That’s Using Your Noodle!
This week’s issue of TIME magazine reported the death of Momofuku Ando, 96, in Osaka, Japan. And why should his death be of consequence to Americans?
Mr. Ando invented a food product in 1958 that has touched the lives of struggling college students the world over: he is the father of instant ramen noodles. As an encore, he invented Cup Noodles in 1971. Today, instant ramen is a multibillion-dollar industry; 85 million packages were sold in 2005, according to the TIME article.
The beauty of instant ramen noodles is that it’s convenient and cheap. It’s lightweight, easy to store, cooks in a few minutes, is a single-serve food product, and inspires infinite variations. I ate my share, using half the seasoning packet (too salty for my taste) and adding fresh vegetables for texture, flavor and some nourishment.
The idea came to Mr. Ando as a solution to food shortages in post-World War II Japan. He was troubled by seeing people waiting in a long line on a cold night to buy freshly made black market noodles. The Japan Times quotes him as saying, “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.”
Today, instant ramen has a cult-like following. If you Google “instant ramen noodles” you’ll find 395,000 entries, from Web site galleries of ramen package art, to ramen arts and crafts ideas.
In Osaka you can go to the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum where you can design your own instant ramen package then custom-make your ramen at the Chicken Ramen Workshop. Or make your own Cup Noodles by decorating a styrofoam cup, choosing the type of soup, and selecting four different toppings at My Cup Noodle Factory. How cool is that?
It’s been a long time since I ate instant ramen noodles because it’s mostly carbohydrates, sodium and some fat, although, thankfully, no longer trans fat. But in honor of the brilliance of Mr. Ando, and for old time’s sake, I just might brew up a bowl this weekend.
INSIGHT: In manufacturing, the rule is: Good, cheap, fast — choose two. Mr. Ando proved that sometimes, you can set your sights on achieving all three and be rewarded with a multi-billion-dollar business.
