What happens to a person who leaves not only her cell phone but her wallet at home while rushing off to work in the morning? That person gets to sample the epicurean delights of Yakisoba.
That's exactly what happened to me today, and thus my lunchtime prospects were looking pretty bleak. Fortunately for me I have a rather lax attitude about the proper storing of pocket change and was able to scrape up $1.85 worth of jingle from the cupholder, my pockets, and the bottom of one of my desk drawers. Having forgotten about the value menu at Wendy's (from which I could have gotten a nice baked tater or side salad), I set off to the General Store to see what that change would get me at tourist prices. The last time I had this sort of escapade I had $1.74 and ended up with an ersatz microwaveable burrito. This time I decided to go in a different direction.
My choices in the instant noodle category were varied, but I settled on the Yakisoba. You know, it might come in a fancy plastic tray, but let's call a spade a spade here - it's glorified ramen. I will readily admit that I do enjoy a good ramen from time to time. For reasons I can't explain I even like the little freeze dried veggies in the cup-o-ramen. So, you can imagine my intrigue at the addition of what appeared to have been cabbage to the mix. I suppose I could have read the wrapper, but it definitely seemed like cabbage. If you're going to go the Yakisoba route, let me offer you this advice: microwave for half the time, then flip the noodle block and continue. I followed the directions to a T, but I ended up with about 1/4 crunchy noodles. You can imagine the insult this added on top of my already disappointing lunch. Bummer.
Anyhow, the result of this experience has been to push me even further toward my current obsession: bento. Of course, if I can't remember my phone and my wallet who's to say that I'll remember my lunch. I have been taking bento to work rather successfully lately, though, and I have to say it's enjoyable. The argument can be made that packed lunch is packed lunch regardless of what you call it, but there is definitely a certain sensibility to bento. I have actually managed some quasi-authentic-looking Japanese cuisine in recent weeks. This effort is complicated more than a little bit by the conspicuous absence of a proper Asian market in this area, but I do what I can. Oh, to have an Uwajimaya. Of course, after having visited Japantown in San Francisco I'm going to be hard pressed to find anything I consider adequate. I've managed to scrape together some basic supplies between New Frontiers and World Market, but I don't think I'm going to locate furikake anywhere in northern Arizona. I will probably have to make my own. Alas. I didn't really have the pep to get in the kitchen tonight, so I think tomorrow's lunch will just consist of leftovers. Bigger plans for tomorrow night.
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