A day of mourning.

Like for so many other students across the world, they have provided nourishment for me through weeks and months of short budgets and busy schedules of mixing finals and dedicated multiplayer x-box gaming. Even in my poorly equipped student housing in Waco, TX, a warm meal with flavors vaguely reminding of chicken, beef, teriyaki, or even seafood could be provided instantly - with virtually no cleanup and no other required ingredients or preparation.

Granted, with temperatures often rising above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, a warm meal wasn't required very often, but the economic advantages often outweighed the environmental circumstances. Bought in the right quantity at Costco, a single dollar's investment could feed me for almost an entire week!

Of course I am talking about Ramen Noodles. Those "blocks" of dried noodles coming with a little satchel of flavoring that have been copied by so many companies since their invention.






And that's just it! They were invented. Invented not by some anonymous corporation, but by some guy who - most likely - had a "vision" about the future of food and built a million dollar company around this vision. Now that guy is dead, passed away at the age of 96 near Osaka (Did he eat his own invention regularly? Are his noodles a secret to long life? Or lies the secret in their avoidance?).

I doubt many students have ever heard the name of Momofuku Ando, but no doubt they've enjoyed his vision of food. Truly a man that has made great strides for the quality of student life around the world. You may have already forgotten his name when reaching this sentence, but his food will forever hold a place in our hearts.

In fact - his departure has been of such significance that there is even an article about it in the NY Times Op/Ed.

Here's a link to the Official Ramen page. They even invite you to visit them on Times Square. It's not just food! It's fun too!