's 'B-grade' gourmet in N.Y.

NEW YORK, United States - Hidehiko Watanabe (R), chairman of Mt. Fuji Yakisoba (fried noodles) Society, and Yuka Ide, winner of the 23rd Miss Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) Grand Prix, attend a press conference in New York on Aug. 18, 2011. A promotion team from the city of Fujinomiya in Shizuoka Prefecture, including Watanabe and Ide, will introduce Mt. Fuji fried noodles in a street fair in New York on Aug. 21. The noodles rose to national fame after being crowned the champion in 2006 and 2007 in the so-called B-grade cuisine competition. (Kyodo)