MAMA Oriental Style Instant Noodles Artificial Tom Yum Pork Flavor

 Made By:  Thai President Foods, Ltd. [Thailand]
Required to Prepare:  Hot water (10oz)
270 calories per package

(Available online from VeryAsia.com)

Today I chose another noodle from MAMA, just so I can remind myself how good their 'regular' noodles are compared to those 'non-fried' ones I had last time.  I've already reviewed two of these Tom Yum flavors--Shrimp, and Creamy Shrimp--so I'll also see how much different a Tom Yum Pork can possibly be from a Tom Yum Shrimp.

Inside the package is our lovely golden-brown block of noodles, along with three seasoning packets.  The pink one is the powdered Tom Yum soup base, but unlike the shrimp varieties, there is no chili powder packet--instead, the yellow foil pack has mostly sesame seeds in it, and rather than a bright red chili oil packet, the orange oil packet has a thick oil infused with minced garlic.  Preparation is the same, at least:  We place all the ingredients into a bowl, add 1-1/4 cups of boiling water, and cover and wait three minutes.  Then we stir it up and serve!

While the Tom Yum hot-and-sour flavor is still the primary flavor of the broth, the sub-flavors are indeed quite a bit different.  The garlic sub-flavor is subtle but blends with the Tom Yum flavor well.  Despite the absence of either chili oil or chili powder packets, it is not mild in the least, although it's possibly a little less aggressive than the shrimp versions.  I think it might be my favorite version of Tom Yum soup I've tried so far!  As far as the noodles themselves go, I'll just say that MAMA's firm, light, delicious oriental-style noodles are still my favorite.  I'm definitely going to be keeping this one in stock from now on!  :D

MAMA Ramen Artificial Duck Flavor

Made By:  Thai President Foods, Ltd.
Required to Prepare:  Saucepan & Range, 1-1/2c water
220 calories per package


The Ramen Butterfly is back by popular demand!  Whoa, has it really been over four months since I did one of these?  I guess time flies when you get sidetracked, sometimes.  Thanks to the supportive commenter who reminded me I need to eat some noodles!

So, today I had these Artificial Duck Flavor "Oriental Non-Fried Instant Noodles" from MAMA; I figured the Thailand-style small serving was good for an afternoon snack.  I like most of MAMA's products quite a bit, but I'm also not sure what to expect from a non-fried noodle, so we'll just have to see what these are like!

Inside the package is a loosely-formed block of semi-translucent noodles, along with three flavor packets; we have a seasoning powder and a seasoning oil, along with the usual (for Thai noodles) small packet of optional chili powder.  We are supposed to bring 1-1/2 cups of water to a boil, add the noodles and cook for 3-4 minutes, and then stir in the seasoning powder--naturally, I add the entire packet of chili powder too.  The instructions tell us to put the seasoning "oil" (which is more of a paste) in the bowl and add the noodles on top, which I do, although why it matters how you add it to the soup is beyond me.  Give everything a stir, and we are ready to serve!

The main aroma I detect is of five-spice seasoning, not duck.  I wonder if that is a traditional seasoning for duck in Thailand?  In any case, the broth has a nice flavor of both duck and five-spice.  With the entire chili packet, I'd rate the heat level at around a 3/5, and of course that can be tailored to your preference by adding less or none of the packet.  The noodle texture is very different from MAMA's other noodle products; instead of being dark, firm, and flavorful, these 'non-fried' noodles are pale, quite soft, and don't seem to have much flavor of their own aside from what they pick up from the soup--a lot like the noodles in a domestic Top Ramen.  I wouldn't call them bad, exactly, but I do rather prefer the normal MAMA noodles.  Would I have them again?  Honestly, probably not, when I could probably find the same flavor with the nicer noodles for a similar calorie count.  I did like the flavor though. :|

Little Cook TVP Curry Chicken

Made By:  Namchow (Thailand) Ltd.
Required to Prepare:  Boiling Water
500 calories per package

It's been quite a while since I've been making regular updates here, but I did have a good reason for it--I've been busy trying to get my new candle business off the ground!  The website is far from done, but at least things are started up now.  Yesterday I finally made another run to Uwajimaya, so there are new noodles to review!  So, for a light dinner tonight, I decided to have this Curry Chicken flavored big-bowl noodle from Little Cook.  I thoroughly enjoyed the previous Little Cook product I tried, so I'm hoping this one will hit the spot as well.

Inside the bowl is the block of wide noodles, a small packet of seasoning powder, and the foil retort pouch that contains our curry sauce and meat.  We open the powdered seasoning and add it to the bowl, fill to the line with boiling water, close the lid, and place the retort pouch on top to warm up.  Three minutes later, we remove the lid, add the contents of the pouch to the soup, and stir it up.  While adding the pouch, I find myself slightly taken aback by how much the contents resemble the canned "Kibbles & Bits" food that we get as a treat for our German Shepherd... but it does seem to have a decent curry aroma, so I try to stay optimistic.

Once the soup is all stirred up, I note that the meat bits bear absolutely no resemblence to chicken whatsoever; they also have an unpleasant and unnatural spongy texture.  It is at this point, far too late, that I realize that the "TVP" on the package must stand for "Textured Vegetable Protein."  Beyond the distastefulness of the "meat," the broth is much more bland than I expected.  I am not sure how this happened, because something with 2,080 mg of sodium in it really shouldn't taste like it needs salt.  The noodles have a decent texture, but don't even manage to pick up the small amount of flavor that is present in the broth.  As a final insult, toward the bottom of the bowl I encounter a lot of gritty stuff that basically makes the last bit of the soup totally inedible.  If there is a high point, I guess it would be the little bits of potato that were included in the retort pouch, I kind of enjoyed the bites that included those... but if potato is what I was after, I probably should have just eaten a french fry.  :b

MAMA Oriental Style Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavour

Made By:  Thai President Foods (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Bowl, Hot Water, utensils
420 calories per package

(available online through VeryAsia.com)

The weather is getting colder here in Western Washington--we've had frost in the mornings a couple of times, and the rainy seasons have started.  It feels like a nice day to have some warm spicy noodles!  This particular variety has a place in my heart; it is one of the first imported noodles I tried when I made my first trip to an asian market a few years back.  I found it in a large full-meal size instead of the typical 200-250 calorie portions from MAMA, and I am excited to have it again!

Inside the package is a big block of MAMA's dark colored ramen, a plastic packet of seasoning paste, and a foil packet that has pockets for chili powder and dry soup base.  The directions say to put the noodles and seasonings in a bowl, pour 450ml (roughly 2 cups) of boiling water in, cover, and wait 3 minutes.  Because of the larger size of the product, though, it seemed more practical to me to boil the water in a saucepan and put the noodles and stuff in there for the three minutes (removed from the heat and covered of course) before putting it in the bowl.  Same technique, different container, so it should all work out the same.  It looks just like I remember!  (Why do I always happen to be wearing white when I decide to eat soup with red oil floating in it though?  I decided to use protection this time--I put on an apron before sitting down to eat.)

These really hit the spot!  They definitely pack some heat, but I think the flavor is very well balanced between the creamy, tangy, and spicy notes.  Those who do want a little less heat have the option of leaving some or all of the chili powder packet out, although I suspect a lot of the spice is in that bright red seasoning paste too, so I wouldn't count on them to be mild no matter what.  The flavor is very similar to the other Shrimp Tom Yum that MAMA produces, and it probably just comes down to personal preference as to which one is better.  The other one has a little bit cleaner or lighter feel to it, while this one seems more hearty and complex.  Both are very good; personally I think I prefer this one, although I really think I would pick whichever one I happened to find in this 90g size, since I strongly preferred this portion size over the dinky standard size ones.  I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I hope the store has more than just one of them in stock next time. :D

Little Cook Instant Noodles Stewed Duck Flavor

Made By:  Namchow (Thailand), Ltd.
Extra Ingredients Required:  Boiling Water
500 calories per package

Today is another Noodle Day--I am home waiting for our new appliances to be delivered!  I am pretty excited; the last time I had brand-new appliances was when I got a brand-new house that came with them, and that was quite a few years ago.  Because I don't want to get a bunch of cookware dirty right before installing a new cookstove, I am going to have this Bowl Noodle I picked up last time I was at Uwajimaya.  I hadn't heard of the brand before, but the flavor sounded interesting so I thought I'd see how they were!

Inside the bowl, there are some wide-cut ramen noodles, a packet that contains both powdered seasoning and some dry veggies, and most interestingly, a vacuum-sealed foil retort pouch with some sort of fresh sauce in it.  Preparation is pretty easy; we add the contents of the dry packet and fill the bowl to the line with boiling water, place the retort pouch on top of the lid, and wait for three minutes.  Putting the pouch on top has the dual purpose of holding the lid closed and warming up the pouch, so that part actually seemed sort of clever.  Finally, we add the contents of the pouch--which contains a couple of large chunks of actual duck meat in a sweet curry sauce!  I was not expecting meat in the pouch, for some reason.  We stir it all together, and sit down to eat!

The broth doesn't end up tasting as sweet as the sauce packet smelled; the curry spice is the primary flavor, and there is a nice balance between sweet and savory going on.  The noodles have a nice texture, but are fairly unremarkable otherwise, and the veggies are mostly green onion bits and some sort of leafy herb I don't actually recognize.  The bits of stewed duck meat are a nice addition; their texture is soft but not overly mushy, and they are very flavorful, probably from being stewed in the curry sauce.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this!  I liked the use of the retort pouch to include some actual meat toppings in the product, and I thought the flavor was very interesting.  I like that it is spicy in a different way than just adding chili powder for heat like so many other ramen products.  The serving size is quite generous too, so it makes a good meal without having any chips or sides to go with.  I wish I had gotten other flavors to try too!  I guess it will give me something to look for next time I go noodle shopping. :D

UPDATE:  The last time I saw this in the store (after my experience with the TVP Curry 'Chicken' flavor), I checked the ingredients list and saw that there was in fact no actual duck meat included in this product.  I'm unsure whether this is a change, or if the TVP 'meat' was just that much better in this one.  Maybe someday I'll build the courage to find out.

Mama JokCup Instant Porridge Soup Artificial Chicken Flavor

Made By:  President Rice Products
Tools Required:  Hot Water
150 calories per package

(available online through Amazon.com)

I grabbed one of these Chicken Porridge cups when I was at Uwajimaya just because it seemed unusual enough to make an interesting review.  I've been procrastinating actually tasting it, because there is part of me that thinks it has the potential to be really bad, but I was in the mood for an afternoon snack today and this seemed an appropriate size.  Here goes nothing!

The very first line in the directions say to peel the lid back halfway, but I run into an obstacle when the lid rips instead of peeling.  Once the lid is off, I see there is a cute little soup spoon included, which wasn't mentioned anywhere on the packaging.  I also see a powdery stuff in the bottom of the cup that reminds me of instant potato flakes.  We add boiling water to the fill line and give a stir, then cover and stir again once per minute for three or four minutes.  The finished product is a sort of sickly-looking milky white broth with some herbs floating in it.  I didn't actually expect a Porridge Soup to look all that appealing, though, so I'm not too put off just yet.

The texture is a bit like a really thin Cream of Wheat cereal; I think I expected it to get a little thicker, but at least that means it is sippable--I started off using the little spoon, but eventually I decided just sipping from the cup was easier.  The flavor seems to be somewhere between a Campbell's-style chicken and rice soup, and asian egg-drop soup.  The occasional sip has a chunk of dried ginger in it, which seems out of place both texturally and flavor-wise, but other than that, it really wasn't all that bad.  I'm not sure it warrants a re-purchase unless I was on a semi-liquid diet or something, but I didn't hate it. :|

FF Tom Yum Seafood Creamy Flavor

Made By:  Fashion Food Co. (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot water, sharp object
270 calories per package

Rating:  :)

(available through Amazon.com)

My sweetie told me I should have a "Japanese-style" breakfast this morning, which is her way of saying she's going to sleep in and I can eat noodle soup for breakfast.  I picked this Tom Yum Seafood bowl from Fashion Food, since the portion size is fairly small and I won't be ruining our 'real' breakfast later.  I've had this one in the cabinet for a while and I've been avoiding it for some reason; maybe the "Fashion Food" name gives me the feeling that the presentation took precedence over quality or something.  Anyway, this seems like the perfect time, so let's open it up and see what's in there!

I ended up needing a knife to open the shrink wrap; not a real problem but good to know if I were packing this for lunch.  (I also nearly destroyed the instructions by tearing the shrinkwrap off.)  Once we get in there, we find an inner liner that contains our dark-colored brick ramen noodles, a packet of powdered seasoning, and a packet of orange oil.  There is also a small pack of dried seafood and veggies, and another one of those silly little forks which I shall ignore.  We put all of our ingredients into the bowl, fill to the line with "bowling" water, and put the lid on for three minutes.  Once the time is up, I give it a stir, and notice that the noodles seem to resist separating out of their block shape, which is unusual.  I eventually get it all stirred up and photogenic, though.

The noodles are firm and flavorful; they are very similar in color and texture to the ramen-style noodles made by MAMA brand, also from Thailand.  The broth is significantly spicy, and unlike the MAMA products, the chili powder is not packaged separately, so there wouldn't be any good way for someone to 'tone it down' if they didn't want that much heat.  The flavor is nice, though; it seems comparable to the MAMA Shrimp Tom Yum, with the addition of the seafood bits.  One thing that might be a positive about not having the chili powder separately is that the broth does seem a little less grainy once we get down to the bottom of the bowl.

I did enjoy this one, although I can't help thinking the fancy bowl and fork were wasted on me.  Since the purchase price of these is roughly triple that of the MAMA packet-style product, I think that one would get the nod from me over this one.  :|

Souped-Up Review: MAMA Pad Thai, Five-Alarm Peanut version

Ingredients:
MAMA Instant Pad Thai Noodles (originally reviewed here)
Planters Five-Alarm Chili dry roasted peanuts
Oscar Meyer Cutting Board turkey breast

Rating:  Major Upgrade

Sometimes I just get the sense that certain products were made for each other.  You know, like bagels and cream cheese.  These new Planters Five-Alarm Chili peanuts caught my eye in the store, and since they were on sale they came home with me.  I opened the jar and tasted them as soon as I got home, and my first thought was that they would be excellent on top of some Pad Thai noodles.  (My second thought was that they are probably more like three- to four-alarm peanuts, but then again I can be a connoisseur of spicy things.)  So for lunch today, I am going to do another Souped-Up Review to try it out!

I prepared the noodles just as directed on the package, and in the meantime I carefully crushed up a handful of the peanuts with a kitchen mallet.  While stirring in the seasonings, I also tossed in about an ounce of some turkey deli meat that I had warmed in the microwave, just to add some protein, and then I garnished the top with my crushed peanuts.  The noodles are looking good!

I enjoyed these noodles a lot!  The added spice from the peanuts was welcome, and while the turkey meat didn't seem to add that much flavor-wise, the extra substance seemed to fill in a little of what was missing the first time I had these noodles.  It even seemed like the texture was better this time than I described in the original review, I didn't notice the noodles clumping excessively.  It could just be a difference in perception, though, since I was enjoying the flavor this time. 

The meat choice could probably be improved upon, especially if I had some leftover breaded chicken or something like that, but for me, these peanuts are practically a must-add from now on whenever I have these Pad Thai noodles.  I say it is a Major Upgrade!  Who knows, maybe someday it will be as classic a combination as chocolate and peanut butter.

(Okay, probably not.)

MAMA Phở Bò Án liêñ

Made By:  Thai President Foods (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Bowl w/ Lid, Spoon & Chopsticks
Snack Size (210 calories per package)
Rating:  :)

(available online through buyasianfoods.com)

Today I am trying the instant (Án liêñ) version of a dish that I had never heard of prior to moving to the Seattle area, and that seems to be incredibly popular here--there are dozens of restaurants devoted to serving Vietnamese Phở, which is a rice noodle soup.  Phở Bò simply means "beef Phở."  I have had the privilege of eating in a couple of different Phở restaurants now, so I am ready to see how the home version stacks up!

Inside the packet is our bundle of rice noodles, which seem wider and flatter than traditional Phở noodles.  There are also two soup base packets, one with powdered seasoning and one with a lumpy yellow oil of some sort.  The noodles and packet contents go into our bowl along with 1-1/2 cups of boiling water, and stand covered for three minutes.  Upon lifting the makeshift lid, I am greeted with the distinctive aroma of phở broth!  For those who haven't tried it, the broth in phở is not a typical onion-based beef broth, it is much more herbal in flavor and aroma.  It certainly looks good, so let's see how it tastes!

The noodles do seem a little bit lackluster; they are very soft and seem to clump together.  They do have the same flavor as real bánh phở, which is to say that they are both rice noodles, but the texture is a little off.  The broth, on the other hand, is quite nice; I am having a little bit of difficulty coming up with how to describe the flavor, other than to say it isn't a bad rendition of a phở broth.

Like most Thai instant noodle products, the portion size is quite small.  I am actually under the impression that these aren't necessarily meant to be eaten "plain," though--phở is generally served with a variety of meat, herbs, and sauces, so the flavor can be tailored to the individual.  I am anxious to try these with the same treatment:  some roast beef, sriracha and hoisin sauces, and maybe even some basil and bean sprouts; adding all that would turn them into a pretty decent meal size.  Anyway, if I am wanting to "soup them up" with the same treatment as restaurant phở, that must mean I thought they were okay.  :|

Snapdragon Hong Kong Seafood Rice Noodle Soup Bowl

Made By:  Tabetai Inc. (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Spoon & Chopsticks
Snack Size (220 calories per package)
Price:  $2.79 (at World Market in Woodinville)
Rating:  :\

Today for an afternoon snack, I'm going to treat myself to another of the Snapdragon Rice Noodle bowls that my sweetie bought for me, this time in the Hong Kong Seafood flavor.  I don't really know what sort of seafood flavor I am in for, but the other Snapdragon bowls I have reviewed so far have been excellent, so I am excited to try this!

The package includes the lidded plastic bowl and the bundle of rice noodles, a double-pack of soup base with oil in one side and powdered seasoning in the other, and a transparent green packet of dried garnish that obviously includes real dehydrated tiny shrimp.  We empty everything into the bowl, fill with boiling water, and let it stand covered for three to five minutes; after a quick stir it is ready to serve.

Upon lifting the lid, I am greeted with a sesame aroma, with a hint of shellfish.  The broth has a very savory, very salty seafood flavor; normally I don't stress on sodium content, but 1940mg for only a 220 calorie serving does feel a bit excessive.  The noodles have a firmer texture than I remembered from the other Snapdragon products, but once I got used to them they were pleasant.  They were a little too slippery for lacquered chopsticks, though, so I switched to some disposable bamboo ones pretty early on.  The little shrimp are probably the high point; they rehydrated nicely and gave the occasional burst of sweetness to contrast the salty broth.

I would have to say that these are clearly my least favorite of the Snapdragon bowls that I have tried so far.  They aren't bad, exactly, but hardly worth the gourmet price.  I doubt I will be getting this one again. :\

MAMA Instant Pad Thai Noodles

Made by:  Thai President Foods (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Strainer, Bowl, Chopsticks
Snack Size (280 calories per package)
Price:  39¢ (at Uwajimaya in Bellevue)

(available online through Amazon.com)
Today I'm having a "non-soup" noodle, an Instant Pad Thai from MAMA brand.  I have had this one before, back in Missouri, but since then I have been able to have a "real" Pad Thai at a restaurant here in Woodinville.  Let's see if this one still holds up!

The package contains our glassy-looking rice noodles, as well as three seasoning packets, which are themselves enclosed in a plastic wrapper.  There is an orange plastic packet with a thick oil in it, a silver foil packet containing powder seasoning, and a small red packet with chili powder.  We are supposed to put the noodles into a bowl, add enough boiling water to cover the noodles, then cover the bowl and wait three minutes.  Then we drain the noodles (a strainer comes in quite handy here) and put them back in the bowl, add the seasonings, and stir heartily until all the noodles are coated.  Not too difficult, although it would pay to have an advance plan for draining the noodles if you were to try to have these "on the go," to avoid having half your noodles go down the drain.

The package is the typical-for-Thai-brands small portion, which is even more noticeable in this case without the cup-and-a-half of broth to pad the size.  I could easily have eaten two of these (and actually, at 78¢ and 560 calories, that would be a viable option).  The flavor is actually a fairly solid rendition of a Pad Thai, with a nutty, rich flavor and a decent but not overpowering amount of heat.  The noodle texture doesn't compare quite as favorably; they seemed a bit clumpy, and somehow sticky and slippery both at the same time.  Not horrible, but they just don't seem to have enough substance.

I don't know, there just seemed to be something missing, and I don't just mean more noodles.  I have another package in the Stash so I will be revisiting this one with some toppings and additions, and I think it has a lot of promise as a base for a meal.  Reviewed as packaged, though, this one was just all right. :|

MAMA Tom Yum Shrimp Flavour Oriental Style Instant Noodles

Made by:  Thai President Foods (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Bowl, Spoon & Chopsticks
Snack Size (280 calories per package)
Rating:  :D

(available online through Amazon.com)

Time for another noodle review!  I needed a noodle fix today.  Today's random draw is a package of Tom Yum flavor noodles from Thailand's MAMA brand.  The actual printing on the package is "Oriental Style Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavor (TOM YUM)," but I decided to rearrange the name in the post header so it makes a little more sense.  Call it artistic liberties.

The size of the package is a bit small by American standards; this might be a Thai thing as most of MAMA's products are 200-300 calorie portions, as are the Snapdragon bowls which were also from Thailand.  I decided to pad it out to a lunch size by also having some steamed gyoza; I realize I am mixing cultures, but I don't often worry much about authenticity when it comes to instant noodles.  Opening the package, we find the noodle block along with three sachets of seasonings--a plastic packet that has a dark reddish paste in it, and a foil double-packet with chili powder in one side and a mixture of dried green onions and light pink powder in the other.  The noodles are a nice golden brown color, instead of the nearly-white color we usually see.  The package directions call for a hot water preparation; we put the noodles and seasonings into a bowl, pour in 1-1/2 cups of boiling water, and cover for three minutes.

MAMA's noodles have a bit of a different flavor and texture than usual; they are quite firm and seem to have an interesting wheat flavor to them.  I rather like them!  The broth has a nice spicy-and-tart flavor and aroma too.  I haven't experienced a "real" Tom Yum soup before, so I can't say anything about the authenticity of the flavor, but it is quite nice.  It is decently spicy, but in a different way than I am used to; it is more along the lines of a hot-and-sour instead of just chili-pepper heat.

All in all, I enjoyed this packet of noodles very much, though I do wish it were perhaps a bit larger.  [I understand that MAMA products can occasionally be found in a "jumbo" packet; I will update with the calorie info for that size if I run across one.]  Combine that with the very inexpensive price point, and these easily earn their happy face. :D

Snapdragon Singapore Curry Rice Noodle Soup Bowl

Made by:  Snapdragon Foods / Tabetai Inc. (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Spoon & Chopsticks
Snack Size (240 calories per package)
Price:  $1.79 (at World Market in Woodinville)
Rating: ^_^

In our last episode, I had a satisfying bowl of ramen but failed to find a curry-flavored noodle that tasted like curry.  I am feeling a bit snackish this afternoon, so it seems like an excellent time to try again!  This time I am sampling the Snapdragon Singapore Curry flavor rice noodle bowl.  The Sesame flavor one was excellent, so I have high hopes for this one!

There are four sachets of seasonings included in the bowl along with the bundle of rice noodles:  a green one containing dehydrated veggies, a red one that holds a stark-white Coconut powder, and an olive double-packet labeled "Seasoning" that has an orange powder in one side and a red oil in the other.  Preparation is as simple as emptying all the packets into the bowl with the noodles, and adding boiling water for four minutes (3-5, according to the package directions).  Quick and easy, perfect for an afternoon snack!

After removing the lid and giving a quick stir, we arrive at the picture shown.  The red seasoning oil seems to be hanging around the surface in menacing fashion, but I am undeterred.  I am not noticing any aroma from these at all; even putting my nose up to it, I would be hard-pressed to name something that it smelled like.  But of course, the real test is how they taste, and these noodles definitely perform in that category!  The flavor is much more like I would expect a curry to taste, with the sweetly creamy coconut flavor contrasting with the spicy and tart curry seasonings.  I really like this one!  Just as a note, when the package says it is "mildly spicy", it is being modest.  At least for the first several bites as the noodles pick up the chili oil, they are probably about "3-star" spicy, although they do get milder toward the bottom of the bowl.

These Snapdragon bowls are turning out to be some of my favorites; I have to give this one another "extra-happy" smiley. :D  Now if only they could take the flavor of this one, and combine it with the aroma from the Indomie curry ramen, then there wouldn't be anything else to ask for!

(Finally, as a mostly-unrelated public service announcement, I have learned that while using chopsticks to eat noodles topped with angrily-colored oil, a white top may not be the most clever choice of clothing.  It's a good thing these noodles were worth it!)

Snapdragon Japanese Sesame Rice Noodle Soup Bowl

Made by:  Snapdragon Foods / Tabetai Inc. (Thailand)
Tools Required:  Hot Water, Spoon & Chopsticks
Snack Size (220 calories per package)
Price:  $1.79 (at World Market in Woodinville)
Rating:  ^_^

I mentioned to my sweetie this morning that I hadn't had any noodles since Wednesday, so she suggested I try one of my new bowls she bought for me while we are waiting for the football game to start.  (Go Seahawks!)

These "gourmet"-style noodles come in a paperboard box, which contains a plastic (not styrofoam) bowl with a clear lid, similar to a margarine tub.  Inside the bowl there are the translucent rice noodles, and three seasoning packets--a green one containing some dried veggie bits, and a peach-colored double-packet with powdered soup base in one side and a few drops of oil in the other.  The instructions say to empty the packets into the bowl, add hot water to the line, and let it stand covered for 3-5 minutes.  Quick and easy!

Upon removing the lid, I was greeted with a strong and appetizing aroma of sesame--it certainly smells good!  The noodles stayed very nicely al-dente, and plumped up a bit thicker than I had expected.  The veggie bits re-hydrated into recognizable pieces of carrot and sweet pepper, as well as a few green onion flecks.  The broth is very hearty and satisfying, but possibly just a little salty.  Overall, I really like this one!  Unfortunately, the small portion size and 'gourmet' price means that it will be more of an occasional treat rather than a frequent meal, but for today, I will give it a "happy happy Jessie" smiley rating.