Omaha Magazine - June 2023 - Hotel Edition

DELICIOUS, APPROACHABLE, HOSPITABLE

SPEZIA

HOME SWEET OMAHA:

C ho C olate -D ippe D an D S prinkle D with G enero S ity

It’s little secret that the metro’s food scene is among the nation’s best especially after Wine and Food Magazine listed Omaha in its inaugural “Next Great Food Cities” issue last year. In this editor’s humble opinion, and as droves of College World Series visitors are likely to attest a few weeks from now, Omaha is a great food city, bu t I digress…

While variety is a hallmark of the metro’s culinary appeal with Chef Ashish Satyhan serving up Kerala-style meals at Kinaara in Regency, to the old-world delights of St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church helmed by kitchen matriarchs, ‘the Helens’ our main feature is for the sweet tooth, or perhaps even the intrepid dieter who wants to test their resolve (we won’t tel l, promise!)

Like a box of chocolates, we’ve managed to fit 18 of the metro’s sweet spots into six pages of luscious eye candy, from the Old Market to Papillion and everywhere in between. The list not only features Omaha staples like Ted & Wally’s and their “ultra-premium” ice cream, but also newer favorites like Melissa Stephens’ Cordial Cherry out west. But don’t worry, once the sugar high wears off, there’s plenty more to indulge in.

Omaha isn’t just rich in sugar content, it’s rich in heart and its food-based nonprofits are the perfect palate (and conscience) cleanser. Community garden projects like North Omaha’s Healing Roots and Sacred Seed at the Tri-Faith Initiative not only preserve heritage, but bring citizens together. Meanwhile, the Omaha chapter of nonprofit Lasagna Love provides warm meals to those in need, one baking pan at a time.

Additionally, our June ‘Food Issue’ features a number of zesty personalities, including: Dan Hoppen of the “Restaurant Hoppen” podcast, the implacable Grant Triplett of taxi diver notoriety, and Guinness World Record holder Duane Hansen, who braved 38 miles of the Mighty Mo paddling a giant, home-gr own pumpkin.

If you’ve made it this far, I’m impressed. Personally, I’ve worked up quite the appetite just writing this letter. I thank you on behalf of the Omaha Magazine staff, and also the fine chefs, bakers, and cooks of all backgrounds for making this issue and Omaha’s culinary scene so vibrant. Without further adieu, feast your eyes on the pages to follow and dig in. Bo n Appétit!

*Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.

TABLE of CONTENTS

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

003 From the Editor Home Sweet Omaha

006 Between the Lines

007 Calendar of Events

065 Obviously Omaha Ethnic Grocery Stores

083 Explore!

088 Not Funny SALT

ARTS + CULTURE

014 Visual Art Ceramics Artist Sarah Hummel Jones

016 Video/Photo

Brad Iwen’s Midwest Food Stories

020 Radio The Restaurant Hoppen Podcast with Dan Hoppen

022 Author For a Good Time, Call: Author Grant Triplett

DINING

066 Feature Farm-to-Table Dinners: Nelson’s Produce

070 Chef Profile Chef Ashish Sathyan of Kinaara

072 Review Koji Izakaya-Style Restaurant

076 Dining Guide

* Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaM agazine.com. 022

Listen to the entire issue here. Open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code.

THE LINES Between

A LOOK AT THREE OMAHA MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS

CAROL NIGRELLI Contrib uting Writer

Carol Nigrelli, and her husband, Craig, are thrilled to be back in the city they love after a four-year absence that took them to Wichita and Lakeland, Florida. Now in her “forever home,” Carol has transitioned easily and gratefully back into Omaha life playing cello at St. John’s Church on the Creighton University campus and writing for Omaha Magazine about the people, places, and things that make the Midlands so unique. Her perspective comes from the (often) nomadic lifestyle of a broadcast journalist. The Philadelphia native spent 30 years in radio and TV news, hopscotching across Pennsylvania before landing in Buffalo, New York, as the main anchor at the CBS affiliate for over two decades. In 2002, after marrying colleague Craig Nigrelli, Carol left broadcasting and embarked on a print media career that included stops in Albuquerque, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and then Omaha for 11 years. Carol has two daughters and a grandson, and remains a die-hard Red Sox fan.

LEXI SHUCK Edit Intern

Lexi, 17, attends Sandy Creek High School in Fairfield, Nebraska. SCHS provides a program called NCAPS that allows students to be mentored in a career field they wish to learn more about. Falling in love with English at an early age and joining journalism her sophomore year, Lexi decided to pursue a short internship at Omaha Magazine. She loves to read in her free time and listen to music, usually Taylor Swift or Fleetwood Mac. Writing has always been a passion of hers, and taking this chance has been a learning process for her. After interning, Lexi thinks that journalism could be a good choice for her future.

DAVE TROUBA Ad Tra ffic Manager

Joining Omaha Magazine in 2020 as ad traffic manager, Trouba works as liason between the sales and design teams to get all ads designed, approved, and placed for each of the 17 publications that Omaha Publications produces. A graduate of Westside High School (1980) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism (1985), Trouba worked as a freelance photojournalist and graphic designer in California for five years before moving to Kansas City and working as a product and publication designer for Hallmark Cards. Returning to Nebraska in 2000, he and his wife, Susan, settled in Papillion and raised their three children plus a variety of cats and corgis. In his free time, Trouba is an avid golfer, gardener, cook, and cribbage player and enjoys Irish music, whiskey, and the occasional cigar.

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor

JULIUS FREDRICK

Senior Editor

LINDA PERSIGEHL

Senior Staff Writer

KIM CARPENTER

Editorial Intern

LEXI SHUCK

Contributing Writers

LEO ADAM BIGA · TAMSEN BUTLER · OLIVIA GREENE

CHRIS HATCH · SARA LOCKE · CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI

CHASE MURPHY · WILLIAM RISCHLING · LEXI SHUCK

DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN · MIKE WHYE

SARA WIEBOLD · DAVE ZORKO

CREATIVE

Creative Director

MATT WIECZOREK

Graphic Designer II

RENEÉ LUDWICK

Graphic Designer I

RACHEL BIRDSALL

Contributing Photographer

SARAH LEMKE

SALES DEPARTMENT

Executive Vice President

Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Branding Specialists

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN

Contributing Branding Specialists

GREG BRUNS · TIM McCORMACK

Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON

Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS

Sales Coordinator

SANDI M cCORMACK

OPERATIONS

Business Manager KYLE FISHER

Ad Traffic Manager

DAVID TROUBA

Digital Manager

LUIS DE LA TOBA

Distribution Manager & Explore!

STAY IN THE KNOMAHA!

There are so many exciting things to do in the metro, it’s hard to keep track of them all. Here are our definitive picks for what to do in June plus a listing of what else is on offer throughout June. Summer has arrived—let’s enjoy it!

ART: OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL

Aksarben Village

June 9—11

free

S. 67th Street summerarts.org

Forget June 21, summer always seems to kick off officially when the annual Omaha Summer Arts Festival takes place. The 49th annual family-friendly OSAF, which turns Aksarben Village’s main road into a pedestrian zone, features 135 local, regional, and national artists with a broad range of artistic mediums, including: sculpture, ceramics, painting, printmaking, fiber, jewelry, textile, photography, mixed media, metal, drawing, graphics, wood, leather, and glass. Dedicated to fostering a love of art from a young age and supporting young talent, OSAF includes a hands-on Children’s Fair and Young Artist Exhibition. Not confi ned solely to the visual arts, the festival also stages dozens of local musicians, who provide entertainment throughout the three-day event, with TasteFest off ering a broad blend of cuisine via food trucks and stalls. Plus, don’t miss the return of the popular mural cubes for selfie backdrops as well as new surprises like colorful chalk art and more. 10am to 9pm Friday and Saturday; 10am to 4pm Sunday.

MILTON WOLSKY: A MID-CENTURY NEBRASKA ARTIST

Gallery 1516

June 9—August 20

free

1516 Leavenworth St. gallery1516.org

Born in Omaha in 1916, Milton Wolsky had an astonishing career that spanned not just styles and mediums but also the globe. An illustrator and modern artist, he worked in both Omaha and New York City from the 1940s into the 1980s. Th is exhibition highlights work from throughout his career, giving visitors insight into his evolving and genre-spanning talents. He began as an illustrator for the Bozell & Jacobs advertising agency. In 1942, his artistic trajectory changed when he was drafted into the military where he served as a war artist documenting the rebuilding of Japan during World War II. After the war, Wolsky moved to New York City where he launched a career as a magazine illustrator and became regarded as one of the top 20 illustrators at the time. His work was published in major publications like The Saturday Evening Post, Good Housekeeping, McCall’s, Redbook, and Collier’s. In 1954, Wolsky returned to Omaha and purchased El Paraiso, the studio of his late art mentor J. Laurie Wallace. After his career in New York, Wolsky’s work was in high demand, and he received commissions from prominent clients such as the Northern Natural Gas Company. He also enjoyed a career as a painter of fi ne art, focusing on the Modernist movement he had encountered in New York. Wolsky also amassed an outstanding collection of artwork, including work by Hans Hofmann, Julian Levi, Paul Klee, and others, which he later donated to the Joslyn Art Museum. 11 am to 5pm Tuesday—Sunday. (Appointments preferred.) 531.375.6643.

L D C E A of 8 15 22

» EXHIBITIONS «

IN THE BEGINNING: THE ARTIST SAMUEL BAK

rough June 4 at the Samuel Bak Museum: e Learning Center, University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2289 S 67 St. Th is selection of Bak’s paintings and drawings from 1946 through 2022 showcases the arc of his career over eight decades and features watercolors and drawings done in the Vilna ghetto during the Nazi occupation of the city, abstract works from the sixties, and his renowned metaphysical paintings. 10am to 4pm Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10am to 6pm Thursday; noon to 4 pm Sunday. Admission: free. 402.554.6100. —unomaha.edu

ANCIENT DIVA: CHRISTINE STORMBERG

rough July 1 at the Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 North 24th St. Features new paintings and sculptures by the Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist and performer, who explores portals to forgotten cosmos through fantasy, myth, body, and the study of flowers. Tuesday—Thursday, 1-8pm; Friday & Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Admission: free. 402.933.3161. —u-ca.org

9 16 23

EVENTS

JAMES SURLS: NIGHTSHADE AND REDBONE

rough August 13 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Th e solo exhibition features work by the internationally recognized sculptor, one of the most preeminent artists living and working in the United States, whose sculptures, drawings, and prints reflect his unique sensibility regarding natural forms. 11am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 11am to 8pm Thursday. Admission: free for members; $10 general admission. 402.341.3800.

—thekaneko.org

TRAJES MEXICANOS/MEXICAN COSTUMES

rough August 12 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S 25th St. Th e exhibition features a selection of prints from the 1940s by Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida, who was one of the fi rst artists to fuse European modern painting to Latin American themes, especially those related to Guatemala and Mexico. 11am to 5pm Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday; 11am to 2pm Saturday. Admission varies. 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

THE LUNCHBOX: PACKED WITH POP CULTURE

rough Sept. 3 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Featuring hundreds of lunchboxes from the 1950s through the 1980s as well as oneof-a-kind original paintings on loan from local lunchbox collector Mark Kelehan, the display provides an overview of the history of lunchboxes, insight into the production process, and an educational introduction into the dynamic world of collecting. Noon to 4pm Sunday; 10am to 4pm Tuesday—Saturday. 402.444.5071. —durhammuseum.org

PRESENCE IN THE PAUSE: INTERIORITY AND ITS RADICAL IMMANENCE

rough September 17 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Th is group exhibition features work focusing on the complexity of our everyday relationships through portraits and domestic scenes that examine personhood, memories, and the speeding up and slowing down of contemporary life. 11am to 5pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; 11am to 9pm Thursday. Admission: free. 402.341.7130.

—bemiscenter.org

LANDSCAPES BY REAGAN D. PUFALL

June 1—July 23 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.

Documenting landscapes has long been a reason for artists to explore their country. While focusing on the roads, fields, and vistas rather than on buildings or fi gures, Pufall’s photographs acknowledge the presence and infl uence of humanity. Open daily, 9am to 5pm. Admission: free with garden membership or paid admission. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

COLLECTIVE VISIONS II

June 2—25 at Hot Shops, Nicholas Street Gallery, 1301 Nicholas St.

Th is group exhibition features the work of 14 photographers and their personal explorations of the artistic medium. Opening reception: June 2, 6 to 9pm. Monday—Friday, 10am to 6pm; Saturday & Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Admission: free. 402.342.6452.

—hotshopsartcenter.com

COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE ART FAIR

June 3—4 at Countryside Village, 8722 Countryside Plaza, 87th & Pacifi c streets. The 52nd Celebration of the Countryside Village Art Fair is a two-day event that features a wide array of artistic mediums, including ceramics, drawing, fiber, textiles, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood. 10am to 6pm Saturday; 10am to 5pm Sunday. 403.391.2200.

—countryside-village.com

// 8 // JUNE 2023

Five venues, five unique celebration experiences Hosting events for 100 - 1,000 guests, Omaha Event Group boasts 15 years of experience with over 300 events each year, including Omaha Fashion Week Schedule a consultation with our team of experts today

ART FLUID OPEN STUDIO NIGHT

June 23, 5 to 8pm at Hot Shops, Nicholas Street Gallery, 1301 Nicholas St.

Th is happy hour, open studio night focuses on experiencing the creative process through the center’s artists. Admission: free. 402.342.6452. —hotshopsartcenter.com

STAGE PERFORMANCES

HAIRSPRAY

June 6–11 at the Orpheum eater, 409 S. 16th St. Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon is back on tour. Based on the 1988 John Waters fi lm of the same name, the production tells the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad during 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular program, "The Corny Collins Show." She scores a spot and becomes an overnight sensation, leading her to become a leading beacon for racial integration on the show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world? The winner of eight Tony Awards, including “Best Musical,” the show is known for taking on challenging social and racially charged themes. Showtimes vary. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

WOMEN PLAYING HAMLET

June 22—24 at Florence City Hall, 2864 State St. In Shakespeare's day, men played the women's roles. In this new comedy by William Missouri Downs, women play all the men's roles. It's the story of Jessica, an actress who has been cast to play Hamlet in New York. After accidentally interrupting a performance of Hamlet starring Sir Patrick Stewart, Jessica thinks Stewart is stalking her; she also faces an uphill battle through a maze of self-important humanities professors, Freudian psychiatrists, and a Danish mother only to discover she doesn’t understand Hamlet or herself. The ensuing search for identity is the theme as Jessica takes on her emotional baggage and an existential overload, as well as her self-doubt and disdain for Danish fondue. 7pm Saturday and Sunday; 2 & 7pm Monday. 402.455.6341.

PRACTICE HOUSE

ough June 2 at Yates Illuminates, 3260 Davenport St. Rachel Carnes based this world premiere on a real chapter in American education, in which babies were leased from local orphanages for the purpose of training women in the new and improved “scientifi c parenting methods.” 7:30pm. 402.370.8259.

—gptcplays.com

DANCE NATION

rough June 25 at the Bluebarn eatre, 1106 S 10th St. A 2019 Pulitzer Prize fi nalist for drama, this production is a stark, unrelenting exploration of female power featuring a multigenerational cast of women portraying 13-year-old heroines. 402.345.1576.

—bluebarn.org

DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

June 2—25 at the Rose eater, 2001 Farnam St. Join Belle, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and all of your other favorite characters in the Beast’s castle for an escape to a world where redemption starts with learning how to love and how to be loved. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful fi lm songs written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, including “Be Our Guest,” “Gaston,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

RESPECT: THE WOMEN, THEIR MUSIC, THEIR STORIES

June 2—25 at Omaha Community Playhouse 6915 Cass St. Follow the journey that spans the 1960-1980s music era and honors several of its most iconic women. 402.553-0800. —communityplayhouse.com

MADAGASCAR—THE MUSICAL

June 17 at the Orpheum eater, 409 S. 16th St. Are you ready to "Move It, Move It”? Join Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto the Orpheum stage in this live musical spectacular. 2pm. 402.345.0606. —ticketomaha.com

CONCERTS

BRAHMS & MAHLER 5

June 2 & 3 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th e Omaha Symphony ends its season by welcoming two of the American classical music world’s most dynamic young artists: composer Carlos Simon and violinist Stella Chen. Atlanta native Carlos Simon has made a name for himself in the world of composition, with Th e Philadelphia Enquirer lauding his music as “perfectly engaging and propulsive.” Th e Omaha Symphony performs with Simon for the fi rst time, bringing his 2020 work, “Fate Now Conquers,” to life. Emerging star Stella Chen makes her Omaha debut with Brahms’ stormy yet lyrical “Violin Concerto.” Finally, the orchestra performs Mahler under the baton of Maestro Ankush Kumar Bahl for the fi rst time. “The Symphony No. 5,” like his other symphonies, is a tour de force, requiring an expanded orchestra. 7:30pm. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

June 12 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, Holland Music Club, 1200 Douglas St. “A band ought to have a sound all of its own,” Glenn Miller once said. “It ought to have a personality.” The Glenn Miller Orchestra, founded in the legendary band leader’s name in 1956, has more than enough. Featuring 18 members, lead singers, and a vocal group, the touring act performs its catalog of big band classics just the way they would have over 80 years ago when Miller stood in front of his band. Omahans can take some home state pride away from the show. Th is show highlights Miller’s wide-ranging catalogue, which includes 17 Top 10 hits such as “Sunrise Serenade,” “Stairway to the Stars,” and “Blue Orchids.” Tinged with nostalgia, this is a concert certain to put audiences “In the Mood.” 7:30pm. 402.345.0606.

THE FLAMING LIPS: YOSHIMI

BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS TOUR

June 16 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1114 Dodge St. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of their album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, The Flaming Lips will play the album, released in 2002 to great critical acclaim, in full. It demonstrated more use of electronic instruments and computer manipulation than the band’s previous release, Th e Soft Bulletin , and emerged as the group’s fi rst critical and commercial success after nearly twenty years as a band. The album’s lyrics touched on wide-ranging subject matter, including melancholy pondering about love, deception, artificial emotion, pacifi sm, and mortality. The fi nal track on the album, “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)," earned a 2003 Grammy Award for 'Best Rock Instrumental Performance,' with the album reaching certified gold in 2006. 8:30pm. 402.345.0606.

—steelhouseomaha.com

BROOKS & DUNN REBOOT TOUR

June 1 at the CHI Health Center, 455 N 10th St. Where do all the cowboy folk go to boot scootin' boogie? They'll be in Omaha, where Brooks & Dunn play hits spanning three decades. 7pm. Ticket prices vary.402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

BAD OMENS

June 1 at e Admiral 2234 S 13th St. Features the band, whose lyrical content since its debut revolves mostly around despair, mental health struggles, and addiction. 8pm. 402.706.2205. —the admiral.com

SATURDAYS AT STINSON CONCERT SERIES WITH NEBRASKA ALL STAR ROCK & ROLL BAND

June 3 at Stinson Park, Aksarben Village, 2285 S 67th St. Features popular hits from the 1960s and ‘70s. 7pm.

—aksarbenvillage.com

BACKROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 3 at Country Drive Golf Course, 951 County Rd. 4, Ashland. Features 10 bands, including Soda Spill, John Rogers, Backroads Lullaby, Cooper James, Square Wave Jerks, Getchasum, Sonic Diversion, Ancient Greek Godz, Charm School Dropouts, The 70's Band, and more. Also includes classic cars, local vendors, food, and family fun. 12pm to 12am. 402.944.2333.

—countrydrivelive.com

RED HOTT MOTLEY CRUE TRIBUTE

June 3 at Dream on the Green, 7402 F St. Features the Motley Crue tribute band with special guest. 9pm. 402.677.9999.

—americandreambar.com

ACOUSTIC THIEVES

June 7 at Country Drive Golf Course, 951 County Rd. 4, Ashland. Features live music, food, drinks, and country sunsets. 6:30pm. 402.944.2333. —countrydrivelive.com

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

June 7 at e Admiral 2234 S 13th St. The American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997 and rose from being a side project to becoming one of the most exciting groups to emerge from the indie rock scene of the ’00s. They have been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. 8pm. 402.706.2205. —theadmiral.com

MATCHBOX TWENTY SLOW DREAM TOUR

June 8 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. The American rock band consisting of Rob Th omas (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Brian Yale (bass guitar), Paul Doucette (drums, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), and Kyle Cook (lead guitar, vocals) takes to CHI’s stage for this one-night-only show. 7:30pm. 402.341.1500. —chihealthcenteromaha.com

JAKE OWEN

June 10 at Harrah’s Casino Stir Concert Cove, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluff s, IA. Owens performs from his catalogue, which includes eight #1 songs such as “Made For You,” “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” and his most recent hit, “Homemade.” 8pm. 712.329.6000.

—caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluff s

BENSON BOONE

June 14 at e Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Features a show by the American Idol and TikTok personality, singer-songwriter, and multi instrumentalist. 8pm. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

TEQUILA BROTHERS

June 14 at Country Drive Golf Course, 951 County Rd . 4, Ashland . Features live music, food, and beverages. 6:30pm. 402.944.2333. —countrydrivelive.com

RIVAL SONS

June 16 at e Admiral, 2234 S 13th St. The night includes Rival Sons, the Black Angels, and Starcrawler. 7pm. 402.706.2205. —the admiral.com

LOUIS TOMLINSON

June 17 at Harrah’s Casino Stir Concert Cove, One Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluff s, IA. Tomlinson performs for his Faith in the Future World Tour 2023. Tomlinson exhibits the full capability of his talents while never refraining from sounding unapologetically like him for a nanosecond. 8pm. 712.329.6000.

—caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluff s

JESSE MALIN

June 20 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Features the American rock musician, guitarist, and songwriter alongside Anthony D’Amato. 8pm. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

INTOCABLE

June 22 at the Orpheum eater, 409 S. 16th St. One of the most influential groups in the Tejano/ Norteno music scene today, Intocable crafts a unique and extraordinary style of music that expertly fuses Tejano conjunto music, Norteno folk rhythms, pop ballads, and rock. 8pm. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

CHARLEY CROCKET

June 22 at e Admiral, 2234 S 13th St. By synthesizing country, blues, soul, Cajun, R&B, and other pieces of American Roots music, the country star produces an inimitable sound. 8pm. 402.706.2205.

—the admiral.com

TYRESE

AND TREY SONGZ A NIGHT 2 REMEMBER TOUR

June 10 at the CHI Health Center, 455 N 10th St. Tyrese and Trey Songz headline this tour stopping with special guests 112, H-Town, and J. Holiday. 7pm. Ticket prices vary. 402.341.1500. —chihealthcenteromaha.com

COUNTING CROWS

June 13 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1114 Dodge St. Features the Grammy and Academy Award-nominated rock band and their intensely soulful and intricate take on timeless rock & roll. Exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum breakout album, August and Everything After, the band has gone on to release seven studio albums, selling more than 20 million records worldwide. 7:30pm. 402.345.0606. —steelhouseomaha.com

JACKSON BROWNE

June 13 at the Orpheum eater 409 S. 16th St. Features a show by the American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million records in the United States throughout his career, which has spanned decades. 7pm. 402.345.0606. —ticketomaha.com

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS: WE’RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY TOUR

June 21 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1114 Dodge St. Th e music legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee performs with Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets alongside special guest Texas guitarist Charlie Sexton. Listed as number 80 on Rolling Stone’s 2010 list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” Costello will play a wide-ranging set of his lauded catalogue. 7:30pm. 402.345.0606.

—steelhouseomaha.com

BOB LOG III

June 21 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave.

The American slide guitar one-man band plays old Silvertone archtop guitars and wears a fullbody human cannonball suit and a helmet wired to a telephone receiver, which allows him to devote his hands and feet to guitar and drums. 8pm. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

THE 502S

June 22 at e Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Formed by Ed Isola, the American indie folk band from Maitland, Florida, has a sound that’s been described as a "folk orchestra" and as a blend of roots, rock, and bluegrass. 8pm. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

SATURDAYS AT STINSON CONCERT SERIES WITH TAXI DRIVER

June 24 at Stinson Park, Aksarben Village, 2285 S 67th St. Features covers of all genres, including Motown, classic and modern rock, country, pop, dance, and current hits. 7pm.

—aksarbenvillage.com

FESTIVAL OMAHA

June 24 at Upland Park, 3104 Jeff erson St. Features Cuban music such as Latin Jazz, Danzón, Son, Guaracha, Cha Cha Cha, Guaguanco, and more. 8:45pm. 402.444.5900.

—Andywilliam87music.com

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

June 27 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Features the American punk rock band formed in 2002 in Minneapolis, with opening act, Single Mothers. 8pm. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

MARGO PRICE: ’TIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF TOUR

June 28 at e Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Price performs music from her her new album Strays, which sees the artist navigating her way through worth of loss, lies, failures, and substance abuse. 8pm. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

JOSHUA RAY WALKER

June 30 at e Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. With character-driven songs and an anti-Nashville look, Joshua Ray Walker has been winning hearts and ears since his debut in 2019 by fearlessly breaking the country music mold. 7:30pm. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

FAMILY, COMMUNITY, & MORE

TOWERS OF TOMORROW WITH LEGO® BRICKS

rough Sept. 3 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Th e traveling exhibition features 20 iconic skyscrapers from North America, Asia, and Australia constructed in breathtaking architectural detail by Ryan McNaught, one of only 12 LEGO®-certified professionals in the world, and his award-winning team. Towers include such global famous architectural wonders as the Central Park Tower and the Chrysler Building. A placard accompanies each LEGO® model tower describing the building—its height, location, architect, and completion date alongside the model's height, hours under construction, and number of LEGO® bricks. Visitors can also create their own towers of tomorrow with over 200,000 loose LEGO® bricks available in hands-on construction areas. Noon to 4pm Sunday; 10am to 4pm Tuesday—Saturday. 402.444.5071. —durhammuseum.org

JURASSIC ADVENTURE

rough October 1 at Lee G. Simmons Conservation & Wildlife Safari Park, 16406 292nd St., Ashland . Th is all-new added experience features some of the world's largest and most life-like robotic dinosaurs, which are located throughout the park. The adventure includes full-sized dinosaurs and handmade animatronics created with scientific supervision. Visitors can dig in fossil pits and can consult a Jurassic Adventure Guide Map identifying all the things to learn, see, and do at the park. Visitors can see a variety of animals in their natural habitats, including more than 60 American elk spread across the 50-acre Elk Meadow, 10 White-tailed deer, prairie dogs, grey wolves, American black bears, American white pelicans, Sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, pygmy goats, eagles, and bison. There are also two miles of hiking trails to enjoy. Admission prices vary. 402.944.9453. —wildlifesafaripark.com

MORE

JURASSIC NEBRASKA

rough January 7, 2024 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S 20th St. Experience what life would be like if dinosaurs were around in our everyday life; toss a football against some ferocious defenders, explore and discover fossils in a giant dig pit, climb Chimney Rock to look a T-Rex in the eye, and more. 9am to 4pm Tuesday—Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday & Sunday. 402.342.6164. — ocm.org.

TASTE OF OMAHA

June 2—4 at Liberty First Arena, e Granary, Ralston. Now in the 26th year, the popular event features food from many of Omaha's top restaurants, good entertainment, and family activities for the kids. 402.346.8003 —showofficeonline.com/TasteHome

ELKHORN DAYS

June 8—11, times vary, downtown Elkhorn, 20801 Elkhorn Dr. Th e annual celebration includes a parade, fi reworks, corn hole tournament, the TahaZouka Music Festival, the West O Car Show, and more.

—elkhorndays.com

BELLEVUE ROCKS! RIVERFRONT FESTIVAL 2023

June 8—11 at American Heroes Park, County Hwy H10, Bellevue. Th e four-day event features live music, headlined by Country Rocker Uncle Kracker, and the return of the large, family-friendly, famous Heart of America Carnival to Bellevue’s Riverfront with rides and attractions. Times vary.

—bellevuerockstheriverfront.com

LITFEST: UNDER THE STARS

June 10 at 24645 Pacifi c St., Waterloo. Includes a female empowerment dinner, shopping, networking, and self-healing workshop. 5pm to 1am. —nelitinc.com

NCAA MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 16—26 at Charles Schwab Field, 1200 Mike Fahey St. The top eight college baseball teams in the nation compete for the NCAA Division I Men’s Baseball Championship, also known as “the Greatest Show on Dirt.” Times vary. 402.554.4422.

—NCAA.com/CWS

OMAHA FREEDOM FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH

June 17 at Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, 3448 Evans St. The event provides for cultural and historical celebration in addition to education, entertainment, and exposure to resources with a concert later in the day featuring Musiq Soulchild, Lyfe Jennings, Enjoli & Timeless, Josh Jones, and DJ Chain. 12pm to 12am.

—omahafreedomfestival.com

ANNUAL TESTICLE FESTIVAL

June 17 at Round the Bend Steakhouse, 30801 E park Hwy. Ashland. The 29th annual event includes beef fries, cold beverages, live music, and a Ball Eating Contest. 11am to 11pm. 402.944.9974.

—roundthebendsteakhouse.com/festival

DINOSAUR DOMINION

FAMILY FUN WEEKEND

June 3—5, at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S 20th St. Includes themed activities and a chance to explore the new exhibition, Jurassic Nebraska 9 am to 4 pm Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday & Sunday. 402.342.6164.

— ocm.org.

OMAHA KITE FESTIVAL

June 24 at Concordia Jr.—Sr. High School, 15656 Fort St. Witness some of the largest, most colorful kites in the nation. The event includes free face painting and balloon twisting for kids. Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets for open lawn seating. 11am to 4pm.

FESTIVAL OMAHA

June 24 at 3104 Jeff erson St. Features diff erent types of Cuban music such as Latin Jazz, Danzón, Son, Guaracha, Cha Cha Cha, Guaguanco, and more. 3:45pm. 402.800.5107.

—andywilliamallstarband.com

MEMORIAL PARK CONCERT

June 30 at Memorial Park, 6005 Underwood Ave. Presented by the City of Omaha, the event includes local bands, national acts, and one of the region's largest fi reworks displays. Headlined by Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge with special guests Herman's Hermits led by Peter Noone. Presented by City of Omaha. People can begin staking out their spots with blankets at 5am. Concert begins at 6pm.

—memorialparkconcert.com

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Food for

Sarah Hummel Jones molds clay to shape, glaze, and fi re iconic American cuisine—ceramic pretzels, fried eggs, and pizza slices. Yet, each piece’s title hints at a subtext bubbling just beneath the surface: the malleability of perception. The food Hummel Jones chooses to sculpt is based on what that item can “be transformed into.”

“I like [to make] stuff you would see every day, but maybe you're not paying attention to it as closely as I am,” Hummel Jones said.

Her brand, Clay Club Ceramics, is represented by what appears to be a haphazard doodle; upon closer inspection, the image of a flower in bloom materializes. This logo encapsulates the free-formed, yet highly intentional, style of Hummel Jones.

“I call it elementary drawing, as opposed to a more realistic form. Grad school can be so uniform and strict, and I was making pieces to break from that practice,” she said.

When Hummel Jones sits at the wheel, often with Kendrick Lamar albums playing in the background, she brings a bucket of water, a small circular sponge, and a wooden pottery knife. She prepares to throw anywhere between one and 10 pieces at a time, flow-state permitting.

“I would turn on music and then just sit down in my space and get started. I often take breaks because I've got a pretty short attention span that I think that’s important to mention,” Hummel Jones explained. “I think a lot of people have the idea that I'm in for like, hours on end nonstop, but I often take pretty frequent breaks…[in part] for peace of mind.”

After the clay has been thrown and kneaded to satisfaction, the glazing process begins. The glazes she uses are either applied in a traditional dipping fashion, or are carefully applied with a squeeze bottle to form precise, fi ligreed designs. She has a natural proclivity for bright, eff usive colors—though more subdued complexions, such as neutral earth tones, are often used in work to be sold to the public at pop-ups.

Thought

Artist Sarah Hummel Jones Explores the Space Between Comfort and Change

“If I couldn’t draw, I don’t know what I would be able to do; I’d probably just be staring at a bl ank wall,”

-Sarah Hummel Jones

STORY BY OLIVIA GREENE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY RENEE LUDWICK

“I've tried to incorporate colors that other people might like.Green, red, or brown tones and whites… for those who like neutrals,” she said.

At past art shows, Hummel Jones has inspired a sense of wonder in those who may not have considered the unrefi ned, yet intricate composition of a pretzel. Her 2019 installation “I can't remember” is composed of over 20 pretzels—all vaguely similar in appearance, yet challenging observers to look closer and get lost in the subtle variations between each snack.

“At that time, I was really interested in creating multiples that were on a smaller scale that could then create a piece that was much larger,” Hummel Jones noted. “I also love making the same thing over and over again because producing ceramics is fun and enticing to me.”

The pretzels are mostly glazed in salmon pinks and mustard yellows, while the baguettes and dinner rolls sold to the public are precisely shade-matched to a realistic ‘bread loaf' beige.’

Hummel Jones’ Instagram followers can’t seem to get enough of the cupcakes, pancakes, and especially the fried eggs.

“I've been picking fried eggs for a while, but then recently went vegan. So now I write the hashtag vegan on the back,” she said.

Many Americans can relate to the impulse of looking to food for comfort. Hummel Jones likes to form sculptures out of the mundane, but she also relates these items to the experience of being human and the struggles inherent to everyday life—and how practicing mindfulness, embracing new perspectives, and engaging one’s creative side can break the spell of routine.

“If I couldn’t draw, I don’t know what I would be able to do; I’d probably just be staring at a blank wall,” Hummel Jones confessed.

The inward experience of mental health struggles is turned outward by Hummel Jones, into something to be held and considered. What might be interpreted as American ‘junk food' is something more than meets the eye: comfort, yes, but also, personal transformation.

“When you speak of it in terms like that, it really hits some other strings,” Hummel Jones said. “There is a mundaneness to the experience of living, while at the same time, there is limitless possibility.”

At time of writing, Hummel Jones is working on a line of functional ceramic pottery, including planters, vases, bud vases, cups, mugs, and plates.

To browse, commission, and support her work, visit clayclubceramics.com or her Instagram page @clayclubceramics.

“

There is a mundaneness to the experience of living while at the same time, there is limitless possibility.”

-Sarah Hummel Jones

MIDWEST'S B

Content Creator Brad

Iwen Chronicles the Wild, Uninhibited Plates of the Heartland

hotographer, filmmaker, content producer, and adventurer Brad Iwen covers food culture in his Midwest Food Stories docuseries.

He fi rst became enamored with “the magic of the darkroom” at Omaha Public Schools' career center.

“It really changed my life,” Iwen said. “I knew I needed to figure out some way to become a photographer for a career.”

He landed his fi rst commercial assignment at age 18 shooting a Merrill Osmond fan club gathering in Branson, Missouri. Then, he headed for Colorado.

“I got a job running fi lm for a company that took pictures of people rafting down the Arkansas River. I would drive a four-wheeler to a trailhead, then run down a canyon trail to the river, where a photographer shot rafters. I decided I wanted to be the photographer,” he recalled. “The next summer I got that job but got really bored…so I trained to be a white water rafting guide. I did that for almost 10 years.”

In his free time, however, Iwen continued to hone his lens-craft.

“I developed commercial clients working at a photo lab in Bozeman, Montana. I met National Geographic photographers,” he said. “I processed their fi lm and heard their stories—that pushed me to go further.”

At the Brooks Institute of Photography In Santa Barbara, California, he learned motion storytelling. He later opened a midtown Omaha studio, traveling from his heartland headquarters to jobs spanning both coasts.

“I’m open to doing stories anywhere,” Iwen affirmed.

All the while, the aspiring foodie nourished his appetite for good grub.

“Traveling around the country, it always became my goal to fi nd something interesting food-wise,” he said. “Everywhere I went, it became a game or challenge exploring different food.”

Always on the hunt for inspired people and dishes, he plugged into Omaha’s burgeoning food scene for inspiration.

“In 2016 I started inviting chefs to my studio. It was an open concept for them to create a seminal dish that inspired them to be a chef or that took them back to their childhood,” Iwen said. “We’d spend the day together, share a glass of wine or beer, eat an amazing meal, and I did my best to tell t heir story.”

Breaking bread with others is a “very important” social contract he pays homage to throughout his project.

“In doing these stories we have great fellowship over shared meals. Th at’s the root of Midwest Food Stories,” he said. “I was so happy with some of that early work, I made prints for a gal lery show.”

To accompany the show, he designed a catalogue displaying the featured chefs’ recipes. Th at led to expanding the project into the field, or “connecting a chef, a producer, the land, and ingredients.”

“Th at’s really what opened everything up for me,” Iwen noted.

Wanderlust and a passion for narrative sent him road-tripping for stories.

“Something sparks my interest in either a location or a chef or a type of food. I get out on the road and ramble. It’s where I do my best thinking,” he said. “I gather a small crew. We spend a day or two days on a ranch or farm. Often, the producer makes us a huge breakfast with a lot of their products. Then it’s learning as much about the producer and their process as possible.”

Leon and Tami Svoboda raise Mangalitsa pigs in northeast Nebraska. Iwen invited Omaha culinary instructor and chef Brian O’Malley to enjoy t heir spread.

“I try to bring a chef with me to the ranchfarm, and then bring the producer into the kitchen with the chef to see their product crafted into beautiful things,” Iwen said. “The Svobodas saw how much love, care, and dedication Chef O’Malley and his students at the Institute for Culinary Arts put into their product.”

“Brad gets to the heart of the authentic very quickly. He has an incredible energy that he harnesses to tell intimate stories in grand ways,” O’Malley said.

Iwen coaxed Omaha food writer Summer Miller and chef Bryce Coulton to make an appearance at Dave Hutchinson’s Custer County, Nebraska, bison ranch. Miller returned with some prime meat to perfect his take on bison stew.

“Getting out into the middle of the Sandhills is a really inspiring thing. It is a wild place in many ways, and its culture has been there a long time,” said Iwen, who’s gone Sandhill cranes watching with his father on the Platte River since he was a boy.

Iwen chronicled chef Michael Glissman as he prepared three from-scratch family meals in Dodge, Nebraska, where he opened the village’s Eat Restaurant.

When Iwen learned Omaha chef Nick Strawhecker loved hunting waterfowl, he caravanned with him to a hunting lodge near the banks of the Niobrara River—specifically, where a farmer and a wildlife biologist conduct research at the nexus of several overlapping ecosystems.

Such adventures underlie Iwen’s desire to bring together people with a shared passion for locally sourced, sustainable, and farm-fresh food.

“It’s all these stories that make this ecosystem. Being in these natural places, meeting the people, seeing the process, hearing stories, and just doing my best to do justice to them is really important,” Iwen said. “I meet really cool people doing cool things—there’s nothing better than that. Food is the core or glue that holds these stories together, but they are about so much more than food.”

Once, for a story he chronicled in Minnesota, Iwen connected a pig farmer, a chef, a commercial fi sherman, and a fi sh smokehouse operator, resulting in a greater sense of community and delicious plates.

“Working on that project I fell in love with the area. I brought my family many times and they fell in love with it, too,” he reflected. So in love, in fact, that the Iwens moved to Duluth, Minnesot a, in 2021.

“It’s been amazing to live up here and experience a totally different culture and landscape,” he said.

Still, despite the natural allure of his new home, Iwen isn’t immune to the the pull of the open road.

“I have notebooks fi lled with ideas for stories in every Midwestern state. Nebraska is still my home,” Iwen said. “I have family, great friendships, and contacts there. I have ideas for food stories I want to work on there. It’ll always be a part of what I do.”

Visit midwestfoodstories.com for more information.

Traveling around the country, it always became my goal to find something interesting food-wise. Everywhere I went it became a game or challenge exploring different food.

—Brad Iwen

“My mom was a super g d home c k. I think that’s where my love of f d

developed, I was exposed to great f d early on because we gathered for di er every night.”

-Dan Ho en

Exploring Dan Hoppen’s Passion and Empathy for omaha’s Dining Scene

Few things are as fundamentally vital to humans as food. Beyond providing sustenance, food is a central aspect of every culture, connecting people through shared experience. It can be easy to forget how much joy there is in the world of gastronomy, especially in the fast-paced modern world, wherein the consumption of calories is often relegated to yet another daily chore. Thankfully there are avenues of escape from such mundane mastication, a fact that Dan Hoppen shares enthusiastically via his website and podcast, Restaurant Hoppen.

Omaha Magazine met Dan Hoppen on a Friday morning at a small Mexican eatery downtown called Mexitili Restaurant, which began as a food truck before establishing a fi xed location. He spoke with the server, the friendly Alberto Cardenas, about the transition to downtown and his preferred menu items. His appreciation for food and those who prepare it was plain to see.

“My mom was a super good home cook. I think that’s where my love of food developed. I was exposed to great food early on because we gathered for dinner every night,” Hoppen explained. “Food was a special thing for [our family]. It just kinda grew as I got out of the house and went out on my own. I'm not a good cook myself, so if I want a really good meal, I'm typically going out, and I'm getting it—and I really, really prioritize fi nding something that's really good, something that is maybe a little outside what people are expecting or what they're lo oking for.”

Hoppen uses his website to promote restaurants in and around the Omaha area that he believes deserve recognition. Like many passion projects, Restaurant Hoppen was not created with a grand strategy in mind.

“I started this WordPress blog, and it was really lame, and I was a lot more critical of restaurants back then. But it just kind of, for whatever reason, gained a following. I would write these blog posts and then put them out on Twitter, and it gained this following,” he recalled.

Compared to Restaurant Hoppen’s sleek, professional-looking homepage, its humble beginnings mark an inflection point in Hoppen’s culinary philosophy.

Hoppen said, “Matt Verzal is a former Husker player. He's been on the radio and everything. He got in touch with me and he was like, ‘Dude, you have a really cool platform. What are you going to do with it? Like, you have something here.’ And I was like, ‘I have no idea what I'm doing.’ He's like, ‘Let me handle it. I have some folks who are starting up a podcast studio. Would you be interested in talking with them?’ I said, ‘absolutely.’

“I would bring my buddies on and we would talk about our favorite burger spots and what was the most overrated food and stuff. But then I had Nick Maestas from the Muchachos food truck on. Th at was the fi rst chef or owner that I had on [the podcast]. Th at kind of legitimized it a little bit. I've always been a huge fan of Block 16, and I had interacted with Jess and Paul Urban on social media a lot, but never had actually met them. I asked them to be on the podcast, and they were so gracious and they gave me my time. They got a babysitter and came in at night to record a podcast. After that it just exploded because they are so respected in the restaurant community.”

The podcast has gone on to host a variety of noteworthy guests, and now Hoppen’s name is practically synonymous with Omaha’s culinary scene.

Between bites of Mexitili's "Authentic Mexican Enchiladas," Hoppen returned to the topic of his critical approach early on.

“The pandemic made me a lot more empathetic to restaurant owners. Every restaurant was struggling so much that it was kind of like, you don’t need to kick a horse when it’s down,” he said. “There's no reason to point out all the little mistakes that a place is making when everyone is struggling. So I think I gained a lot of empathy during the pandemic.”

Th is empathy is evident on Hoppen’s blog, where he praises the passion of restaurateurs, established or otherwise.

“Mistakes happen. They happen in any job, any walk of life,” he continued. “But these people are legitimately trying so hard to make you happy and serve you a great meal that I'm not going to try and punch down on them.”

Upon cleaning his platter of enchiladas, Hoppen ordered a birria taco just to try it. Th is disregard for the limitations of the human stomach was impressive, and done in service to the diners of Omaha who follow his posts.

“I don't even know if hidden gems is the right word, but there are so many great restaurants out there. Just get out and try something. Like, even if it's just once a month, say, ‘You know what? We're going to go somewhere different,’” Hoppen encouraged. “It's not just going to be Cheddar's again. We're going to go to Dante instead. We're going to go to Via Farina. We're gonna check out Taqueria Tijuana.

“If you go out and try some of these locally owned restaurants, I think you're going to be surprised by just how delicious and how amazing this food can be.”

For those seeking to deviate from their daily routine of ham sandwiches and fast food, Dan Hoppen’s recommendations are eye-opening and palate-broadening—and a service to Omaha’s vibrant food scene.

For more information on Hoppen’s blog and podcast, visit restauranthoppen.com.

A+C AUTHOR // Story by Julius Fredrick //

Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek

For a Good Time, Call:

Grant Triplett Cracks Beers, Jokes, and the Code to Omaha’s Greatest Dives

There’s no denying the rapture of a fine-dining experience—the genuflecting waiter ushering guests to a white-cloth table, the elegant menu with word likes ‘pan-seared’ and ‘braised’ in Baskerville typeface, the polished silver promising a bite of euphoria with every cut. Yet, for most folks, such occasions are a flash in the pan—and the ritual of it all, the pomp and spectacle, leaves little space for genuine interaction.

For that, dive bars are the people’s choice local watering holes where the drinks are cheap, the laughs free, and all manner of personalities converge in stunning disarray. Local author Grant Triplett is well acquainted with such locales he’s deciphered bathroom stall etchings, measured stale beer gas levels, and has organized expeditions to more than 50 Omaha dives. One part David Attenborough, one part Bill Burr (with a wedge of Hunter S. Thompson), Triplett published his findings in taxi diver: a compendium of omaha dive b ars in 2021.

In the book’s preamble (following the dedication and preface, and before the ‘note to the bars’ and ‘how to use this book’ sections), Triplett makes his inten tions clear:

For example, he writes of the Therapy Bar & Grill:

“

Any place that shows Cops, the 5’ o’clock news, or Jeopardy! automatically passed the Dive Test […] Wanna watch police beat the hell out of tweakers in bumf**k West Virginia while you sip an IPA? They got your back. ”

Grant initially developed his passion for (and crass style of) writing while attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2006, penning columns for the Daily Nebraskan

“[The Daily Nebraskan ] hired me and then I wrote about whatever I wanted,” Triplett recalled. “I did one on drinking absinthe, and I got drunk on absinthe and talked about kissing my bed. I did one on sh*t

“I tried to write this in a manner that immerses the reader into dive culture. That is the reason it is crass, cheap, uncouth, and dim. The things you will read are things that are not uncommon to overhear at drinkeries. I love Omaha’s dive bars because you can witness such a vast array of splendid content. They are places where individuals can be untethered and unfiltered no matter how exotic, peculiar, or batsh*t crazy they are.”

Location doesn’t factor into Triplett’s selections from Joe’s Duck Inn in Millard, to the Leavenworth Bar near Midtown, to the Caddyshack Bar & Grill in West O. Rather, he narrowed down the featured bars based on firsthand experience, reputation, an d longevity.

“There’s a few bars that are 60 or 100 years old,” Triplett said. “I think The Happy Bar is the second oldest in the book, so that’s why I joked [in that chapter] that somebody was probably at this bar when Kennedy’s head explo ded, right?”

Each chapter follows the same structure: initial impressions, a “dive test,” and concluding thoughts. Points for the dive test are fairly subjective, but the underlying criteria is “a reason they are not a fancy, ritzy, otherwise cl assy joint. ”

breath just bad breath […] I did one on why I didn’t vote back in the day, and I remember I got a death threat. So, that was my first dose of negative criticism, whic h was fine.”

By the time of taxi diver’s release some 15 years later, Triplett was not only hardened to criticism he was e xpecting it.

“Sometimes you have to accept criticism, and that’s something I’ve learned over 20 years of writing. It comes with it it sucks, it never really doesn’t, but it gets easier,” Triplett explained. “Somebody thinks that you called their place sh*t, because you said it smells like mothballs and brimstone? But at the same time, it’s a net good thing are more people laughing than crying? Are more people happy than angry? I’ve had to have helped at least one or two businesses bring in a little bit of money […] and if not, at least th ey laughed.”

As for his focus on reviews, Triplett had been invited by a friend to the Omaha Food Lovers Facebook page in 2019, where he “lurked and lurked” until heartbreak inspired his first post.

“Kind of what reinvigorated my spark for writing was when I wrote something three years ago [on the Omaha Food Lovers page] about how I got stood up on Valentine’s Day for a date, and got a 40-ounce of Highlife and then got a Sonic meal, because I only eat fast food once a year,” Triplett said. “But I wrote about it and clicked, and then went about my day, drank the 40 […] and then I checked back about an hour later, and I had 600 notifications on my phone.

“Then I go ‘Oh God,’ the first thing I thought was ‘I must have said something offensive or pissed somebody off […] and it was just a bunch of ‘This is the funniest thing I’ve ever read’ and ‘This is hilarious, who are you?’ All this stuff…it kind of reinvigorated my desire f or writing.”

Afterward, Triplett began posting regularly, amassing a following over the 90 or so reviews he’s posted since. The end was result was Triplett’s sophomore book in 2022, the relatively tamer G’s Spots: A Guide to Omaha Eateries a collection of 60 of his posts and a bonus “March Madness” bracket pitting each restaurant “against each other in a battle to the death” to determine “t hee G spot.”

“Just because you get rid of the ‘F bombs’ doesn’t mean it’s not gonna be [crass],” Triplett noted of his second book. “I talk about it in the book, but my mom actually tasked me with I made too many poop references and diarrhea and sh*t references and she’s like ‘I want you to write one without one.’ So, four out of five now are sh*t free, but still, 20% of them have something to do with diarrhea.”

Needless to say, subtlety isn’t a strength (or perhaps, weakness) of Triplett’s. Whether reading taxi diver , G’s Spots , or listening to his podcast SMPL an acronym for Sh*t My Pants Laughing his content, and his goal, are as unfiltered as a hazy IPA.

“It’s to make people laugh and to help a business hopefully both at once,” Triplett said. “That’s the whole point of everything I’ve e ver done.”

Triplett’s books are available on Amazon, and his podcast on Spotify. Visit Omaha Food Lover’s page on Facebook for more information.

STORY BY KIM CARPENTER DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Bo n Appé t it, Chiah Hok! Bu en p rov e c h o , N

ebraska may be beef and corn country, but we have food from all over the globe thanks to independent grocers who bring the taste of their home regions to Omaha. Below, we list ethnic grocery stores that offer what you need to make everything from baba ganoush to fres h sashimi.

1. MEDITERRANEAN GROCERY STORE

8601 Blondo St. | 402.391.2546

mediterranean-grocery.business.site

The Mediterranean diet consistently ranks as one of the healthiest on the planet, and you’ll find everything you need to cook like you’re in Sicily at this speciality shop, which carries: sangak bread, olive oil, couscous, spices, teas, coffees, hookahs, hookah tobacco, halal chicken, goat, lamb, spanakopita, greek yogurt, kasseri, full-cream feta cheese, blood orange juice, royal rice, baklava, bakery sweets, plus much more. Also on offer is fresh pita bread baked weekly (Thursdays, typically) and fresh produce like cactus pears and persimmons. Want to make hummus? Grab a can of blended chickpeas to make the process easier. How about falafel? You can pick up the mix here. And that’s just for starters.

2. ASIAN MARKET

321 N. 76th St. | 402.391.2606

asianmarketomaha.com

With over 10,000 items available everyday, it’s no wonder this is one of Omaha’s favorite ethnic grocery stores. The primary stock here is Chinese, but shoppers can procure popular products from Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, as well as an assortment of items from Africa, Burma, Europe, and India. The seafood counter, which carries live Dungeness crab, hardshell lobster, squid, and octopus, is a must visit. Aisles upon aisles are filled with items that are fresh, frozen, dry, and everything in between. In the mood for fresh sushi and sashimi? This market carries it. Asian snacks? Check. How about beauty products and kitchen wares? You’ll find them here, too. Bonus: their food court is the place to savor Asian specialties.

3. JACOBO’S GROCERY & DELI

4621 S. 24th St. | 402.733.9009

jacobos.com

People flock to this Omaha staple of nearly 50 years for a reason: the deli, where everything is made fresh from scratch. The homemade salsas, tortilla chips, carnitas, tamales, and more bring in the crowds week after week. But if you’re itching to cook authentic Mexican food yourself, this popular grocery store has you covered with ingredients like fresh cactus, Mexican vanilla, and masa, or corn dough. Make sure to bring cash, since cards and checks aren’t accepted, and don’t be surprised if the line starts in the parking lot.

4. OMAHA TROPICAL MARKET

2312 N. 72nd St. | 402.612.4035

omahatropicalmarket.com

The focus of this store is on African and Caribbean groceries, although some Hispanic goods are also in stock. Items such as fresh sugar cane, okra, and plantains abound, as do harder to find ingredients like alligator pepper, a West African seed pod spice. Whether you’re looking to replicate a recipe from Ghana or one from Zambia, the helpful staff will assist you with locating the grains, flours, spices, canned goods, and even the dried fish you’ll need for preparing traditional cuisine. Also on offer: African beauty products.

5. KONARK GROCERS

14128 Arbor St. | 402.905.9999

konarkgrocers.com

This one-stop shop for all things “Desi,” or pertaining to India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh, features fruits, vegetables, spices, and more. Bulk spices and grains are ideal for cooks looking to create Indian cuisine at home. Whether you’re whipping up a simple chana dal dish of split chickpeas or aloo gosht , a curry made from goat meat and potatoes, you’ll find the necessary ingredients here. Namkeen , small, savory snacks, are also available. If you develop a taste for Desi cuisine, inquire about discount customer loyalty cards to save when you shop.

6. JERUSALEM GROCERY

2455 S. 120th St. | 402.334.4172

facebook.com/people/Jerusalem-Grocery

From olives to eggplants, this family-owned specialty grocery specializes in Israeli, Middle Eastern, and Halal products. Whether you’re looking to make a lentil stew or tabbouli salad, a wide array of kosher ingredients are available to accommodate any recipe. Dry goods, especially the spices, are sold at a fraction of the price in mainstream grocery franchises. The mom-and-pop cafe on the premises offers authentic Mediterranean food, like falafel and gyros with tzatziki sauce—all made from scratch.

FARM-TO-TABLE DINNERS From D eep Roots to

HOW NELSON PRODUCE FARM CULTIVATES COMMUNITY

STORY BY CHRIS HATCH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Zucchini prosciutto rollups over a bed of spring mix salad , dressedwithbalsami c vinaigrette

As you might expect from a place with produce in the name, Nelson Produce Farm is about their roots.

Sometimes, they’re focused on the relatively shallow ones those first 12 inches of growth that reach into the soil like a firm Midwestern handshake tendrils gripping the ground with familiar affection. Those are the roots that allow the Nelson family to expand their burgeoning watermelon business, and around 400 acres of mixed produce.

But, perhaps most importantly, Pam and Ty Nelson, and their four daughters, emphasize a different kind of nourishment lifelines between farm and community that are visible above ground, present in the form of their produce stands and connections between the family and their community. This manifests in a variety of communal events, including their renowned farm-to-table meals served on-site

The evolution from pure agriculturalists to community benefactors initially took root in Pam Nelson’s desire to celebrate the commonalities found in urban, rural, and every mode of life in between.

“In 2019 we made the decision to open our farm to the public as a way to better represent our product as well as have more control of our market and connect people to farm life,” Pam said. “I have always had a dream of creating a destination market where people can come and shop quality, fresh home-grown produce, enjoy a day on the farm, and have lunch or coffee with friends and family.”

“The vision of our farm is to bridge the gap from urban to rural, educating our community on how food is grown, as well as create a place that encourages families to connect and create memories around simpler times,” added Michelle Hagen, marketing director. “From the start, just five years ago, we have expanded the farm to include festivals around each of the main crops we grow, farm camp, our Little Farmers educational area, field trips, pizza pie nights, seasonal events, and our personal favorite farm-to-table dinners.”

Running just one weekend a month from June to October, it didn’t take long for these al fresco dinners to explode in popularity and book up quickly.

“Farm-to-table was created through my love of creating spaces for people to step into a dream of a dinner party,” Pam explained. “We highlight new and classic ways of presenting fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality meats around a large table to make the perfect setting for making a memory.”

With offerings as diverse as farm-raised cornucopias of fruits and vegetables, Nelson Produce Farm has cultivated fraternity and openness among their guests.

“We wanted to create a space where people feel like they are stepping into a farm to table they have seen in a magazine or on their Pinterest boards,” Hagen said. “But also, a space that helps us open the door for conversations with our community about what is really happening in farming and the products they receive from our farm.”

“Ty and I love getting to visit with guests during our dinners and answering questions and sharing with them how farming has changed and how we are learning and growing as farmers and business partners,” Pam echoed.

When it comes to freshness, the farm-to-table dinners are represented by the barn windows, a quick gesture toward each roughly equivalent

to where the items on the table had been grown. There is little mystery here each block of the food pyramid has been quarried from the ground just below their guests’ feet.

“For our dinners, we work to incorporate as much fresh in-season produce as we can from our farm as well as surrounding local farms,” Pam explained. “We work alongside a handpicked group of local chefs to create a menu that matches the theme of each dinner. Our menus are not finalized until about two to three weeks before each dinner to ensure we are using the freshest ingredients from our farm, which often includes our home- raised beef.”

Besides their numerous on-site events which have come to include watermelon festivals, dog days, firework shows, and Halloween celebrations the farm-to-table dinners have quickly become a local staple; an event that many people mark in bold, circuitous lettering that exclaims: ‘If you know, you know!’

“We sell our farm-to-table tickets exclusively to our email list first and this year we completely sold out tickets just from our email list,” Hagen said. “Farm-to-table dinners have become a well-known part of the farm.”

“Farm-to-table dinners are something we look forward to every year. We even have friends traveling from Utah to come and experience the magic this year,” relayed regular farm-totable attendee, Jen Keller. A local resident and frequent farm-goer, she is one of many who revere Nelson Produce Farm as a special place.

“The farm-to-table dinners the Nelsons and their team put on are unlike anything else you can experience here in the Omaha area. We love visiting the farm with our family, but there is just something extra special about a date night on the farm.”

The past five years have seen Nelson Produce Farm become something more than their unassuming name might indicate. This isn’t a place that merely provides delicious, layered sustenance to the locals it’s more than the sum of its produce.

It has become a second home for many, a classroom for young Nebraskans, and a dynamic, thriving communal heartbeat for many more besides. It is a place where the year 1989 meets 2023; where dirt-splotched farmers pose for Instagram pictures. It’s where everyone is smiling the kind of silly, wide grins from finding themselves, perhaps by happy accident, somewhere special with those they love. In short, the soil is as alive as the people who visit it, and that feeling can only be described as ‘farm-to-table.’

Above or below shallow as the roots of their delicious watermelons, or as deep as the connection between a family and the place that they care for one thing is for certain: the roots of Nelson Produce Farm feed both the stomachs and the spirits of those lucky enough to find a seat at the table.

Visit nelsonproducefarm.com for more information.

FOR OUR DINNERS, WE WORK TO INCORPORATE AS MUCH FRESH IN-SEASON PRODUCE AS WE CAN FROM OUR FARM AS WELL AS SURROUNDING LOCAL FARMS. WE WORK ALONGSIDE A HANDPICKED GROUP OF LOCAL CHEFS TO CREATE A MENU THAT MATCHES THE THEME OF EACH DINNER.” PAM NELSON

red potatoes

farm fresh vegetables.

Balsamic rosemaryporkchopservedwithroasted

A Taste of Home

Chef Ashish Sath yan Combines Kerala Flavor with Local Connections

Even when the doors are closed you’ll often find a chef working behind the locks. Approaching those doors, hefting a box of supplies toward the warm scent of fragrant spices, is where Chef Ashish Sathyan connected with Omaha Magazine as warm rays pierced the broad windows of his restaurant Kinaara Indian Cuisine at Regency. Amid the restaurant’s fresh and inviting interior, Chef Sathyan spoke of the past, the present, and the future.

Sathyan’s childhood home and base of inspiration is the coastal Indian state of Kerala, where beef, coconuts, and fresh fish reign as essential cooking elements. He recalled his first interaction with food describing neighborhood children bringing ingredients from home and cooking together over a shared fire. No less significant were yearly visits from relatives outside of Sathyan’s home state. It was at these times his grandmother would prepare meals that differed from his usual fare, and Sathyan was always eager to lend a hand in the kitchen.

He recalled, “food [was] always involved in my childhood.”

Not only was cooking a part of growing up, but so was farming and fishing. His family home had tapioca, a Kerala signature, growing along with other vegetables, like okra and eggplant. The harvest was to the benefit of the entire community.

“Everybody [would] grow [something] different and [you’d] share it” he said, and adding his homeland remains the focus at Kinaara.

Sathyan brings familiar Indian offerings like butter chicken, and makes sure to represent his childhood home through menu options like fish pollichathu, featuring the state fish of Kerala, karimeen (a species of cichlid). This fresh water fish is swaddled in a banana leaf, treated with pollicha masala, and grilled until tender.

In a callback to his family farm, Sathyan likes to pull from Nebraska’s local bounty saying, “Kerala food is my favorite. That’s what I [grew] up eating, seeing my mom and my family cook. [It makes] me happy using the local ingredients, [to make] Kerala food, serve [it] to a customer, and see [a] happy face.”

However, cooking wasn’t always Sathyan’s main passion that belonged to his love of cricket, the bat-and-ball game popular in England and India. Sathyan’s cooking schedule allowed him to spend time on the pitch, where he played semi-professionally for the Winner Boys club, a team he cheered for growing up. Thankfully for the eventual benefit of Kinaara’s diners, Sathyan’s neighbor Jose Chakho, a server at the Taj Hotel, led Sathyan to the kitchen and ultimately a career in the culinary arts. Sathyan spent time at Kerala’s Consult Inn culinary school in 2002 and 2003, where he was trained in Italian, French, and Indian cuisine.

He then moved through higher end hotels, including the One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai, which Forbes christened a Dubai “best hotel oasis” in 2022. Sathyan had worked various jobs before deciding to obtain his visa and a one-way plane ticket to New York City. There, he began another adventure at Indian and Thai restaurant, Citrus, in 2012 as an appetizer chef for two years. In 2014, Sathyan decided to depart for the green pastures of the Midwest, cooking at a local Indian restaurant before a two-and-a-half year stint at The Taj in Omaha.

A key shift in possibilities occurred when Sathyan was approached by Mai Thai owner Preeda Joynoosaeng with a partnership opportunity opening Indian Bowl in Omaha’s Blackstone District where Sathyan could create, as he says, his “own recipes and style.”

The fast-casual restaurant only lasted a year, from 2018 to 2019, but becoming a stakeholder made a lasting impression on Sathyan. The experience led to confidence in taking calculated risks, before becoming his own boss with the opening of the original Kinaara location in Millard. Yet, right as the ribbon was cut in 2020, the global pandemic struck.

Sathyan quickly converted Kinaara’s main dining area into a parking lot full of satisfied drivers picking up their bundles of curries, biryanis, and naan. This timely pivot, and the warm reception to the even warmer flavors of Sathyan’s cuisine, allowed Kinaara to maintain a foothold until mandates were lifted. The community’s support never wavered, and Sathyan’s dream blossomed into to the current iteration of Kinaara in Regency. His business partner and wife, Kim, is often seen greeting diners and is a proud partner and advocate of her husband’s dishes.

“I’m like Ashish’s hype man, he likes to be modest, but no, he is so talented,” Kim said. Sathyan, in turn, is grateful to Kim for her evaluation of his dishes stating, “If [Kim] says it’s good [then] it’s true. She’s got a really good taste palate.”

Kim is far from chef Sathyan’s only fan; hungry diners, and those involved in Omaha’s rich food scene, have taken notice as well.

This includes the host of the popular “Restaurant Hoppen” Omaha food podcast, Dan Hoppen.

“Ashish is, in my opinion, one of the most talented chefs in Omaha. The flavors he creates are so unique and unlike any in the city. [His food] is absolutely delicious,” Hoppen noted. “Each time you visit Kinaara, your taste buds get another stamp on their passport.”

While Sathyan enjoys the high praise, his outlook remains grounded and enriched by his past.

“I want to highlight more Kerala cuisine…keep it simple, and showcase the best experience I [can] provide,” he affirmed.

Dave Zorko is the host of the Faturday Omaha podcast and radio show. Visit kinaaraomaha.com for more information.

by Bill Sitzmann | DESIGN by Matt Wieczorek

“Ashish is, in my opinion, one of the most talented chefs in Omaha.. Each time you visit Kinaara, your taste buds get another stamp on their passport.” Dan Hoppen

DELICIOUS, APPROACHABLE, HOSPITABLE

CRUDO: STRIPED BASS, KIWI, AND DILL IN A BASIN OF LECHE DE TIGRE.

IZAKAYA KOJI CUTS EVERYTHING BUT CORNERS FOR A TASTE OF PERFECTION

MATT WIECZOREK

Izakaya Koji consistently fulfilled my expectations during my visits; a traditional Japanese bar ambiance with a lively vibe, serving a variety of seafood and meat along with vegetarian/vegan small dishes, bites, and snacks. Koji represents Chef David Utterback’s third concept in Omaha, setting itself apart from its sister restaurants with its Asian street food variations, creative takes on familiar dishes, and a contemporar y aesthetic.

Koji utilizes high-end culinary precision to blend recognizable ingredients into novel, unexpected dishes that both challenge and delight the palette. Guests have many options, whether feeling spendy ordering several courses of beautifully plated Crudo, Aburi Wagyu, and Santa Barbara Uni or on a budget during Koji’s generous happy hour, which offers drink specials and discounted restaurant favorites. No matter the price, the experience is tantalizing and unforgettable.

On my first visit I stopped in for happy hour, which is not always something a restaurant can or necessarily, will execute effectively. When done properly it is a delicious trap, one for which I’m always willing to fall headlong for. I immediately noticed the volume of prep cooks working hard behind the sleek sushi bar that stretches into a petite open kitchen, and assured my guests we were in for something special. We were promptly seated, with a fan of menus to pour over. Happy hour consists of a short list of house staples starters, buns, and warm plates. When considering the individual quality of each dish, I found it’s arguably among the best deals in the city. While my thoughts drifted to Benson and the perfection that is the handcrafted sushi and nigiri menus at Yoshitomo and Ota, fear not…you will find them her e as well.

BUTA YAKITORI: TENDER, SKEWERED PORK BELLY SERVED WITH TARE.

KFC BUN: FRIED CHICKEN, GOCHUJANG, AND CABBAGE SLAW FOLDED BETWEEN STEAMED BUNS.

The selection of beverages will satisfy the seasoned imbiber who enjoys dabbling in different styles of sake, shochu, and aged Japanese whiskies, while also appealing to the less experienced with a mix of local, Asian beers and seasonal cocktails. We stuck with the sake list, ordering a bottle of Junmai Nigori, Tozai ‘Snow Maiden.’ Creamy on the palate and with notes of melon, cucumber, and a hint of citrus, it paired best with the Crudo (Striped Bass, Kiwi, Dill, and Leche de Tigre). Fresh, light, and a testament to the knife skills of the kitchen, dishes hit the table like art on a blank canvas, and the Crudo proved a masterpiece. Kani Miso (snow crab, crab fat, ikura, fried rice) was a a must-order for the table. The amount of flavor packed in each grain of rice is something we’ll be reminiscing about for weeks. At Koji it is presented as a hand roll, wrapped in seaweed. I’m not positive this description does it justice in my opinion, it should be savored, shared, and fought over family style with chopsticks, but I digress…

My second visit was a more intimate affair we arrived later in the evening and the ambiance was noticeably softer on the eyes. The lighting from the large front windows was subdued, though the hum of the kitchen unchanged. I felt like I was in a bustling Japanese metro instead of Pacific Street adjacent, my daydream escorted to the only open table.

Luckily for the lifelong Midwesterner who is seafood-abhorrent, Koji’s menu offers a sense of familiarity with steam buns inspired by Omaha’s infamous and abundant fast-food staples. The ‘Ranza’ and ‘KFC’ buns are delicious spins on their namesake drive-thru counterparts. The former is an elevated version of a beloved local classic; the latter smothered in Gochujang sauce and topped with cabbage slaw for a perfect balance of spice.

Yakitori is served bite-sized, grilled on a bamboo skewer. Featured are octopus, pork belly, broccolini, and several different cuts of chicken with altering preparations to enhance each in turn. I ordered the Mune (chicken breast, yuzu kosho) twice and found it to have different levels of spice each time, yet maintaining its distinct, delicious flavor. The ‘Buta’ (pork belly, tare) yakitori was a personal favorite. The marinade was tangy, cut with a perfect amount of fat, seared to perfection with a crispy crust, and it melted in my mouth.

The most exciting dish was the Carbonara. The newest addition to the menu, it takes the familiar cues, including the traditional name, then adds a spin. Chinese pulled noodles, pancetta, egg yolk, with chive kimchi are reminiscent of its namesake, however, completely different in texture via a combination of creamy and snappy freshness that courts the kimchi in an indulgent way.

The service complements the food, providing diners with a skilled rundown of the menu. Each server described new or popular dishes with a cadence that allowed for a better understanding and genuine, palpable excitement among the tables. Leading us on how to compartmentalize the large menu, they told us what to expect within each category and accurately answered any spitfire questions I

had. Overall, I would say my experiences at Koji exceeded my expectations a more casual option from one of the most talented chefs and culinary teams in Omaha, a different outlet to exercise creativity while goading a rare crowd of diners (selling seafood in the Midwest is not for the faint of heart), while also providing exciting pairings, innovative techniques like dry-aging fish, and carefully sourcing high-quality ingredients. In my opinion, Omaha is lucky to have Koji in the metro’s culinary scene.

P.S. Make a reservation. Cheers!

Visit izakayakoji.com for more information.

KANI MISO: TEMAKI (HAND ROLLED) SUSHI FILLED WITH SNOW CRAB, CRAB FAT, AND IKURA.

DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN

BARREL & VINE- $$

1311 South 203rd St., Omaha, NE 68130 - 402.504.1777

Barrel and Vine’s restaurant is an elevated food experience that is made from scratch daily with love in our kitchen. Our menu combines a mixture of Chef driven creative dishes, craveable comfort meals and premium Nebraska steaks. Barrel & Vine also doubles as a live music venue and offers a rooftop bar, outdoor patio with firepits, and dozens of high end bourbons, scotch, and over 100 wine selections. Come check out an experience that is like nothing else in Nebraska. Open 7 days a week. —bvomaha.com

DJ’S DUGOUT SPORTS BAR - $

Seven Metro Area Locations:

Bellevue - 10308 S. 23rd St.

- 402.292.9096

Miracle Hills - 777 N. 114th St. - 402.498.8855

Downtown - 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974

Aksarben - 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533

Millard - 17666 Welch Plaza - 402.933.8844

Elkhorn - 19020 Evans St. - 402.315.1985

Plattsmouth - 2405 Oak Hill Rd. - 402.298.4166

Voted Omaha’s #1 Sports Bar, DJ’s Dugout is locally and Vietnam Veteran owned. DJ’s Dugout features delicious burgers, wings,

wraps, salads, sandwiches and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projector screens. Catch all the action at DJ’s seven Omaha-area locations. Dig In... At The Dugout! —djsdugout.co m

JAMS- $$ 7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 - 402.810.9600 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333

Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails. —jamseats.com

LE PEEP - $ 69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776

177th and Center St. - 402.934.9914

156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728

120th and Blondo St. - 402.991.8222

Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.co m

STELLA’S - $

106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue - 402.291.6088

Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. —stellasbarandgrill.com

T ED AND WALLY’S - $

1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827

Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m. —tedandwallys.com

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$

Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944

Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944

Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660

Ralston, Bellevue and Millard. We are truly grateful to have been welcomed into each of these communities and welcome you in for good food, a cold drink and a comfy seat to enjoy the sport of your choosing! Determined to bring only the freshest ingredients, homemade dough and our specialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of operation. —varsityromancoinpizza.com

ITALIAN

PASTA AMORE - $$

11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585

Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. —pastaamore.co m

S PEZIA - $$$

3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950

Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/ Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and woodfired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. —speziarestaurant.com

3825

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

MEXICAN

FERNANDO’S - $

7555 Pacific St.

- 402.339.8006.

380 N. 114th St.

- 402.330.5707

Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available.

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m. —fernandosomaha.com

LA MESA - $$

158th St. and W. Maple Rd.

- 402.557.6130

156th and Q streets

- 402.763.2555

110th St. and W. Maple Rd.

- 402.496.1101

Fort Crook Rd. and Hwy 370

- 402.733.8754

84th St. and Tara Plaza

- 402.593.0983

Lake Manawa Exit

- 712.256.2762

Enjoy awesome appetizers, excellent enchilada’s, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas and much more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Best of Omaha’s 20 Years in a Row!

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. lamesaomaha.co m

ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets

- 402.391.8870

146th St. and W. Center Rd.

- 402.330.4160

96th and L streets

- 402.331.5656

Galvin and Avery roads

- 402.292.2028

29th and Farnam steets

- 402.346.1110

Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant. We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com

SPECIAL DINING

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ 3578 Farnam St.

- 402.345.1708

Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours:

MODERN COCKTAILS MIXED WITH AMERICA’S MUSIC

zen coffee co. zen coffee co.

GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528

Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday

11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday

11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.co m

SAGE STUDENT BISTRO INSTITUTE FOR THE CULINARY ARTS - $ 5300 N. 30th St. Fort Omaha Campus, Building 22

At the Metropolitan Community College Sage Student Bistro, culinary and hospitality students learn hustle, fundamentals, community service and stewardship — all from scratch. Explore dishes from around the world during lunch, or celebrate the contributions of American culinary sages at dinner. For reservations, visit: —mccneb.edu/Bistro

ZEN COFFEE COMPANY - $

West - 132nd and Center

Downtown - 25th and Farnam

One Pacific Place

- Drive Thru Kiosk next to Trader Joes

Zen features over 50 popular drink options including Butter Beer, Honey Bee, Lavender Lady and Sunshine Daydream. Choose from hot or iced lattes, blenders, fruit smoothies and teas! Grab a flight or double cup to try the seasonal features! Delicious pastries and toasts made in house daily. —zencoffeecompany.com

STEAKHOUSES

CASCIO’S - $$

1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313

C ascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.co m

T HE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

2121 S. 73rd St.

- 402-391-7440

Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Dinner nightly at 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com

Mon-Fri 11:00am - 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 4:00pm - 10:30pm

Home of the Whiskey Steak

and

explore.

PLAN A ROAD TRIP!

NEBRASKA

THE DINNER DETECTIVE May 13—June 24 at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. Attendees solve a hilarious mystery while you enjoying on a fantastic dinner. The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and guests may find themselves as a prime suspect. Throughout the night, a crime will occur, hidden clues will be revealed, and detectives will help everyone try to crack the case. In the end, a Prize Package awaits the top sleuth who provides the best answer before the killer is unmasked! This results in a fun, social, and interactive evening suitable for all adults. —visitnebraska.com

ALL IN THE TIMING June 1-4 at the World Theater in Kearny. Laugh until it hurts with this comedy filled with wit, intellect, and just plain fun! All in the Timing is a collection of comedies that will have you laughing out loud! Presented at the World Theatre, it’s a show filled with quick banter, hilarious scenarios, and plenty of laughter! —cranerivertheater.org

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER AT EAGLE

RACEWAY June 3 at The Eagle Raceway in Eagle. IMCA Racing featuring: Twin Rivers Sprint Cars, Nebraska Lottery Modifieds, Avid Realty SportMods, A1 Iron Stock Cars, and Valentino’s Hobby Stocks. Track, State, Regional & National Points. Don’t miss out on the famous school bus race after the last feature! —lincoln.org

MYSTERY AT THE MANSION - MURDER AT DEADWOOD SALOON June 2 at the Arbor Lodge Mansion in Nebraska City. An evening of murder and mayhem in the Wild West awaits those brave enough to enter the Arbor Lodge Mansion as it transforms into the Deadwood Saloon. It’s an old-fashioned whodunnit in a magnificent setting! Guests are invited to solve clues, look for evidence, and break the case while mingling with new friends. —arbordayfarm.org

OFFICE BAR BLOCK PARTY June 3 at the Office Bar in Norfolk. 2nd Annual Block Party at Office Bar! Live music, food Trucks, and tasty drinks outdoors. —visitnorfolkne.com

June 1-1

BUZZ ABOUT BEES AT THE TREE ADVENTURE June 3 at the Arbor Day Tree Farm in Nebraska City. Discover the wonderful world of bees and how much people rely on them! Attendees are encouraged to take part in a variety of activities and see our demonstration hive up close. Bee experts will be on hand to help guests learn about this very important little insect. —arbordayfarm.org

SIDNEY GOLD RUSH DAYS June 9—11 at Legion Park in Sidney. Sidney Gold Rush Days is a family-oriented outdoor festival. The festival emphasizes the history of the Sidney to Deadwood Gold Rush Trail in the late 1870’s. Plenty of activities are

June 02

provided for children. Activities include: free entertainment, quick draw competitions, wagon rides, hands-on gold panning demonstrations, and much more. Numerous craftsmen will be onsite to demonstrate blacksmithing, weaving, spinning, woodworking, leather tanning, and more. —sidneygoldrushdays.org

BREWS AT THE ZOO June 10 at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Lincoln. Adults 21 and over can enjoy a night at the Zoo! The Lincoln Children’s zoo invites guests to an evening of live music, visits from animal ambassadors, and delicious craft beer from local breweries. Live music performed by the Mezcal Brothers. —lincoln.org

FALLS CITY HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL June 17 at Brenner Field in Falls City. Festival begins with a kite show, the the balloon lift off, followed by an amazing fireworks show. Live music, food trucks, and beer and wine will be available. —fallscityareachamber.com

FATHER’S DAY FUN AT THE TREE ADVENTURE June 18 at the Arbor Day Tree Farm in Nebraska City. Dads and children are invited to enjoy a special day of exploring trails and playing among the trees. Mud painting and a nature scavenger hunt that will take visitors throughout the Tree Adventure. Guests can even build your own nature boat and race it down the South Table Creek. —arbordayfarm.org

COMPILED BY Damian Ingersoll

126TH ANNUAL DILLER PICNIC June 22-24 in Diller. A few of the events this year include: Nebraska Bush Pullers on Thursday at 7pm., Extreme Bull Riding Friday at 8pm. and Saturday is Mid-States Mud Drags at 11am. Car show inclusive of motorcycles and other vehicles. Big Parade at 7pm. and the All American Display Fireworks Show at 10:30pm with bingo all three nights. —visitnebraska.com

POTTER CARBOWL June 24 in Downtown Potter. Car Show, bowling tournament, BBQ contest, craft show, live music, and more. —visitnebraska.com

BERT KREISCHER’S FULLY LOADED

COMEDY FESTIVAL June 25 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Back by popular demand, Bert “The Machine” Kreischer will be starting the party back up this summer with his second annual Fully Loaded Comedy Festival. The biggest comedy event of the year with a “Fully Loaded” line-up at Pinnacle Bank Arena that includes Bert Kreischer, Tiffany Haddish, Fortune Feimster, Big Jay Oakerson, Jay Pharoah, and Chad Daniels. —pinnaclebankarena.com

June

BOOMFEST June 30—July 1 at the Skyview Lake in Norfolk. The weekend will kick off Friday right with a Wing Fest competition coordinated by the Stanton Ribfest organizers. Norfolk Area Rod and Custom is also sponsoring a Car Show N Shine.  Live music will take the stage sponsored by 94 Rock. Saturday, BoomFest will once again include an inflatable midway, military static displays, food vendors, music, and the largest, most spectacular fireworks display in Northeast Nebraska to cap off the night. —visitnebraska.com

IOWA

WEBSTER CITY MARKET NIGHTS - RACE

NIGHT June 1 at the Availa Bank Plaza in Webster City. Join us each Thursday evening at the Webster City Market Nights . Centered around the Availa Bank Plaza from 5:30-7:30pm. each Thursday in June, July, and August. Attendees can enjoy a variety of homegrown vendors, live music, and delicious food while supporting local businesses. Drinks from beer garden for adults or family friendly activities and games

through out the evening. June 1st is Race Night as the Hamilton County Speedway. —traveliowa.com

TASTE OF SUMMER June 1 at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque. Guests are invited to attend this after-hours event in the boatyard and plaza areas on campus. Live music, food trucks, and a beer/seltzer stand will have items for sale. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to use; however, a limited number of picnic tables will be available. —traveliowa.com

June 01

MANCHESTER RIVER DAYS June 1—3 in Manchester. Thursday, June 1st Music on the Maquoketa Friday, June 2nd Manchester Friday Night farmers market with food & Music, and a 5K through Manchester. Saturday, June 3rd float parade, kids activities, food trucks, vendors, music bingo, bags tournament, downtown street party, and jams by a live DJ. As part of Manchester River Days, attendees could win a “Free Weekend in Manchester”. That will include: Twonight stay in the King Jacuzzi Suite at Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Manchester. —traveliowa.com

MOVIES ON MAIN STREET June 2 in Washington. Visitors can enjoy a flick at Central Park for Movies on Main Street. Lawn-chairs welcome as guests enjoy the free family-friendly film rolling at 8:30pm. Main Street Washington will have concessions available, including: popcorn, drinks, and boxed candy for purchase. —traveliowa.com

DES MOINES CON June 3—4 Hy-Vee Hall at Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Des Moines Con is a celebration of comics, toys, TV, film, art, cosplay, games, and all things nerdy. For fans of Batman, the Avengers, Doctor Who, Star Wars, LEGO, Disney, Star Trek, the Walking Dead, Power Rangers, Game of Thrones, etc., there’s plenty to take in and marvel at during DMC. —traveliowa.com

2023 MISS IOWA PAGEANT June 8—11 at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott in Des Moines. The Downtown Des Moines Marriott will host the 2023 National American Miss Iowa Pageant on June 8th through the 11th and will feature the region’s most accomplished young women, ages 4—24. Each year, the National American Miss Pageants awards 1.5 Million dollars in prizes to recognize and assist the development of young women

nationwide. The Miss Iowa Pageant is the official state preliminary to the National Pageant held in sunny Orlando, Florida. —traveliowa.com

ICE CREAM DAYS June 14 in Downtown Le Mars. Known as the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars is dedicated to making the Ice Cream Days festival an unforgettable, fun-filled family trip, because they truly believe that the best days include ice cream! People won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind ‘chill-a-bration’ and scoops of pure yum in Le Mars. —icecreamdays.com

BANDS & BREWS June 16 at River Place Plaza in Cedar Falls. Support Iowa Public Radio by attending this fundraiser— featuring feature beer tastings provided by 20+ Iowa breweries along with music from The Get Up Get Down band and James Tutson and the Rollback. —iowapublicradio.org

CAJUN FEST June 17 at Cowles

Commons in Des Moines. From 11am to 7pm at Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines becomes flavor town with tried and true classics, including gumbo and jambalaya, crawfish flown in straight from Louisiana, Camp Cajun, and returning bands NOLA jazz band and The Swampland Jewels. Some new and exciting pieces will be tossed into the mix with The Matt Woods Band, a spicy food contest, crawfish races, and the event’s inaugural crowning of the Cajun King and Queen! —cajunfestiowa.com

COCKTAILS AND CARDBOARD June 22 at The New Northwestern Cocktail & Wine Bar in Des Moines. Every other Thursday at the New Northwestern cocktails are served over cardboard. Great games abound, whether it’s for date night or getting together with friends after work. Dealt Hand game events are designed to make it easy for guests to sit down and try something new—the staff will help newcomers find a great game, walk them through setup, and teach them how to play. —traveliowa.com

DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL June

25 at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines. The Des Moines Arts Festival is Iowa’s largest and most prestigious arts and cultural event for 25 years. It is a free, three-day festival featuring 190 professional visual artists, their original work in a variety of mediums reflects the very best after having been juried from approximately 1,000 applicants. Live music, performing arts, and strolling

street theatre add non-stop entertainment while culinary offerings are provided by local and regional restaurants, breweries, and mobile food vendors. Come see why this festival has been awarded over 300 awards and was named the best festival in the world by the International Festivals and Events Association. —desmoinesartfestival.org

KANSAS

JUNE JAUNT FESTIVAL June 2—4 at the Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau Jack Kilby Square in Great Bend. The 12th Annual Great Bend June Jaunt features crafts, delectable cuisine, live music and much more. —travelks.com

ANNUAL CHINGAWASSA DAYS June

June 17

2—3 at Central Park in Marion. Annual festival that takes place the first weekend in June in Central Park downtown Marion, Kansas. Featuring concerts Friday and Saturday nights. The weekend is filled with events such as a color run, three on

three basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, bingo, beer garden, watermelon feed, pancake feed, Texas hold’em, and many other fun events. The whole family as there is something for everyone. —travelks.com

SMOKE ON THE PLAINS DERBY BBQ & MUSIC FESTIVAL June 9 at High Park in Derby. The event features country music concert Friday night, ’80’s rock concert Saturday night, Peoples Choice contest (tasting kits are $5), Kids’ Corner, 5k, car show, and lots of good drinks and competitive BBQ. —travelks.com

June 2-3

BREWS ON THE BRICKS CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL June 10 at Downtown Hays. Brews on The Bricks Craft Beer Festival is an annual event hosted in Downtown Hays. It is a premier craft beer event that enables breweries from across the country to showcase their beers. It also features a wide variety of food vendors, live music, and games. —travelks.com

EXPLORE CALENDAR

TACOS AND TEQUILA June 17 at Legends Field in Kansas City. Tacos and Tequila KC is back and bigger than ever. Year three of tacos, tequila, and throwbacks is arriving Saturday, June 17th at Legends Field. festival attendees will enjoy chefinspired Tacos, tequila tastings, and craft margaritas. Attendees will also experience live music performances from throwback artists, authentic Lucha Libre wrestling art installations, and MORE! —kctacosandtequila.com

MISSOURI

KIDSFEST June 3 at Riverside Park in Jefferson City. KidsFest is a fun-filled day dedicated to children and families. Young children through tweens will enjoy games, demonstrations, and activities. —visitjeffersoncity.com

THE OLD TIME MUSIC, OZARK HERITAGE FESTIVAL June

2—3 at the Civic Center in West Plains. Attendees are invited to celebrate old time music and the distinctive culture of the Ozarks Highlands. Old-Time music will be performed from our stages, featuring outstanding local and regional artists representing the musical traditions of the Ozarks. —oldtimemusic.org

June 2-3

HEART OF THE OZARKS FAIR June 6—10 at the Heart of the Ozark fairgrounds in West Plains. The Heart of the Ozarks Fair features a full-scale carnival, agricultural and other exhibits, and grandstand entertainment. —heartoftheozarksfair.net

SIKESTON HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL June 16—18 at the Sikeston Rodeo Grounds in Sikeston. The Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival is reaching new heights. Tethered ballon rides, balloon glows, balloon flight over Sikeston, arts and crafts vendors, beer and wine garden, food trucks and live music. —visitmo.com

EVENT TIMES AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE. Visit omahamagazine.com

SALT

About 700 years ago there was a place that was so far away from other places that it became a synonym for “far away.”

My dad would refer to it whenever I dared to ask for a ride to the Overland movie theater on a Saturday morning. “I’m not driving you from here to Timbuktu every time you get a craving for popcorn and Mike & Ikes!”

Yes, Timbuktu, that city of mystery. Exotic, magical, isolated by distance, time and tall tale, the capital of an empire based on salt...oh, and gold…salt and gold, but you can’t put gold on popcorn when you’re at the Overland Theater on a Saturday morning and this is the magazine’s “Food” issue…so, salt…that’s the thing…if you’re talking food, you’re talking salt.

Anyway, back in the 13th century it became worth it to travel from “here to Timbuktu” because, even though popcorn had not yet been invented…*

*NOTE: Corn was probably first domesticated by humans known as farmers in what is now Mexico some 10,000 years ago. Archeologists some of them, the children of farmers now report that kernels fell into a fire in Peru some 7,000 years ago and popped. So, it is likely that the Incas enjoyed some tasty popcorn while taking in the spectacular views from Macchu Picchu. Since they had no movies to watch, spectacular views had to do. We do know they also had salt. Otherwise, of course, they would have just left those popped kernels to burn up in the embers, though the salt they used did not come from Timbuktu, as it was too “far away.”

…Everyone needed salt. Yes, man does not live by bread alone, because bread is no good without a little salt in the dough. And mutton is lousy without a few shakes of the old ceramic cat with small holes in its head. Folks needed salt to preserve fish, and a bunch of other things they had to preserve because lots of people got tired of eating fish every day. In fact, one of the early Popes, who hated eating fish every day, declared that fish should only be eaten on Fridays. That decree, of course, greatly increased the demand for salt because there were thus more fish to preserve, and therefore, Timbuktu got even richer.

Salt became so valuable that it was even used as money. Though that didn’t last long because the small grains tended to leak easily out of pants pockets, and Kosher salt is so abrasive it can wear through even Levi’s jean-grade denim, and cashiers with paper cuts on the tips of their fingers refused to make change. Plus, the problem that any yokel could go to any nearby beach and make sea salt also bugged economists like Adam Smith because that would make wealth too accessible and thus collapse all of Western Civilization. Or, just imagine knocking over a big tumbler of ice-water on your kitchen table while paying bills and… well, the only money left would be the salt in your tears. Because of all those factors, salt stopped being money long before we started putting RFID chips in our wallets and our pets.

Time marches on, as they say, and J. Sterling Morton eventually bought a bulldozer and a few miles of shoreline property near Salt Lake City, and coined the slogan, “It never rains but it pours.” Thus, he became, if not a better human being, certainly a richer one because he sold a lot of salt. Then, tragically, someone invented “low-salt” diets, and a lady named Mrs. Dash invented a “salt-free salt.” Go figure. Morton was ruined, and reduced to planting trees and operating a lodge/restaurant in Nebraska City.

Timbuktu too has fallen on hard times. There’s an airport just south of town and thus traveling there is no longer difficult so long as you don’t book Southwest Airlines. Yeah, Timbuktu isn’t even that “far away.” In fact, nowhere is that “far away” anymore… except Gretna.

Pass the salt.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

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