Ramen Time

For some, the word “ramen” conjures images of poor college students slurping additive-laden noodles in their dorm rooms, but ramen is so much more than that. Ramen has a long and storied history. Believed to be Chinese in origin, it became a popular noodle dish in Japan in the early 1900s. Disruptions to food supplies during WWII created an underground “black market” ramen business – you could be arrested if you were caught selling ramen without specific permission! The omnipresent instant ramen was not invented until 1958 and was considered something of a luxury food until the ’70s (later, in the US).

In celebration of this perfect comfort food, we are featuring an array of ramen-themed delights one might find here at Momo.

Colorful ramen bowls by Danica are large enough
for even the most decadent bowl of noodles. 

Wonderfully talented local designer Stasia Burrington’s
“Ramen Girl” pins are beyond adorable. 

100% cotton kitchen towels feature
12 different doodles of delectable ramen bowls.

The eternally popular Ramen Shark tee from SumoFish.

Wear your ramen on something other than your shirt!
Ramen tabbisocks to keep your tootsies warm.

No blog post about food would be complete without some dining suggestions! Here are some of our favorite places you can find ramen right here in the International District:

•As much as we refrain from cluing people in to our secret den of deliciousness, we can't help ourselves. Tsukushinbo serves ramen as their lunch special on Fridays. Their broth simmers for days before being deemed worthy.
•Fu Lin’s China-meets-Japan offering is affordable and hearty! Definitely add a side of gyoza.
•Next door neighbor Kaname specializes in two types of ramen: shio and miso tonkatsu. Pair with a cocktail made by Momo's very own Leland for a terrific dinner.
•Samurai Noodles is a neighborhood go-to. Added bonus: there are a variety of add-ons you can request for your soup.

Stash & Stow

Is your New Year’s Resolution to be more organized? To whip your satchel into shape, set up a system, lighten your load? Happily, Momo can help. O is also for oh-so-Japanese! Pouches, that is.

New Baggu leather goods in delightfully chipper colors will help you harmonize  items ... or simply put some spring in your step. Clutches and pockets, large and small in buttery soft leather.

Luscious leather in happy happy colors.

Another Baggu classic: nylon shopping bags and zippered travel bags. Weighing virtually nothing, ethically made, machine washable, with a one year guarantee. We have adorable animal prints (including a Ram to celebrate The Year of the Ram) and a smiley face.

Our Ram Baggu holds 50 lbs – the equivalent of two or three plastic grocery bags!

From Danica Studio, linen cosmetic and pencil bags. Their focus on quality textiles embellished with illustration-based graphics make for fun, durable pieces.

Last but not least, the ever-popular Walker mesh pouches made in San Francisco in a variety of sizes. Want to be able to see what’s in your various organizers? Voila, mesh! Washable, see-through and lightweight – there’s a reason that these have a devoted following. Take a peek!

Woven: The Fabric of Our Lives

Through the years of owning Momo, I’ve come to appreciate textiles, not just as the material of the clothing we wear, but as a form of functional art. The Japanese (and yes, I speak as an outsider to a culture from whence I came, but am still a tourist), are masters of simplicity in transforming a mundane square of fabric into an amazingly utilitarian item. Behold the furoshiki, in this case, a 36" rectangle of cotton that can bundle a present, morph into a table cloth, or in case of chill, be worn as a scarf. Sou Sou of Kyoto makes this practical article into a true gift with their happy graphic patterns.

If you’d like to appreciate the talents of Sou Sou on a smaller scale, we offer handkerchiefs, or what some folks use as napkins. 

Or for the specialist in your life, the ultimate textile treasure, the Omusubi bag, for wrapping up that delicious rice.

From Vancouver, Canada, we present the fabulous fabrics of adorable Danica Designs. In this case, lovely linens make drying dishes a pleasure. We give a hoot about you and want to make chores fun!

We love eco-chic cloth napkins. Phooey on paper.

 

And most of all, when we visited Kyoto, super kawaii bags were everywhere. We are happy to have a few (in this case, just two) for you to use for whatever you please. Yay for material goods!