Cydni Holloway- What is the noodle? – CHN/ITAL370W Noodle Narratives- Summer 2019

The noodle is a food that is eaten in numerous countries around the world, but what exactly is the noodle and how do we define it? From a biochemical point of view, most noodles are a combination of eggs and flour. These two simple ingredients are found almost every crevice of the world, and are relatively inexpensive. The flour and egg mixture, that only begins to resemble noodles after hours of mixing, kneading, rolling, cutting, drying is made of mostly carbohydrates and proteins. These two macronutrients give the body long lasting fuel and energy. The practicality and accessibility of noodles makes it a staple food. However, the noodle goes beyond its practical uses. Noodles in both Italy and China serve as pillars for community and tradition. For these reasons, I define the noodle as a multidimensional, yet practical food item, that serves as an anchor and a symbol of stability in many households across the world.

The noodle is multidimensional both literally and figuratively. In both China and Italy, the noodle takes on various shapes and clings to sauces that have wildly different flavor profiles. Two types of noodles that date back to ancient China are the shui yin and bo tuo. The “shui yin is cooked by pulling the dough into strips as thick as chopsticks, cutting these into segments 30 cm long, soaking in a dish of water, then pressing them into flat noodles shaped as a leek leaf and cooking in a pot with boiling water. Bo tuo is especially smooth and delicious” (Ma and Zhang 209). Similarly, noodles in Italy come in various shapes and sizes. For example, Bucatini are “thick spaghetti-like noodles with a hole running through the center” (menuism), and they are usually served with buttery sauces. On the other hand, Ditalini, is a “tiny tube-like pasta” (menuism). In this way, the noodle serves as an unofficial symbol of the diversity that is present in China and Italy. China is a massive country with diverse regions and groups of people, and it is well-known for its long history. The noodles are analogous to the country as a

whole, as they have been around for centuries, and represent the different regional cultures by having such variation in how they are made. For example, East China is known for Shanghai noodles. Shanghai noodles is a mouthwatering combination of fragrant, flavor packed green onion, cabbage, refreshing ginger, and a choice of meat. The journey that your taste buds go on while eating Shanghai noodles is nothing short of marvelous. The flavor profile in the noodles completely mirrors the cultural profile of East China that is known for its light and mellow, yet flavorful cuisine. On the other hand, North China is known for its Beijing fried bean sauce noodles. These noodles are brown in color and delectably sweet in taste. The fried bean sauce noodles mirror the sweet tastes that are common in northern China. In Italy, noodle shape and sauce depends heavily upon the region in which the noodle dishes are being made. For example, noodles in the southern region of Italy, which is home to breathtaking beaches and fresh seafood, is often paired with the locally produced olive oil. For these reasons, noodles serve as a clear reflection of Italian and Chinese cultures.

Additionally, the noodles play an integral role in food culture, because people are able to experience highs and lows with the noodle right by their side. In Terry Durack’s Noodle, the narrator’s grandfather ate the “glossy, gleaming, and studded with mushroom and pork-and-for such a special occasion-abalone” long life noodles for his special 60t h birthday in a room filled with laughter, warmth, and sounds of his grandchildren slurping the lengthy noodles as they ate (Durack 88). The same man also ate the long-life noodles at his 100th birthday celebration as he basked in his loneliness after outliving most of his family members. The long-life noodles symbolized tradition and stability in many Italian and Chinese homes. Noodles are there for people during their highs and in their lows. In many Italian-American homes, the entire family

gathers on Sunday afternoons to eat a big pasta meal (Oteri). First and second-generation Americans continue to keep this tradition today in an effort to hold tight to the traditions from their homelands. The dish would usually consist of a bright red sauce made from perfectly ripe tomatoes and fusilli that was made by Nona’s only a few hours prior. For many Italians, “Pasta means Italy”, and being connected to Italian culture means eating pasta (Identify). Not only does pasta symbolize Italy’s diversity, but it also acts as a unifying force that is able to anchor people in Italian culture. In Italy, pasta brings people together on a micro and macro level. Pasta acts as a great unifier in Italy, Pasta is able to bring families together, they bond with pasta making techniques that have become integral parts of family. Pasta also unites the different regions of Italy due to the shared consumption of specific types of pasta; and finally, pasta is able to unite the entire nation because of the pride many Italians share in pasta.

However, pasta doesn’t solely have emotional ties in Italy. Growing up, my mother would cook what she called “spaghetti and meat sauce” every Thursday. No matter what was going on in our hectic world, I was always comforted by the taste of spaghetti that had been drenched in butter and the canned onion and garlic tomato sauce that my mom bought in stores. The dish would always be ready by the time I made it home, but I would always make the garlic bread. As my stomach growled after a long day of school, I would eagerly set the oven, cut the French style bread, add the garlic butter sauce, and warm the bread until it was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. This scene remained the same for almost every Thursday of my life, until I moved to college. It still brings me an incredible amount of peace to think about how that one meal, would always make my day just a tad bit better.

Going back to my initial definition of the noodle, a multidimensional, yet practical food item, that serves as an anchor and a symbol of stability in many households across the world; The multidimensional aspect of the noodle standout to me the most. The noodle is integral in so many cultures, and has been able to travel from China to Italy, to the rest of the world, because it is able to change shape and form. In this way, the noodle is limitless. I am looking forward to witnessing how the noodle continues to transform as time passes.