Netflix Original (2021)/Netflix Original (2022)
It all started with watching a show about noodles (My Wiggly Friend) and escalated down the Netflix algorithm rabbit hole to a show all about warm liquidy goodness (A Nation Of Broth). They got me thinking about comfort foods, simplicity in food (yet how complex and fine the balance is for producing these “well”) and how we associate certain dishes with certain things.
Noodles were, and still are, to me a huge source of comfort; Ramen, ‘drier’ meals like pad thai and those sauce type ones like chow mein. Though ever since being in the US I discovered that Americans like to call spaghetti and various pastas ‘noodles’ instead; Whilst pasta is delightful it is not a noodle. They always fall under some of the dishes that really leap out to me during the colder months or as the seasons start to change and I think it’s partly because of the warming nature, in the West them often having some sort of ‘heat’ kick (or at least ones I gravitate towards) and them being so impactful of depth of flavor. There are of course plenty of noodle dishes that work well during hotter months, salads and stir fry etc, but they don’t tend to make my foodie heart sing in quite the same way.
It is almost certainly because of that depth of flavor that they provide, especially when it is a ramen, that gives a feeling of a good tea or a slow-cooked ‘stew’ like a bourguignon. They just make you sit down, your hands sort of clasping around the cup or bowl, you smell the flavors in and just want to do a little ‘ah’ after that first sip or two. But both shows got me thinking about how things involving a broth or noodles obviously can very much be summery as well and invigorating with that little zing; much like a cup of ginger tea is actually super uplifting on a summer evening.
The shows themselves also reminded me that broths and what can appear as super simple dishes actually can take a lot of time and love and if we enjoy something we really need to work on it and allow it to come to bloom. We cannot expect for something to just come to life or maintain all that delightfulness without a little effort and that extends beyond food and into so many other things in life including ourselves, our relationships and doing things to empower the world and people around us. How the joy of these dishes is enhanced even more when there are people around, the right atmosphere and weather to just be able to enjoy those moments especially for the first time but that there is also place for those things alone.
I just went to Netflix to ponder good food and instead found myself having a little epiphany about life and the small moments we must all enjoy and cherish and if that isn’t a sign of a couple of good shows then I don’t know what is.
DANNIIXBHRI 