How Parasite ‘ram-don’ is helping US citizens deal with the coronavirus quarantine blues
Chapaguri, the signature noodle dish from award-winning Korean film Parasite, is fast-becoming an ideal quarantine meal in the US during the coronavirus
As the rapidly spreading coronavirus forces more people into self-quarantine, toilet paper and hand sanitisers aren’t the only items they’re buying in bulk.
Chapaguri, the signature noodle dish from Oscar-winning Korean film Parasite, is fast becoming an ideal quarantine meal for people stuck at home during the coronavirus (known as Covid-19), and many are adding ingredients for the popular dish to their grocery list.
Numerous online forums discussing self-quarantine tips, ideas, questions and answers went back and forth regarding the recipe for the popular combination of two Korean instant noodles Chapagetti and Neoguri.
“Does it have to be Chapagetti?” one user asked on a Facebook group comprising residents of the Seattle-Tacoma area, the region in the US hardest hit from by the coronavirus. “I can’t find the product in my local grocery store. Can I use Zha Wang instead?” Zha Wang, similar to Chapagetti, is another black bean noodle product based on a more rich and creamy sauce.
For those who can’t find the ingredients at a nearby store, multiple sellers on Amazon currently sell so-called Parasite ram-don sets, which typically include five packs each of Neoguri and Chapagetti along with disposable chopsticks. Prices generally range from US$20 to US$25, significantly higher than the price at Asian grocery stores.