Austin360 blogs > Miss Adventure > Archives > 2007 > January > 10 > Entry
RIP Ramen Guy
The Ramen Noodle Guy died. Frankly, I had no idea there was one person responsible for inventing the Most Important College Food Ever, but apparently there was and now he’s dead. When I had a friend from Virginia crash-land at Stately Miss Adventure Manor for a few months, looking for a job he practically existed on Ramen and chopped up hotdogs.
At the time I was mortally offended — his oodles of noodles insulted the inherent dignity of my gorgeous Le Creuset saucier — but now I understand that ramen is a rite of passage, just like getting your ears pierced or taking a late night road trip to Mexico just to see if the nachos are better there (they’re not).
Since my grandparents who raised us spent so many years in Asia, my brother and I ate ramen fairly often. William liked his noodles dry and without the little silver flavor packet, which I viewed as heresy. I liked mine the way the Good Lord (and Momofuku Ando) intended it, with lots of steaming salty broth. It’s not that I particularly enjoyed the broth which in my household came in two flavors: yellow and brown. I just liked what happened after all the noodles were gone. My grandfather, who is a no-foolin’ Harvard-degree holdin’ expert on Chinese culture, told me the best way to compliment the chef was to sluuuuurp the soup — paying special attention to volume and creativity of noise — and once the broth was gone, to release a window rattling belch.
Just to be polite, of course.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: By Rhiannon Gammill
Comments
By stevear
January 11, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this
I lived in East and West Asia for 3 years...(all over it) and I never heard a single nasty-stinkin' belch from anyone after eating. Harvard-man is a prankster.
**Miss Adventure Responds**
He is indeed a prankster, but they also spent 30 years in Asia -he was the first American to teach Chinese at a Chinese university-- my mother was born in Hong Kong and raised in Thailand and Japan. So I trust him. Here's a little more info on the burping thing
By Moonbeam
January 10, 2007 09:27 PM | Link to this
My mother always stir-fried it with carrots
**Miss Adventure responds**
My grandmother, for a special treat, would chop up cabbage and bits of turkey or ham. It sounds better with carrots.
By William
January 10, 2007 04:56 PM | Link to this
I do use a little of the seasoning packet! but only a little....its not heresy, so long as you have a big burp at the end!
Miss Adventure responds
yeah, but you didn't as a little kid. You were pretty good with chopsticks though!