LOUISVILLE, Ky. — DiFabio's on Frankfort Avenue is known for Italian classics like spaghetti, but another noodle is taking over for a couple nights.
"Usually, most ramen shops, they have low burners so the pots are at waist-height; it's more ergonomic," Chef Nick Robey explained, hoisting up a 20-gallon pot of broth.
Despite the difficulty, he and his wife, Nicole, are grateful for the support so their business, Renshoku Ramen, can stay open.
"Community over competition," she said. "I think a lot of times, people think it's a competition, chef versus chef, restaurant versus restaurant, and really I want every restaurant that's in the city to succeed. Especially those that are locally-owned and family-operated."
Renshoku took over the Clifton kitchen after a car crash in early June sparked a fire at the Old Louisville restaurant, devastating the business and the apartments up above.
After three years of working in pop-up kitchens before they had their permanent restaurant in Old Louisville, Renshoku was used to pulling off stunts like these in kitchens where they've setup their noodles to cook in this double-boiler system over top of the stove."
DiFabio's owners gave up their space for four days, before they return from their staycation. It's a kindness they once relied on after neighboring restaurants gave them freezer space after an electrical fire took out their kitchen for a weekend.
"It's just very little things that that can make all the difference," Caitie DiFabio said.
With 14 years in business feeding others, the owners finally took a seat in their own place.
"So it was surreal," co-owner John Riley said. "To come in and have it not smell like spaghetti for a change. But we had a blast and both nights so far have seemed equally successfully, so we all got big hope for these last two nights."
Two nights — but with more pop-ups across town on the way until the Renshoku kitchen is whole again.
You can find Renshoku serving food out of DiFabio's June 9 and 10 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Thursday, DiFabio's takes back over for their half-off wine night.
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