Living All In

After almost ten years, nine jobs, and two states, I graduated from college with a degree in broadcast communications.  And with the exception of one $5000 student loan, and working/eating at The Cookie Cottage (no longer in business) and Bullies Burgers and Brew (also kaput), the lean years in between would have been much leaner if not for the manna of ramen noodles.

Alas, the father of ramen died on Friday at age 96, almost living out the shelf life of his invention.  Ando Momofuku conceived of the idea for Instant Ramen after World War II hoping to increase nutrition and sustanance for soldiers at war and, unintentionally, students at school.

From the Japan Times:

In 1971, Nissin introduced the Cup Noodle featuring instant ramen in a waterproof plastic foam container. Dubbed the "Ramen King," Ando is credited with expanding Nissin into the No. 1 company in the industry and was well-known for his dedication to his work … In 1999, Ando opened the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, after installing his second son, Koki, as president of the company.

So we’ve lost anyone genius from our midst.  With flavors like beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, and ‘oriental’ (that one always made me wonder), some piping hot water turned a brick of sqigglies into a hot meal of MSG heaven.

Rest in peace Ando-san.

(h/t Slashdot)

New Zealand restaurant chain Hell Pizza offers pies named after the seven deadly sins.  After a recent promotion of their Lust pie where the company mailed out 170,000 condoms with explicit use instructions into Kiwi mailboxes, the Catholic church is urging a boycott of the chain.

Once a mom and demon outfit, Hell was recently bought out for $15 million by Tasman Pacific Foods Group, the NZ operator of the Burger King franchise.  Dude’s got a thing for flame broiling.

For those wondering, the Lust comes with the following toppings: bacon, cabanossi, ham, pepperoni, & salami.