Sayonara, Mr. Noodle

“TOKYO — Momofuku Ando, the Japanese inventor of instant noodles — a dish that has sustained American college students for decades — has died. He was 96.”

I remember eating Cup Noodles as a child at my Grandma’s house. First, my sister and I would rip off the outer cardboard packaging, and then fumble with the cellophane wrapping. The whistling of the tea kettle would signify that it was time. We peeled back the top to the dotted line — no more, no less. Grandma would pour the water in for we were too little to handle boiling water, and then she placed a plate over the lid to allow it to cook.

The package says three minutes, but who’s to know what three minutes is? I was so tempted to peek under the plate, but was fearful that something would go terribly awry. Terribly awry. So we waited patiently until Grandma said it was ok, then uncovered the plate and pull the cover back completely. Perfection.

How did the morsels of vegetable get so tender and saturated with color? Clearly, this must be good for you. But alas, there is no time to ponder, it is time to eat.

Sayonara, Mr. Noodle, we’ll miss you very much.

“Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Give him ramen noodles, and you don’t have to teach him anything.”
— LAWRENCE DOWNES