Staying in for dinner tonight -- and most every night? Join the club. The pandemic has caused major, lasting changes in how we eat. More people than ever are cooking at home. And an estimated 70% of American adults are now more likely to order takeout from restaurants than they were prior to the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association. We're not talking just the usual suspects, like pizza, wings and subs (not that there's anything wrong with those things). We're talking more "elevated'' restaurant food.
Kasai Ramen, a fusion restaurant in Syracuse's Armory Square known for its ramen bowls, kimchi salt potatoes, steam buns and other Japanese-influenced fare, has always offered ramen for takeout and delivery. With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 surging and dining at home on the upswing, the restaurant has started offering take-home ramen kits. Again.
What are ramen kits and how are they different from a takeout order of ramen? The kits include all the ingredients and toppings for a delicious bowl, but assembly is required. If you're a DIYer in the kitchen, you'll have fun putting your meal together.
I ordered a shoyu ramen kit ($13.35 plus tip) on a recent weekday when I knew I'd be dining solo and wouldn't want to bother with cooking for myself. I called ahead and my order was ready in 15 minutes. A brown bag was packed with several containers: pork and chicken broth, a nest of homemade noodles, braised pork, six-minute egg, enoki mushrooms, bok choy and scallions. I set a place at the table, boiled unsalted water for the noodles, heated the broth on the stove and warmed the pork in the microwave. I had already left the six-minute egg and vegetable toppings on the counter to take the chill off them.
In a matter of minutes, I sat down to a warming, comforting and filling bowl that was almost too pretty to eat. The kit included chopsticks, which I used along with a spoon and fork to get every bit and drop.
Note: Instructions are supposed to come with the ramen kits (in this case they were omitted), but if you've had ramen bowls before, cooking the noodles, heating the broth and garnishing the bowl is pretty self explanatory. I overcooked the noodles somewhat. Next time I'll know they need just 30 seconds to a minute in boiling water.
Kasai Ramen is at 218 Walton St., Syracuse. Information: 315-310-8500
Main photo courtesy of Kasai Ramen
Finished bowl photo: Margaret McCormick
