Crafty Ramen: The at-home noodle kit’s rise to success

The Guelph-based restaurant and ramen kit creators reflect on their recent achievements

By: Talia Saley

Crafty Ramen home-made kits displayed on their website. (Courtesy of Crafty Ramen Market Inc.)

When Miki Ferrall moved from Japan to Canada in 2016, she felt there wasn’t a restaurant that made her feel at home. When reminded of Japan, she felt levels of homesickness and wanted this restaurant to re-create a space that felt like home. So she decided to open her own place with her husband, Jared Farrell. The pair opened their first location in Guelph, Ont., in 2017.

“We wanted them to feel comfortable to try our ramen and share the Japanese culture,” said Miki Ferrall.

Khalil Khamis, the chief executive officer of Crafty Ramen started as a loyal customer before joining the team.

“As a single guy after a long day of work, I would stop in and sit at the bar, and it would feel like home,” said Khamis.

After many conversations, Khamis partnered with the couple to further expand the business. When the company opened their second location in Kitchener, Ont., in 2019, they faced universal troubles that came with running a business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After observing other strategies businesses have shifted to doing in order to counteract losses, they decided to begin their own at-home meal kits. Crafty Ramen aimed to “help bring that experience home” to their consumers throughout quarantine.

How it works and how it has grown

Ramen kit descriptions listed on their website (Source: Crafty Ramen website)

Customers can subscribe to Crafty Ramen to receive meal kit deliveries every couple of weeks, ranging from every one to eight weeks. Buyers must secure four to six items to proceed with their purchase at a starting price of $65.26 for a minimum of four meal kits.

On the website, there is a section that leads to written instructions on how to build the kit, along with YouTube tutorials. When customers open the package, it comes with all of the separate ingredients which they must assemble together. 

Crafty Ramen started by making around 200 meal kits for daily pickups. As soon as the meal kits were added to their website, customer reactions were extremely positive. Inter-province customers even began requesting for the company to ship kits to their location. Recently, Crafty Ramen has expanded their delivery service locations out to British Columbia.

“The base over here is really we have a very strong customer community,” said Miki Ferrall.

In 2020, Crafty Ramen started to build its e-commerce website, now reaching around 1000 subscribers for their meal kit products. Their meal kits are available in more than 150 grocery stores across Ontario. 

In the near future, Crafty Ramen is planning on shipping its products to towns around Vancouver. The company is also planning on opening another location in Toronto, specifically in the Ossington area.

With the success of their new products, including the at-home ramen kits and other unique additions, such as their brothless ramen, gyoza and sausage kits, they are continuously trying to improve to spread their brand. They are using social media through paid social posts, as well as organic engagement through influencer outreach.

Crafty Ramen is also making efforts to better its environmental footprint. Instead of using gel packs for delivering their meal kits, for example, they switched to using dry ice after receiving feedback from customers. The liners for their packaging are made from 100 per cent recycled water bottles. Instead of viewing feedback negatively, Crafty Ramen try to use it as a means to improve on “some of the parts that some of [their] customers might not be happy with.”

After the development of the company both in person and online, they have noticed how dine-in customers will eat in and take a meal kit with them home. Some customers have encouraged Crafty Ramen to open a restaurant in their city after tasting the at-home meal kits.

Crafty Ramen enters the ‘Den’

Crafty Ramen’s founders, Miki and Jared Ferrall, and chief executive officer, Khalil Khamis on Dragons’ Den. (Courtesy of Crafty Ramen Market Inc.)

When Miki Ferrall was in Japan, she grew up watching The Tigers of Money, the original incarnation of CBC’s Dragons’ Den. She said she was excited to appear on a similar TV show that she grew up watching. 

“I just got so excited about just all the time I was smiling, it was a super fun day,” said Miki Ferrall.

Khamis mentioned how the experience meant a lot to him as he grew up watching Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank as an entrepreneur.

The application process started with an online questionnaire and a one-minute pitch video. Even after getting accepted to air on Dragons’ Den, the team from CBC helped to prepare and refine their pitch to be ready for the show.

On Dragons’ Den, Crafty Ramen asked the dragons for $600,000 in exchange for 6.5 per cent of the business. They ended up going with the deal from Arlene Dickinson for $600,000 with 12 per cent of the company.

Let’s hope Crafty Ramen will continue to deliver their homey experience to bring joy to consumers across Canada for years to come.

X University students display their artwork at annual creative industries showcase

Ranging from photographs to paintings, the diversifying works from these three X University students uphold artistic visions 

By: Teresa Valenton

Taken in front of Casa Loma, Shadi B’s photographs depict powerful women reclaiming historical narratives. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

Cultivating a range of works from students in the X University creative industries program, the annual showcase event provided a platform for aspiring artists at the Great Hall in Toronto. 

On April 7, the Creative Industries Course Union (CICU) arranged their annual event to present the works of X University students in a gallery-style setting. Utilizing various mediums, each artist lays out an artistic vision to be carried throughout their works. The event is in person for the first time since 2019.

Though the creative industries program is the first of its kind in North America, the showcase presented an expanding presence in the works of students. And in selecting a specialization, aspiring creatives are provided resources to develop their skills. 

Shadi B, a first-year creative industries student, is specializing in fashion and communications. She diversifies her photographs by enhancing the natural beauty of individuals. Driven by ranging identities and the exploration of the human body, she seeks to enhance the viewing experience with colour. 

In her art, Shadi highlights the power of simplicity. By working alongside both film directors and models, she captures an unforeseen side of individuals through colour. 

In portraying a range of bodies, Shadi highlights a Black, queer individual photographed in front of Toronto’s Casa Loma to juxtapose history.

“I wanted to place a body that was never really thought of in the process of building the specific location,” she said. 

To reclaim a historically white space, Shadi’s goal was to showcase a “Black, beautiful queer body in a very powerful stance with bold makeup and fashion.” 

In curating a fun setting to take photographs, Shadi was most focused on empowering the individuals with which she was shooting. One of her models was a 15-year-old girl who had never been photographed prior to the shoot. 

“When she got in front of that camera, it’s like I had never seen someone come so alive before. It was really just picking the work that I have a special connection with,” Shadi said.

Throughout her journey to display these works at the showcase, Shadi realized the power in sharing her work with like-minded individuals. In honouring future goals as a creative, Shadi says she hopes to use these experiences as a reminder to keep making artwork.

Exploring traditional mediums such as paint, Brennan March, a fourth-year creative industries student, reconnects with loved ones through art. Specializing in fashion and film, March explores interpersonal emotions through his works.

Brennan March’s two paintings depict grief in relation to healing and reconciling with loved ones. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

While grieving the loss of a close individual, March utilizes art as a healing project — a vessel to express his emotions. Recalling memories from his childhood, he is brought back to an individual who first taught him about painting. 

“It was something that I did with them a lot, and so it was kind of a thing I wanted to do to connect with them again,” March said.

Portraying a time of self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, March recalls connecting with nature at a time when he felt disconnected from his peers. Fragments of these emotions are intertwined through both pieces.

“Both came out of me, like kind of feeling a rhythm with the things around me,” March said.

Drawn to sand as a means of imagery, he is reminded of the realities of adaptability.

“In my mind, it’s very surreal that a material on earth can take any shape and it’s just beautiful to look at,” March said.

Using this event as a catalyst to potentially display more works, March says he is hopeful to see where art takes him.

Driven by ideas of self-reflection and joyfulness, Imani Dominique Busby, a third-year creative industries student, highlights connectivity amid the pandemic. Working as an independent curator with specializations in fashion and curatorial practices, Busby relates to all aspects of visual art.

Exhibiting abstract portraits, Busby calls on individuals to reflect on the evolution of interpersonal identities amid the pandemic.

Imani Busby’s acrylic rendition of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring is displayed with accompanying works at the Great Hall. (Teresa Valenton/CanCulture)

In abstracting Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring and depicting images of her close friends, Busby paints what is familiar to her own experiences. By utilizing high contrast colours like blue and orange, she represents joyfulness amid COVID-19. 

“These paintings are actually a series that I created in quarantine. They are all very colourful and the idea was to reflect the joy of individuals even though we can’t all be together during isolation,” said Busby. 

Viewing her work from an opposing perspective, Busby says she hopes viewers will become inspired to paint as well. Aware of her mission as an artist, Busby seeks to connect individuals to the joy of art.

“I want them to be inspired if they want to try painting as well. Maybe they could do it too, you know?” 

“Ready, Set, Go”: The Canadian music community gears up for the revived return of live music

When pandemic restrictions closed venues and imposed restrictions, they also struck those who love and use them 

By: Rowan Flood

(Yardie/Unsplash)

As Canada eases and lifts COVID-19 restrictions, the music industry is excited to re-enter the world of live performances that bring invaluable physical connectivity and energy to the art scene. Despite some lingering weariness over health concerns, concert-goers, musicians and venues believe a heightened appreciation is on the horizon for live music. 

“I think people are going to go way more crazy than they used to at concerts,” says Hunter Walwaski, a devoted Montreal concert-goer.

Walwaski senses a renewed force is coming for live concerts, and he is not alone in this belief. After an extended period of repeated closures, capacity limits and mandatory vaccine passports, the music community as a whole senses a strong comeback as those restrictions diminish.

Stephanie Quinlan, a Toronto-based music blogger and concert-goer, anticipates a massive comeback. She says she’s seeing show announcements and tour dates coming fast and furiously. Her own excitement for the return is high and she’s had to restrain herself from continuously purchasing more tickets.

“I have to sleep sometime,” she says.

While acknowledging the need to impose restrictions during the height of the pandemic, Quinlan felt shut out of a world she loved.

“It created such a huge void in my life, I’m really eager to have those things back,” says Quinlan.

The Toronto music scene is a major part of her life. “[It’s] one of my reasons for living, I can't restrict myself from that any longer,” Quinlan says. 

Live performances are more than just a night out for music lovers and performers; Vancouver-based musician Eden Fine Day explained that music has a critical role not only for individuals but for society — it's a way of creating culture together.

“Singing, rhythm, dance,” says Fine Day. “That's just inherent to who we are as humans.”

K-Riz, an Edmonton-based rapper, senses that a lot of energy has been brewing in the music community; artists have been building and working towards this opening up.

“Everybody is ready to go,” says K-Riz. “I think it's just ready, set, go.”

K-Riz himself has a tour coming up, and a show booked in Calgary this week. Getting out of his city and spreading his music is something he's yearning for.

“I’m looking forward to taking the music to different places and seeing how it connects with them,” says  K-Riz.

Venues are also among those feeling the resurgence. Ted Haberer, the general manager of Toronto's Jazz Bistro, believes people will be more deliberate in how they spend their evenings, as the lack of music and social engagement in the last two years has been minimal.

“It's been quite revelatory in terms of people discovering how they want to spend their time when they go out. They’re making more conscientious decisions,” says Haberer.

Haberer himself is a lover of music and sighed with emotion as he expressed how much he’s yearned for it.

“I missed it, I really did,” says Haberer. “It really reinforced my love for live music.”

The Lazy Flamingo, a live music venue in Hamilton, Ont., has been experiencing a successful turnout in the past couple of weeks and owner Jay Skarratt feels hopeful about the future.

“It looks very prosperous, the past few weeks have been very good for us,” says Skarratt.

Skarratt understands the need for music in people's lives and is happy that the changes have allowed his venue and live music to thrive again. He's been seeing people want to come out to shows earlier and smiled enthusiastically as he talked of seeing and playing live music again.

“It's a fixture, people need it in their lives,” says Skarratt.

Possibilities and opportunities are back

Tyler Yarema, a Toronto-based musician, trusts gigs are coming back in full force as restaurants, bars and other events such as weddings are back on the calendar and creating more opportunities for musicians.

“The phone is ringing, more emails all the time,” says Yarema. “It's very exciting, it feels really good to be back again.”

Yarema emphasized that even more than allowing income for gig workers, live performances are where artists learn the true craft of music. Playing with an audience teaches musicians how to connect their music with others, he says.

“You’re figuring out how to make people move,” says Yarema.

Energy and connectivity are just some of the benefits that come with live concerts. As K-Riz retains; inspiration comes from these types of events. He recalled the lifelong inspiration he got from his first concert and explained the importance of this feeling of inspiration. Concerts allow people to witness the possibilities within the music world.

“Especially when there's artists in your own backyard, they see that anything is possible,” says K-Riz.

K-Riz performing at a live show. (Photo via Jonard Tan)

K-Riz missed the intimate moments between audience members and musicians that performances allow. Looking people in their eyes and feeling their energy is something that he took for granted pre-pandemic. He recalled a memory special to him; he was a hype man at a show when he experienced a special moment with an audience member.

“I was looking at her directly and she's straight-faced, and slowly she started smiling, and slowly started calling back to me,” says  K-Riz. “I love those moments.”

Performing is when K-Riz finds his element. The stage is where he finds confidence and the platform to express himself, and he feels it's time to get back in that space.

“I’m free up on the stage,” says K-Riz, “I’ve got a whole bunch of energy just balled up inside that I’m ready to give.”

Pandemic restrictions were far-reaching and unrecoverable for some

While some musical groups and musicians had a base set up before the pandemic, others have started within it and could face further challenges during the reopening and return. Fine Day explained that newer or less recognized artists might not make it out in the same way other groups can.

“You might have had to give up by now,” says Fine Day.

The pandemic grounded music to a halt and had harsh consequences on musicians who made a living off performing, Fine Day says. While restrictions posed physical limitations on what performers could do, the individual ramifications were prominent as well.

“It harmed their confidence, in their feelings about being a musician and whether or not to pursue it as a career,” says Fine Day.

While lack of confidence is one impact the isolation had on performers, suffering mentally from it was another challenge. For some performers, having that element of engagement is critical.

“For some, it probably drove them [wild],” says  K-Riz. “Some artists live to perform and perform to live.”

Performances are a way many musicians make their living, and for Yarema, it's his full-time job. He feels relieved that he can get back to doing what he loves and needs to support himself.

“It’s great to make a living again,” says  Yarema.

Yarema relied on live gigs and explained how all opportunities for performing and doing gigs for income were gone during the heightened times of the pandemic. “It was horrible,” says Yarema. “There was nowhere to play.”

This disruption to performers was sweeping and continuously difficult to manage as restrictions changed or were extended.  Shows were postponed or canceled and musicians had to navigate through the latest developments. Yarema, who is also a part of The Downtown Blues Band, had to postpone their tour three times due to pandemic restrictions. Yarema jokingly referred to the tour as “the longest fiftieth-anniversary tour ever.” The tour is now set for April through May this year.

Haberer faced his own challenges in keeping a venue in downtown Toronto open. While the Jazz Bistro has managed to maintain itself through the last two years, some venues weren't in the same situation.

“It was the nail in the coffin for a lot of businesses out there,” says Haberer.

Skarratt echoed Haberer’s claim that the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions were severe on venues.

“It almost put us out of business,” says Skarratt. 

Skarratt was continuously trying to find ways to adapt to the restrictions and maintain his venue. He struggled to find ways to sustain his business as the restrictions seemed to pose endless challenges. 

“We’ve reinvented ourselves probably fifteen times over the last couple of years,” says Skarratt.

Toronto's Jazz Bistro found the capacity limits most damaging. When combined with physical distancing measures, even reaching half-capacity wasn't always possible. Haberer explained they had to decline entry and cancel reservations at times. 

With the newly lifted capacity limits in Ontario, Haberer found some relief and hope. “It's going to be full steam ahead,” he says.

Safety is still a priority amid the return

Haberer has decided to continue with checking vaccine passports even as the province has lifted that requirement. He feels this measure helps ensure the safety of his staff and customers, many of whom may be older. 

While Fine Day looks forward to an upcoming live performance she has, she also recognizes a level of concern she felt for the safety of those joining her. Fine Day expressed concern for the elders she invited and worried about potentially putting their health at risk. The performance will be live-streamed for the Vancouver Public Library, where she is also the Indigenous storyteller in residence. 

“I want them to be in the room, but it feels a little bit risky,” says Fine Day.

Returning to the big screen is forever transformed due to COVID-19

Theatres reopening after the pandemic sparked changes in the way people view movies.

By: Aylia Naqvi

(Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels)

It is no surprise that the movie theatre experience is a huge part of youth culture. However, film lovers and moviegoers missed out on that experience for months due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. 

Running any business during the pandemic has been challenging. Movie theatres in particular hit a different type of low because of the countrywide shutdown and many anticipated movies being released on streaming sites. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have grown in popularity since the pandemic began as many decided it was a great way to pass their boredom being stuck at home. The BBC found that in 2020 alone, almost 16 million people created Netflix accounts in the first three months of the year. 

While many were enjoying watching movies at home, theatres being closed had significant financial impacts. Cineplex lost $103.7 million in the second quarter of 2021, according to CTV News. Even as people are starting to go back to theatres to watch movies, the box office numbers for many anticipated movies this year were still not able to compare to the pre-pandemic era. 

Fast and Furious 9 ($123 million), A Quiet Place Part II ($145 million) and Godzilla vs. Kong ($100 million) were the closest U.S. and Canada got to a true summer blockbuster. There is no doubt that these movies are beloved among many moviegoers, however, their box office revenue is nothing compared to the era of Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King and Spider-Man: Far From Home, which garnered between $300 million and $800 million in North America alone. While theatres can slowly increase their ticket sales as people feel more comfortable going to the movies, it is safe to say that a lot of the viewer's experience has changed.

Some people might decide that they will stick to streaming services at home since they’re used to it after one-and-a-half years of lockdown, while others might be excited to see the big screen again. 

Streaming movies on Netflix was definitely a huge pastime for me during the pandemic. It allowed me to catch up on shows that I have been meaning to watch for a while and also rewatch some classic movies. However, lockdown did make me realize how enjoyable it is to share the experience of watching a movie with a bunch of strangers. 

I remember the era of Black Panther and Infinity War coming out in theatres, and going to watch both movies with some friends. Not only were both movies amazing, but one of the most memorable parts was being able to share reactions of shock, excitement, and sadness with those in the theatre with us. I realized then that even though Netflix is great for being able to watch your favourite movies and shows whenever you like, there is something really special about the movie theatre experience.

Barry Hertz wrote an article for The Globe and Mail where he speaks about going to a Cineplex movie theatre in Toronto for the first time in nine months. He made an observation about the ratio between those who would buy snacks at the cinema and those who would sneak in snacks from outside. This definitely shows how many people missed the movie theatre experience and how so many are excited to experience cinemas in their full form again. “People wanted a genuine evening out at the movies, and they were going to happily pay for that popcorn-nacho-soda combo no matter the markup,” wrote Hertz. “And hey, the freestyle Coca-Cola soda machine was up and running too.”

While many want to experience movie theatres again, reopening a business after a pandemic is not like flipping a switch; many have to start all over again. It is going to take a lot more for movie theatres to get their sales back to the post-COVID-19 days. Whether that would be making chairs more comfortable or updating their menu, movie theatres must do more to attract people to watch movies on the big screen again. 

With the increase of online art exhibitions, where do physical museums stand?

After COVID-19 shifted galleries and exhibitions to a digital space, artists and art institutions are now adjusting to a new normal

By: Anna Maria Moubayed

Art Gallery of Ontario visitors line up to enter the gallery. The AGO enhanced its virtual presence and online viewings of artwork during the pandemic. (Sean Driscoll/Unsplash)

COVID-19 left museums and art galleries with highly restricted access since the start of the pandemic. With 61 per cent of all global art fairs cancelled, the market was forced to transition to a  digital platform. 

“At the start of the pandemic, it was clear that artists’ opportunities were being limited,” said Laureen Marchand, the founder and general factotum of the Grassland Gallery Online.

The Grassland Gallery Online uses online showrooms to generate sales, reaching collectors who may never have had the opportunity to set foot in the Southwest Saskatchewan space.

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A post shared by Grasslands Gallery Online (@grasslandsgalleryonline)

Going into 2021, Marchand said she entertained the idea of moving to an online format to retain contact with both artists and buyers, and do it in a format that is safe and comfortable for everybody.

According to Marchand, online viewing allows collectors and wider audiences to sit in front of a piece of art and spend time experiencing and analyzing the work for as long as they desire without the pressures of physically being in a gallery.

“I don’t think it’s in any way a replacement. It’s an enhancement,” she said.

Physically experiencing art is no longer a prerequisite to purchase or enjoy works, said Theresa Van Groll, an art history professor at X University who formerly worked at the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Everson Museum of Art.

“A lot of museums realized that to maintain contact with their audience and to build the community that supports them, they have to step up to the plate and start expanding their virtual presence,” she said. 

For some museums, the evolving online exhibitions gained popularity. The easily accessible content brings in many viewers who simply like the comfort of their home.

“I’ve had groups of students who have done virtual museum visits who are in different parts of the world,” said Van Groll. "There’s a lot of flexibility.”

But experts remain conflicted on whether digitalization is undermining the power of physical art and abandoning the tradition of visiting a museum.

“One of the things you miss is scale. It’s not my body standing in front of the object for me to compare myself to the size of that work of art. We get a completely different impression,” said Van Groll.

As a painter herself, Marchand is interested in the application techniques of paint on canvas, which she notes is not quite visible on an online platform.

“The in-person galleries give the viewer a sense of what the artwork would look like in a room, from scale to texture. This isn’t very successfully translated to online exhibits,” she said. 

Despite all the positives of an online format, Marchand believes that “there is nothing like actually being there and seeing art.” But she highlights that with a boost in online shopping across all markets, more and more people are finding it convenient to shop for art online.

Canadian works of art sold at Canada’s Heffel auction amounted to over $16 million as of August 2021.

“We have seen works by prominent artists reach new heights, important institutions and organizations join forces across all facets of the industry and major developments in the way art is presented and enjoyed,” according to a Heffel newsletter.

With 908 remote live auction bidders and viewers, the auction featured a three-city broadcast from salerooms in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, bringing together the live and digital experience.

According to the Heffel newsletter,  “this reimagined format was a first in the Canadian market, and we are proud to be paving the way as the auction world experiences a new era.”

Social distancing got you down? Here's 3 Canadian movies on Netflix to keep you company

By Alya Stationwala

With a worldwide pandemic on our hands, the Canadian government has urged people to avoid large gatherings and stay close to home. Streets empty and events cancelled, COVID-19 has very abruptly changed our lives into entering a health crisis quarantine. So, while you are stuck in your room getting through another canned food meal and surrounded by your emergency supply of toilet paper, here’s a few Canadian movies streaming on Netflix to keep you busy.

Bruno and Boots (2016 - 2017)

Photo: Aircraft Pictures

Universities, high schools and elementary schools are closed nationwide and have moved to online learning, at least for the next few weeks. If you’re missing the school ground drama you can always follow the academic shenanigans of Bruno and Boots.

An Aircraft Pictures production for the YTV channel, Bruno and Boots is a television film series based on Gordon Korman’s Macdonald Hall series of young adult novels. Originally aired in 2016, the story follows two high school troublemakers at a prestigious school for boys making their mark through high jinks, whether they go well or not. The best part is, if you like the first one, there’s two more in the series available on Netflix during your staycation.

Goon (2011)

Photo: Magnolia Pictures

The NHL, MLB, and NBA have officially closed doors due to COVID-19 fears until further notice. If you’re looking to get your sports fix, look no further than the hockey classic Goon.

Sharing the world of fighting on ice, Goon tells the story of a tough new player on the Halifax Highlander team who has to punch his way to the top. Led in a truly Canadian fashion, the film is produced and written by Ottawa resident Jay Baruchel, who you might know as the voice of Hiccup in the How to Train Your Dragon series. To boot, there’s a sequel if you’re looking for more drama on the rink: Goon: Last of the Enforcers.

Into the Forest (2015)

Photo: Rhombus Media

While we may not be in the middle of an apocalypse, the dystopian vibes of the country-wide lockdown cannot be ignored. Surviving when there’s no one else around is something this Canadian movie can give you tips about, so take notes while you watch. 

Without gas, water, electricity, or cellphones, Into the Forest is a story of an apocalypse forcing two sisters into the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Starring Ellen Page and directed by Patricia Rozema, this 2015 Canadian flick will leave you prepared for anything that may come your way. 

To help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, staying home is the best way to minimize the spread of the virus so we can get to a place where everything starts to level off. 

So, while you are stuck at home for the next few weeks, Canada has something for you which you can watch in the comfort of your own home after wrestling for a box of granola bars at your local grocery store.