114369 Wed Dec 03 10:40:10 -0800 2003 7 7 Chicago Area 0 622377 Has anyone else tried the udon noodles sold in the Jewel sushi section? They are "fresh", I think, in that they are soft and come sealed in a small plastic packet with some moisture inside, and there are three such packets sold as one unit. The whole thing also includes three small flavor packets to mix into the noodles after you've boiled them in some water. I tried them recently, and with some green onion mixed in, as well as a raw egg swirled in, they are pretty darn good! My question is whether these are so fresh as to require immediate usage of even the still-sealed packets, assuming you eat one at a time? There is absolutely nothing on the packaging to indicate a "use by" date. Anyone have any ideas about this? Wed Dec 03 10:40:10 -0800 2003 0 Fresh udon noodles sold at Jewel 1 622395 Hi I haven't, but now I am going to look for them! Some Jewels are better than others, the Jewel near me is a poverty Jewel, but the one on Howard has all the good ethnic stuff (sushi, kosher, mexican, etc. ) thanks for the tip, Lee Wed Dec 03 12:33:45 -0800 2003 622377 0 leek 2 622399 For lots and lots of shelf-stable udon options, check out Chicago Food Corp, the korean mega-store at Kimball and the Kennedy, or it's sister store on Plaski south of peterson. They have the refrigerated packs, with and without broth powder, they have the no-fridge ready bowl udons plus a ton of other pre-packed 2 dollar noodle lunch options. And they have a kimchi bar! Wed Dec 03 13:07:39 -0800 2003 622395 0 Seth Zurer 3 622400 Seth, Not just a kimchi bar, a sneeze-proof kimchi bar. (smile) Enjoy, Gary Sneeze-Proof Panchan Bar (3333 N Kimbel) Image: http://www.sptsb.com/Korean%20Market.jpg Wed Dec 03 13:15:16 -0800 2003 622399 0 G Wiv 4 622410 Wow. Can't wait to check that out. (Wouldn't you think that the sneeze guard would be redundant with kimchi's certain ability to kill most germs all on its own?) Any opinions on the commercially sold kimchis in various markets. Some are definitely better than others but I can never remember which is which. Some are oddly sweet-ish. Not surprisingly the jarred version available in Dominicks with the decidedly un-ethnic brand name of "MaryAnne's" or something, is not good. The grocers on Argyle seem to only carry a single brand apiece and it didn't seem all that wonderful to me either. I used to like the kind served on the side at Pussan House (long gone) on Glenwood next to Lifeline theatre. I doubt they made it, but can't seem to find a good, spicy, garlicky version in a store. Wed Dec 03 15:20:08 -0800 2003 622400 0 mrbarolo 5 622416 I just discovered Jewel's intra-organizational variability. The one closest is a "poverty" Jewel(great appellation btw) while the one just up Ashland has a sushi kitchen manned by real live Japanese. They also carry Maytag whereas "my" Jewel just expanded their mindlowing selection of Rosenberg(?) bleuesque-products. As per Kimchee---oh how I miss a college friend's homeade! The plastic! jar available at Jewel is miserably one note. On a whim I tried an udon kimchee from, I believe, Trader Joe's; oddly sweet kimchee like a sugarcoated nickle. Never again. Wed Dec 03 16:38:39 -0800 2003 622410 0 malcarne 3 622438 How long do the refrigerator packs last? Wed Dec 03 19:50:48 -0800 2003 622399 0 fred 4 622473 Well fred, I've never tried to test the shelf life of udon, but the interweb being what it is that information is at all of our fingertips, thanks to google and the search string "udon shelf life". The hot link at the end of this message gives the shelf life for a range of japanese packaged goods. The shelf life of the brands mentioned on this page range from 5 weeks to 1 year. here's another page detailing udon shelf life http://www.hanilfood.co.kr/technology_e.html Hope that helps! Link: http://www.psc.com.sg/wh_fortune_p.htm Thu Dec 04 11:26:16 -0800 2003 622438 0 Seth Zurer