North Market Apron Gala - May 17th (and More Market Mayhem)

The 12th Annual North Market Apron Gala

Saturday, May 17th

Doors open and aprons on at - 7 PM

North Market

59 Spruce Street

Short North

Who: Me plus anyone one else that likes to eat and/or loves the North Market

What: Three course of appetizers, tastes and samples of entrees, desserts, beer from Columbus Brewing Company, Ohio wines, multiple North Market vendors, a silent auction, fortune tellers, raffles, prizes, and a contest to see who has the coolest apron.

When: See Above

Where: North Market – the mecca of foodie goodness

Why: To support the North Market, proceeds go to support our North Market

How: Through the hard work of North Market vendors, staff, local restaurants, and the Friends of North Market

Tickets - $75 (worth every penny); $65 for registered Friends of the North Market

If you have never been to the North Market or have never been to a North Market event, this is the night to go. If anyone wants to meet up and talk food with me send me an e-mail, I will be there all evening.

If you need more encouragement to go, see my photos from the North Market Cinco D’ Ohio Festival below. The photos are a taste of the culinary wonders you can expect at events like this. I was one of the judges for the salsa contest. Nine people pitted their salsas up against the palettes of four lucky judges.

Then, I was also a judge for an array of tacos from for a fiery and heated competition with local professional chefs. Five Top chefs mixed their skill, creativity, and some North Market ingredients for a United Nations of flavors in the Taco Taste Off. The winner – in a tummy pleasing close call contest was Steve Lawrence from Cajohn’s Caboom Chili Company with his Asian Taco (in a soft, yet crunchy Wonton shell). Alana Shook (Alana’s) and John Dornbeck (Basi) were neck and neck in my book for a heartbreaking second place with my palette.

North Market is fun, fun, fun and the people are great so come support our market the night of May 17th.

Finally….If the Apron Gala does not work out for you or the other events seem too large scale, consider a more intimate experience with some of the best chef’s and cooks in Columbus:

To sign up drop by the North Market office or call to register at 614-463-9664.

Shop with the Chef Series, Saturdays, 10AM-1PM

Limit 20 people, cost $45 per person; $225 series

Saturday, June 7 - John Dornback, Basi Italia

Saturday, June 21 - Paul Yow, Barcelona

Saturday, July 5 - David Tetzloff, G. Michael’s Bistro

Saturday, July 19 - Matt Langstaff, Bexley’s Monk

Saturday, August 2 - Alana Shock, Alana’s Food + Wine

Saturday, August 16 - Robin Davis, The Columbus Dispatch

Summer Evening Chef Series, Wednesdays 6:30-8:30PM

Limit 26 people, cost $60 per person; $300 series

Wednesday, June 4 - John Skaggs, Chef at Large

Wednesday, June 18 - Jason Shelley, Mitchell’s Ocean Club

Wednesday, July 2 - Paul Yow, Barcelona

Wednesday, July 16 - Chef Rocco, Pastaria

Wednesday, August 6 - Matt Prokopchak, Trattoria Roma

Wednesday, August 20 - Matt Langstaff, Bexley’s Monk

Fall Evening Chef Series, Wednesdays 6:30-8:30PM

Limit 26 people, cost $60 per person; $300 series

Wednesday, September 3 - Henry Butcher Sr., Creole Kitchen

Wednesday, September 17 - Kevin Jones, The Columbus Fish Market

Wednesday, October 1 - Paul Yow, Barcelona

Wednesday, October 15 - David Tetzloff, G. Michael’s Bistro

Wednesday, November 5 - Matt Prokopchak, Trattoria Roma

Wednesday, November 19 - Matt Langstaff, Bexley’s Monk

Wittich’s - Amercia’s Oldest Confectioner? - Circleville Roadtrip Part 2

Wittich’s

117 West High Street

Circleville, OH

740 474 3313

After my run to the Original Hamburger Inn, I drove a block or so to the northwest for a visit to what may be the nations oldest confectionary - Wittich’s. This chocolate and candy shop has been operated by the same family since 1840. It is currently run by Fred Wittich the great grandson of the founder. I did some quick research on confectionaries in the country. I am not sure it is the oldest - but it probably is the oldest run by the same family (I am still researching this).

My party sampled the candy selections with a venegence and found all to be very good. I really enjoyed the dark chocolate covered peanut brittle. Wittich’s is overflowing with character, charm and history - I felt good walking through the door and those feelings just continued to get better.

What really caught my eye was the 1930’s era soda fountain/counter. Some people know that I am an ice cream lover. One or two people know my first job was at Knight’s Ice Cream in Columbus and because of that I am a big fan of ice cream lore. There are just a handful operating of soda fountains in the country and I had accidently stumbled upon one.

 

As I sat there on one of the twirling counter seats, I was thinking of memories of a soda fountain in the the part of Columbus I grew up in. At about that moment, a small sign caught my eye. It explained the soda fountain I was sitting at was purchased from the former Beechwold Pharmacy in 1997. Guess where I used to go as a child….. yep!

Beer and Cheese - The New Peanut Butter and Chocolate!

Pace Hi Carry Out in Clintonville closed in February. The signs of demise were there for a long time - they just never seemed to be able to keep things in stock..so I stopped going long ago. Having the wine displayed in the window made me wary as well - you could not do anything worse to a bottle of vino.

I often wonder if a new business concept called Hops and Curd - a high end beer and cheese store might work in Clintonville.

OK - the concept of wine and cheese is well sold.

But beer and cheese…. not so much. I believe beer and cheese is the undiscovered peanut butter and chocolate of the 21st century. So that is why I am posting this post…to build a groundswelling of support for this advanced idea.

And as it just happens - Constance and Kent at Hills Market will be offering a Beer and Cheese Tasting on April 17th - check out the Hills Market web site and get on the mailing list for more details. I have attended two Hills Market wine and cheese tastings - both were wonderful so I expect the beer and cheese pairing to be just as good. The format for the wine tastings has been 6 pairing of wine and cheese with a appetizer for each. The Beer and Cheese tasting will probably have the same format. The cost would be no more than $35. As a bonus, you typically get 10% off anything you buy at that store following the tasting. It a great deal. See my post about the December tasting for more information.

To further sell pairing beer with cheese check out the site below:

A link with all you need to know about beer and cheese

So what do you think - is it time to open Hops and Curd during a recession?

Slow Food Columbus is Moving Fast - Debrief on the Inaugural Dinner

Slow Food Columbus served up their first dinner “Local and Loving It” on March 20th at Cafe del Mondo. In spite of competition from March Madness, The Celebrity Chef’s Dinner and other Columbus activities - the event was sold out with a waiting list of 8 people. Having a local chapter of Slow Food was long overdue - so thanks to recent immigrants Colleen and Bear for adding this to the Columbus plate.

I was one of the guests with the honor of spending the evening enjoying a great meal with some wonderful people. The menu is listed below.

*

Antipasto

Bruschetta with organic tomatoes and basil

paired with Dal Bello - Rosa della Regina - Brut Rose

Insalata

Salad featuring Blue Jacket Farms mozzarella, Green Edge organic spring mix and mircrogreens, tomatoes, and a wonderful crouton

paired with and (2006) Cantina del taburno falanghina

Piatti Principali

Organic Pasta Bologonese with Spectrum Farm beef and organic vegetables

Rosemary garlic Mount Victory Porkloin

Farfalle all’olio (vegetarian)

Sauteed organic Green Edge greens

Artisanal bread

paired with 2004 Tenuta delle Terra Nere Etna Rosso “Calderara Sottana”

Dolci

Baked organic apples - spiced and carmelized

served with Jeni’s Ohio Spicebush Berry ice cream

Paired with 2004 Lenotti Recioto Della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto

Capping off the evening

Espresso

*

The creators on site from Slow Food Columbus (Laurie, Haley, Colleen, and Bear - and others behind the scenes) did a wonderful job putting a fine evening together. Wine pours were generous and helped fuel many good conversations at every table. Among the guests were the owners of Northstar Cafe and a manager from their Short North restaurant. In between courses we heard from the owners of Spectrum Farm (talking about their beef), Mt Victory Meats (discussing his business and the pork loin we were eating) and The Greener Grocer. We also heard from the owner of Cafe del Mondo / Fruta del Mondo discussing his business and well as why all breads and pastas are not created equal. The morsel I picked up from his talk - it really is worth paying a little more for good pasta and good bread - they are so much better for your body and and the flavor difference is significant. I also learned that “good” pasta can be placed in ziplock bag and frozen for a quick meal later.

Please take a look at the local Slow Food site for the full scoop on the evening (with photos).

Keep an eye out for more events from this group, it is still a very new branch of Slow Food. Based on conversations I had with Bear, Colleen, and Haley I am excited about how Slow Food Columbus is helping grow the ever expanding food culture of Columbus.

Another side note - I love to see local groups and people connect- the cool snail T-Shirts for Slow Food come from local T-Shirt shop extraordinare - Skreened.

North Market - good to me and great for Columbus

North Market

59 Spruce Street
Short North
614.463.9664

This is what 12 samples of chili look like….

*

I survived the Fiery Foods Festival at the North Market on February 16th. I had the opportunity to be a judge for the Chili Competition. I sampled 12 chilis in the professional category (with offerings from Alana’s, L’Antibes, Basi Italia and others.) One of the offerings had Mako shark in it…..yep, shark. There was a brief moment of terror on my part. As I was taking my first spoonful, the ingredients were being listed off. Shark was not the the first item mentioned. I am allergic to fish - but maybe not shark as it turns out. After a short pause, it was back to work for the amateur competition and another 12 chilis. Other judges included G.A. Benton from Columbus Alive, Miriam Bowers Abbott from the Other Paper, Lisa - the Restaurant Widow and other local notables. I was in great company. Special thanks to Mary Martineau (marketing director) and David Wible (executive director) for having me there and listening to me ramble on about food. Their continued hard work keeps the market vibrant and appealing to Columbus natives and visitors. Sopressata - did a superb summary of the festival and she (Heather) was able to cover the wing eating contest which I missed out on.

The next day I was at the North American Pizza and Ice Cream Show across the street at the Columbus Convention Center. Many of the people in line to pick up passes were asking me about what to do in our fair city. I had a lot to tell them with North Market on top of my list. Several attendees waiting in line overhead my comments and mentioned their own visits to the market the day before and how impressed they were with what we have here in Columbus.

North Market is a treat for those of us that live here - offering a home to Jeni’s Ice Cream, Curds and Whey, and so many other great independent vendors. The market also supports incredible food events - the Ohio Wine Festival, the Saturday Farmers Market, and the Fall Harvest Festival. All of these North Market endevours put Columbus on the culinary map and keeps it there.

At the Fiery Foods Festival, I spoke with some of the volunteers that do so much to support the market by helping with events….I may have to get my ass in gear and pitch in as well.

Anyway, if you have never been to the North Market, now is the time to support this community asset. I usually go early in the morning on a Saturday to scoop up some farmers market specials, then I pop inside to stock up on cheese, free samples and usually a Jeni’s Ice Cream sandwich for later. On Sundays, I like parking for free near Goodale Park, then walking over for lunch which I take upstairs so I can watch the market in action below.

MACA January Wine Dinner - A Field Correspondents report

MACA
5 South Liberty
Powell
614.436.1212

www.macahome.com

I meet Orv and Gloria at the Hills Market Wine and Cheese event in December. They are a great couple with great food experiences to share. We ran into each other again when the Hills Market was hosting a special event for a cable television show in mid January. They mentioned they were going to a wine dinner at Maca in Powell. I had not had an opportunity to go to Maca yet so I was anxious to hear all about it. They sent me a great report and were nice enough to let me post a version here. Thanks Orv and Gloria.

*

Gloria and I attended MACA’s intimate dinner a couple evenings ago. Norman and Susan Carmichael are the owners and the primary MACA team. Norman chefs and picks the wines. Susan runs the front (there really is no front differentiated from the rest of the restaurant space which seats 30 to 35 including seats at the bar). The Carmichaels were assisted by 3 associates. Maca has a very laid back feel and atmosphere.

The toasts included diced eggplant and capers. Fresh artichoke hearts were battered & fried. Anything fried is tasty but there was not a lot of flavor. The Cream Sherry, served in a small liqueur glass, was an excellent accompaniment.

The layered puff pastry tort was very good and held together well. The pastry where the cheese melted and crusted was especially good. And, the Sancerre La Crele 2006, served in stemless ware was mildly acidic with fresh citrus flavors and just the slightest whiff of grassiness. I found the wine on Winesearcher and the lowest 375ML bottle price was $13.95. The Carmichaels do retail their wines at state minimum so I guess I need to find out how much they are charging. (Note: Maca does sell wine to go - often by the case and they have some good distributors to work with C.M.H.G.)

After trimming the excess fat and crisping the duck, it was finished using indirect heat so that the duck stayed tender and moist. The breast was sliced and presented with the mixture of chopped/diced winter root vegetables. After tasting the caramelized vegetables, Gloria commented “I could easily become a vegetarian”. The wine was full flavored with soft tannins which stood up to the richness of the duck.

The finely diced apple & nut tart had just a hint of Rosemary. Again, the tart crust was outstanding. And the Moscatel was somewhat restrained without the cloying sweetness you sometimes find with Muscat grape wines. The Moscatel was served in liqueur glasses.

The Winter Dinner menu may appear to be a limited amount of food but believe us, we were more than satisfied. The servings were very appropriate.

Overall, we were impressed with this husband and wife team who work long hours and who both spend time with their guests and make each guest feel at home.

We had been to MACA twice, impromptu both times, in January 2008 after driving by the restaurant numerous times without stopping. The Saturday when we first stopped was 4 wine pours (approximately 2 oz each?) for $5.00 plus Tapas could be ordered off the menu at a very reasonable price. Norman came around and poured the wines intermixed with his cooking duties. He gave a detailed description of the wine region, grapes and characteristics of each wine. An unbelievable bargain.

We also stopped with two other couples a couple Friday nights ago about 9:20PM and had desserts with port.

We plan to go back.

Gourmand update: I went to Maca on January 25th and had a great experience. I spoke with both owners as well as their bartender. Everything sampled was really good. The red peppers stuffed with goat cheese were my favorite. The menu does change from time to time, especially in the dessert category. Another wine dinner is in the works for February.

Columbus Monthly recently listed Maca as one of the 10 best new restaurants in town - they earned it (Marcellas did not - sorry Cameron). This is a small place so to limit your wait time try to visit during the week.

If you missed it - Columbus Food Bloggers in the Dispatch

Columbus Dispatch article from December 26th, 2007

 …

This article is about five local food bloggers including me. If you missed it, here you go.

A real good deal from CBC…

CBC - Columbus Brewing Company jumped into my top ten in 2007. Here is a deal that may make a first trip to CBC more appealing to you.

The info in italics is from an e-mail sent to people on their mailing list.

Give Columbus Brewing Company
Gift Certificates this holiday season -
We’ve brewed up a delicious deal!

Receive a $10 complimentary certificate with the purchase of $50 in gift certificates.
Receive a $25 complimentary certificate with the purchase of $100 in gift certificates.
Receive a happy hour party including complimentary appetizers for up to 50 guests with the purchase of $200 in gift certificates.

Hmm… so for $200 you get $250 in gift certificates ( a 25% return on investment) as well as free appetizers for 50 people. The appetizers at CBC are really good. So do the math. Figure about $1 per appetizer each person eats. OK - now do the math again splitting with 4 people or 50. You have a cheap party at a great restaurant.

Another option is to go to the Dine Originals website, click on gift certificates and see if there are any available for CBC (or another great Columbus dining spot). Typically a $25 certificate costs $17.50.

Hoppy Holidays

Mail Order Cheese, Chocolate and Brownies… oh my!

Dedicated readers may recall my run to Amish country a few months ago. I drove by a sign for Steiner Cheese (a place I had never sampled) but I did not have time to check out their store because I was trying to get to Pearl Valley Cheese before closing time. Shortly after this cheese trip, I read that Steiner won several awards at the Ohio State Fair for their cheeses….drat.

I could not let this missed opportunity slip by but alas, I had no time to drive back. I did some research and found I could order online.

Steiner Cheese

I ordered the Farmer’s Cheese, Aged Cheddar and Aged Swiss. All three were great. The pricing was reasonable even with shipping added in. The Aged Cheddar was my favorite and the two pounds I ordered did not last a week.

I should mention that Pearl Valley does mail order as well. I tried them out a couple years ago and they did a fine job. The only downside with them is they sell in gift packs online.

On a related note, at about the same time I ordered from Steiner, I ordered chocolate from my favorite mail order chocolate company - Bissingers.

The photo of the chocolate did not come out so well. However, this is a photo of 1 pound of chocolate. If you order from the catalog at select times of year, Bissingers will send you a free pound of chocolate - Milk or Dark. I have tried different things with this free chocolate over the years, but my favorite thing to do is break off a piece of dark chocolate (I don’t bother with milk chocolate) and spoon on some chunky peanut butter. The best regular catalog item is the Almond Nut Bark. Bissingers Chocolate is among the best dark chocolate I have tried anywhere. They are based in St. Louis (I discovered them while there for work) and trace their roots to French chocolate making in the 1600’s.

A final find. Dayton’s Dorothy Lane Market does mail order - which for me means mail order Killer Brownies. If you place an order, say Sandie - via the Gourmand sent you.

Last Call for the Finer Diner

Formerly at:

4989 Cleveland Ave.

 

The Finer Diner closed doors for good on October 31st. Word is a hot dog and sausage outfit will move in.

The Diner built a loyal following in Columbus with a reputation for excellent pies, large portions and made from scratch home cooking for a low price. The Diner was small and cramped but it never seemed crowded since everyone was so friendly. Some regulars came in for lunch as well as dinner on the last day, almost all of them signed a farewell book so that they can be contacted when the Diner reopens someday. As a parting tip, two loyal customers gave a $100 GFS gift card for restocking the new Finer Diner.

 

Finer Diner Proprietor Abe Pendleton plans to continue on with catering while he looks for a new location in Columbus. Abe has been in the restaurant business for many years, this was his first outing on his own and it worked well for almost 4 years. If you are interested in ordering a pie (Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan, Key Lime, or one of many others), his famous Ho Ho cake, pasta sauce, or a catered meal from his fine Finer Diner Menu - give him a call. Abe can be reached at 614.397.3459.