96 Main Street, West Lebanon, N.H., 603-298-5477

I will travel for the sole purpose of eating Korean food. When I just happened to find myself in West Lebanon, a few minutes from White River Junction, last weekend, obviously I had to try Yama Restaurant.

The spot bills itself as Korean and Japanese, double the pleasure. And it looks like many locals did. In the time I was there, diners streamed in and out for quick lunches and takeout. Many drew pictures on their paper placemats, and the walls were decorated with their handiwork, along with photos of happy customers of all ages.

Immediately after we ordered a mix of dishes from the dinner menu and the special lunch offerings, half a dozen panchan (above right) arrived at our table.

886 Route 7, Middlebury, 802-388-7052

On one of my recent appearances on Charlie + Ernie + Lisa in the Morning! (I'm on every Wednesday), I had the opportunity to try caramel-covered monkey bread from Rosie's Restaurant. After that, I was determined to sample more of the Middlebury restaurant's food.

I loved the place at first sight. The high-beamed ceilings recalled a barn, except much cleaner. Paintings of ultra-close-up chicken faces decorated the walls, as did locally made quilts for sale. We were the youngest people there by a good 30 years — at 8:30 p.m. The specials menu listed not only dishes available that day but also a dozen or so regulars who were celebrating their birthdays.

It was hard to choose between the cuddly homestyle menu items — chicken and "bakin' powder" biscuits? Pork chops with applesauce and "apple stuffin'?" Ultimately, I couldn't pass up the pulled roast turkey platter.

10997 Route 116, Hinesburg, 482-6050

It's no big secret that here in Vermont, we are starved for Greek food. The only places with good gyros are actually Bosnian. Forget about trying to find saganaki or a good plate of keftedes. What is less well known is a phenomenon that occurs every Thursday night at Papa Nick's Family Restaurant in Hinesburg: Greek night.

192 Boxwood Street, Williston, 857-2200

I have an off-menu secret for you this week. We food writers eat out enough that we get to know these things. Sometimes the little surprises are enough to get me to a restaurant again and again. Such is the case at Three Tomatoes, where I go with some regularity.

If you've been to any of the four locations of the wood-fired local franchise, you're familiar with the dishes of olive oil, filled with spicy chopped garlic that accompany baskets of warm, crusty Red Hen Baking Company bread. Dipping that bread in the flavorful oil is great, right? My boyfriend didn't think so. That's why, about a year ago, he asked if the server could provide butter.

I was a little embarrassed. So was James. After we tasted it, we weren't anymore. The salty Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery butter is warmed to the brink of melting and mixed with local honey. I am not a serious butter aficionado, but this stuff blows my mind. As much as we enjoy the other food at Three Tomatoes, I would be lying if I said we didn't head there for dinner saying, "Let's go have some butter." It is that good.