SEEKING COMFORT

RAMEN

Nudo House

The Classic Nudo ramen at Nudo House always steals the show, even among more inventive broths, such as the Shroomed Out (with mushroom broth) and Curry Up! (with a yellow curry base). The classic ramen’s rich tonkotsu broth, tender chasu pork, and black garlic warms and delights, proving that traditional can be best when it comes to comfort food. Multiple locations.

IN THE KITCHEN

The Choice’s Lillian Coger

Coger emphasizes the amount of hard-boiled eggs needed to make her mom’s beloved potato salad. “There need to be more eggs than potatoes—a lot more,” she notes. That dish, alongside such others as the famous macaroni and cheese and iced layer cake, inspired Coger to follow her passion for cooking after a rewarding career as a teacher. Today, she combines the tradition of dishes like her mom’s green beans with the skills she acquired in cooking courses. “My mom cooked them low and slow, but I added to her recipe by adding ingredients like mirepoix and fresh herbs to make the beans even more delicious.” Today, Coger draws from her mom’s cooking wisdom, her culinary education, and her own experiences as a chef to delight diners with classic dishes that have also become favorites of her children and grandchildren. “They like to request my peach cobbler,” she says with a smile. “That is what my own kids and my seven grandkids love the most.” 3265 S. Jefferson.

TURKEY CHILI

Sportsman’s Park

A joint must have longevity to slap “famous” on a menu item. With 48 years under its belt, Sportsman’s Park is as much a comforting staple in Ladue as its dark and nearly beanless turkey chili, which devotees gussy up with cheese, onions, sour cream, and.