• Instagram: Feb. 27

    Instagram: Feb. 27

    For years, readers have been asking me to write about Omaha fish fry season, and I finally did it. This week, we present a list of 45 fish fries, checked and double checked and searchable by neighborhood. The list features dates, hours and address of every fry. And, where I could, I pointed out fun…

  • New restaurant from Twisted Cork owner; sushi comes to Inner Rail

    New restaurant from Twisted Cork owner; sushi comes to Inner Rail

     → Pacific Eating House, a new restaurant from the owners of Twisted Cork Bistro, is opening March 3 at 1130 Sterling Ridge Dr, off 132nd and Pacific Streets. The restaurant, owners Darrell and Laura Auld said on their website, is the continuation of their original restaurant at 107th and Pacific Streets. Pacific Eating House will…

  • Ragazzi’s plans to close, more on Okra African Grill and two new bakeries

    Ragazzi’s plans to close, more on Okra African Grill and two new bakeries

    → Ragazzi’s announced plans to close its location near 168th and West Center. The restaurant said in a Facebook post that after four years, its owners decided to close. → Okra African Grill, the restaurant I first reported on last week, has an opening date: March 14. Its owner also shared her backstory. Owner Nina…

  • Block 16’s Burger Fight III is about more than who won the contest

    Block 16’s Burger Fight III is about more than who won the contest

    How many talented chefs can Block 16 get in one room? Last Sunday, it was three (not counting the restaurant’s owners and many guests) in Le Bouillon’s Paul Kulik; Dario Schicke, of Dario’s Brasserie and Avoli Osteria; and Nick Strawhecker of Dante and Forno, who competed against one another at the restaurant’s third Burger Fight,…

  • Mercury adds new food and Forno revamps its happy hour

    Mercury adds new food and Forno revamps its happy hour

    Last weekend Matthew and I stopped by one of our favorite spots, Mercury, to find they’d updated their food menu with some real gems. The highlight of what we tried is the new Dr. Pepper barbecue chicken sandwich: tender, sweet meat stacked deep on an absolutely delicious cornbread and honey biscuit bun. A pile of…

  • Omaha has two James Beard semifinalists

    Omaha has two James Beard semifinalists

    Breaking food news this morning: Omaha has two James Beard semifinalists. Congratulations to Ben Maides at Au Courant Regional Kitchen and David Utterback at Yoshitomo. Both Yoshitomo and Au Courant have become staples of the new guard of restaurants turning Benson from a bar neighborhood to a food destination. Au Courant, 6064 Maple St. Maides opened Au Courant in…

  • The food lover’s guide to Maui

    The food lover’s guide to Maui

    Aloha! Matthew and I spent a lovely week in Maui this February, and if the flight out of Omaha was any indication, lots of Nebraskans head to Hawaii when the weather here gets particularly grim. My list isn’t exhaustive, but it does include all the places I’d recommend, and if you’re headed to Maui, that…

  • Instagram: Feb. 23

    Instagram: Feb. 23

    Paul Urban promised a gravy fountain. That man also delivered a taleggio fountain and a RANCH FOUNTAIN.

  • It’s Sunday, the perfect day for a bit of writing on Sam Sifton’s new “See you on Sunday.”

    It’s Sunday, the perfect day for a bit of writing on Sam Sifton’s new “See you on Sunday.”

    Last week’s email newsletter focused on the new Sam Sifton cookbook, which I pre-ordered in October and have been excited about since. I’ve been reading the book since I wrote the newsletter last week, and I came across his recipe called “Meatloaf for Nora,” which led me to this wonderful story, summarized in the book.…

  • Instagram: Feb. 20

    Instagram: Feb. 20

    This week's SBH newsletter: Sam Sifton's fantastic new cookbook, a brief Maui food recap, including the best Panang curry I've ever had, and lots of food news. Find it at the link in my profile.