The Ramen King Is Dead

January 6, 2007 11:13 AM

Momofuku Ando, inventor of Ramen Instant Noodles, is dead at 96.
posted by Fuzzy Monster (58 comments total)

Here’s another Instant Ramen-related post feauring recipes.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 11:14 AM on January 6, 2007

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bummer
posted by thebigdeadwaltz at 11:15 AM on January 6, 2007

That man changed my life.
posted by brundlefly at 11:18 AM on January 6, 2007

On behalf of college students everywhere, thank you, Mr. Ando. I don't know what I or the majority of people in my dorm would do without you.

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posted by CitrusFreak12 at 11:20 AM on January 6, 2007

Holy shit, I just finished a brick of ramen right this minute!
posted by delmoi at 11:20 AM on January 6, 2007

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posted by sveskemus at 11:23 AM on January 6, 2007

We've lost a great, great man. Ando truly made the world a better place. I'ma go eat some Cup Noodle right now.

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posted by Faint of Butt at 11:24 AM on January 6, 2007

Thanks for making poverty food taste less like... poverty.

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posted by Space Kitty at 11:25 AM on January 6, 2007

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posted by everichon at 11:27 AM on January 6, 2007

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posted by textilephile at 11:29 AM on January 6, 2007

I wonder if he ever tried that diet where you eat that crap for 14 days and it kills you, something like I don't know 28 grams of fat per package and enough sodium to give an elephant hypertension.
posted by bunnycup at 11:29 AM on January 6, 2007

I think that January 5th should be a holiday from henceforth.
posted by brundlefly at 11:30 AM on January 6, 2007

Can you imagine? There was a world without instant noodles before this man invented them. How did anyone make it out of their early twenties without starving to death?

*pours out two cups of boiling water in tribute*
posted by octothorpe at 11:32 AM on January 6, 2007

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posted by Frank Grimes at 11:32 AM on January 6, 2007 [8 favorites]

Holy shit, I just finished a brick of ramen right this minute!

I saw this on BBC News earlier today, and I was eating a bowl of Nissin ramen at the time.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:39 AM on January 6, 2007

Thanks for making poverty food taste less like... poverty.

No kidding.

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posted by Ryvar at 11:39 AM on January 6, 2007

...and the trilogy (brown, ford, this guy) is complete.
posted by sexyrobot at 11:43 AM on January 6, 2007

For some reason, I thought the inventor was named Ramen Noodleman.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:43 AM on January 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

One of the reasons for the early growth of the Internet was the exchange of Ramen Noodle Recipies. As early as 1997, I used to link to the Ramen Recipe Page, which has now evolved into The Official Ramen Homepage.

RIP Mr. Momofuku Ando.
posted by Otis at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2007

One of the reasons for the early growth of the Internet was the exchange of Ramen Noodle Recipies.

Is this really true? I thought it was pornos.
posted by Falconetti at 11:48 AM on January 6, 2007

Is Ramen Pornography?
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:58 AM on January 6, 2007

It was porno involving ramen.
posted by brundlefly at 11:59 AM on January 6, 2007

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posted by cali at 11:59 AM on January 6, 2007

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Ramen and Kraft Mac 'n Cheese kept me alive (and bloated) during college.

R.I.P. Mr Ando.
posted by hojoki at 11:59 AM on January 6, 2007

I'm not sure, AZ, but I know it when I eat it.
posted by brundlefly at 12:00 PM on January 6, 2007

"Try taking uncooked intact Ramen down to the park. Glue on a mast and sail made of the flavor packet. Launch your Ramen boat and watch it sail."

Thousands of these Ramen boats floating gently in the waves would be a fitting tribute to Mr. Momofuku Ando.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 12:06 PM on January 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

~~~~~
(the five-noodle salute)

A great man indeed (and what a great name). As long as those of us with no money (and no interest in cooking) roam the earth, Mr. Momofuku Ando will never be forgotten.
posted by LeLiLo at 12:06 PM on January 6, 2007

While not focused on the man himself, this manga about Cup Noodle is fantastic.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 12:09 PM on January 6, 2007

&&&&
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posted by reality at 12:11 PM on January 6, 2007

After six years of undergrad, and three and a half years of grad school, I would just like to say "."
posted by yeolcoatl at 12:13 PM on January 6, 2007

And to think, I was eating some ramen nonchalantly just yesterday...

Afro Zombie: perhaps the Ramen Noodleman whom you mention is related to the legendary Irene Noodleman?
posted by metabrilliant at 12:35 PM on January 6, 2007

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posted by Demogorgon at 12:40 PM on January 6, 2007

I remember looking for food at my grandpa's when I was a kid and finding a packet of ramen. He didn't know how to make it; he'd just picked it up at the supermarket because it was on sale. So we boiled it in tomato soup and added the flavor packet. Heaven. I still make tomato beef ramen soup to this day. Thanks, Mr. Momofuku.

beaucoupkevin: you just cost me thirteen dollars.
posted by phooky at 12:47 PM on January 6, 2007

The man invented the slag of all snacks
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:57 PM on January 6, 2007

The real question is, of course, "Will Momofuku-san be the obituary in this week's Economist?" I, for one, certainly hope so.
posted by djfiander at 12:59 PM on January 6, 2007

Beef flavor I can understand. And chicken? Sure.
But Oriental?
posted by hal9k at 1:21 PM on January 6, 2007

The Flying Spaghetti Monster has called his emissary home, and His noodly appendage coils in silence.
~.~
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 1:27 PM on January 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

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posted by Debaser626 at 1:40 PM on January 6, 2007

I wonder if he died instantly?

Sorry. :(
posted by basicchannel at 1:51 PM on January 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

Returns to the dehydrated state from whence he came; just add soul. wait.
posted by joelf at 1:56 PM on January 6, 2007

Everyone Loves Ramen.

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posted by maryh at 1:59 PM on January 6, 2007

With that strange, tingling sensation at the base of my skull...

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posted by ZenMasterThis at 2:02 PM on January 6, 2007

I lost five kilos when I finished university and flew back to the real world.

Those five kilos belonged to you, Momofuku-san. They belonged to you.

*salutes*
posted by Jilder at 2:11 PM on January 6, 2007

≈
posted by AmberV at 2:19 PM on January 6, 2007

Personally, I love the stuff. It took me a long time to figure this out though, as I never liked the Americanized brands of Ramen, like Top Ramen. But here in Seattle there are a plethora of Asian market from which to buy the real stuff. Slowly I'm learning Cambodian.

Of course, the real connoisseur adds peanut butter to the mixture...
posted by Tube at 2:31 PM on January 6, 2007

Rumor has it that the wake will involve, after the viewing, boiling water being poured into the casket, at which point the lid will be closed for three minutes.
posted by DoctorFedora at 3:26 PM on January 6, 2007 [2 favorites]

~
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:11 PM on January 6, 2007

As it looks like he did enjoy eating his own product, maybe the stuff isnt too bad if you are cut down in your prime at 96 years old. I wonder how much instant noodles he did eat?
Tucking into a bowl of my favourite instant noodles (Nong Shim Shin Ramyun) right now.
posted by zog at 4:41 PM on January 6, 2007

Ah, that umami rich flavor of instant ramen noodles.

Whoda thunk instant ramen was invented? I vaguely assumed it was a part of East Asian cuisine and just got packaged with bouillon. I love Top Ramen and all the other kinds of ramen, except the Cup Noodle. (But love that engrish name, Cup Noodle).

For those who have graduated from college there's a book and website called No More Ramen, your online 20-something’s real world survival guide.

It was first called Chikin Ramen. Momofuku Ando's life was pretty interesting. (He must have caused some raised eyebrows with his first name being spoken in the USA)

He was a mere 95 years old upon his retirement. Having invented Chikin Ramen at age 48 and the cup noodle at 61, Ando admits he was a late bloomer. Before he began experimenting with a vat of oil and oodles of noodles in the 1950s, Ando had dabbled unsuccessfully in business ventures ranging from salt to prefab houses. Then came two years in jail for tax evasion.

(It reminds me of another man who was well into his middle age before he succeeded: If the reaction was favorable, he entered into a handshake agreement on a deal that stipulated a payment to him of a nickel for each chicken the restaurant sold.)

Thanks for the excellent ramen recipe links. Adding peanut butter. What a great idea! Bet tahini tastes good in it too. I like adding a spoon of chili garlic sauce, a few slices of lemongrass and the juice of a lime. mmmm. yum.

Thank you Momofuku Ando for your invention and many hours of sipping, twirling and slurping enjoyment. May you rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 4:42 PM on January 6, 2007

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and another one for everyone who *doesn't* add some sort of green or yellow vegetable during the last minute the noodles are cooking:

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posted by mediareport at 5:46 PM on January 6, 2007

Ramen and Kraft Mac 'n Cheese kept me alive (and bloated) during college.

you know, if you switch the flavor packets its like two, new, completely different meals...
posted by sexyrobot at 5:47 PM on January 6, 2007

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posted by allaboutgeorge at 5:59 PM on January 6, 2007

I would feed two six footer housemates with appetites and myself by making a pack stretch - add some chopped cabbage, some slices of daikon, extra bouillon and water, break an egg into it after done at slow heat, and voila. something.

RIP
posted by infini at 6:53 PM on January 6, 2007

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posted by exlotuseater at 7:30 PM on January 6, 2007

tuna, peas, and cheese ramen noodle casserole for me. with crushed tater chips on top. thanks.
posted by 3.2.3 at 12:20 PM on January 7, 2007

But Oriental?

That's the only kind I eat. [NOT RACIST!]
posted by NationalKato at 9:48 AM on January 8, 2007

"And lo, did the Noodly One send His only son Ando to Earth, a prophet in the way of the noodle, to bring the Flying Spaghetti Monster into the homes and saucepans of the world. In beef, oriental, and chicken flavors we pray - ramen."

I would like to request a three minute moment of silence for Momofuku-san.
posted by sephira at 11:18 AM on January 8, 2007

Screw the horse, if not for Ramen I’d not have made it through college.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:33 AM on January 8, 2007