Unboxing The Ramen Box: July 2015

The third Ramen Box has arrived!  This one has some pretty cool stuff in it:

Our bonus item of the month is a pair of "Stache Sticks", which is one of those silicone 'training-wheels-for-chopsticks' things, shaped like a moustache so children of all ages can use it as a clever disguise between bites.  I might have preferred something a little girlier, but we will probably use it. We also get our button-of-the-month (this one is stripey), which I'll put on last month's tote bag with the other two, and the informational pamphlet.

We have an interesting selection of noodles this month!  There is an Okinawa Soba noodle soup from Myojo, what seems to be a Korean take on Japanese udon noodle soup from Paldo, as well as some Bibim Men, also from Paldo, which are spicy noodles meant to be served cold.  Finally, for the 'fun' entry, there are packets of Just Nu:dles from Nong Shim, which are noodles with no seasoning packets, intended to be used for purposes such as making sandwiches or pizza crusts, or crushing up onto salads.

This month seems like another good value!  I'm excited to try all the products (even if I'm a little intimidated by the Bibimmen), so reviews should be forthcoming soon.  So far, The Ramen Box seems very recommendable!  :D

Unboxing the Ramen Box: June 2015

The next Ramen Box has arrived!

This one included two each of three more types of instant noodles, plus two packages of another 'noodle snack' product.  I wonder if that is going to be the standard assortment for them?  We also received a "The Ramen Box" tote bag, which is kind of neat, and a matching Ramen Box button, along with the obligatory information pamphlet.

Unlike last month, which seemed to have a Korea theme going on, I'm not sure there is a connecting thread to these products; this month, the included products are:

Ottogi Sesame Ramen [Korea]
Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen [USA]
JML Stew Beef Flavor Instant Noodle [China]
GGE Wheat Crackers Original Flavor [Taiwan]

(The above list will be updated with links as reviews become available.)

I do have to say, I am a little bit disappointed at the inclusion of the Sapporo Ichiban, which the pamphlet claims is of Japanese origin, but which states clearly on the package that it is a domestic product and which is readily available in most grocery stores around here.*  Then again, it's not like I've actually reviewed it yet, so once again The Ramen Box has provided four new-to-me products for the Ramen Butterfly to review.  I'm looking forward to going through them!

{*:  I'm also considering the possibility that I am just spoiled by being a Seattleite, and that it isn't quite as readily available elsewhere.}

A Treasure Chest has Arrived!

I'm not sure I remember exactly how I became aware of this new "subscription box," but once I did, I knew I had to give The Ramen Box a try.  They are brand new, so I didn't have the benefit of seeing what prior boxes had in them to get an idea of the selection--I am in on the very first month!  So far all I know about the contents is that there is going to be two each of 3-4 types of instant noodles, and also that they asked me my t-shirt size a week ago.
So, in grand internet tradition, we are now going to do our first of at least six Unboxing Special entries.

Inside the box, there is the promised t-shirt and also a small 'The Ramen Box' button as this month's "extras," two package each of four types of noodles, and a tri-fold style informational leaflet which tells about this month's selections.  It seems May 2015 is Korean themed; we have the mild Ottogi Jin Ramen, the medium Paldo Cheese Ramyun, and the spicy Paldo Kokomen.  Finally, for something really different, they've included Ottogi's Ppushu Ppushu 'noodle snack' in BBQ Flavor, which is meant to be smashed up and eaten dry instead of being cooked.

The first box was mostly a hit for me; I've only had one of the four varieties included before, and I haven't reviewed any of them previously, a situation I will be rectifying over the next couple of weeks as time permits.  The t-shirt is just a little snug, but I was expecting that, and if I lose just a little more weight (maybe by eating more ramen and less pizza) then it will be perfect.  Overall, I feel like I got a good value and a fun experience; I'm looking forward to eating my way through this box, and I'm looking forward to the next one as well! ^_^

Update:  The products have now been reviewed:
Ottogi Jin Ramen Mild
Paldo Kokomen
Paldo Cheese Ramyun
Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu BBQ Flavor
All four got a positive rating; I know it's just the first month, but it makes me hopeful for the high quality of things to come!

Soup it up!

Inspired by the last review, in addition to trying to post new reviews on a semi-regular basis, I'm planning to update some of the older reviews as we have some of our old favorites again with our add-in ingredients--I'm thinking this makes more sense than my old idea of creating separate "Souped Up" re-reviews to talk about the add-ins.

The first old review to get updated is based on what my wife and I had for dinner tonight:  Shin Ramyun! 

Achievements for Shopping?

I'm going to take a small diversion from my normal review format to share something that's got me all excited recently.  I've recently joined the "modern age" and gotten a smartphone, and one of the new things I can do with it is to save money on shopping!  There's this app called Ibotta which you can use to earn money back from manufacturers for purchasing items from most popular retailers.

I've been having a stupid amount of fun doing it--it's kind of like a real-life scavenger hunt game.  You "complete tasks" in the app by doing things like reading facts, answering multiple-choice questions, watching videos, or sharing product info on Facebook/Twitter, which earns you credit toward your purchase of that product.  After purchasing, you take a picture of your receipt, and the credit goes into your account where you can cash it out to your PayPal!

The real fun part comes in when you start collecting Bonuses.  I don't know how many of my readers are video gamers, but if you're familiar with the concept of XBox Live or Steam "achievements", or PSN "Trophies", the Bonuses are like that, except for shopping instead of gaming!  Some of the Bonuses are even worth real bonus money in your account!  As an example, right now there is a pair of "Target Freezin'" Bonuses--for the first one, when I cashed in three Target-only offers on one receipt, I got an extra bonus $3 into my account (plus a nifty Target-themed Bonus Badge for my collection).  If I go back on a different day and cash in another offer, I unlock the other Bonus, for another Badge and an additional $2--on top of the value of the offers themselves.  It can add up quick!

There's currently a "Share the Love" bonus going on, where if new members sign up through a referral link such as this one, that new user can earn a whopping $10 Bonus for redeeming any 5 offers in their first two weeks--which is even easier than it sounds!  It does require an Android or iPhone with a rear camera, but it works at all kinds of retailers, like Target, Safeway, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger/Fred Meyer... even places you wouldn't expect, like Sam's Club, 7-Eleven, Whole Foods, and even the Military Commissary.

Because the Ibotta offers aren't redeemed at the store but through the app, they can even be "stacked" with manufacturer and store coupons for some really ridiculous savings on some items.  But even if normal paper couponing isn't "your thing", I bet you'd find this couponing "game" to be a lot of fun. :D

Shameless Self-Promotion

I'm going to start this entry with a little backstory about me...  Before my current "career" as a homemaker, I had been a computer tech and database designer for twelve years, working at the same employer from 1997 until I was 'let go' unexpectedly just before Christmas of 2009.  A little over a year later, in March of 2011, I finally found work as a personal caregiver for a man with cerebral palsy, which was a big change, but I felt needed in ways I never had in IT and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Unfortunately, after less than a month I suffered a serious back injury on the job and was no longer able to perform my duties.  This left my left leg permanently impaired and left me unemployed again--but now my job search was limited to jobs I would be physically able to do, and employers who would take a chance on an applicant with a physical impairment. 

My "Moon Flower" test pillar

Meanwhile at home, my partner and I love candles--they are one of the things I am most passionate about (aside from food of course).  We had been using PartyLite, but had been finding recently that their quality seemed to be going off--less fragrance, and less consistent burning.  I also tried some from a couple of popular small, independent candlemakers, and while the fragrances were great, some of the candles just didn't burn right at all, and would either smoke incessantly or drown themselves out.  Not to mention that candles get expensive when one of us is chronically unemployed!  Since I had time on my hands, and since we weren't having luck buying candles we were happy with, we decided I should order some supplies and try my hand at making our own.  I did discover that crafting a quality candle is a little more complicated than it sounds--but I also found out that I very much enjoyed it and after a short learning curve, I was able to make lovely candles that we were happy with and that burned beautifully!

We even got pretty boxes for the
candles!  My computer background
came in handy designing the labels. :)

We shared a few of them with family and friends, who all agreed that they were very nice, and that is when we got to thinking that maybe I should make them into a business of my own.  So, after another learning curve for building an e-commerce website, Paradise Lake Candles was born.  The website is a work in progress, but it is very much a labor of love--we're having a great time testing new fragrances for the site.  (As of this writing, one of the ones that is currently in testing called "Moon Flower" might be a new favorite of mine!)  I'm hoping that soon I can start contributing to the household again with my candles.  If I could make a living doing something I enjoy as much as candlemaking, then Paradise Lake would live up to its name for me. ^_^

A long overdue restock!

I finally made it down to the new Uwajimaya Bellevue today!

I am excited to try some of the more unusual instant-noodle flavors I picked out, so I am hoping there can be more frequent reviews (and more frequent partaking of noodles) for a while. ^_^

More Upcoming Reviews--Snapdragon Noodle Bowls

My sweetie stopped at World Market and brought me home some gifts today!  These look so good... I am excited! :D

Upcoming Reviews (aka "Jessie's Noodle Stash")

Just because I felt like it (and because I am trying to reorganize the cabinets this morning), here is a sneak preview of some of the upcoming topics:

That looks like it ought to be about a month's worth for me! XD  My own stockpile included:

• three more flavors of Nissin USA's Top Ramen:  Chicken, Shrimp, and the one I am most curious about, Picante Beef; some of the also-ubiquitous Cup Noodle, in Hearty Chicken and Shrimp flavors; a Bowl Noodle, in Rich & Savory Beef flavor; and Chow Mein, in Teriyaki Beef flavor.  And for something really different, some of their Chow Noodles, in Cheddar Cheese and Tomato Basil flavors.
• from Nissin HK, we have a Nissin Demae Curry flavor Ramen.
• from Nong Shim USA, there is a Shin Ramyun and a Kimchi Ramyun, and three flavors of Bowl Noodle (Spicy Chicken, Kimchi, and Beef & Ginger).
• from Nong Shim Korea, a Japanese-Style Udon Noodle bowl.
• another Japanese-Style Udon Noodle bowl, but from ChoripDong/Katsuobushi.
• a Yukejang spicy Ramen bowl from Paldo of Korea.
• three flavors of Indomie's Mi Goreng:  Pedas, Satay, and BBQ Chicken.
• from MAMA in Thailand:  Moo Nam Tok Spicy Pork, Tom Yum Pork, and Tom Yum Shrimp.
• a little UFO-shaped Shrimp Tom Yum bowl from Fashion Foods.

That would have been a pretty good stash on its own, but then I received a basket of noodles as a Christmas gift from my sweetie's sister:

• two packs each of MAMA's Phở Bò, Phở Gà, and Pad Thai noodles;
• two more Nong Shim Japanese-Style Udon, in packet format this time;
• two packs of Indomie Chicken Curry flavor Noodles;
• and two different ramen from Paldo:  a Seafood flavor, and a "Broad Noodle" flavor (whatever that is supposed to mean).

Hee, I think maybe a little of my collector spirit is showing through. :P  Seeing all these noodles gives me a happy feeling inside!  Now I need to go put them away though...

Introduction

Hi everyone!  My name is Jessie, and I love instant ramen noodles.  I also enjoy trying new things, so I have sort of taken it as a challenge to try as many different variations on the "instant noodle" formula as I can.  I am making this blog as a space to organize my thoughts about each one, so I can remember which ones I liked best, and I thought I may as well put it on the internet in case anyone else wants to read and follow along.

The subject matter will mainly be instant asian noodles, but I do reserve the right to also review other shelf-stable "non-ramen" products if I find them interesting.  I would entertain the idea of taking requests too, if I can find the product in question, and if someone happened to send me some relevant foodstuffs I promise I would review them as soon as possible. :)  Reviews will be posted only as time permits; although I love ramen I don't eat it every day, and I need a chance to go back and have my favorites over again too.

Actual content coming soon!