Oodles of Noodles

No one knows exactly how many noodles people consume each year, but we do know that they are among the most popular foods in the world. Italy, the Middle East, and Asia have all laid claim to the invention of these delightful and tasty golden strands.

However, it is China that is now accepted to be the birthplace of the noodle—and for very good reason. In 2005, a well-preserved little mound of yellow noodles made from millet was found inside (and protected by) an overturned bowl, ten feet underground. Scientists estimate that these noodles, discovered at an archeological site in northwestern China, were made 4000 years ago!

Wing Hing hasn’t been making noodles that long, but its expertise reaches back four generations. Noodles were always served on Chinese holidays and special occasions, and as a child, Wing Hing Founding partner Robert Yee always associated noodles with the shared warmth and happiness of his family at these events.

Many years later, after becoming a master noodle-maker, Yee took his quest for the perfect noodle quite seriously. Dinner guests at his home would often be asked, "How do these noodles look? Is their color appetizing? What does a mouthful of them feel like? What is their texture? When you slurp them do they give you a satisfying "intake"? Are they too slippery? Are they mushy or firm? How do they hold their flavor and carry the flavor of their sauce?"

There’s more to authentic noodles and noodle-making than meets the eye. As Robert Yee knew, it’s what meets the taste buds that counts.