Ah, but brown-bag lunches don't have to be so bleak! If you're a fan of dining out Asian-style, you'll really appreciate Annie Chun's yummy meals that you can pack and eat, and they don't require refrigeration! They're restaurant-quality dishes at brown-bag prices. Best of all, Annie Chun's products are 100% natural, free of all preservatives and MSG.
At JAS, our absolute favorite Annie Chun's meal is the Teriyaki Noodle Express. Annie Chun makes a whole series of Noodle Express meals, including Thai Peanut, Thai Curry and Chinese Chow Mein varieties. We've tried most of them, and we're addicted. These are outrageously good noodles.
Noodle Express meals are like gourmet versions of the ramen noodles you're used to eating from a cup or a crinkly bag. The "gourmet" difference is in the noodles themselves. Annie Chun's noodles are not hard and dried. They're soft, ready-to-eat, vacuum-sealed noodles. There's no guesswork here. You don't have to think about how long to leave the noodles steeping in hot water to get the texture you like. Annie Chun's noodles are already done when you pull them out of the packet. Their texture is PERFECT -- not overly-done or soppy, and not underdone and crunchy. They honestly rival the best of restaurant-prepared Asian noodles. To finish the dish, just add the scrumptious Asian sauce and freeze-dried veggie flakes from the meal kit, heat, and eat!
Soup fans will also enjoy Annie Chun's Soup Bowls, in tasty varieties like Korean Kimchi, Thai Tom Yum, and Miso. Each one is like dining in your favorite funky Asian eatery, but for much less money.
We've also tried Annie Chun's Sushi Wraps, which are essentially "make your own sushi kits", including shelf-stable rice and seaweed wraps. These are a great idea for party hostesses with a creative culinary bent. You can create your own unique sushi rolls for guests -- the wraps and rice are already done for you -- just roll in your favorite ingredients.
However, if you're shopping strictly for easy at-work meals, we recommend that you pass on the Sushi Wraps, because seaweed wraps and rice are all you get. You'd need to spend time shopping for the extra ingredients, preparing and chopping them as necessary, and then rolling & wrapping the sushi to get a really satisfying meal.
You can find Annie Chun's goodies at your supermarket. Noodle Express meals and Soup Bowls go for about $3.49 each; Sushi Wraps run about $3.89. But hey, if you order 12-packs through Annie Chun's website, you can save a lot of dough! For example, you'll save $7.20 by buying a dozen Noodle Express kits. Hey, these are respectable savings! Go Annie Chun!
To shop online, go to www.anniechun.com.
