Monday, June 8, 2009

Little Prince Noodles (小王子麵)


Hello, friends! I think I was introduced on this blog about a week ago, but I've been too lazy/busy (I'm more inclined to think the former) to post. Plus, it appears that my family got to my Grandma's Asian-goodie stuffed care package before me, so my house is currently somewhat void of quality Asian snack-foods...hard to believe, I know...

But I did find this. And I was delighted.

If anyone has had the fortune of eating dry ramen noodles, Little Prince Noodles are basically the same thing. The packets of Noodle are pretty small; around the size of a coaster. Comparitively speaking, though, it gives you a pretty good bang for your buck. Call it Asian frugality, but the package is pretty full, especially considering that the noodles are pretty fragmented already and don't need the air cushion that most half-filled potato chip bags offer.

However, it is because of this fragmented nature that causes Little Prince Noodles to be somewhat difficult to eat. Quite frankly, it's basically just seasoned, crushed up ramen noodles in a little baggie. Thus, one can either dump half the package into one's mouth all at once, or pinch at little pieces and make the snack last for, oh, about twenty minutes. And in case you're thinking about it right now, don't try using a spoon. It gets kind of gross.

I personally prefer the 'pinching' method, but Little Prince Noodles have been such a staple snack food in my life (as well as the lives of other Taiwanese) that I've become rather accustomed to it. It's a bit of a bother, but it's not terrible after a bit of practice.

The other problem with Little Prince Noodles is that the seasoning on the noodles isn't firmly stuck on the noodles themselves. Which is good for those out there who prefer their foods sans artificial seasoning adhesive, but, like falling objects and body fat, gravity takes a toll on the noodles, causing the majority of the seasoning to settle at the bottom of the package. Therefore, the noodles near the top of the package have little seasoning, and the noodles at the bottom bear enough MSG to numb one's mouth for several hours. (Trust me on this one.)

The packaging of Little Prince Noodles are also infamously difficult to open. Use scissors.

These flaws, however, are not as magnanimous as my commentry, and are otherwise very delightful. They're rather filling for weighing only a few grams, and if one avoids the little mounds of MSG gathered at the bottom of the package, it has the potential to be fairly healthy. A pack of 30-35 baggies can be picked up at your local Asian mart for no more than $2.

8/10- DELICIOUS

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