Q: Where can I get ramen as good as Yama Izakaya’s now that it’s closed?
Kristen: Yama Izakaya closed in Plaza Midwood because of the redevelopment of that plaza, and the restaurant planned to reopen elsewhere. In the meantime, you can find great ramen nearby at Optimist Hall’s Bao + Broth or Camp North End’s Saru. Not as close, but worth the drive, is Roppongi Ramen Bar on Monroe Road. Of course, Futo Buta also has to be part of this conversation.

Q: Can you recommend a cookbook with menus and recipes for a small group dinner where everyone can cook something to contribute to the dinner? We’d like to explore new cuisines, ideally but nothing too unusual for us.
Kristen: We used to hold a cookbook club where we did just this! Some recommendations are Deep Run Roots by Vivian Howard, Marcus Off Duty: The Recipes I Cook at Home by Marcus Samuelsson, and a local one: Bruce Moffett’s Bruce Moffett Cooks. David Chang’s Momofuku is a favorite of mine, but a more adventurous one where it’s best to share the labor of a full meal.

Q: Have you ever been to Paper Plane?
Kristen: Yes, I have! It’s a great place to pop in for lunch, especially when you’re craving soup and a sandwich. We still need to add it to our restaurant finder. Thanks for the reminder!

 

 

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