By Virginia Dean
With her father, Michael, inspiring her love of cooking and her mother, Virginia, a part of the Killington community for 28 years, Lindsay (“Lulu”) Ochman found herself in a perfect position to open up a local restaurant. Yama Ramen offers a unique take on Japanese and other Asian specialties, including bao buns, banh mi, ramen, and yari dasu.
The Yama Ramen team (pictured l-r) is: Owner Lindsay ‘Lulu’ Ochman, Jason Cardozo, Chef Max Zichelli and Chef Matt Kopp.
Patrons may enjoy sitting in one of 30 seats or the lounge area in the 1,000-square foot space located at 2500 Killington Road in the red building across from Ravine Road that formerly housed Green Mountain College students and, prior to that, the old Killington Valley Inn.
Hailing originally from Connecticut, Ochman said she is excited about her new venture, having been in the industry for many years. Her boyfriend, Jason Cardozo, did the build out as an all-around handyman with years of experience in construction and restaurants. Max Zichelli and Matthew Kopp are the chefs, each with over 10 years of restaurant background and dedication to quality food.
Bao buns
“The cuisine is our local twist on Japanese ramen,” said Ochman. “The menu will be small to start but we’ll have lots of specials up our sleeve. We’re dedicated to using fresh, local ingredients and will be working closely with Fiddlers Green Farm in Plymouth. We’re also committed to supporting local artists whose works will be displayed throughout the restaurant. Wander on Words (Coleen Wilcox) and Dan Can Doodle (Dan Candido, bartender at The Garlic, along with Nicholas Heilig) are a couple to name.”
For those Japanese food connoisseurs — and for those who are new to the island’s elevated eating — yari dasu includes gang gang shrimp, chicken summer roll, veggie summer roll, edamame, and papaya salad. Bao buns will feature maple fried chicken, chashu pork, and “magic mushroom” bao (cucumber, pickled red onion, carrot hoisin, spicy kewpie). The ramen selection includes tonkotsu (pork, corn, chard, egg), spicy tonkotsu (miso broth, chashu pork nori, mushroom, corn, egg), and Fiddlers Green curry (creamy coconut curry broth, sweet potato, cabbage, lemongrass).
Yama will also offer beer, wine and sake.
The soft opening of the new, community-style eatery takes place Friday, Dec. 17, from 3-10 p.m., and the restaurant will be open those hours Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, call 802-315-0061.