Celebrating National Noodle Month

As one of the most diverse foods on the planet, of course, noodles would have an entire month dedicated to their deliciousness.

The History of Noodles

Most of us think of Italian food when we think of noodles. The Chinese, Arabs, and Italians have all claimed to have invented this pasta. However, in 2005 a team of Chinese archaeologists reported finding an earthenware bowl that contained remains of 4000-year-old pasta made from millet.

They became known as pasta in Italy after explorer Marco polo visited China in the 13th Century, eating barley-based noodles at the court of Kubla Khan, and ferrying them back to Italy.

Pasta today come in all shapes and sizes, are made of a variety of grains (mostly wheat), and are consumed all over the world.

National Noodle Month was created by the National Pasta Association, a nonprofit organization.

Oodles of Noodles

Americans reportedly consume 16 to 20 pounds of pasta a year. It’s an inexpensive food item that can be enjoyed by all.

Because this pasta are so popular, many countries and cultures have created their own versions that are made from various grains and vegetables and have many nutritional contents: Buckwheat; wheat; udon; mung; soba; spätzle (found in German documents from 1725); cellophane (made from mung bean, yam, cassava, canna or potato starch), lokshen kugle; gluten-free; fresh, frozen, or dried; etc.

Noodles’ value and versatility in soups, salads, as side and main dishes, and even sweetened in desserts, is unparalleled.

How to Observe

This month, you can observe National Noodle Month with us by:

• Using #NationalNoodleMonth along with #Pho95 to post on social media about your love for all things noodles.
• Come to Pho 95 and enjoy a warm bowl of pho to share on your social media.
• Tag us in your boomerang, slurping your noodles. In Japan, it’s actually encouraged to slurp – it shows that you thoroughly enjoy the meal.

Learn more about noodles

By Leslie Radford