"Welcome to the big O! Omaha"

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska and home to approximately 433,000 people. You are probably familiar with some of Omaha’s well known attractions like the Henry Doorly Zoo, Father Flanagan’s Boys Town, the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, ConAgra Foods, Omaha Steaks ( our great Omaha meats ), Union Pacific Railroad, the College World Series, Mutual of Omaha, and Berkshire Hathaway Company headed by the “Oracle of Omaha” Warren Buffett, the richest person in the world.

You will be pleasantly surprised at all of the culinary adventures and opportunities you can have in the big O! Omaha has a great reputation for having fabulous ethnic, fine dining and family style restaurants. The historic Old Market area in downtown Omaha features over 30 different Omaha restaurants, coffee shops, candy and ice cream stores, and pubs and taverns serving local microbrews. Many first time visitors are impressed with the Old Market’s charming atmosphere and ethnic diversity. In the Old Market area you will find ethnic restaurants like the Indian Oven, Matsu Sushi, the French Café, Spaghetti Works, Trini’s Mexican, and O’Connor’s Irish Pub. If you have a sweet tooth, you can indulge in all of the mouth watering desserts at Delice European Bakery & Café. Enjoy strolling along the cobblestone streets, or take a romantic horse drawn carriage ride. However you choose to get around, the Old Market is not to be missed.

Omaha is synonymous with top notch food companies. ConAgra Foods is the valued name behind many leading brands like Healthy Choice, Wesson, Hunt’s, Chef Boyardee, Banquet, and Orville Redenbacher’s. Omaha Steaks has been supplying high quality Omaha meats and other products locally and across the country for more than 90 years. With more than 80 company owned retail stores, mail order catalogs, and on-line ordering, Omaha meats makes it easy to bring the tastiest, most mouth-watering steaks right to your dinner table. The Omaha community has been enjoying freshly baked Italian bread products from Rotella’s Italian Bakery. Italian immigrant Alessandro Rotella and his wife Maria came to Omaha and started the bakery with experience passed on from his father Domenico. Rotella’s has over 80 years in the wholesale bakery business and sells its products all across the country.

Omaha Restaurants

The “Taste of Omaha” annual food festival showcases fabulous Omaha restaurants and entertainment. This three-day extravaganza held in downtown Omaha is open to the public and free of charge. The event has been going on for the last 11 years, and is a great way for you and your family to share some good quality time together while indulging in the best food Omaha restaurants have to offer.

Annual fundraisers like the Food Banks’ “Dine Out Against Hunger” help to alleviate hunger in Nebraska. The Opera Omaha Wine Seller helps to support opera in Omaha. Whenever the need arises, the people of Omaha generously support these worthwhile causes.

Culinary arts classes at Omaha’s Metro Tech Community College are becoming one of the most popular areas of study for many high school graduates. Metro offers numerous classes on the Art of Cooking, Baking & Pastry, and Restaurant Ownership. The Classy Gourmet Culinary Arts Center caters every skill level from the home cook to the busy professional. Attend culinary “boot camp” courses to learn how to cook like a professional chef.

Omaha’s thirst for great food and entertainment is greater than ever. Come visit us often to experience all the culinary adventures you can have in the Big O! We’ll be waiting for you.

To learn more about Omaha go to www.visitomaha.com

By Pam Ivbuls