For one glorious moment — ok, two weeks — Au Courant brought its ham back to the menu. I happened in on the ham’s last night of its cameo, and was reminded of my review where I gushed about an earlier version of chef Ben Maides’ ham. (If you can’t read that review, to summarize: It was the best, most modern take on ham I’ve ever eaten, and remains so now.) You can’t get the ham any more, which is pictured at the top, but I asked Ben to tell me if it ever comes back. Honestly, we all need a little more ham in our lives, particularly when it’s this good.

Block 16 celebrated 9 years in business last week. What did Omaha diners even do before Block 16? I sure as hell don’t know. We celebrated by doing the only thing you can do to celebrate a restaurant: eating lunch there. I almost always get my favorite burger in the city, the Block burger, when I go. I try to order other things, but I always go back to the burger; in my mind, it’s a classic. Here’s to nine more years, Paul and Jess. Thanks for all you do.