The word noodle comes from the German word nudle, which at its most basic is pasta cut into a thin, flat strip. There are many different stories about the origin of noodles; according to one, Marco Polo discovered them in China and brought the recipe back to Europe. Soon the new form of pasta started showing up on tables throughout Italy. Whether the story is true or not, I can't be sure.

With so many different kinds of noodles today, it's difficult to keep track. Mainly, they're made from eggs and flour, though in Asia you have more varieties, including glass noodles and rice noodles. You can also easily find eggless pasta, if necessary. But for this recipe I chose egg noodles, because they are the most popular variety. Here is one way to prepare them, although you can substitute the veggies used in this recipe with any other kind you see fit. The meat can be switched as well — you can use pork, beef or seafood. This dish can also be served vegetarian-style.

While this exotic dish is Indonesian, the ingredients for it can be found in almost any supermarket. Called Bakari Goreng in Indonesia, it's quite easy to prepare.

Ari Munandar is senior sous chef at the Hilton Prague, Pobřezní 1, Prague 8-Karlín (near metro Florenc, inside the Hilton Prague). Tel. 224 842 700.