Zoe Walker
The definition of the noodle goes beyond the description of it as a food. While describing a noodle as a strip, ring or tube of dough typically made with eggs and eaten with sauce or soups is a great definition, I believe it is not entirely encompassing. A full definition would also touch on all the things the noodle represents throughout Chinese and Italian culture.
The noodle while made of simplistic ingredients such as flour, water and eggs, is a complex and multi-layered food that can be shaped and created based on the culture and history surrounding it. Noodles reflect the people that make them and the thousand different shapes and dishes that are created with the noodle reflect the thousands of stories and historical events that have been created right alongside them.
This is my definition of the noodle and what it really means. Through the readings and videos throughout this class, I have realized more and more that this is a more fitting definition. When talking about the identity of the noodle you are not just talking about the ingredients that make it up but the culture and history that are just as influential in the makeup of the noodle.
In the reading Noodles, Traditionally and Today there is a section titled “The Stories of Noodles”. In this section, the author talks about how Chinese noodle dishes play roles in aspects of religion and economy. Certain dishes are associated with specific holidays and events such as eating dumplings in Spring Festival. Along with that, there are many customs that are associated with noodles such as the longevity noodles being eaten at birthdays as a sign of good luck and prosperity. This section also goes on to talk about how the names of different noodle dishes are assigned based on historical stories from the past. Qishan minced noodles are also called sister-in-law noodles and ashamed son noodles are based on stories passed down and shared throughout Chinese history. This section shows many different examples of how the noodle reflects the culture of the Chinese region and the people that create them. Different forms of noodles stand for different cultural beliefs in the region and even the naming of noodles is a reflection of Chinese history and culture. Another reading that shows how noodles encompass the Chinese culture is Crossing the Bridge. This story is based in the region of Yunan and is about a man whose son could not pass the Imperial Exam. There were many things I gained from this story and how the noodle reflects the Chinese culture. This story reflects the Chinese belief of prosperity and good luck that comes with the noodle. By consuming the hot egg noodle dish, the boy was able to concentrate and pass the momentous exam that he had been unable to pass. This story also reflects the culture of how the noodle brings people together in community. In the story, the boy was isolated from his home until he could pass the exam. Due to the love and community surrounding the cook and the boy, the dish that the cook created was able to reunite him back with his family and home.
In the reading History of Pasta, there are many examples of how the noodle has influenced Italian culture and history. The article mentions how wherever the Italians immigrated they took their pasta with them. This shows that pasta has been changed and influenced based on the many different regions it has gone in Italian history. Pasta has gone back thousands of years so both pasta and history have influenced each other over time. Pasta dishes created in the 8th century were heavily influenced by the Arabic invasion during that time which can be reflected in the culture and history of Italy which was also influenced by the Arabic invasion. Many Sicilian pasta recipes today include middle eastern ingredients such as raisins and cinnamon due to the original Arabic influence. During the 1300s, dried pasta was very popular due to its nutrition and longevity. This was a great reflection of the time period and the people who made it because many people during that time were poor and relied on food that was cheap and easy to make. As a result, it became a staple in Italy and grew in popularity. As a result, today Italians consume over sixty pounds of pasta each per year. This I believe shows how noodles have become a reflection of Italian culture, regions and cities.
Noodles have become an integral part of both Italian and Chinese food, cuisine and culture. The noodle plays such an integral role in the food culture of these countries because they have become such a family-oriented food. Family and community have been the center of Italy and China’s culture for thousands of years. The creation of noodles as a food that can be made and eaten together has allowed for this food to become such an important part of these countries cultures. This has then led into the expansion of different shapes and sizes of noodles as it has migrated throughout these countries and grown and changed with the history. Over time noodles haven’t just played a role in these cultures but have become the representation and definition of the cultures as well.
This picture encompasses the definition of noodle. In this picture, friends are gathered together as they share a Chinese noodle dish. This represents the community and fellowship that comes with eating noodles which is a key factor of the noodle.