Ramen + Royce = Totally Addictive Japanese Food

Picture: CUPNOODLES MUSEUM

In the midst of the second largest town in Japan is a HUGE, 5-story museum. To describe it to an American I would say it is like a modern art musuem: bright, airy, tall and incredibly clean. In fact, it is one of the cleanest buildings I have ever seen.

The "Cupnoodles Museum" (and yes, I spelled it correctly) opened in 2011. It is hugely popular and a fantastic way to spend a day.

Cupnoodles tells the story of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin food product and the inventor of Chicken Ramen.

Mr. Ando had noticed that at lunch some of the workers in his town would not have time to eat because the lines to get Ramen noodles at the local food sheds were just way too long to feed the massive amount of workers. He wanted to give the time, and the control back to the worker. He was also considered with cost for the law-wage workers.

He worked for over a year in a wooden shed behind his home trying to invent a noodle ramen that would cook quickly with just hot water.

His first attempts were not at all successful. The cooking was unequal, the noodles were hard in spots, the nutrition was not acceptable. He kept working.

He finally got it. In 1958, "magic ramen" was created. Ramen was packaged in a small envelope. It was an instant success! Today, in Japan alone, over 51 Million ramen packages are sold each year!

W-O-W!

 In 1971, on a research trip to the US, Mr. Ando saw workers breaking up his chicken ramen, placing it in a cup, pouring hot water over it and eating it with a ...fork! He decided THAT process was how he was going to make his chicken ramen a worldwide phenomon. He just had to add the CUP! He invented "Cupnoodles" when he got back to Japan.

This invention made him millions and millions, but it also fed millions and millions. Cupnoodles went global within months!

The muesum tells the story of Mr. Ando and the continued growth of the company.

We wanted to learn how to make the noodles. The 90 minute class was a ton of fun, and quite educational. It was, of course, completely in Japanese. We were totally covered though because our church had coordinated this trip and brought along locals to help out.

The class for two "adults" and one "student" was $13. Not bad for 90 minutes for a class with one on four instruction.

We had to wear the cute bandanas. Everyone else just "knew" that they were supposed to put the bandanas on so that the chicken's eyes showed. Carson and I both put it on upside down with the fanny showing. (I switched mine before the photo was taken.) We had numbers on our aprons that were used to track the bowls and frying cases with our specific noodles, so we ended up with our own noodles.

You can also design your very own Cupnoodles package! It is a really popular activity. We wanted to do that as well. (Yes, we are nerds when it comes to this kind of thing.) Sadly, we ran out of time!

When we left the class, we only had 10 minutes until the bus left. We ran, well we walked quickly, through the Hall of Noodles, so we could see the over 3,000 different packages that have been marketed since 1958.

It was facsinating to see, not only the packaging but the size of the servings as well.  There are some Cupnoodles with toys on them, some in adorable chicken mugs and some that must serve an entire family- or maybe an Army platoon :)

We will have to go back with the rest of the family and enjoy more of this fabulous musuem. We did not get to go on all the levels, but we will next time.

On to the next Japanese Food Addiction!

Hubby has been traveling a ton lately. When you go through the airports here you get the greatest opputunity to eat local Japanese foods.

There is one store that we have been hearing about, but have not had the chance to visit.

Until Now!

Meet Royce Chocolate World!

This is what the airport "store" looks like. It is like a combo between a museum and a factory. The wonderful smell of melting chocolate, the cleanliness of a typical Japanese resturant and the fun of a Brookstone. It should be weird to shop in the airport. It's not. My wallet can testify to that.

You can choose from all sorts of tasty treats. The most addictive one is the fresh potato ships covered in Royce's rich, but light chocolate. Oh.My.My.My!

They are lick-your-lips, hide-your-bag, steal-from-your-kids GOOD!

The package doesn't look like much. I get that.

You will just have to trust me.

Or, you can pray you have a visit from us coming up... and that we will NOT have eaten all the Royce chocolate!

The stores are turning up in more and more places. They have three in NYC now.

Yes, it is worth the trip.

No, I don't care where you live.

It is STILL worth the trip!

I am thinking we may have to pay the $30 in tolls and $20 in airport parking just to get some more very soon.

Hubby may not be too keen on that.

Oh, but hold on. Let me grab that calendar.

I wonder when his next trip is....

 Noodles & Chocolate for Dinner Every Meal,

~Aggie Amy