Guess What Japanese Brought Over to Italy
The Japanese attending the Venice economic summit have done the legend of Marco Polo one better this week in bringing their own brand of pasta to Italy: instant noodles.
The popular Japanese “cup noodles,” with hot water added to make a quick meal in seafood, curry, beef and other flavors, have been available in the summit’s Japan press center for the more than 200 Japanese reporters covering the gathering.
Although the legend--that the Venetian explorer introduced pasta to Italy after returning from his travels in China--has long ago been disproved, Japanese officials have confirmed it was their Foreign Ministry that took the improbable step of freighting in more than 2,000 cartons of instant noodles.
“The Japanese reporters like to keep on working, so they sit at their desk and eat,” a Foreign Ministry official said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
