Be prepared for all those moments when you need a warming bowl of noodle soup.
Hand-Crank Craft: Making noodles from scratch is a scary undertaking but the delicate taste and texture of fresh noodles might be worth the effort. Here's a pasta press made in Italy to make things a little easier. $110, Hardisty’s, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com.
“Spider” Strainer: This web of wire helps you pull out the noodles but leave the hot water behind for other uses. No strain here. $8.99, Garrett Hardware Ace, 340 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, garretthardware.com.
Let’s Make Ramen: A comic book that teaches you how to make ramen. Wonderful illustrations provide how-tos in great detail, from necessary tools and ingredients to ramen history and etiquette. The read is so satisfying, who cares if you ever get around to cooking? $19.99, Levin & Company Community Booksellers, 306 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-1118, levinbooks.com.
Ramen Fusion: Here are classic ramen recipes plus recipes blended with other popular dishes. For the experimental ramen eater. $19.95, Levin & Company Community Booksellers, 306 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-1118, levinbooks.com.
Pantastic: A wok heats food evenly and quickly and is great for sauteing vegetables. Cast iron works well, too. This stir fry pan has a bamboo handle so you can omit the step of scrambling for a potholder. $26.95 (and up), Sign of the Bear, 435 1st St W, Sonoma, 707-996-3722, signofthebear.com.
Quicker Cooker: The foundation of ramen is a flavorful broth, which takes time to cook. If you don't have time, apply pressure with an Instant Pot on pressure cooker setting. Any pressure cooker will do, but the Instant Pot can be automated so you can go on an adventure or cook other ingredients while the stage is set for your historically-good bowl of ramen. $99 (and up), Cultivate Home, 186 N Main St Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-824-1400, cultivatehome.com.
Pretty Vessel: This beautiful hand-thrown bowl is made by Sonoma County-based Hayes Ceramics. A useable work of art to match your masterful ramen-making. $35, Made Local Marketplace Open House, Thursday, May 17th, 4 p.m to 7pm., 529 4th St, Santa Rosa, 707-583-7667, madelocalmarketplace.com.
Top it off: Garnishing ramen with fresh-cut green onions is a non-negotiable. Grow your own bunching onion so you can keep them on hand. $3.99 (6-pack), Garrett Hardware Ace, 340 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, garretthardware.com.
A bowl of homemade ramen soup topped with sliced pork belly, bok choy, maitake mushrooms, scallions, chives, nori (dried seaweed), an yuzu wedge, and sesame seeds, at a ramen workshop at SHED in Healdsburg, on Sunday, October 30, 2016. (Beth Schlanker)
Ah, ramen. Beloved, delicious, and obsessed about. Whether you make the pre-packaged version or have your own recipe, “you can always make a better bowl,” says “Let’s Make Ramen!” author Hugh Amano. Here are a few tools for those on a quest to create perfect, flavor-loaded ramen — click through the above gallery for details.
