Chef Woo Presents: A Culinary Legacy Of Plant-Based Ramen Innovation (Win!)

Discover how Chef Woo is transforming instant ramen with plant-based, high-protein noodles inspired by the legendary chef Song Wusao. In this Q&A, brand manager Tarah Dane shares the brand’s mission, sustainability efforts, and upcoming flavors, showcasing how Chef Woo blends tradition with modern, nutritious convenience for today’s health-conscious consumer. —Noa Nichol

Chef Woo noodles are inspired by the legendary Chef Song Wusao. How does her story and culinary legacy influence the brand’s mission and recipe development?

The name, Chef Woo, nods to legendary female chef, Song Wusao from 12th-century China. Chef Song Wu Sao was a trailblazing chef who became renowned for her legendary soup, which earned her a place to cook for the Imperial Court and helped bring her community together during periods of hardship! When we set out to find a way to provide affordable high-protein noodles to consumers, her story resonated with our team. With today’s advances in food technology, we realized we could transcend cultural boundaries and craft nutritious, plant-based food that is accessible and affordable for everyone. This combination of tradition and innovation is at the heart of the Chef Woo brand.

Plant-based ramen is an exciting concept. What are the key ingredients in Chef Woo noodles that make them nutritious and flavourful without compromising on taste?

Chef Woo is the first-ever high-protein, plant-based instant ramen. It’s packed with 20 grams of complete protein, providing all 9 essential amino acids. It’s produced locally in the US using American flour and 100% plant-based pea protein. Chef Woo ramen uses real vegetables, including peas, carrots, and peppers. Our noodles are also free from additives like MSG, palm oil, and animal byproducts.

Sustainability is a core value for Chef Woo. Can you share more about the environmental benefits of choosing plant-based noodles over traditional options and how Chef Woo reduces its carbon footprint?

Chef Woo is committed to being fully plant-based and using no animal byproducts, which helps significantly reduce our environmental impact. We understand how vital protein is for health, so we’ve crafted another way to include it in consumers’ diets without placing strain on natural resources. All our products are certified vegan and vegetarian.

We are also dedicated to sustainability in our production process. To reduce our supply chain footprint, we make all our ramen locally in the U.S. Even our flour is from the best North American flour mills.

Instant ramen is often associated with quick, convenient meals. How does Chef Woo balance convenience with a focus on health and nutrition, especially for families looking for healthier options?

Chef Woo strikes the perfect balance between convenience and nutrition by offering a quick, easy meal that does not compromise on health or flavour. We understand that consumers want fast meal solutions without sacrificing quality, which is why all Chef Woo products are made with the highest quality and nutrition standards. Our ramen is packed with high-protein, plant-based ingredients that are both nutritious and satisfying

What future innovations or flavours can we expect from Chef Woo, and how do you see the brand’s role in shaping the plant-based food industry for a better global future?

Often food that are deemed healthy aren’t often the best tasting. We continuously innovate and explore new flavours. This reflects our commitment to providing delicious, sustainable, affordable options for today’s health-conscious consumers. That’s why we’ve partnered with renowned chef, Gordon Ramsay to develop exclusive flavours which we are looking to introduce here in 2025.

We’d love a couple of unique, out-of-the-box ramen recipes for noodle bowl preparations. Do you have any favourites to share?

Absolutely! If you want to shake up your ramen game, we recommend checking out chefwoo.com/recipes and/or @chefwooramen on Instagram for some delicious, out-of-the-box recipes and inspiration.

Win! A $100 Chef Woo Prize Pack!

One lucky Canadian winner will receive a $100 Chef Woo prize pack! Transport your taste buds with this luxurious ramen collection, featuring elegant handcrafted Japanese bowls and chopsticks paired with an exclusive selection of Chef Woo’s most coveted ramen flavours. Worth over $100, this artisanal ramen gift set transforms everyday noodles into an authentic Asian dining experience. To enter, head over to Instagram, follow @chefwooramen and @vitadailymedia and make sure to fulfil all the entry rules in the caption of the corresponding contest post. Contest opens November 15, 2024 and closes November 22, 2024. Complete contest rules and regulations here. Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.