Bunny Pie
chinese onion flavor!
i will now take this time to make a non-recipe post (suggestion post?)
how do people feel about ramen in general in the western world? i grew up with ramen so sometimes i feel like it is truly a legitimate cuisine or a valid culinary adventure anyhow. in the grocery stores here in chicago and i imagine in much of the united states, you get a bunch of nissin cup of noodle type ramens which are FINE. not great, not super good, but fine if you are hungry and looking to eat on the cheap. i have seen those thai kitchen instant noodles or the korean shin ramyun stuff around and i like those. but other than that, not much of a selection. in asia, however, (taiwan, japan, korea etc) the ramen isle is almost daunting. almost too many brands and flavors to choose from. potato noodles? yakisoba? udon? curry? seafood? dehydrated fried tofu and fish cakes? other mysterious flavors in explicable asian writing? yum! (maybe its just me?).
but my favorite and my favorite for a very long time now is CHINESE ONION FlAVOR! it is a thin rice vermicelli in an onion soup. it comes with flavor packet and another packet with oil and brown (caramelized?) chinese onions. the flavor is really authentic taiwanese. it smells a little funny but the taste is really simple. rich and all around quite satisfying. kind of like stinky tofu? i got these in chinatown for only about 50 cents each! i like it with some baby bok choy, fish cakes, fish balls, dumplings, and really just about anything you can think of putting in there (that is edible of course). the packaging is modest, just like the food and its price. grassroots and of the people!
look for this and other ramens next time you are in an asian grocery store (or asia). time for adventure and friendly hugs!
love,
debbie carlos
p.s. i use a lot of parenthesis. (bad habit?)
7 Comments:
When we were in Beijing recently I marveled at the ramen selection in the grocery store. You are right. I think many people (including myself) have only tried a few kinds of ramen. The onion sounds excellent. I shall try to find some soon.
My absolute favorite kind is the Tung-i kind with Ramen noodles: Mushroom flavor! When I was growing up (and even now) my favorite thing to do was crack an egg in it, and/or add some hot dog slices. That. Is amazing.
Also, as children--and only the asian kids know this!--we used to take the plastic packs to school and mash them up, shake in the flavoring, and eat it dry. When I find people who remember eating it this way I always flip...way less fattening than chips, and just as good.
gemma - i loved reading about your travels and your food pictures were so AMAZING. i'm glad you got back safe and sound.
sea enemies - i have never tried that one but i will definitely look out for it next time i am ramen shopping. and i used to totally eat ramen dry! the trick is to only use the right amount of seasoning or else it gets way too salty and you have to get the ramen pieces sized just right because if its too small then its just like crumbs but if its too big, then you get lock jaw. when i suggest this fine snackfood to friends, i get funny stares.
hi debbie (my name's debbie, too! =D )--
have been enjoying your blog (and various other websites), and linked a few friends to them. delighted to find someone that's familiar with the ramen aisles of asia! i spent a decent amount of time picking out/eating ramen while living in taiwan for 3 years. will have to keep an eye out for the spring onion flavour!
p.s.--glad to see you back to blogging. =)
tung-i is a really great brand -- when i lived in SF it was plentiful but not so easily-found here in chicago.
that is also my favorite! i found this entry during a search for places to buy it online, because the only asian grocery i know of that sold it has stopped stocking it. D: i also love their spicy beef rice noodles.
tung-i chinese onion is good but lately i've been digging on the chinese beef, which has that little extra kick to it. it's all about the little greasy orange flavor packet!
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